In a broad sense therapeutics means serving and caring for the patient in a comprehensive manner, preventing disease as well as managing specific problems.
Exercise, diet, and mental factors are therefore integral to the prevention, as well as the management of disease processes.
More specific measures that are employed to treat specific symptoms include the use of drugs to relieve pain or treat infection, surgery to remove diseased tissue or replace poorly functioning or nonfunctioning organs with fully operating ones, and counseling or psychotherapy to relieve emotional distress.

Confidence in the physician and in the method selected, enhances effectiveness.


Medical and Alternative Medical Terminology, Explanations -  by Courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica® 2001