Many of us, especially those of us trained in modern medicine, believe in the primacy of science and its ability to find a cure for what ails us. That belief is shaken by the prevalence of chronic or recurrent debilitating diseases and by death itself. The wish for something now and for something more effective than what science offers leads in the direction of alternative medicine. Uncertainty as to what is effective is heightened by the fact that many conditions other than terminal illness have a psychologic component and may be improved by alternative therapy; low back pain and insomnia are good examples.

Eisenberg et al. (1993) defined alternative medicine as “medical interventions not widely taught at U.S. medical schools or generally available at U.S. hospitals.” Cassileth et al. (1984) found that cancer patients who used alternative treatments were better educated than patients who used only conventional therapy. These authors concluded that there was a selective bias toward educated patients because they have the financial, educational, and personal resources to learn about these therapies and to provide support for their families during this time. Lerner and Kennedy (1992) reported similar characteristics. The better educated have also been taught not to take authority at face value.