Answer:
Traditional medicine in the United States is also known as allopathic medicine and is associated with reductionist (versus wholistic/holistic) methods. Traditional therapies include medications which are tested objectively prior to reaching the market/population, radiation modalities which are also subjected to rigorous standards and surgical. In order to practice traditional medicines, doctors must study and pass difficult tests, certifications and educational/clinical challenges. The benefits are that standards have been set and doctors are held to practicing via these standards. That does not mean that you will receive exactly the same treatment by every traditional doctor by any means, but if you are seeing a Board Certified physician you can feel safe that he/she knows what he is doing.
Alternative physicians have often the same M.D. or D.O. degree as traditional doctors, but they have furthered their education by becoming certified in chiropractic, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, naturopathy, herbology/phytopharmacology and/or homeopathy. Although some are schooled in scientific methods, many without MDs or DOs, practice medicine using intuitive and subjective "skills."