In the contemporary United States, the phrase alternative medicine has come to mean virtually any healing or wellness practice not based within the conventional system of medical doctors, nurses, and hospitals. The concept of alternative medicine encompasses an extremely wide range of therapeutic modalities, from acupuncture to yoga. These practices derive from different cultural traditions and scientific premises. Medicines such as herbal and homeopathic remedies differ radically from those typically prescribed by mainstream physicians. Some medical professionals staunchly dismiss a number of alternative techniques and theories as quackery. Yet taken as a whole, the alternative sector of the health field is enormously popular and rapidly growing. (Opposing Viewpoints)