Final answer:
Alternative medicine refers to healing practices that are not part of dominant medical practice, unlike conventional medicine which is based on scientific research. Medical pluralism is when different healing systems coexist, such as biomedicine and ethnomedicines like traditional Chinese medicine. The U.S. sees a growing trend in integrating complementary and alternative medicine into conventional medical education and practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Healing practices inconsistent with dominant medical practice are known as alternative medicine. This term refers to a range of medical therapies that aren't part of standard care in many places and is distinct from conventional medicine, which is based on scientific research and clinical evidence, and traditional medicine, which refers to practices that have been handed down through generations in a certain culture. Integrative medicine refers to a combination of conventional and alternative treatments.
In the context of global healthcare, a diversity of healing systems is often observed, a phenomenon termed medical pluralism. This occurs when biomedicine, rooted in Western scientific traditions, coexists with various ethnomedical systems, which draw upon cultural knowledge and practices. Such ethnomedicines include traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, shamanism, and homeopathy, among others.
Within the United States, the incorporation of complementary and alternative medicine alongside conventional medicine is growing, with institutions like the American Medical Association recognizing the value of incorporating these therapies into medical education and practice, spawning a more holistic approach to healthcare.