Opinion: Why alternative medicine can feel so much better than mainstream health care
The article explores why alternative medicine often feels more satisfying than mainstream healthcare, emphasizing that the difference lies not in clinical evidence but in the amount of time and attention patients receive. While conventional medicine prioritizes evidence-based treatments and population-level safety, alternative practitioners often provide longer, more personalized visits that make patients feel heard and cared for. The author, a physician, acknowledges the therapeutic value of feeling treated—even through placebo effects—while cautioning against potentially harmful unregulated therapies.
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OpinionFirst Opinion Why alternative medicine can feel so much better than mainstream health care It’s not about the evidence. It’s about time and attention Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article China Photos/Getty Images By Hannah KermanApril 29, 2026 Kerman is a physician in New York City. If all goes well — which is to say if you are generally healthy — you mostly experience the doctor’s office as an inconvenience, going to primary care appointments that are an hour of waiting for 20 minutes of care. If you’re ill, you fall into a Kafka-esque labyrinth of specialists, waiting rooms, and prior authorizations.
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