West Indian Med J. 1998 Dec; 47 Suppl 4(): 34-6.

Alternative medicine: old ideas with new interests?

Desai P.

Dept of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, WI.

The use of complementary or alternative medicine has greatly increased in developed countries during the last few years. In such countries, laws have been passed and regulations made to protect both the public and the practitioners. There are a growing number of research units in universities, journals, and associations of practitioners of complementary medicine. In Jamaica, too, there is increasing recognition, if not acceptance, of the popular interest in complementary medicine. In preparation for the next century we will need to address some of the legal, educational and scientific issues raised.