Contents

 1Etymology
 2Clinical practice
 3Institutions
o 3.1Delivery
 4Branches
o 4.1Basic sciences
o 4.2Specialties
o 4.3Interdisciplinary fields
 5Education and legal controls
 6Medical ethics
 7History
o 7.1Ancient world
o 7.2Middle Ages
o 7.3Modern
 8Quality, efficiency, and access
 9Traditional medicine
 10See also


 Medicine has been around for thousands of years, during most of which it was an art (an
area of skill and knowledge) frequently having connections to the religious and philosophical beliefs
of local culture. For example, a medicine man would apply herbs and say prayers for healing, or an
ancient philosopher and physician would apply bloodletting according to the theories
of humorism.11References
Prescientific forms of medicine are now known as traditional medicine and folk medicine, though
they do not fall within the modern definition of “medicine” which is based in medical science.
Traditional medicine and folk medicine remain commonly used with, or instead of, scientific medicine
and are thus called alternative medicine (meaning “[something] other than medicine”,
from Latin alter, “other”). For example, evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture is "variable and
inconsistent" for any condition,[2] but is generally safe when done by an appropriately trained
practitioner.[3] In contrast, alternative treatments outside the bounds not just of scientific medicine, but
also outside the bounds of safety and efficacy are termed quackery.

Contents

 1Etymology

 2Clinical practice

 3Institutions

o 3.1Delivery
 4Branches

o 4.1Basic sciences

o 4.2Specialties

o 4.3Interdisciplinary fields

 5Education and legal controls

 6Medical ethics

 7History

o 7.1Ancient world

o 7.2Middle Ages

o 7.3Modern

 8Quality, efficiency, and access

 9Traditional medicine

 10See also

 11References
 In recent centuries, since the advent of modern science, most medicine has become a
combination of art and science (both basic and applied, under the umbrella of medical
science). While stitching technique for sutures is an art learned through practice, the
knowledge of what happens at the cellular and molecular level in the tissues being stitched
arises through science.