What is the difference between alternative medicine and conventional medicine?

Generally speaking, conventional medicine has a tunnel-vision approach to a lot of problems. They're trained to deal with problems this way and don't see everything they should (due to overwork and other issues). Alternative sees all the possibilties and in many cases can be the better approach.

Conventional medicine is where the big money is at. It is an utter myth that "alternative medicine" doesn't have science or efficacy to back it up. What it doesn't have is millions of dollars a day in advertising budgets. Blood letting and leeches are still used in major hospitals today. Why? Because for very specific things, they're the best solution. If you have a conding called Hemochromotosis, blood letting is the only treatment solution. A herb called Foxglove is the basis for nearly all "vasal dialative" drugs on the market. Why don't drug companies just tell you to use foxglove? Because they can't Patent protect their research so they make artificial copies of the active ingredient in foxgloves and turn that into a Patented (and much, much more expensive) drug. And yet using Foxglove would be called "Alternative" even though the FDA's own data validates its efficacy when used properly. It's not about right and wrong, it's about education and it's about money. In the ER, conventional medicine puts many very potent drugs to use and saves lives because of it. Those drugs are based on pharmacology research which comes from studying herbs and plants which may be more "gradual" in their efficacy. In an ER you can't afford to wait so "conventional" seems like the better choice in that context, right? How about if you suffer from a chronic, metabolic disease. Does a more toxic conventional drug actually make you more healthy? Nope. Might an "alternative" herbal provide the same symptom relief along with additional nutritients, not found in the conventional drug, which may support improved tissue health? Yes, that is possible. Don't take the simple answers. Seek context and understanding.

Alternative medicine is often cited as having very little or no evidence base for improving health. Conventional medicine is what saves you when you need a kidney transplant or the like.

I receive almost all of my 'medical' care from a naturopath, an alternative medicine practioner. She works with my body, spirit and mind. It's a very holistic practice. For instance, I'm being treated by her for depression and anxiety. I really don't want to go on traditional anti-depressant meds so she is giving me well researched natural alternatives to help my adrenals, my serotonin levels and also to improve my immune system. I've been taking it for 2 days and feel a huge difference. I think the difference between conventional and alternative is simply that 'alternative' medicine works with the body and bolsters the bodies natural processes and conventional medicine works chemically to help shore up the body's processes. My naturopath is not adverse to using conventional medicinal practices such as getting blood work done, x-rays, etc. and if she needed to work with a conventional doctor she absolutely would. You'll also find a growing group of conventional doctors who are willing to give 'alternative' remedies a go rather than just writing a prescription. I don't think they are as wary of each other as they used to be. You could call meditation, yoga, mantra, energy work etc. alternative medicine but usually they are supplemental to herbal/mineral/vitamin replacements used by naturopaths. Hope this helps.

very simple-conventional treats the symptoms.Alternative looks for for the cause of the symptoms and tries to solve the problem.

Conventional medicine is based on scientific knowledge, research and facts. Complimentary and Alternative medicine (CAM) are based on superstition, ignorance, and myth. I just finished a course on sCAM therapy for my master's in nursing.

With conventional medicine you die a lot slower.

http://www.holisticonline.com/Alt_Medicine/altmed_differences.htm

Conventional medicine is the act of using modern technologies and approved modern medicines to treat a disease/problem. For example, a child or adult who has ADD/ADHD will be put on a form of medication that is used to control the body's behavior. Some people do not believe that the disorder exists and/or do not want to use prescribed medication to treat the problem and may rely on alternative medicine to help them. Alternative medicine includes many forms of help such as natural herbal medicines, therapies, etc. Alternative medicine is merely the act of using natural and non-medicinal measures to treat a problem. Some forms of alternative medicine include diet change, taking herbal supplements, acupuncture, prayer and behavioral therapy. While it is not uncommon for a medical doctor to suggest trying some of these methods, it's more common for a doctor to suggest methods of treatment that have been tested and proven to be helpful. There are even a large amount of people who have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer and instead of using the conventional treatment of chemotherapy, they insist on using alternative medicine such as vitamins and acupuncture to help their cancer. The best way to remember the difference is to stop and think, "Would a licensed medical doctor use this as treatment?" If they do or would, then it's conventional medicine and if they would not use it as a common form of treatment, then it is alternative medicine.