The use of alternative medicine in healthcare should be taken seriously as it can improve a person's health without the serious side effects of conventional medications; alternative medicine is becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States and also focuses on prevention rather than intervention. Alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is usually combined with complementary medicine which, instead of being used instead of conventional medicine, is used together with it and abbreviated together as CAM. Controversy over CAM practices is quite widespread in the healthcare world. Many conventional medical practitioners believe that alternative treatment methods such as herbs, vitamins, yoga, chiropractic, etc. are not a viable option because they are dangerous or simply do not help. Despite criticism from these doctors, CAM practices have become increasingly popular among the population, with people seeking more organic and less harmful approaches to healthcare. Most CAM practices have been proven in studies and people who receive them experience significant beneficial results. Conventional medicine usually has more side effects associated with its use than alternative medicines, because they are usually made of more organic materials. Due to the elements used in conventional medicines, they tend to be harder on the recipient's stomach than alternative medicines. Even conventional medications can cause long-term health problems. A biologically based approach to alternative medicine is vitamins, herbs, or even a simple change in diet (Goldrosen, Straus 913). These are simple remedies, unlike conventional treatments... half of the paper... Complementary and alternative medicine: evaluating the evidence for immunological benefits." Nature Reviews Immunology 4.11 (2004): 912-21. Web. Grzywacz, Joseph G ., et al. "Age, ethnicity, and use of complementary and alternative medicine in health self-management." Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Vol. 48, no. 1 (March, 2007): 84-98 . Print.Nahas, and A. Balla of the common cold." Canadian Family Physician 57.1 (2011): 31-6. Web."Use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine." WHO Drug Information 18.3 (2004): 242-. Web.Winnick, Terri A. “From quackery to “complementary” medicine: the American medical profession confronts alternative therapies”. Social problem. Vol. 52, no. 1 (February 2005): 38-61.