What Are Popular Career Options in Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is a broad field that covers a wide range of career options. Some popular choices include Chinese medicine practitioner, massage therapist, personal trainer, nutritionist, chiropractor and aromatherapist. Learn more about some of these career options here.
Overview
Alternative medicine offers a number of different treatment options for patients and career choices for potential practitioners. Wellness with a focus on natural remedies is a common theme throughout the various branches.
Important Facts About This Occupation
| Median Salary (2021) | $59,500 (for Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations) |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031) | 11% (for Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations) |
| Licensure | Personal trainers often require certification, and licensure requirements for massage therapists and acupuncturists vary by the state. Chiropractors must be licensed in every state |
| Key Skills | Listening abilities, empathy, customer service skills |
| Work Environment | Fitness centers or gyms, spas, clinics, and physicians' offices |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Chinese Medicine Practitioner
Chinese alternative medicine includes acupuncture, oriental medicine and herbology. As one of the healing arts, it deals with understanding and treating the body as a whole by identifying the body's energy points, which are known as meridians. The techniques seek to balance the body's Yin Yang. Acupuncture involves the application of fine needles to the body's meridians to cure certain ailments, while herbology uses natural plant remedies as an alternative to prescription drugs.
Massage Therapist
A career in massage therapy could be another option. It incorporates different features of alternative medicine with modern science. Traditional massage therapists manipulate the muscles to ease pains. However, massage therapists who are interested in alternative medicine often include elements of Reiki, herbology, aromatherapy, reflexology, ayurveda and other common forms of the healing practice.
Personal Trainer
Although personal training does not necessarily include elements of alternative medicine, some clients look for personal trainers who include both traditional and non-traditional techniques in their wellness regimens. Personal trainers may integrate life coaching, nutrition and other holistic healing techniques into a routine of personal wellness.
Chiropractor
Chiropractic therapy, one of the most mainstream forms of alternative medicine, involves adjusting the spine to cure back pains. A chiropractor typically works with people who have suffered sports injuries, whiplash and related ailments.
Aromatherapist
Aromatherapy uses fragrances of various essential oils and plant extracts to cure a variety of conditions and relax the body. This practice involves a mixture of different elements of herbology and therapeutic massage.
Other Career Options
Holistic healthcare treats the whole person, not just the symptoms. It takes into account one's spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. Other career options might exist within the following branches of the healing and medicinal arts:
- Ayurveda
- Homeopathy
- Naturopathic medicine
- Energy healing
- Kinesiology
- Botanical medicine
- Nutrition