When you are sick, you just want to feel better. There are some illnesses that just have to work through your system and cannot be cured. When you visit a doctor, you have your symptoms treated. You are not actually being cured, but being made more comfortable. While an alternative health practitioner cannot cure these illnesses either, they will work with you to make sure you do not get them again. Alternative medicine works by treating the disease and your whole being, not just what is going on at the moment. The human body is pretty remarkable and adept at healing itself if it starts off in good health. Often, you get simple illnesses not because the flu is going around, but because you were not in optimum health to start off with. If you are like most people, you do not take your state of health seriously until you feel ill. There are many states of poor health that have no real symptoms and some that have symptoms, but you are used to them so you do not notice any more. Visit an alternative health practitioner when you are feeling good and see what you can do to make sure you get or stay healthy. You will be asked about all aspects of your life. Your emotional well-being can play an important part on your physical well-being. Things like stress, work, family and time for yourself will all be considered when your state of health is determined. Part of your "treatment" may be to find a way to cut back on work and enjoy time with your family. The practitioner will work with you to find a way to achieve this without causing more stress due to financial worries. He or she understands the importance of balance. Once you have things in balance, then your physical state will be looked at again. If conditions did not improve, you will need to consider ways to help them. Many times, once your physical body is in good health, you will not need to keep taking any medications, but only maintain the good habits you formed. Using an alternative physician will almost always require a lifestyle change of some sort. You will have a partner that will help you with the change. After you get to the point of health you need to be at, keeping it will not be hard, your body will do a lot of the work for you. Your physician will notice small changes and be able to help you take care of them before they get out of hand again. He or she will also know when it is time for you to see a conventional doctor to have a more intensive treatment for a big problem. You need to trust you practitioner and do as you are told to stay healthy.