Imagine what it would be like to get bad headaches all the time. You’d probably go to the doctor, who might prescribe a medication or try to find out what’s causing the pain. You may expect to be totally back to normal in no time – after all, that’s what doctors are for. And you’ve probably been cured by “conventional” (typical or usual) medicine many times. But what if you weren’t back to normal? When conventional medicine just doesn’t seem to work for them many people turn to alternative treatments. This could be anything from acupuncture to massage therapy. It might seem like science fiction, but sometimes people find alternative treatments that seem to help ease their symptoms.

Of course, conventional medicine is necessary for many conditions. After all, you wouldn’t go to a massage therapist hoping that he or she could set your broken arm. But you might go to a massage therapist for a sport injury that just never seems to heal with conventional methods. When it comes to choosing between the two, it’s a good idea to listen to your doctor as well as the alternative physician. Many people use a combination of practices, meaning that they use both conventional and alternative medicine to feel better or maintain their balance. For example, you might have a broken bone set by a doctor at your local hospital, but you might also go to an acupuncturist in the hopes of a faster or more efficient recovery. This combination is sometimes called “integrated” or “whole” medicine.

If you’re thinking about trying out an alternative treatment, it’s important to do some research first. You can find out more about different techniques under “Defined,” or get advice on picking the technique that’s best for you under “How to.” Talk to your doctor; he or she might be able to refer you to reputable alternative treatment centers or physicians. Look up our “Resources” page, where you can read up on scientific studies about the effectiveness of alternative therapies.