Natural Health Careers
According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, close to half of all Americans rely on natural health practitioners to meet their health needs. As alternative medicine merges with more traditional medicine, job opportunities are expected to grow.
Natural Health Careers: A Healthy Outlook, Naturally
If you are interested in natural health careers, there are numerous options. Sometimes referred to as alternative medicine or complementary medicine, natural health careers are growing in popularity. In fact, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 38 percent of American adults rely on complementary and alternative medicine to some degree.
Although many natural health careers are considered new and emerging, others have been around for thousands of years. As these disciplines gain in popularity, more research is being conducted on them and these natural health careers are becoming accepted more and more by mainstream Western medicine.
Is this Career for Me?
You may recognize some of the more common natural health careers. Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that involves inserting extremely thin needles into different parts of the body to promote health. Chiropractors diagnose and treat patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system and treat the effects of those problems on the nervous system and on general health. Massage therapists use massage techniques to treat pain and tension.
Other specialties within natural health careers include:- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Doulas
- Midwives
- Herbalists
- Yoga
Entering the Natural Health Profession
The necessary qualifications to start a career in natural health vary from certificates--for example, for pilates instructors--to advanced degrees equivalent to earning an MD for doctors of natural medicine.
However, nearly all natural health careers require some degree of training and often licenses and certifications as well. Requirements vary from state to state, so check with the school or program you are considering.
The Following Schools Provide Educational Programs For Natural Health Careers:
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