If I were to go to an alternative medicine school what kind of job could I get? Where could I work?

Question

I'm really interested in natural health, but what career could I have in that field?

Answer 1

I think you need to do a little more research!

I get very frustrated when I see people say, "I'm going to Study Alternative medicine".

There are hundreds of different practices and therpies under this umbrella. Which aspect are you interested in?

There are far too many people out there who do short course after short course an learn bits of loads of techniques giving them a little bit of knowledge about everything....

Guess what? They struggle to make a living unless they get really good at something because they are jacks of all trades and masters of none.

On the other hand there are others who studied a particular aspect of their interest in great depth and practice within that narrow field.

My advice would be to find out more about what you are interested in and take a course which teaches you the therapy but also how to be a primary care practitioner so you can do decent case histories, clinical assessments and exams and form a decent diagnosis.

This makes you safe. Once you've learn't the primary care aspect you can do other correspondence courses if you want (although a lot of practitioners find there level of comfort and stay there).

A decent course in herbalism takes 3 - 4 years. They don't spend all that time learning about herbs, they spend a good part of it doing A&P, pathology, Clinical Methods etc...

Compare that to courses offering qualifications in herbalism by correspondence. Of the 2 which would produce better practitioners?

Please don't let me put you off, its good that you are asking but I feel altmed is already cheepened with practitioners who know "nothing about everything" which makes us all look bad.

Answer 2

Ye you'd have to become a homeopath or a chiropractor.... And ye you would prob have to open your own business... But not a bad career choice. Conventional western medicine is now starting to recognize the significance of alternative medical treatment, many doctors are now integrating treatment of patients with alternative medical practitioners. Future of alternative medicine looks really gud...

Answer 3

You would have to start your own business, your office where you receive your clients, or work in a group practice with other alternative practitioners.

Pretty much like an ordinary medical doctor does, except that you'd be very unlikely to get a job in a hospital as a medical doctor can.

Answer 4

Lightnin gave the perfect answer. Too many people ask a similar question and it makes me wonder if they have a clue what alternative medicine means.And I would never go to the person that asked the question that shows so little understanding of the subject

Answer 5

You could come to california and start your own thing.  The freaks out here would eat it up!