Printer friendly versionWhat is Alternative Medicine?
Slightly simplified you could say that alternative medicine covers a broad spectre of treatments, which the conventional health care system rarely employs.
A central notion within alternative medicine is “holism”. Holism means whole, and with this notion alternative practitioners wish to emphasize that they base their philosophy on “the whole human being”, i.e. man as a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.
Many alternative practitioners work not merely with the treatment of diseases, but also focus on disease prevention and health maintenance.
ViFAB’s Definition of Alternative Medicine
ViFAB uses the term “alternative medicine” for:
- Treatments performed by therapists who are not authorized health care professionals.
- Treatments performed by authorized health care professionals, but which are based on methods otherwise mainly used outside the health care system. People without a health care authorisation must be able to perform the treatments.
Health Care Professionals Authorized by the Danish National Board of Health
Authorized health care professionals include among others:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Physiotherapists
- Clinical dieticians
- Chiropractors
Last updated
21-12-2009