Alternative Medicine Schools and Programs

Alternative medicine is an exciting field made up of health care practices that are outside the mainstream of medicine. Consider career training in fields such as herbal medicine, homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine, and more.

How to Become an Alternative Medicine Professional

What Is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine, or holistic health, generally promotes a holistic approach to health care, addressing the patient's mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social well-being. Many natural health traditions date back to antiquity. The many areas within the field of alternative healing are very widely varied.

Natural Health Fields

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) couples alternative medicine with complementary medicine, which involves similar practices used as adjuncts to traditional care. That organization divides alternative and complementary medicine into four areas:

• Biology-based practices involving diet and food, using herbs, vitamins and other supplements.
• Energy-based medicine addressing the body's subtle energies, both measurable and unmeasurable. Examples are Reiki, magnet therapy, and healing touch.
• Body-based practices, such as spinal manipulation, massage, and reflexology, that concentrate on the various elements of the physical body.
Mind-body medicine techniques like qigong, Tai Chi and yoga, that address the body through the influence of the mind. The NCCAM also defines a number of whole natural health medical systems, like naturopathy, homeopathy, and ayurvedic medicine, all of them addressing allied health issues with natural treatments.

Careers in Holistic Healing Medicine

Work in natural health can be very flexible. In a field as wide as alternative medicine, there are many specific roles and professions, from naturopathic medicine to holistic health, herbal medicine to homeopathic medicine. They enjoy varying degrees of acceptance in the established health care community. What's more, they require a range of training and qualifications, such as certificates or diplomas. Alternative healing practitioners include acupuncturists, chiropractors, herbal treatment specialists, and more. Like health care in general, alternative health is a growing field and the right career training can get you started today.