Alternative health professions offer innovative perspectives for health and healing

Alternative health professions offer innovative perspectives for health and healing

While conventional medicine is the usual academic course for some students, aspiring alternative medicine professionals such as massage therapists, acupuncturists and chiropractors are fast-growing alternative health careers.

Chiropractic, for example, is part of the many fascinating disciplines of complementary and alternative health professions available today. The field of chiropractic offers a new perspective on healthcare. Based on interesting concepts, alternative health professions such as chiropractic include the belief that the human body has strong self-healing powers, that the spine and its function are closely related to the health of the body, and that careful adjustment of the spine can help the body function more efficiently and healthily.

Alternative health careers in chiropractic require an appropriate level of education and training. Students interested in this area of ​​natural health care should note that most chiropractic colleges and schools require educational prerequisites and often include over 4,000 hours of academic and practical training.

If you don't easily fear needles, then alternative health careers in acupuncture and oriental medicine might be ideal for you. This unique alternative health profession is based on the concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and believes that the body must be in balance to achieve optimal health. In addition to using specific needling techniques along the body's meridians (energy channels), acupuncture and oriental medicine integrates additional natural health treatments such as moxibustion, cupping, herbal medicine, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Tuina (Chinese medical massage) to restore health and promote healing.

As with chiropractic, students interested in alternative health careers in acupuncture are sometimes required to meet certain educational requirements before they can apply to the school of their choice. And as with most areas of practice, acupuncturists must meet licensing requirements set forth by the state or province in which they are based. This often means that extensive academic and practical training must be completed before candidates can begin practicing legally.

Don't have time for a lengthy educational program? Massage therapy is one of the fastest growing alternative health professions today. With an exceptional career outlook, students who pursue the field of massage therapy have excellent career prospects.

There are over 80 variations of masotherapy to choose from – including Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage. Alternative health professions in massage therapy offer practitioners and clients unique healing treatments that focus on the body's ability to heal itself. Not only do certified massage therapists have the opportunity to work with primary care physicians, chiropractors, and acupuncturists – in some cases, professional massage therapists also work with animals in veterinary clinics.

If you (or someone you know) is interested in becoming an alternative health practitioner, let professional training in fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, reiki, and more get you started! Discover alternative health professions close to you.

Alternative health professions offer innovative perspectives for health and healing

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