I say 'work alongside' since the majority of alternative practitioners advocate doing just that.

The unit subjects complementary therapies to the same scientific tests as conventional medicines, and has upset alternative practitioners by questioning the evidence for some claims.

Patients who read those letters after an alternative practitioner's name could be forgiven for assuming that the therapies he prescribes have a solid foundation.

Some sceptics acknowledge, however, that the conversations patients have with their alternative practitioners often make them feel better through the placebo effect.

To some extent, alternative practitioners conspired to promote this caricature.