Alternative medicine has become very popular in the recent years though some of it has been for centuries already. When we say alternative medicine, this refers to any treatment or therapy which is not covered by mainstream medical practice. This includes acupuncture, balneotherapy, massage and the likes.
Does alternative medicine really work? The answers would vary depending on the persons asked. For those who advocate it, then certainly it would be a resounding yes while for those who are in the mainstream medical world, it is still being regarded with skepticism.

Most contentions would range from the fact that most of the alternative medicine practices have not gone through the same rigorous tests that the current technologies had. Furthermore, the efficacy of such may have been questioned for the lack of supporting scientific data but rather, it depends mainly on personal testimonies of those who went through it.

It cannot be disputed though that there have been a lot of successful cases. This cannot just be dismissed. It might not have been thoroughly researched in the usual laboratory settings but the centuries that these practices were used with varying degrees of success lend it credence. If it works then so be it.