What is the difference between alternative and complementary medicine?

23.What is the difference between
alternative and complementary medicine?

Alternative medicines and complementary medicines
recently have been described as all treatments that traditionally
have not been offered to patients in hospitalbased
oncology practices, including dietary modification
and supplementation, herbal products, acupuncture,
massage, exercise, and psychological and mind-body
therapies. They differ in that alternative therapy is
often used instead of standard or “mainstream” medical
care, whereas complementary medicine is used together
with standard care. Alternative medicine is often thought
of as a means of cure, while the goal of complementary
medicine is usually improving quality of life through
the reduction of physical symptoms and emotional distress
while someone undergoes or finishes traditional
cancer treatments.

Alternative medicine = Healing treatment(s) used instead 
of mainstream, hospitalbased healthcare practice.

Complementary medicine = Healing treatment(s)
used together with mainstream, hospitalbased 
medical practice.

Acupuncture = An ancient Asian system of therapy
that uses long, thin needles to cure disease or relieve
symptoms.