In today's world of wellness, medical history is not rewritten so much as it is constantly updated. Currently, some 34 of the 125 medical schools in America-including schools at Yale and Harvard-offer courses in alternative medicine. Over time, this broader-based approach to healing will lead millions of Americans to think anew about what they do with-and to­their bodies.

Most of the treatments and suggestions that you will find in this website can be classified in a variety of ways: Natural, new age, alternative, folk, traditional, homeopathic, holistic or complementary-or as some combination of one or more of these categories. In several cases, you will find out about uncommon uses for quite commonplace treatments. But, most specifically, you will find an abundance of advice from doctors, healers and other health practitioners on how to look at medical problems in different ways than you might have in the past.

The focus is on what works, and why. For in the hundreds of uncommon treatments and cures for everyday ailments accumulated here, there is much wisdom and a lot of science. But there is also tradition and faith and, we think, an uncommonly large lot of healing advice.

If you are new to the world of alternative medicine, the 15 healing methods that follow may at first seem less scientific than those you are accustomed to using. That is to be expected. But over the next decade, be assured that doctors of all kinds will be incorporating a number of these modalities into their practices. Note that we don't say "replacing." Because the best doctors and hospitals will be broadening their scopes to practice complementary medicine. It is not exclusionary medicine, nor is it magic. Over time it simply may be a better blend of what's good for what ails you.