Would you rather see a medical doctor or alternative medicine practitioner for minor ailments?

I think that alternative medicine is growing fast in popularity. Let me know your thoughts. In my opinion an alternative medicine pracdtitioner is appropriate for some patients with minor ailments.

Alternative medicine seems to use many of the 'treatments' that humans used for thousands of years before Western medicine became the main source of medicating illnesses or performing surgery to take care of some conditions. I think a trial of alternative medicine is appropriate if the medical doctor is attuned to the field and considers the ailment to be minor and appropriate for an alternative intervention. I feel a combination of the two types of healing - conventional Western medicine and alternative medicine is the best way to go.

My grandfather practiced medicine for more than 50 years and I often think of the many times he said that the medicines we have and the procedures we use simply assist the body until it can heal itself. Alternative medicine certainly does the same thing and many times without introducing toxic chemicals into our bodies or exposing us to large amounts of radiation. Unfortunately in today's society, too many people are eager to sue a physician and thus the physicians must cover all bases by over using diagnostic tests and at times even medications just to prevent a law suit.

When we 'relearn' how to take care of our bodies as our ancestors did thousands of years ago perhaps the insurance companies and the lawyers will get out of practicing medicine and let the physicians and alternative medicine practitioners actually treat illnesses and, more importantly, prevent illness! In my opinion an alternative medicine practitioner may be an excellent source for many patients with minor ailments. If a person has multiple diseases or conditions a medical doctor might be the best starting point.

Alternative medicine is becoming popular as an adjunct to medical practice rather than a totally different option in most cases and should be viewed as such for most illnesse3s or ailments.