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Natural Alternative Medicine Information - Articles, search
and news in a single place.
ON BECOMING AN ALTERNATIVE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER :
Healing through alternative
medicine is a broad subject, traditionally referred to as practices
and applications not usually taught by conventional or western medical
schools as treatment for illnesses. Alternative medicine is typically
not covered by health insurance, although acupuncture, massage, and
chiropractic have recently gotten the go ahead.
For those of you interested in becoming alternative medicine providers,
the practice is divided into seven major categories: Bioelectricmagnetic
applications-which include magnet therapy, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle
changes (homeopathic practices), herbal medicine, manual healing,
( Chinese medicine, massage, acupuncture) and biological treatments.
Alternative medicine is meant to treat the body holistically-body,
mind, and spirit, and is highly based on preventative practices. That
is, Alt. med. is geared toward preventing rather than simply treating
symptoms of ailments. Actually, only about 30% of the world uses what
we call western or modern medicine. The other 70% use holistic or
alternative medicine and Americans are just now catching up.
The good news is that American doctors are beginning to see the benefits
of alternative forms of therapy and more of them are beginning to
add some form of alternative medicine to their practice. "Mainstream"
doctors are beginning to refer patients for massage therapy, surgeons
are referring to chiropractors. The result is that the terms ''mainstream"
and "alternative" are beginning to blur.
Alternative medicine is being used along with other alternative therapies
or traditional therapies (called "complimentary") and reflects
a shift in attitude. It seems people are much more accepting of alternative
medicine if it is used in conjunction with conventional methods of
treatment rather than as an "alternative" or "instead
of."
Professional alternative medicine practitioners are trained by accredited
schools and practice in established locations-no back alley medicine
here-you must meet all the entry requirements of the holistic medicine
schools and maintain excellent skills to become accredited. Each health
care system has its own accreditation, and includes Traditional Oriental
Medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, naturopathy, anthroposophy, and
ayurvedic (Indian) medicine.
Each system has its own theory of illness (although if you study them
separately you will see that they are very much the same indeed, which
is another feather in alternative medicine's cap-to have the same
principles work on either end of the world), an educational plan to
teach theory and practice, a support system and a legal and ethical
committee to answer to. All have the need to restore balance as a
common denominator.
Homeopathic medicine is used world wide, and involves natural animal,
plant, and mineral substances. Practitioners of homeopath medicine
usually are also accredited acupuncturists and are regulated by the
food and drug administration. They treat acute and chronic diseases
and into preventative therapies and promoting good health in order
to prevent sickness. Homeopathy very much is able to combine modern
medicine with natural and herbal care.
Native American alternative medicine involves much sweating and expelling
of toxins which cause imbalance and disease. This is achieved by the
use of herbs and teas, and a lot of heat. Ceremonial dances and chants
add to the mystical properties of the healing.
Or maybe you're interested in working in the bioelectromagnetic field
of alternative medicine. Working with magnets is growing in popularity
as people are beginning to discover the benefits of wearing magnetic
insoles in their shoes and sleeping on magnetically charged mattress
pads. The magnets increase blood flow and bring about circulatory
health which lessens back pain and headaches.
Chances are you've decided to enter the world of alternative medicine
because you've had a good experience with it. Your current health
provider can help you research the area of your choice and give you
advice as to how to proceed.
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