As alternative forms of medical practice gain ever-increasing acceptance among the mainstream scientific community and among people seeking health care, there has developed a growing interest in training to become a provider of alternative medicine. Now that practices such as herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine, and massage therapy have been proved as effective as their adherents have always known them to be, more people are seeking to become qualified to practice in these traditions.

Finding a School

An aspiring herbalist, massage therapist, practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, or energy healer will need to find a qualified teacher before they can begin treating people. Just about every form of alternative medicine has teachers willing to take on new students, though the training process in some traditions are more formal than others. Many traditions, such as herbalism and traditional Chinese medicine, have certified and accredited training programs. Massage therapists are taught in college-style classes and study subjects familiar to any beginning medical student.

The Internet is a great place to learn about the schools and training programs offered by various alternative health traditions. If an Internet search gives you too much information, talk with an alternative medicine provider that you trust and ask them for their opinion. They\’ll be happy to tell you about which schools and forms of training are effective and which will only be a waste of money and time.

The Hard Questions

Before you dive head-first into learning an alternative medical tradition, you should ask yourself exactly what you want to get out of your studies. If you simply want to increase your knowledge about a subject for your personal edification, great! You may be able to do this without committing to the many years\’ of study necessary to gain professional certification. On the other hand, if you want to become a practicing energy healer, massage therapist, or herbalist, then a much higher degree of commitment will be necessary. You\’ll have to ask yourself the very same questions a college student has to upon going to school – or returning to school. Will this profession help you reach your life goals? Is pursuing this course of training financially feasible at this time? Will your spouse and family members be able to cope with your demanding school schedule? Are you ready to spend years studying this subject? These aren\’t easy questions to consider, but an honest answering of them will help you make a wise choice.

What Comes Next

After you successfully finish your course of training, you can now start seeing patients! Or can you? Students just completing their training are sometimes surprised to learn that they still have to take certification tests, apply for licenses, and qualify for re-certification in the future. It\’s important to keep your knowledge base strong and to stay informed of all the latest developments in your field; to accomplish this, you may need to attend classes, conferences, and workshops on a frequent basis.

Practicing alternative medicine is intensely rewarding; there\’s nothing else like bringing health and hope to people who had none. Getting to the point where you are able to heal others takes a long time and a lot of hard work. However, if you are truly committed to the course, you will find yourself pursing a path unlike any other you could have imagined.

Lawrence Reaves writes for Solstice Medicine Company, an online Chinese medicine retailer that offers a selection of products to help with many different health problems. For more information about Solstice Medicine Company visit their site.

Lawrence Reaves writes for Solstice Medicine Company, an online Chinese medicine retailer that offers a selection of products to help with many different health problems. For more information about Solstice Medicine Company visit http://www.solsticemed.com/

Author Bio: Lawrence Reaves writes for Solstice Medicine Company, an online Chinese medicine retailer that offers a selection of products to help with many different health problems. For more information about Solstice Medicine Company visit their site.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: alternative medicine, medicine, chinese medicine, traditional chinese medicine