Alternative Medicine Training Today

Find Alternative Medicine Training in the United States and Canada. While alternative medicine training may be considered "alternative" here in the United States, it is taught widely as traditional medicine in China and other Eastern cultures. Today, prospective students who express an interest in alternative medicine will find that there are countless alternative medicine training opportunities that await them. Whether you prefer to pursue alternative medicine training in acupuncture, massage therapy or naturopathy, there are several holistic and complementary medicine schools from which to choose.

Because the use of alternative and complementary treatments is on the rise, students seeking alternative medicine training will discover that there are innumerable professional avenues which they can take. For starters, there are a number of alternative medicine training programs offered through schools of Ayurveda, herbalism, homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, osteopathy, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Alternative medicine training programs vary in curriculum, tuition and graduation requirements. Some of these courses are generally geared toward natural therapies such as massage, reiki, and reflexology; which ultimately help students to achieve certification in their chosen field of study. But many alternative medicine training courses are more comprehensive (i.e. acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy) and entail studies that may last through 4 years; producing a degree and/or license. These alternative medicine training courses often require prerequisites of traditional college and/or university studies.

To further validate the importance and prospects for alternative medicine training programs, many alternative healing colleges and schools continue to carry out clinical trials on various healing arts to substantiate their reasons for being. In these cases, student practitioners are given the opportunity to participate in these hands-on alternative medicine training programs to not only gain knowledge and skills in their particular field of study, but also to help enrich the overall outlook on alternative medicine as a whole.

The demand for alternative medicine training courses has become so prevalent, in fact, that many traditional vocational schools and technical colleges have begun integrating alternative medicine training courses in massage therapy, medical massage, herbal studies and other natural health curriculums.

Is it a sign of the times? Perhaps; but students who wish to help patients and treat them as a whole person as opposed to simply treating symptoms, may well find that attaining adequate alternative medicine training today may be the right path to an interesting future in the medical industry.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding appropriate alternative medicine training 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 [http://school.holisticjunction.com/clickcount.php?id=6634739&goto=http://www.holisticjunction.com/search.cfm] near you.

Alternative Medicine Training Today
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The CollegeBound Network
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NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Natural Healing Schools, Alternative Medicine Schools, and other Alternative Healing Schools.

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Alternative Medicine Courses

Find Alternative Medicine Courses in the United States and Canada. Students searching for unique training programs may be intrigued by one or several alternative medicine courses offered through a number of healing arts and holistic schools.

Depending on your career interest, successful completion of one or more alternative medicine courses can lead to professions in naturopathy, natural health, homeopathy, massage therapy and Oriental medicine – to list just a few. Alternative medicine courses in natural health, for example, can help students achieve required education to become natural health consultants, educators or natural health technicians. Naturopathy schools that provide alternative medicine courses are commonly comprised of comprehensive studies in naturopathy, phytotherapy, botanical and herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and other Chinese medicine subjects. In many cases, alternative medicine courses in this line of work can lead to careers as Doctors of Naturopathy, Naturopathic Health Practitioners and/or Natural health advisors.

Some alternative medicine courses, such as the ones offered through homeopathy schools can teach students necessary skills to become homeopathic practitioners and herbal medicine practitioners. Alternative medicine courses that are extended through a variety of Oriental medicine schools may include training in Tuina (Chinese Medical Massage), Oriental medicine, herbology and even acupuncture. While some alternative medicine courses result in certification or diplomas, some require licensure; as in the case of medical acupuncture.

The vast majority of healing arts schools frequently afford students with a wide assortment of alternative medicine courses in acupressure, Chinese medicine, energy healing therapies, iridology, life coaching, massage therapy, Neuro linguistic programming, osteopathy, reflexology, reiki, sports medicine, yoga and many others.

Good examples of the more comprehensive, but longer alternative medicine courses can be found in chiropractic, naturopathy or acupuncture schools. Whether you decide to enroll in one or more alternative medicine courses, it is always wise to carefully review course prerequisites, tuition and length of program. In some instances, alternative medicine courses may be as brief as a weekend seminar, but as long as 4 years.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in enrolling in one of several alternative medicine courses to help find 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 [http://school.holisticjunction.com/clickcount.php?id=6634739&goto=http://www.holisticjunction.com/search.cfm] near you.

Alternative Medicine Courses
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Natural Healing Schools, Alternative Medicine Schools, and other Natural Healing Schools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CarolAnn_Bailey-Lloyd

The History of Alternative Medicine

A New Fad or Steeped in Ancient History?

You may be new to using alternative medicine or perhaps you have already seen the amazing benefits alternative medicine and alternative therapies can bring to your life. But do you know how long its been practiced and where it originated? Well let me take you on a journey into the fascinating history of alternative medicine.

The history of Alternative Medicine is an interesting one and has links with many different cultures. However it's difficult to say exactly when Alternative Medicine began, in part because up until recently the practices that fall under this term were the conventional medical practices of their time. But if we go back in history and trace several of the forms of healing that are now labelled as alternative we find that their origins go back as much as 5000 years.

From Eastern Philosophy to Widely used Western Alternatives

One of the oldest forms of alternative medicine can be traced back through Chinese history. The ancient Chinese, in much the same way as alternative medicine is used today, based their healing on the importance of the body and spirit being in balance. Much of the philosophy of Chinese Medicine is based on Taoist and Buddhist principals and the belief that a person and their environment are closely interlinked. The widely known principles of Yin and Yang come from Chinese Medicine and are integral to its practice. Yin and Yang explains how opposing forces are integral to each other and how for harmony within the body to take place, these must be in balance. When these are out of balance, disease occurs.

Chinese Medicine works at restoring balance in various ways including herbal medicine, acupuncture, breathing and movement (Tai Chi and Qigong) and also through diet. The practitioner looked at the patient's health and life in detail to ascertain where their life force or Qi (pronounced Chi) was out of balance. Various methods would then be used to restore the patient back to health. Such was the effectiveness of Chinese Traditional Medicine that it still forms a large part of modern health care in the East. It's not unusual for these "alternative" practices to be used in hospitals alongside western medicine.

The other Eastern Culture that has a long history of alternative medicine is India. Ayurvedic medicine dates back as far as 6000 years ago and like Chinese Medicine also has links with Buddhism. Ayurveda comes from 2 Sanskrit words - Ayu meaning life and veda meaning knowledge of. It is a system of medicine that keeps a persons body, mind and spirit in tune with nature in order to maintain good health.

When in Rome .....

In the West, the History of Alternative Medicine goes back around 3000 years. Treatments such as hydrotherapy were popular with the Romans and Greeks. The Ancient Greeks who were greatly influenced by the Babylonians and to a lesser extent by India and China brought herbalism into the West. Hippocrates (c. 460-377 BC), a Greek physician commonly referred to as the Father of Medicine, practiced herbal medicine.

During the Middle Ages, Monks in Europe studied and grew medicinal plants and translated many works on the subject from Arabic. Folk Healers also passed on their knowledge of healing through word of mouth, from Master to Apprentice. The understanding of the power different plants have is ingrained in many native civilisations and has allowed man to understand and thrive in often challenging environments. When the Europeans settled in America they found that the Native Americans had an extensive knowledge of the healing power of their indigenous herbs. Likewise the Aborigines in Australia understood the power of plants found in their environment.

Moving forward in time towards the 19th Century, before the rise of Western Medicine, as we now know it, medical practitioners were more like today's naturopaths. They would take a detailed medical history paying particular attention to the patient's lifestyle. They would then suggest ways to improve this by changes in diet, environment and would also prescribe herbal remedies.

How a Bit of Mould Turned the Tables on Alternative Medicine

The widespread use of alternative medicine in its various forms decreased during the 20th Century. Treatment of patients became more focused on the use of hospitals, and developments in modern medicine lead to the widespread use of Pharmaceutical Drugs to treat disease. The discovery of Penicillin and its development into a drug that could treat bacterial infections in the 1940's revolutionised health care and alternative medicine lost favour with most medical practitioners.

Although many Doctors let go of what they considered to be outdated treatments such as homeopathy, herbalism and traditional Chinese Medicine many patients still sort them out, especially when conventional medicine didn't appear to be working for them.

No Longer An Alternative, Now Another Choice for Achieving Better Health

The result now is that Alternative Medicine is on the increase. Practices such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, aromatherapy and healing are kept alive by practitioners who specialise in one of more alternative form of treatment. Frequently alternatives are used alongside modern medical treatments, which have led to alternatives being given the term complimentary medicine.

This brief history of alternative medicine shows that many of the practices used today have been with us for thousands of years. Given the rising popularity of using alternative medicine to deal with health issues today, it's likely that these practices will be around for many more.

Want to find out more about using alternative medicine and alternative therapies to improve your health? Visit http://www.alternativemedicineanswers.com and grab your FREE preview of the new book Alternative Medicine Answers now.

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Role of Alternative Medicine in Modern Society

Typically, alternative medicine differs from traditional medicine in that alternative medicine is older and what we might call unconventional or non-Western medicine. Alternative medicine does not follow the traditional science and research that current medicines undergo. Alternative medicine could also be termed complementary or traditional medicine or the therapies that can be integrated into current medicine. The staff of the National Library of Medicine of the United States classified alternative medicine under the category of complementary therapies in their Medical Subjects Heading Section. This was done in the year 2002. The definition provided was that alternative medicine therapeutic practices were not considered as an integral part of the traditional allopathic medicine. Therapies like acupuncture, dieting, physical therapy like exercises or yoga, etc. are termed as alternative medicine. These therapies are called complementary when they are used along with conventional treatments. If they are done in place of conventional treatments, they are known as alternative treatments.

In April 1995, the panel of National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, worked on Definition & Description, CAM Research Methodology Conference, Office of Alternative Medicine. The panel defined alternative medicine and complementary medicine as those healing resources that encompass all health systems and practices that are different from the dominant health system of a particular society or culture. Usually, therapies like ayurveda, herbal medicine, folk medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy, diet practices, chiropractic, music therapy, massage, pranic healing, etc. are classified as alternative or complementary medicine. People who do not find a cure, remedy or success in allopathic medicine generally try alternative medicine. Such people generally suffer from cancer, arthritis, acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS), chronic back pain, etc. Therapies included under alternative medicine would cease to be included in that category once their efficacy is proven and they are considered safe and effective. They are then considered as part of traditional medicine. An example would be chiropractors. Twenty years ago insurance would not pay for them as they were considered "alternative and ineffective." Today thousands of people have been helped by chiropractors and they are now recognized in the medical community. A similar movement is underway in the nutritional supplement and nutraceutical industry.

Over the years, more and more people have been using alternative medicine because traditional medicine is not working for them. The 2004 survey by the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine of the United States revealed that approximately 36% of Americans used alternative medicine in 2002. If alternative medicine is used in conjunction with traditional allopathic medicine, an integrative doctor is a person's best option. Some traditional doctors are adamantly against or simply do not believe in complementary medicine, even though research continues to show the benefits of many compounds. Your doctor should be informed about other approaches you may be using and if they are not comfortable with that then always feel free to choose another doctor. This would enable the doctor to foresee any possible complications or a better time in which to use a complementary therapy. The concern in using alternative medicine stems from the fact that some practitioners of alternative medicine do not have an accredited medical degree and therefore do not have a valid medical license. However, in recent times, many educational institutions and universities have started offering courses in homeopathy, ayurveda, siddha, unani, acupuncture, and naturopathy. The recent growth in this industry is evident by the many people demanding different, and in some cases better, care than what they are receiving in "modern medicine." They are no longer accepting the fact that they need to suffer with pain or illness because modern pharmacy does not have a magic bullet for them.

Darren Dunner is the author of this article on Alternative Medicine. Visit today http://www.facr.org for more information on the subject.

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Alternative Medicine Colleges: Making the Grade

Find Alternative Medicine Colleges in the United States and Canada. If you are drawn to complementary and alternative medicine, you are not alone. Alternative medicine colleges are growing in demand as "36 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over use some form of complementary and alternative medicine." [1] Alternative and complementary medicine therapies that are most commonly sought after include acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine, and nutritional [2] therapies. These professions are frequently taught to students in a number of alternative medicine colleges.

Before registering in the wide expand of alternative medicine colleges, you should first determine which alternative medicine practice you would like to enter. For example, if you interested in chiropractic, be sure that the selection of alternative medicine colleges in which you choose to enroll offer this course of study. Some alternative medicine colleges provide training in a diverse range of health therapies including education in pathology-specific treatments, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Studies offered through alternative medicine colleges in this area may include diverse curriculums in botanical or herbal medicine, supplements and vitamins, hydrotherapy, mind-body therapies, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture and other massage therapies.

Other courses provided through alternative medicine colleges may be designed for the future homeopathic practitioner or professionally certified massage therapist. However, there are so many fields of study from which to choose, the potential to attaining a quality education at one of several alternative medicine colleges is virtually unlimited.

Currently, a number of alternative medicine colleges provide undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and independent career training programs. Students who are interested in naturopathic medicine or holistic medicine can gain a comprehensive education and skills through accredited alternative medicine colleges, as well as other complementary medicine schools. Students seeking certification or diploma programs can frequently achieve these goals at alternative medicine colleges, too. For instance, some alternative medicine colleges specifically provide certification courses in massage, herbal medicine and reflexology. Again, the diverse options in education are quite compelling.

Students, who have successfully graduated from one of several alternative medicine colleges, can go onto lucrative and personally rewarding careers that are mutually beneficial in helping patients and clients from all walks of life.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in enrolling in one of several alternative medicine colleges to help find 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.

References:

   1. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Statistics on CAM Use in the United States (http://nccam.nih.gov/news/camstats.html)
   2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Press Release: More than One-Third of U.S. Adults use Complementary and Alternative Medicine, according to New Government Survey (http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2004/052704.htm)

Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Natural Healing Schools, Alternative Medicine Schools, and other Natural Healing Schools.

Alternative Medicine Colleges: Making the Grade
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CarolAnn_Bailey-Lloyd

Alternative Medicine: What Is It?

What is alternative medicine? It is a phrase that has been tossed around more and more in the media, the bookstores, and increasingly, the doctor's office, but how often does anyone say what alternative medicine is?

Theoretically, alternative medicine is any form of medicine that does not fit with in the scientific framework of western medicine. Once a form of medicine has been proven scientifically effective, and a theory has been determined to explain in the language of western medicine why it is effective, it should no longer be considered alternative

Unfortunately, after the theory comes the politics. In reality, in the United States, alternative medicine is any form of medicine that has not been accepted as scientifically valid by the American Medical Association and the United States Government. In other countries different official bodies will determine what is and is not alternative medicine. In the United States, massage is alternative medicine. In Canada massage is conventional medicine, and as such, highly regulated.

Would you believe that according the US government's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vitamins are a complementary or alternative medicine (depending on how they are used) that have not yet been proven to have any greater effect on the human body then a placebo? Personally, I'd like to know if they would like to be treated for scurvy with a placebo. I'll stick with vitamin C. There are theoretical uses for vitamins that have not yet been fully proven, but that does not make the proven effects any less scientifically valid.

At the same time, just because someone claims what they offer is medicine does not make it true. Herbal supplements are not regulated, and may not fully disclose their ingredients. They certainly will not tell you about any dangerous interaction with your heart medication!

Of course, you can ask an expert, but keep in mind that there are many kinds of alternative medicine, an acupuncturist is not necessarily trained in herbs, and your primary care physician probably won't be trained in any of them.

If you are interested in using alternative medicine, either for a specific problem, or simply improve your overall health, it's probably best to first research what kinds of alternative medicine you are interested in, and speak with you doctor about whether or not she will be willing to work with an alternative medicine practitioner. Then find a practitioner who has had training in that specific area of alternative medicine. Most forms of alternative medicine are not licensed in the United States, so ask where they went to school, and how long they have been practicing. Then they can work with your doctor to make sure you get the care you need, without any unexpected side effects.

Some forms of alternative medicine that might be worth looking into are:

Oriental medicine: Oriental medicine is the only form of alternative medicine that is truly comparably to western medicine as a complete system of medicine. Oriental medicine is based on several theories developed thousands of years ago and first elaborated on in the Yellow Emperor's Classic, between three and five thousand years ago. Oriental medicine includes the practices of massage, acupuncture, herbal therapy, qi gong, and several others. Tradition Chinese Medicine is a variant of oriental medicine specific to China. It is the only variant of oriental medicine the can be found with relative ease in the United States. In many parts of Asia, oriental medicine is still considered the standard of medical care and western medicine is 'alternative.'

Herbal therapy: Herbal therapy is probably the most common form of alternative medicine found in the United States, and quite possibly one of the riskiest. While most of the conventional medicines doctors prescribe today were derived from herbs, the herbal supplements commonly on sale have no common dosages, mat contain fillers, and will rarely warn of side effects. While herbs can be used to treat everything that medication can, and possibly quite a bit more, make sure you speak with a trained herbalist before taking any. They can tell you what dosage is safe, what suppliers are worth using, and any potential side effects.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy was developed in the 1800's by two doctors who noticed that quinine, the only medicine capable of treated malaria, caused symptoms of malaria in healthy people who were given it. They theorized that like would cure like, so caffeine which normally causes wakefulness, would be used to help someone who was not sleeping through the night, sleep better. Homeopathy is probably the only alternative medicine that is safe to try without speaking with an expert, because the active substance is so dilute that it is not possible to over dose, or incur side effects on the amounts in the local health food store, never mind the few bottles you would keep in your home. At the same time, it is still best to consult a homeopath to be sure that what your taking will work for what you need.

Massage: Massage is the use of hands or tools to manipulate the muscles and tendons. The two most common uses of massage are to ease aches and pains, and for stress relief. While there are many conditions that massage will obviously not help with (diabetes, for instance), there are many that it is surprisingly effective on, such as eating disorders, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, almost any muscular injury can be treated with massage to prevent scar build up, speed healing, and increase a restricted range of motion. There are many different forms of massage therapy, including Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Pre-Natal Massage, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, Medical Massage, Chair Massage, Aromatherapy Massage and Hot Stone Massage. If you go to a massage therapist for a medical condition, make sure they are trained in Medical Massage. Some states have licensing programs for massage therapists now, as do most European countries. If you live in an area that has licensing, make sure the therapist you go to is licensed.

Other forms of alternative medicine include: energetic healing, aromatherapy, Rolfing, cranial-sacral therapy, and most forms of holistic medicine.

I am a trained massage therapist, and grew up surrounded by alternative medicine. I entered massage training almost by accident, and found that I had fallen into the place I truly belonged. I believe that healthy human contact is the most powerful medicine there is. If you're interested, you can learn more about me, and my massage practice at [http://www.healinghandshealthylife.com]

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Acne Alternative Treatment - Tanning Booths Are Not Recommended

As teenagers, pimples and acne are high up on the list of things that cause great distress to them. Unfortunately, acne during puberty is something that some have to face - no thanks to the changing hormones in their developing body. Though there are others that are spared the headache of getting acne during puberty, the majority must go through this ordeal. Many teenagers try to deal with their acne problems by applying acne creams, while some go to the extreme by using tanning booths as a method of acne alternative treatment. The latter, however, is absolutely not recommended.

Trends come and go. While it was fashionable years ago to look pale, nowadays having a tan is the way to go for women. Tans have become increasingly popular in the last few decades and it helped trigger the mushrooming of tanning booths in the country. Some teenagers feel that they could hide their acne by getting a tan.

While this sounds silly, it does have some science backing. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, the melanin in the skin will trigger the color that resembles a tan. The production of melanin will temporary cancel out oil glands, which have been known to be the culprit behind acne. Also, blemishes and scars caused by acne would seem to disappear under a dark tan.

However, be warned that this treatment is not at all safe. Though having a tan might look fashionable, repeated usage of tanning booths and exposure to UV rays can result in greater problems than acne. Teenagers who are overexposed to tanning booths and UV rays will get more than just a tan - they could end up having orange complexion. This is a sign of damage to the epidermal layers of the skin. When you decide to have a tan to hide your acne, understand that you are not dealing with the core problem. The acne will still be there once the effect of the tan disappears.

Sometimes the acne problem would be so severe that no amount of tanning can hide it. Teenagers that are faced with this problem would usually end up with a lot of freckles and puffiness in the eye area. The multiple visits to the tanning booths could also increase the chance of getting skin cancer.

To conclude, understand that going to the tanning booths will not solve your acne problem -- as it may even cause far greater problems. Instead, consult with your dermatologist to get the best available treatment that is safe.

Helen Tanady has been writing articles, online and offline, for more than 4 years. This author often writes on health and fitness, dating, weight loss and fat loss related. Read her latest articles at hunter hepatech which explain and review about filtrete air filters.