Practitioners of several distinct medical systems are currently practising in Canada. Although their services are not available in all communities, interest in their therapies is growing among PHAs. These systems have their own unique philosophies, diagnostics and treatment methods and their own recognized methods for training practitioners. In some cases, the medical system is the collective medical practice of a specific culture, such as traditional Chinese medicine. In other cases, the system has developed concurrently with Western medical methods but has its own unique methodology. This is true for homeopathy and naturopathy.

However these systems have developed individually, they are grouped together in this section because of what they share. Each system has a comprehensive set of principles dictating the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions — unlike the wellness strategies and unconventional therapies described in the following two sections.

The effective use of these systems relies heavily on an individual's relationship with a practitioner. For ancient systems of healing, HIV is a relatively new illness. As information about HIV/AIDS is changing rapidly, it is important to find a skilled, experienced practitioner who is knowledgeable about the disease. The latter half of this book includes a brief discussion of points to consider when choosing a practitioner, as well as a listing of organizations that may be able to refer you to qualified practitioners.