The term alternative medicine has a number of synonyms. The most common are alternative medicine, alternative treatments, complementary therapies, medicine additive or non-conventional medicine. The English term Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is also used.
The term has become prevalent in the Netherlands in 1981 when Prof. P. Muntendam the report Alternative Medicine in the Netherlands presented. In politics and these treatments are usually formally referred to as "non-conventional medicine." In medical science
With the introduction of the Netherlands Law Implementation Medicine (WUG) in 1865 there was a separation between academic medicine and other medicines. The university medicine given by this law legal protection. The term alternative medicine is actually since the eighties of the twentieth century only used widely in the Netherlands, after the Commission Muntendam released a report with recommendations to the Dutch government for a number of alternative treatments to be examined scientifically.
A small part of the regular doctors in the Netherlands studied further in suggesting alternative approaches such as homeopathy, chiropractic, manual therapy, anthroposophy, osteopathy or acupuncture. The alternative medical associations in the Netherlands representing approximately 1,500 physicians alternative. The actual number is around 1000 (eg doctors who offer homeopathy and acupuncture). The number of practitioners of alternative medicine that no medical training in the Netherlands is higher, because the profession is not protected, anyone can call themselves without training therapist. However, it is of alternative practitioners required by the Law on Medical Treatment Agreement (WBGO) any care.
Alternative treatments are treatments that have not been shown to work scientifically.
There is a lot of difference between alternative treatments. Some resemble real medical treatments. Other alternative treatments are far from the medical world off. Medicine.
Known alternative treatment methods are acupuncture, homeopathy and naturopathy.
It is important that you know some things before you choose an alternative treatment:
There is no evidence that these treatments work.
Alternative practitioners may not be diagnosed. They may only make a diagnosis if they are doctor.
Legal rules apply. Doctors and therapists These rules do not apply to alternative practitioners. Their professional organizations often have themselves established rules, but so they do not come from the government.
The medical disciplinary law does not apply to alternative practitioners. Some professions of alternative practitioners do have their own complaints. You as a patient in a weaker position than mainstream medicine.
Talk to your doctor if you want to do. Alternative treatment Often it is no problem to medical treatment and an alternative treatment to do, but sometimes side by side.
Other names for alternative treatments, alternative medicine, complementary medicine, complementary medicine and integrated medicine.
