What is a Alternative Medicine Practitioner?

Question

Sounds same as a Holistic Health Practitioner? but worded differently.

Answer 1

Alternative medicine is a system of medicine or treatment  which is non standard and falls outside the scope of conventional medicine.

It varies from country to country as some systems of medicine considered alternative in some cultures are mainstream in others.

I'm a non US trained Osteopath practising in New Zealand. I was trained in the UK. My training was very different from the US trained Osteopaths who are all allopathic physicians (who mostly went to Osteopathic School because they couldn't get into med school but still wanted to practise medicine). They can write script deliver babies etc. and generally disappear into general practise, where as I practise a drug free form of manual medicine and predominantly treat musculoskeletal problems.

We have similar titles but are quite different so again this is another factor because it depends where you train in your various discipline.

I don't agree that is it the same as a Holistic health practitioner. Alternative medicine/ complementary therapy isn't holistic by default. I would argue that some of these systems are quite reductionist in their approach and no unlike Allopathy just from a different belief system.

Answer 2

any system other than the allopathic system is a alternative system ,

Answer 3

A Holistic practitioner is a someone who defines themselves as someone who treats the entire patient as a person; taking in the aspects of their Physical, Mental & Spiritual well being. A holistic practitioner can mean someone who is from any background of training that simply uses the term to generate more business or it can signify that the practitioner in question has a genuine interest in improving the quality of the clients overall health and not just treating the symptom.

For example a GP can be Holistic even.

An Alternative Medicine Practitioner can be defined as someone who practices any modality or science that isn't considered Orthodox or main-stream. Usually but not always the alternative practitioner has a very holistic view on improving & maintaining health.

This can include Naturopaths, Homoeopaths, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Shiatsu, Reiki, Energetic Healing, Massage Therapists, lymphatic Drainage, Alexander Technique, Herbalists, Reflexologist's etc.

Where Allopathic medicine(Orthodox) is simply interested in fixing the symptom.

Holistic is the ideology that the entire person's health should be taken into account when diagnosing and treating by curing or treating the cause of the symptom.

Answer 4

Usually people who are afraid of modern medicine and offer alternatives to modern medicine.  Most of this is unproven claims and not supported by reality.  They usually scam people of their money.

Answer 5

i would agree, it does sound like a Holistic Practitioner.