[Evidence-based medicine and the diverse cultures of healing]

Abstract

The term "unconventional medicine" refers to a remarkably heterogeneous group of theories and practices (homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc.) different from those peculiar to the dominant health system of a particular society. An unifying characteristic of these practices is that they have not been scientifically tested and that unconventional practitioners largely deny the need for such testing. However, established research procedures are to be considered adequate to address the majority of questions related to unconventional therapies and promising unconventional therapies should be subjected to the same level of scientific scrutiny that is required for drug therapies used within the official medicine. While many questions about the risk/benefit ratio of unconventional therapies remain unanswered, millions of people are spending millions of dollars each year in several developed countries, thus, to define strategies aimed at the careful evaluation of these practices is needed.