Practitioner Update

ternative practitioners hold that the individual has the capacity to maintain health and that people get sick when they are out of balance with their environment or society. Alternative medical practices typically address a spiritual component of health and illness largely ignored in conventional medicine. Because of the increasing acceptance of alternative medical practices, managed care organizations should be aware of their potential medical benefits and cost savings. Several types of alternative medical practices are described, including Ayurveda, Oriental medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, natural medicine, massage and manipulation, movement and meditation, and energy healing.