CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd asked:


Find Alternative Medicine Education in the United States and Canada. If you are like the growing number of prospective students seeking an alternative medicine education, then you will discover that there are countless learning institutions and schools that offer diversified courses in alternative medicine education, both here in the U.S. and abroad.

Whether you’re drawn to naturopathic medicine or a number of other healing arts, an alternative medicine education can provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to not only attain your certification or licensure in the career of your choice, but will also help you to become an effective health care practitioner.

If you’re considering a career in complementary or integrative medicine, an alternative medicine education is vital to achieving short and long-term professional goals. Subject to independent schools, alternative medicine education can encompass certification, diploma and degree programs in a wide variety of natural healing arts. Should you choose to enroll in an energy healing program, you will find that most alternative medicine education courses will result in a certificate or diploma. If bodywork intrigues you, then note that a number of alternative medicine education programs involving massage therapy may be as brief as 300 hours, but as long as two years for more advanced studies. If you’re more interested in a longer term alternative medicine education – perhaps a degree in Chiropractic is an option to you. Some alternative medicine education courses, such as acupuncture, require licensure to practice; so it is of utmost importance that all educational and practical training needs have been met.

Remember, however, many alternative medicine education institutions do have a set standard of prerequisites that must be met prior to entry. In cases of chiropractic and naturopathy (and sometimes, acupuncture and Oriental medicine), prospective candidates must have achieved a certain level of traditional education from a 4-year college or university.

Students electing to pursue an alternative medicine education will typically find that a number of holistic and complementary medicine schools provide financial aid services; much like traditional colleges. In addition to federal Stafford loans, students can also apply for alternative loans, federal work study or in-house financing (depending on individual school). In many cases, an alternative medicine education college or school will also supply essential tools and/or counseling to help calculate academic costs and student loan payments.

Generally, successful graduates of any number of alternative medicine education programs may go onto becoming reputable health care providers and practitioners; which can be both personally and financially rewarding.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding appropriate alternative medicine education to help attain your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Alternative Medicine Education FAQs

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Alex

dona asked:


Alternative medicine is something that is different from the normal and conventional medicine. The comfort in using as well as the easy recovery due to the treatments followed in alternative medicines makes this method of treatment popular.  

The practices followed by alternative medicine practitioners are different from the conventional allopathic medicine methods. Even though these lack the explanations as seen in the biomedical treatments, this of course have the proof as experienced by a large number of people spread across the world. This is in fact the main reason, why this method is considered as a reliable treatment method for various ailments.  

Though not considered as ordinary doctors, the alternative medicine practitioners do have a reputation which attracts patients towards them. If you are in need of such an expert doctor for consultation, the ideal way is to search for one in your nearby locality. You can always be particular about your demands and start searching in various websites for expert advice.  

For certain medical conditions like cancer, back pain and arthritis, this is proven as an acceptable treatment method and hence used world wide.  Sometimes when patients look for the methodologies followed in treatments, they could be confused on the effectiveness. In such cases, they can seek for expert advice and references which will be helpful for them when taking decisions.  

There are different types of alternative medicine treatments and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. While you select a suitable method for your physical conditions, chances are high that you make a wrong selection. To avoid this, always look for an expert help from www.esearchdoctors.com”. This will probably help you to keep away from the disadvantages of alternative medicine on your body. Depending up on your individual health conditions, your doctor will be able to give you the best alternative treatment.



Dennis

Bubba asked:


Can someone provide any info on this subject? Because the term alternative medicine is really confusing to me. Has it:
-Not been scientifically tested, no scientific knowledge about it
or
-Been scientifically tested but just not adopted by moder medicine facilities

Why is it called alternative medicine, what are other types of medicine called?

Norman

Beselam K asked:


I am a patient of osteonecrosis. I am an Ethiopian. The treatment is not available in Ethiopia. I can not get any treatment even which prevents from further damaging of the femoral head. I am suffering with severe pain. I highly need the alternative medication.
I am an Ethiopian. Due to economical status, I can not go to replace the necrosed head of the femur by a metal.Do you have another alternate?

Vicki

eldridan asked:


Im really interested in alternative/natural medicine and i would like to become a proffessional. What should i do? Do i need to study normal medicine first? do you know some good school or something that offers online courses (as i live in Slovakia). I feel this is something i really want to do in my life but i dont know how to start. Im esp interested in holistic medicine, herbs, nutrition and accupressure

James

shyneenose asked:


My grandma would like to work with a doctor that believes in alternative medicine - particularly nutrition. She has several health issues.

Joyce

Lala asked:


I am interested in a doctor who has training in alternative medicine techniques but also has certifications to allow him/her to be covered by my mainstream insurance policy - is this too much to ask?? I’ve been searching off and on for a while now, with absolutely no luck. Even if you don’t have a suggestion for Atlanta - if you have stories to share about other cities I’d be interested to find out where these doctors are (or are not).

Thanks!

Joyce

Shaun Parker asked:


Alternative medicine can be defined as any form of therapy, practice or treatment which is outside the mainstream or beyond the realm of the conventional.

More generally it can be defined as any approach or medicine which differs from conventional Western forms. Alternative medicine is often talked about in conjunction with Complementary Therapy and the umbrella term Complementary & Alternative Medicine or CAM is used.

As a general guide some of the more mainstream CAMs are acupuncture, acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, reiki, reflexology & Yoga.

Alternative medicine in the UK is growing year on year and in 2006 it generated expenditure of 1.6 billion pounds. Large numbers of people choose to seek out alternative forms of medicine subsequent to a diagnosis from their GP or other traditional route. However in the main, research shows that people tend to use CAMs in parallel with conventional medicine. There is often resistance from GPs to recommend or refer a patient to an alternative therapy where they consider empirical evidence to be limited or non-conclusive and the research methods are not always standardised as with traditional medicine. There are also often funding issues relating to onward referrals within the NHS.

However, the CAM sector is responding to this criticism by adopting the standard research methods & evidence provision in line with the medical establishments traditional methods. This is largely assisting with the rapid growth of this multi-layered industry, alongside the continually growing wealth of positive empirical evidence.

Generally speaking CAM’s can be organised into five key areas, although it should be noted that there are number of areas where these overlap. These areas are -

Whole Medical Systems (WMS)

WHMS have been developed in the West - often with it roots in other medicine systems. Examples of this type of system are Naturopathy - helping or stimulating the body’s own in-built healing system by improving diet & lifestyle in conjunction with other CAMs such as acupuncture and massage. A good non Western parallel to this system is Chinese Medicine as is Ayurveda which hails from India and takes the holistic approach of treating the mind body & spirit via massage, yoga, herbs & meditation.

Another WMS which developed in recent years in the West is Homeopathy the practice of stimulating the healing system of the body by delivering minute amounts of certain elements or substances which in much higher doses would be detrimental or dangerous to a patient’s health.

Mind-Body Medicine (MBM)

MBM can call upon a number of techniques which are aimed at improving the symptoms & functions of the body e.g. meditation, Yoga etc. A number of therapies which historically where thought to be CAMs are now firmly placed in the mainstream such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming).

Biologically Based Practices (BBP)

BBP are derived from elements and materials which are found naturally such as vitamins for supplements, healthy foods for well being & detoxification and herbs helping with everything from pain relief to stress & weight loss. Biologically based practices in CAM use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements, herbal products, and the use of other so-called natural but as yet scientifically unproven therapies (for example, using shark cartilage to treat cancer).

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices (MBBP)

MBBP work by manipulation, pressure and rubbing of soft tissues and muscles aimed at promoting repair, better health & flexibility. These type of therapy work by removing scar tissue, promoting oxygen flow and helping the removal of toxins and acids.

A number are further examples of therapies which are becoming less and less alternative and more mainstream. These include Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Massage & other body work such as Shiatsu and Sports Massage.

Energy Medicine Therapies (EMT)

EMT are believed to help the patient by tapping into the energy fields which cloak the human body and restoring balance, improving energy flow and clearing blockages. Examples of these type of therapies are Reiki, Chinese Medicine and Energy Healing.

So, why the growth in CAMs? Well, in recent years patients have gradually taken more accountability & responsibility for their health and are not as happy as maybe they once were to be told what to do or how to live. As a result they are becoming more autonomous and seeking out their own alternatives and solutions.

It is important to note they don’t side step mainstream traditional medicine but seek help from CAMs to complement their treatment. Part of the reason for this empowerment is the growth of the internet and the ease of access to swathes of information, research, forums and feedback available at a click on the World Wide Web. Recent research has shown that over 60% of internet users use the web to provide answers on health related issues.

In addition to the ground swell of the general public embracing CAMs, areas of traditional medicine are adopting and recommending alternative therapies. The NHS now has as 5 hospitals offering CAMs for patients and more and more health professionals such as doctors, nurses and mid wives are training in alternative therapies to offer within their mainstream practice.



Elsie

Emanuele Allenti asked:


If you have cancer or know someone who does, then you know that sometimes the treatment can be as disheartening as the disease. The effects of chemotherapy can reduce cancerous cells, but the side effects are nausea, loss of appetite, and hair loss, just to name a few. It’s no wonder that cancer victims look for alternative forms of treatment, and alternative medicine has come up with some options that are meant to be complimentary to the more “modern” forms of treatment. However, there appears to be no middle ground here; while the alternative medicine community is accused of overstating the validity of alternative medicine, the “conventional” treatment provider’s tend to understate the effects of alternative therapies for cancer sufferers.

While there is no cure for cancer, the NCCAM (National Center for complimentary and Alternative Medicine has conducted studies showing that acupuncture relieves the fatigue, nausea, and pain symptoms associated with both colon and breast cancer, as well as headaches and neck pain associated with surgery for brain tumors or throat cancer. Ginger is a good tasting treatment for the nausea and vomiting side effects of chemotherapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is currently being studied as a relief for larynx cancer patients. (Hyperbaric oxygen therapy consists of breathing oxygen which is at an atmospheric pressure greater than sea level. It is being studied to compliment radiation therapy.) Massage is used to relieve fatigue for all forms of cancer.

Another form of alternative therapy used for fighting the symptoms of cancer is coupling pancreatic enzymes with chemotherapy for the use in pancreatic cancer treatment. Pancreatic enzymes are proteins secreted from the pancreas that help in food digestion.

There is a distinction between complimentary medicine and alternative medicine. Complimentary medicine is used along with conventional medicine; whereas alternative is used instead of. Studies show that better long term results were achieved with complimentary medicine on advanced stages of cancer, while alternative medicine seemed to help early stage cancers. The study is called CAM, (complimentary alternative medicine) and statistics show that 36% of adults with various stages of cancer use both therapies. If you include megavitamin therapy in this statistic the numbers almost double to 62%. 79% out of almost 500 cancer patients use some form of complimentary or alternative therapy for cancer symptoms. Possibly the most beneficial part of CAM therapy is that patients can feel as if they are taking some form of control over their cancer, and that increases the quality of life and chances for survival. Bringing relief of pain and increasing hope for cancer patients is reason enough for these foundations to continue to receive grants and continue their studies.

If you are considering CAM therapy, there are some questions that you should ask the health provider before you begin treatment. One of the most important is will the treatment be covered under your health insurance and if so, are there any clauses you should know about? If the therapy is being sponsored as part of a clinical trial, find out who is sponsoring it so you will know if the trial is being conducted by an unbiased company with no marketing credits to be gained by the outcome. You’ll also want to ask if the therapy will interfere with any conventional treatment you might be receiving at the same time. Usually the answer is no-that’s the nature of alternative and complimentary medicine-but you should have all the information before agreeing to any type of treatment. Ask also if there will be any side effects, or if the documented benefits outweigh the risks, if any, involved.



Glenda

Cindy Browne asked:


With the colder weather soon upon us there will be plenty of illnesses going around before we know it. Even if you are one that washes your hands often the germs around us that cause colds and the flu can’t always be prevented. As a result the circulate in our homes, offices, schools, and even childcare centers. You can help to boost your immune system against such common illnesses though with alternative medicine.

When your body is affected by such illnesses it can take quite a while to feel your self again. With the busy schedule that most people have it can be virtually impossible to just stop taking care of them and focus on getting yourself better. Preventative care with alternative medicine may mean that you don’t have to .

There are many other types of illnesses a person can suffer from as well. When you have a healthy immune system you will find the effects of them to be less severe than they would otherwise be. Your body can also have the strength it needs to fight such problems as diabetes and forms of cancer. Having a very healthy immune system will help you in many ways so don’t underestimate how boosting it can help you stay as healthy as possible.

Toxins can build up in the body due to what we eat and the environment around us. By drinking plenty of water as well as green tea each day you can naturally remove those toxins from your body. When they are eliminated there are less germs and other elements in your body that can lead to various types of illnesses. Exercising each day is also a great way to boost your immune system. Don’t forget to get enough rest each night as well.

Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Astragalus are natural herbs you can use in order to boost your immune system. Echinacea works to help cells grow that naturally fight off any form of infection found in your body. Each of the cells that you already have to fight will be stronger as well. That means you have an additional line of defense from the onset of any illness.

Goldenseal helps to fight off types of bacteria that can cause illness in your body. When you get such bacteria you may need antibiotics to remove it. By using Goldenseal you won’t become done with such illnesses. It is also known to prevent parasites from being able to survive in your body.

If you suffer from bouts of the common cold or sore throats on a regular basis you will want to take Astragalus. It is known to prevent people from suffering from such problems. It is safe for children to take as well. These three types of herbs can be found at local health food stores or purchased online.

By incorporating such methods of alternative medicine to boost your immune system you can feel your very best. You will be less likely to suffer from common illnesses that due circulate. If you are affected by them you will also have the ability to fight them off quickly and get back to your normal routine. Being able to stay feeling your very best will improve your mental health as well. As a result your mind and body will be able to find a good balance with each other.



Deborah