Types of Alternative Medicine
Explore the Versatility of Alternative Medicine
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| | Whether you're considering a new career, looking for a new hobby or seeking a more meaningful lifestyle, the wide variety of types of alternative medicine can be a bit overwhelming. Which healing approach is the right fit for your personality and interests? How can you even begin to consider all the possibilities? Discover whether alternative medicine therapies are part of your career niche... |
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has done us all a big favor by organizing the huge range of therapies and treatments into five main types of alternative medicine. Although there is some overlap between them, these five categories really help to simplify a complex field of choices.
Alternative Medical Systems
These types of alternative medicine are comprehensive systems of healing and practice. Some, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, evolved completely apart from and much earlier than conventional Western medicine. Others, such as homeopathy and naturopathic medicine, developed more recently in Western cultures.
Mind-Body Interventions
These types of alternative medicine focus on the power of the mind to influence bodily health. Some of mind-body interventions, such as patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy, were once considered alternative but are now fully accepted as a part of mainstream medicine. Other approaches—such as meditation, prayer, art therapy, music therapy, hypnotherapy and biofeedback—are still considered to be types of alternative medicine.
Biologically-Based Therapies
These types of alternative medicine utilize herbs, foods, vitamins and other substances found in nature. Common examples include dietary supplements and herbal remedies. Other examples are more unusual, such as the as-yet scientifically unproven use of shark cartilage to treat cancer.
Manipulative and Body-Based Methods
These popular types of alternative medicine are based on moving or manipulating the physical body. Massage is the most well-known example. Others include Alexander Technique, chiropractic, Feldenkrais Method, reflexology and Rolfing.
Energy Therapies
These types of alternative medicine seek to improve physical or emotional health by manipulating energy fields. NCCAM cites two types of energy healing and therapy.
- Biofield therapies, such as Qi Gong, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch, are based on the belief in an energy field that surrounds and penetrates the human body. Practitioners attempt to influence this field by placing their hands in or through this energy field.
- Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies utilize electromagnetic fields, such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating-current or direct current fields.
Exploring Types of Alternative Medicine Careers
Many individuals are strongly drawn to careers in one specific type of alternative medicine. You might, for example, find yourself fascinated by the ancient system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and decide pursue a degree in acupuncture, herbal medicine and other TCM treatments.
On the other hand, you may have a more general interest in alternative health. Or perhaps you've narrowed your focus down to one of the general types above, but you still have multiple interests. That's okay! In fact, it's great. Many successful practitioners integrate multiple types of alternative medicine in their work. For example, many massage therapists pursue additional training to add reflexology, aromatherapy or energy therapy techniques to their service offerings.
The important thing is to start somewhere. Take a class or a workshop, and see where it leads. Your career will be as individual as you are, and your future patients will benefit.
Source:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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