Alterative

Alterative is a former categorisation of materia medica covering various substances, often metals or minerals used in the treatment of chronic conditions to alter the body's metabolic processes.^[1] Substances included in this category included iron, mercury, phosphorus, manganese and arsenic,^[2] as well as iodine.^[3] In modern medicine these are categorised separately according to the biochemical nature of the change they bring about and their categorisation as "alteratives" has become obsolete.^[2]