The New Age of Medicine
By Sarah Jane UdallColumnist
More and more people are turning to the various practices of alternative medicine to meet their health care needs. As these practices become more widely accepted, the need for certified, trained individuals in the fields of alternative medicine increases.
Alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not considered to be a part of conventional Western medicine. Alternative medicine can include such common practices as physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, herbal remedies, diet fads, yoga, and massage therapy, as well as some more obscure practices such as homeopathy, acupuncture, humors, aromatherapy, and radium treatments.
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Alternative Medicine Practices
These and other health practices typically included in the realm of alternative medicine often lack satisfactory scientific explanations for their effectiveness, and are in several instances looked upon with skepticism, but as these practices continue to be better researched, some, such as physical therapy, massage therapy, yoga, diet, and acupuncture, have become more and more widely accepted and practiced.Alternative medicine practices and therapies when used in addition to conventional treatments are often termed as complementary therapies and are typically sought out by individuals with immune deficiencies, arthritis, various types of caner, chronic back pain, and other medical conditions that are difficult to treat with conventional medicine. Some alternative medicine practices, such as massage therapy and yoga, have also been shown to be beneficial in decreasing anxiety, improving alertness, increasing blood circulation, and lymph flow, improving range of motion, and increasing endorphin levels.
Alternative Medicine Education
Specialized colleges and holistic schools around the country offer a number of new age educational programs in the various fields of alternative medicine. You can earn alternative medicine degrees and certifications in fields such as holistic healthcare, naturopathy, Chinese herbology and medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, clinical counseling, psychology, Ayurveda, massage therapy, yoga and more. These programs also often include CPR certification, and first aid education as well.As the awareness of both the physical and mental benefits of alternative medicine and its various practices becomes more widely known and accepted, the demand for qualified and skilled natural health specialists continues to increase. Training and certification in one or more of these practices will prepare you to become a successful, practicing alternative medicine specialist with the credentials to work at a spa, health club or gym, on a cruise ship or at a resort hotel, in private practices, hospitals, hospice care facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, drug treatment clinics, or to establish your own alternative medicine practice.
