|
Tibetan Medicine Training and Careers
Tibetan Healing Medicine and Alternative Medicine School Resources
Alternative Medicine Schools | Natural Healers Career Resource Center
| | In Tibetan healing medicine, the concept of well-being is based on the dynamics of the mind, body and spirit. Achieving balance among these three is the essence of health. Rich in Buddhist ritual and symbolism, Tibetan medicine training defines three main systems that control the body's processes: |
- Wind—Creates circulation, such as the circulation of blood, nervous system impulses and thoughts in our minds
- Bile—Controls metabolism, liver function and allows our minds to function with discriminating intellect
- Phlegm—Provides lubrication in the body, creates will and allows us to have good memory
A disturbance in any of these systems results in illness, which can come from diet, behavior or environmental factors.
Tibetan medicine is becoming more prevalent in Western culture, with society's continued focus on wellness through natural means. Learn more about the education and opportunities in this fascinating profession by reading the information below.
Tibetan Medicine Career Overview
Tibetan healing medicine sessions start with a patient interview that covers health and personal history. Next, the practitioner visually examines the patient's urine and tongue, which give clues to the nature of the patient's illness. Finally, practitioners feel for the "twelve pulses" or six distinct pulses at the radial artery of each wrist, ascertaining factors such as depth, speed and quality of the pulse that help them diagnose an illness and its origins.
Treatments are designed to fit the patient and can involve one or more options from these categories:
- Behavioral modification, which can include meditation instruction, spiritual advice and changes to exercise and sleep routines
- Dietary advice that can influence the types and amounts of foods eaten, the number of meals per day and meal times
- Herbal medicines prescribed to fit the patient's condition and modified at each session as the condition evolves or recedes
- Physical therapies such as acupuncture, massage, cupping and moxibustion (a practice that stimulates blood flow)
Tibetan Medicine Training and Education
What You'll Study in Tibetan Medicine School
Alternative medicine schools and some traditional universities offer Tibetan medicine training programs. In general, you can expect your Tibetan medicine training courses to cover these topics:
- Tibetan medical history and Root Tantra
- Anatomy and physiology
- Etiology of illness
- Common and provocative diseases
- Methods of treatment
- Diagnostics
- External therapies
- Tibetan pharmacologies
- Tibetan pathology
- Clinical practicum
Average Length of Study
Tibetan medicine training takes approximately four years to complete, depending on the program.
Average Tuition
Tuition for Tibetan medicine training varies widely. Some alternative medicine schools cost $1,700 to $1,800 a year, while others charge closer to $5,400 a year.
Tibetan Medicine Career Outlook
Holistic health professionals, such as Tibetan medicine practitioners, typically are self-employed or work as teachers or researchers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this branch of health care, which encompasses a wide range of holistic health practices, can anticipate a 41 percent increase in employment through 2018 due to factors such as an aging population and the increasing popularity of alternative medicine in the U.S.
Tibetan Medicine Salary
Salaries for practitioners of Tibetan healing medicine can vary widely based on the practitioner's geographic location and experience. On average, holistic health practitioners earn $28,236 per year, according to the BLS. However, self-employed practitioners have the potential to earn much higher salaries, depending on their client base, how much they market their practice and other factors.
Is a Tibetan Medicine Career Right for You?
Students interested in Tibetan medicine training can anticipate both a professional and personal journey toward a career steeped in ancient traditions and healing practices. If you're ready to explore what Tibetan healing medicine offers, take a closer look at alternative medicine schools. Then choose the Tibetan medicine training program that meets your personal and professional needs.
Sources:
Thai Yoga Bodywork, LLC, 2002-2011
Shang Shang Institute, 2011
Dharma Haven, 1997
TibetanMedicine.com, 1998
University of Minnesota, Center for Spirituality and Healing, 2011
TibetanMedicine-Edu, 2010
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011
Search our directory and find more: Massage Therapy Schools, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and more.