alternative medicine

American  

1. healthcare and treatment practices, including traditional Chinese medicine, chiropractic, folk medicine, and naturopathy, that minimize or eschew the use of surgery and drugs.

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alternative medicine British  

noun

1. another name for complementary medicine See also holism

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alternative medicine Scientific  

/ ôl-tûr′nə-tĭv /

1. A variety of therapeutic or preventive health-care practices that are not typically taught or practiced in traditional medical communities and offer treatments that differ from standard medical practice. Homeopathy, herbal medicine, and acupuncture are types of alternative medicine.

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alternative medicine Cultural  

1. Medical practice or therapy that uses methods that have not been associated with the traditional, standard care most generally taught and executed by AMA-certified medical schools.

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Alternative medicine includes practices such as acupuncture, naturopathy, and chiropractic, as well as such therapies as chelation therapy, homeopathic remedies, and biofeedback. There has been an explosion of interest in alternative medicine in recent years.

Etymology

Origin of alternative medicine

First recorded in 1980–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alternative medicine

Interest in their use as wellness supplements has built through word of mouth, fueled by positive reports from podcasters, influencers and alternative medicine providers impressed with the peptides’ effects on themselves or clients.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026

He says he immersed himself in the science and history of alternative medicine.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

While preparing for a project about 15 years ago, Morvan met his current partner, Tessa van der Steen, who is Dutch and works as a health and fitness coach and alternative medicine practitioner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

She has taken an unusual path to the office, abandoning traditional clinical practice after four years of residency to focus on alternative medicine and health tech projects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025

At times, that emphasis on “wholesomeness” or living “naturally” includes skepticism about mainstream health care, as well as touting “naturopathic” or alternative medicine.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2025

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