Allopathic, Osteopathic, and Homeopathic Medicine

Allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and homeopathic medicine are all licensed in the United States. None of these systems is perfect, which is why many professionals combine the practices of each together, in an attempt to best treat their patients.

Allopathic medicine, also known as conventional medicine, refers to modern or mainstream medicine. This system of medicine has had the most evidence-based research conducted. Allopathic medicine is the most regulated system of medicine. Within this system of healthcare doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other workers in the medical field are licensed to practice. These professionals are allowed to treat symptoms and illnesses that their patients might be facing. Treatments done within this system include: surgery, radiation, medication, and different types of therapies. All professionals within the allopathic system gain an M.D., following their graduation.

Osteopathic medicine focuses on a person as a whole, not a specific part of the body. This kind of medicine is based on the idea that all of the systems within the human body are interrelated. Complementary treatments might be offered by these providers. Professionals in Osteopathic medicine treat their patients with not only medical treatments, but also with manipulation and by massaging muscles, bones, and joints. They can also prescribe medications, perform surgery and conduct tests just like any other physician. Within the U.S., the doctors in this system are considered to be licensed physicians and surgeons. However, this might not be the case in other parts of the world. While someone in the allopathic system receives an M.D. upon graduation, Osteopathic schools provide their students with a D.O. With this said, the professionals in both systems still attend a medical school in which they have to pass the same national board exam. In addition, the exact same residency training is provided to both systems of medicine. Osteopathic doctors get additional training in the musculoskeletal system, while also learning all the parts of modern medicine.

Homeopathic medicine is one that is used as a complementary integrated approach. Unlike allopathic and Osteopathic medicine, Homeopathic medicine providers are not licensed doctors. The physicians within this field believe that providing less medicine is more effective. Most medications used within this system consist of natural resources such as lead, lavender, and marigold. Unlike the other systems, Homeopathic providers earn their N.Ds after attending and graduating from a four year accredited school.