Conditions as varied as hypertension, depression, cancer, and schizophrenia can all benefit enormously from vitamin therapy. Biofeedback, body work, massage therapy, reflexology, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and various other forms of energy medicine round out the vast spectrum of alternative medicine modalities. Conventional medicine is preferred in the treatment of trauma and emergencies while alternative medicine excels in the treatment of chronic disease, although homeopathy can also be very effective as a first-aid. Conventional medicine focuses on the relief of symptoms and rarely places emphasis on prevention or the treatment of the cause of a disorder. All alternative systems, on the other hand, strive to find and treat the cause of a disorder and frown on covering up the symptoms.
Alternative therapies are also much more focused on prevention.
Conventional medicine is organ specific, hence ophthalmologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, neurologists, etc. Alternative medicine, without exception, considers each person as a unique individual and uses a holistic approach in treatment. Conventional medicine believes in aggressive intervention to treat disease. Alternative medicine believes in gentle, long-term support to enable the body's own innate powers to do the healing. Conventional medicine practitioners are guided in their treatment by strict rules set out by the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons.