Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1989 Nov; 101(22): 774-80.

[Alternative healing methods in Austria]

Velimirovic B.

Institut f�r Sozialmedizin, Universit�t Graz.

The term "alternative medicine" serves as collective name for all healing methods and medicines whose efficacy has not been confirmed by controlled studies and trials. The various methods are separated by a broad spectrum from the scientific opinions of official medicine. Some are close to conventional practice; they are tolerated or even partly integrated into the official healing system, which means that physicians are permitted to apply them. However, this tolerance of non-scientific methods has as consequence led to a weakening of the Austrian law. The official position with respect to the most widely used methods of alternative healing, as well as the aggressive trend towards a technology which supports alternative healing methods, are discussed.