Alternative health methods are known as healing practices that do not fall in the category of 'conventional medicine', or that has been proven to be consistently effective.
It is often conflicting evidence based medicine that cover historical or cultural scientific basis.
Many of these examples include naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, and nutritional-based therapies, including many other practices.
Practices in these alternative health methods and practices vary in their foundations; some base themselves in traditional medicine, folk knowledge, spiritual beliefs or new methods to healing.
Control and use as far as where alternative health methods are practiced are widespread as far as regulation.
Claims by alternative health methods are generally not accepted by the medical community because evidence based assessment of safety and effectiveness is either not available or has not been executed for these practices.
The National Science Foundation has described alternative health methods and medicine as "all treatments that have not been proven effective using scientific methods".
Numerous mainstream scientists and physicians have commented on and criticized alternative health methods and medicine.
There is much debate among medical scientists over whether any therapy can be properly classified as 'alternative medicine' or 'alternative health methods'.
Some claim that there is only medicine which has been effectively tested and that which has not.
They think that health care practices should be classified based on scientific evidence.
Most people utilize mainstream medicine for diagnosis and basic information, while turning to alternative health methods for health-enhancing measures.
Studies show that alternative approaches are often used in addition with conventional medicine.
Due to the uncertain nature of various alternative therapies and the wide variety of claims different practitioners make, alternative medicine has been a source of vigorous debate, even over the definition of alternative medicine.
Dietary supplements, their ingredients, safety, and claims, continue to be a source of controversy.
Because of the uncertain nature of various alternative therapies and wide variety of claims different practitioners make, alternative medicine has been a source of debate over the definition of alternative medicine and methods.
Forms of alternative medicine that are biologically active can be dangerous even when used in conjunction with conventional medicine.
Examples include immuno-augmentation therapy, shark cartilage, bioresonance therapy, oxygen and ozone therapies, and insulin potentiation therapy.
Some herbal remedies can cause dangerous interactions with chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy or anesthetics during surgery, among other problems.
An anecdotal example of these dangers was reported by Associate Professor Alastair MacLennan of Adelaide University, Australia regarding a patient who almost bled to death on the operating table after neglecting to mention that she had been taking "natural" potions to "build up her strength" before the operation, including a powerful anticoagulant that nearly caused her death.
Those who have experienced or perceived success with one alternative therapy for a minor disease may be convinced of is effectiveness and persuaded to extract that success to some other alternative therapy for a more serious, possibly life-threatening illness.
For this reason, critics argue that therapies that reply on the placebo effect to characterize success are very hazardous.