Wednesday Debate: Alternative medicin

Personal stories of how alternative medicine have cured everything from stomach ache to cancer flourishes everywhere. And often the stories focuses on how traditional medical science have been insufficient in the meeting with these illnesses. Therefore some turn to healing, homeopathy, accupuncture and other alternative methods to get better. Most have an aunt, a friend or an acquaintance who's convinced of the effect because "it worked for me". Nevertheless, research concludes that these treatments have no proven effect. There appears to be a conflict between scientific knowledge and patient experience. Some will argue that alternative treatment is to pay for trickery and placebo. Others claim it is the solution to our health problems.

Why does science contradict what the experience of users? Why do so many people choose alternative medicine and treatment, if it actually has no effect? And if someone experiences an effect, does it matter that they choose an alternative treatment?