Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Is alternative medicine effective?
Position2 of 3

No, alternative medicine is not effective

This position holds that alternative medicine is not effective. It argues that it has no proven effect beyond the placebo response, and that the point is self-proving: any alternative treatment that genuinely worked would, once demonstrated, simply become accepted orthodox medicine.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Alternative medicine simply acts as a placebo
    Any benefits that one experiences from alternative medicine are simply a trick of the mind. Most diseases will come right eventually anyway unless they are chronic or terminal.
  2. Alternative medicine has no proven effect
    There is no scientific evidence of alternative medicine's effectiveness.
  3. If a treatment does work, it becomes orthodox medicine
    Alternative medicine doesn't work - if it did, it would just be mainstream medicine.