The term "alternative medicine" encompasses a wide range of healing traditions. Their common thread is non-conformance to the medical system conventionally used in western countries. The U.S. government agency known as NCCAM, or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, classifies alternative treatments into five categories as described below.Full Alternative SystemsNCCAM identifies entire alternative systems of healing theory and practice. Some examples include Native American herbal healing practices, acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine, and ayurveda, the traditional medicine system used in India. Homeopathy and naturopathic medicine are other examples of alternative medicine systems. Manipulative Methods of HealingChiropractic healing, thera