A category of different approaches to treatment that are considered non-conventional as against western allopathic treatment which is considered the standard form of medicine to be practiced by doctors. Traditional Chinese medicine, ayurveda, aromatherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, etc are some of the forms of medicine and healing that come under alternative medicine. Alternative medicine is not a part of the syllabus taught in medical schools. Alternative medicine has gained mainstream popularity over the past few years mainly because these therapies are largely drug-free and for thousands of years they have been yielding results in the lands of their origin and wherever they have been practiced. Allopathic practitioners often combine aspects of alternative medicine for treating their patients.