Medicine is a field of science and practice that pertains to the research, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of illness and disease of the body or mind. In addition to a variety of health care practices for humans and animals, medicine also pertains to the pharmaceuticals used to treat or prevent disease.

The medical field includes a vast range of disciplines such as general practice, specialty medicine, mental health, diagnostics, radiology, dentistry, veterinary medince, surgical and more.  In addition to conventional or 'western' medicine, alternative medicine defines a category of complementary practices. (Photo: Shutterstock)