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Daniel P. Eskinazi, DDS, PhD, LAc

JAMA. 1998;280:1621-1623.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

THE LACK OF relevant high-quality scientific research has often been given as a reason^1-2 to explain why a large number of health care practices are termed alternative. However, the fact that it required congressional intervention^3-4 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to earmark 0.02% ($2 million) of its $10.7 billion 1992 budget to evaluate practices used by more than 35% of the US population suggests that issues beyond the scientific were involved. Nonscientific factors have played a major role in limiting scientific exploration of these areas, have discouraged potential investigators, and have dictated greater profitability elsewhere. This article examines current definitions of alternative medicine and proposes a new one, outlining those factors, sociological (academic), political, regulatory, and economic, that must be considered when exploring this field.

Definitions of Alternative Medicine

Despite increasing use of alternative medicine,⁵ the creation of the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Commonalities Among Traditional Health Care Systems

Conceptual Differences and Commonalities Between Biomedicine and Traditional Health Care

Proposed Definition of Alternative Medicine

Sociological and Academic Parameters

Political, Economic, and Regulatory Parameters

Conclusion

From the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.

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