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General Information About Alternative Medicine Degree Programs


Alternative medicine degree programs can teach students methods of caring for the sick and maintaining good health. Alternative medicine experts become acupuncturists, masseuses and aromatherapists among other professions. One who holds an alternative medicine degree is uniquely qualified to offer aid and comfort to those who may think they have nowhere else to turn for relief.

Areas of Study In Alternative Medicine


Those who choose to study alternative medicine will choose from a considerable variety of non-traditional health management techniques. These include, but are not limited to, herbal medicine, acupuncture, bioenergetics, Feng Shui, holistic skin care, iridology, kinesiology, hypnotherapy and nutrition.

Career Opportunities In Alternative Medicine


There are actually a great many health careers that can begin with a degree in alternative medicine. Some of those with alternative medicine degrees go on to become acupuncturists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, chiropractors, aromatherapists, nutritionists, lifestyle coaches, masseuses, herbologists, hypnotists, yogis and music therapists.

Earning Potential For Alternative Medicine


Since there are so many different areas in which one can practice alternative medicine it is difficult to pin down a specific salary range. That being said, chiropractors can earn in the high five figures or six figures. Licensed acupuncturists can make anywhere from around $30,000 to around $100,000 a year. Life coaches and herbalists can set their own rates of payment.

Alternative Medicine Degree Study Options


An associates or bachelors degree in alternative medicine will allow students to study the workings of the body and how the body can benefit from non-traditional medical techniques. Students enrolled in alternative medicine courses will learn how to help the body heal itself and how to treat the entire patient rather than just localized symptoms.

Master’s Degree In Alternative Medicine


Master’s degrees in alternative medicine are available for those who are ready to pursue a full-time career in alternative medicine. Students can earn a Master of Arts in Holistic Wellness, a Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition and even a Master Herbalist Certificate. These degrees will indicate to those looking for non-traditional medical techniques to ease their suffering that you have the desire and ability to offer assistance.

Further Education In Alternative Medicine


Those wishing to fully immerse themselves in alternative medicine disciplines can go on to earn a doctoral degree. Ph.D.s are available in natural health and holistic nutrition as well as in naturopathy, the branch of alternative medicine that focuses on the body’s ability to heal itself. Interested students can also get a Doctor of Naturopathy or a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

Choosing a Degree In Alternative Medicine


Students looking for a career path that will foster their love of natural cures for physical ills will be drawn to an alternative medicine degree. Those who feel attuned with nature and believe that people can find what they need to lead happier, healthier lives without resorting to complex man-made chemicals or procedures are ideal for an alternative medicine discipline.

Getting Your Alternative Medicine Degree Online


The Internet is the perfect venue to pursue your degree in alternative medicine. There are a number of different accredited online universities that offer top degree programs in all the best areas of alternative medicine including herbal studies, massage and naturopathy. Due to the low overhead associated with an online degree, universities can afford to focus continuing education distance learning programs on the specific area of alternative medicine that interests students, rather than a broad spectrum that may cover areas the student is not interested in pursuing.

Getting Your Alternative Medicine Degree Offline


If you can find a school that provides a physical program in alternative medicine to attend, you have a wonderful opportunity. Make sure the courses are offered at an accredited university and pay special attention to the degree requirements if you hope to leave the school with a bachelors or masters in a branch of alternative medicine. Remember that there are many different areas of alternative medicine, so be sure to find a college or university that has a program that suits your specific alternative medicine interests.

Choosing Your Alternative Medicine Degree Path


The choice to seek out an alternative medicine degree is a bold one. By definition, alternative medicine is not a mainstream pursuit, and you may face many obstacles and challenges along the way that those who study a more traditional branch of science may avoid. Remember that if there were not a need for the services of alternative medicine professionals, degree programs such as the one you are considering would not be offered at all. In communities where alternative medicine is accepted and even preferred, the right alternative medical professional can flourish. As a practitioner of alternative medicine, you can give hope to those who might otherwise be hopeless and offer health solutions that no one else will offer.

While the challenges of studying alternative medicine are many, the rewards are great. Whether a student takes a few courses in holistic medicine or completes the requirements for a doctorate in naturopathy, those who choose to study in this field will have a tremendous chance to build a career that may provide fulfillment throughout their entire lives.

In many cases, alternative medicine predates traditional medicine. As today’s citizens find themselves increasingly concerned with the intrusion of manmade chemicals and technology on their life and health, more and more are turning to alternative medicine practitioners to help them regain their feeling of well being and help them get their life back on the right path.

Alternative Medicine Books

Complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of medical procedures that the mainstream medical community does not fully recognize. As such, students will have to do some research to find the right alternative medicine books for the kind of alternative medicine they wish to study. Some basic texts to start with include “The American Holistic Health Association Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine” by William Collinge, “New Medicine” by Kenneth Pelletier, “Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide” by Burton Goldberg, John W. Anderson and Larry Trivieri, and “The New York Times Guide to Alternative Health” by Jane E. Brody and Denise Grady.

Alternative Medicine Articles And Databases

Access to good articles and article databases is key to the study of alternative medicine. Since the methods used in alternative medicine are not subject to wide scientific scrutiny, any research that proves the efficacy of alternative medicine methods is paramount. Alternative medicine articles can be accessed through the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Information about the center can be accessed through their website (Nccam.Nih.gov).

Alternative Medicine Online Journals

Alternative medicine journals are another important way to keep ahead of the latest developments and research in the field of complementary and alternative medicine. Some alternative medicine journals you may wish to examine online are the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the American Journal of Chinese Medicine and the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy.

Alternative Medicine Research Tools

A terrific resource for information about complementary and alternative medicine is the Alternative Medicine Foundation (AmFoundation.org). This site provides details about alternative medicine journals and articles as well as upcoming events, research projects and other current information in the field.

Alternative Medicine Resources

Sciences > Health & Medicine > Alternative Medicine

 


See Also

Alternative Health News Online
Updated daily.
Sections include: Health News Bulletins ; Diet & Nutrition ; Mind/Body Control ; Alternative Medical Systems ; Manual Healing ; Longevity ; Books We Recommend ; Ask Dr. Weil ; Health News ; Cool Links.

Alternative Medicine Foundation, Inc.
"...is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, founded in March 1998 to provide responsible and reliable information about alternative medicine to the public and health professionals."

  • TibetMed
    "For Tibetan Medicine Information and Research"
    Sections include: Ask Doctor Namseling ; Question & Answer Library ; Medical Schools & Training ; Conferences, Courses, & Events ; Professional Resources ; Related Links.

The Alternative Medicine Homepage
"...is a jumpstation for sources of information on unconventional, unorthodox, unproven, or alternative, complementary, innovative, integrative therapies."
Sections include: AIDS & HIV ; Databases ; Internet Resources ; Mailing Lists & Newsgroups ; Government Resources ; Pennsylvania Resources ; Practitioners' Directories ; Related Resources.
By Charles B. Wessel, Medical Librarian, Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh

Alternative Medicine Magazine
Sections include: Health Conditions ; Therapies ; Feature Practitioners ; Clinics ; Products ; Remedies.
Also includes a "Full Text Search to help locate past magazine articles, Health Condition topics, and other useful resources in our comprehensive Alternative Medicine database."

American Indian Ethnobotany Database
Foods, Drugs, Dyes, and Fibers of Native North American Peoples
By Dan Meorman, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Michigan

Bastyr University (Seattle)
"We educate future leaders in natural health sciences that integrate mind, body, spirit and nature. Through natural health education, research and clinical services, we improve the health and well-being of the human community."

Chinese Medical Association (Taipei) - (dead link)

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center - Dept. of Urology - The Center for Holistic Urology
"...dedicated to the complementary treatment of men and women with disorders of the urinary tract, including cancers of the prostate, bladder, and kidney, chronic urinary tract infections, benign prostatic enlargement, prostatitis, incontinence, interstitial cystitis, and kidney stones."

Columbia University - Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
"...broad goals are to contribute to the informed research and practice of complementary and alternative medicine and to foster the development of a more comprehensive and inclusive medical system...The Center's research is carried out with intrinsic interest in and respect for the traditions from which many alternative therapies originate, and is mindful of the importance of the subjective human experience to health and health care...The Center practices and supports values and ethical relationships that promote environmentally protective policies, including conservation of traditional medical knowledge and botanical resources."

Complete Home Medical Guide (etext)
Sections include: Using Your Health Care System ; New Approaches to Wellness ; Symptoms and Diagnoses ; First Aid and Safety ; Treatment and Prevention of Disease ; Drugs and Their Use ;
- The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Harvard Medical School - Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies

Health Resources and Services Administration - Bureau of Primary Health Care

Herb Research Foundation
"...is the world's first and foremost source of accurate, science-based information on the health benefits and safety of herbs---and expertise in sustainable botanical resource development."

HerbMed
"...an interactive, electronic herbal database ñ provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health.  It is an evidence-based information resource  for professionals, researchers, and general public."
- Project of the Alternative Medicine Foundation

International Trust for Traditional Medicine (ITTM) - (dead link) (West Bengal, India)
"...creates an international study network on traditional medical cultures of various regions, promoting education, research and documentation, through its International Research Circles (IRCs)."

  • AyurVijnana - (dead link)
    Periodical on Indo-Tibetan Medical Cultures
  • Projects
    • Glossary Database of Sanskrit & Tibetan Medical Terms with English Equivalents - (dead link)
      "derived from Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita by Vagbhata (7th century) and its Tibetan translation yan brgyad pa'i snying po bsdus pa by Richen Zangpo and Janardana (11th century)"
    • Bibliography of Tibetan Medical Literature
    • Data Input Project of Tibetan Medical Texts and Tibetan Medical Digital Research Archive
    • Tibetan & Mongolian Bibliography of Medical Texts

An Illustrated Herbal
500 Medicinal Plants and their Properties

National Academy Press (free online versions)

National Institutes of Health

Native Nursery
A Comprehensive Internet Site Relating to Native Australian Flora and the Environment

Organicfood.co.uk
Online organic lifestyle magazine

Resource Guide for Tibetan Medicine
By Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon.

[Supplements] MedlinePlus: Dietary Supplements
Sections include: News ; From the NIH ; Specific Conditions ; Related Issues ; Publications ; Clinical Trials ; Research ; Directories ; Organizations ; Law & Policy ; Teenagers ; Seniors.
- National Institutes of Health

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

USDA - Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases

University of California, San Diego - Cancer Center

University of Minnesota Academic Health Center - Center for Spirituality and Healing

Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG)
 A collection of consumer related resource. The site is informative and fun.

Vegetarian Nutrition Resource List for Consumers - (dead link)
From Food and Nutrition Information Center, USDA

White House Commission on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Policy

Skeptics & Healthy Skepticism
The British Medical Journal

Federal Trade Commission

  • Federal Trade Commission - 'Miracle' Health Claims: Add a Dose of Skepticism - (dead link)

Quackwatch Home Page
"Your Guide to Health Fraud, Quackery, and Intelligent Decisions"
By Stephen Barrett, M.D.

The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine - (dead link)
"The only peer-reviewed medical journal dedicated exclusively to carefully assessing the claims, treatments, and hypotheses of unconventional medicine."

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Created by librarian Mike Madin