| Alternative and holistic health practitioners | | | | Students take nutrition as well as holistic |
| treat entire energy, blood, and neurological | | | | medical courses to learn about herbs that |
| systems in order to allow the body to heal | | | | balance body systems to promote natural |
| chronic conditions and prevent illnesses. | | | | healing and overcome systemic weaknesses. |
| | | | |
| Degree programs in alternative medicine may | | | | Aromatherapy grads study the more than 60 |
| combine Western and Eastern medicines, | | | | essential oils that can be combined in |
| offering courses in anatomy, physiology, | | | | creams, ointments, lotions, bath gels, |
| kinesiology, and biochemistry, alongside | | | | compresses, and massage oils to produce |
| training in Chinese herbs, body points and | | | | healing effects on the body and mind. Their |
| meridians, and energy systems. Naturopathic | | | | oils are used as inhalants or applied |
| healers may use flower remedies, homeopathic | | | | directly to the skin and can help treat a |
| and herbal tinctures or pills, as well as | | | | number of stress-related conditions. |
| dietary counseling and supplements. | | | | |
| Acupuncturists and massage therapists depend | | | | Putting Your Degree to Work |
| on knowledge of chi and anatomy to promote | | | | |
| healing of internal organs, the skin, and | | | | Grads from alternative medicine programs will |
| muscles. | | | | join the rapidly expanding healthcare |
| | | | industry, which is predicted to increase 27 |
| Wide-ranging Disciplines and Holistic Career | | | | percent through 2014, according to the U.S. |
| Training | | | | Bureau of Labor Statistics. Practitioners |
| | | | will take positions in clinics, private |
| Depending on your specialization, your career | | | | offices, nursing homes, health agencies, |
| training may take as little as a year or | | | | spas, resorts, counseling centers, and |
| upwards of four years. Massage therapy | | | | hospitals that employ alternative health |
| schools offer instruction in a broad range of | | | | professionals. Some work in concert with |
| modalities, which can include Swedish, | | | | other holistic professionals (for example, a |
| Shiatsu, craniosacral, sports, acupressure, | | | | massage therapist may work with a |
| trigger point, Hawaiian, or deep tissue | | | | chiropractor). |
| massage. Each state has its own licensing | | | | |
| requirements for massage therapists. | | | | Holistic practitioners also augment their |
| | | | income by offering clinics, seminars, and |
| Formal training programs can lead to Bachelor | | | | training programs for their clients or other |
| of Science degrees in Holistic Nutrition, | | | | professionals. |
| Natural Health, and Natural Health Studies. | | | | |
| Grad programs offer Masters of Science | | | | Massage therapists are among the |
| degrees in Holistic Wellness, Natural Health, | | | | fastest-growing career groups in alternative |
| and Holistic Nutrition. Post-graduate | | | | medicine, with a 20 percent increase in jobs |
| training programs can lead to a Doctor of | | | | predicted through 2016. Earnings for all |
| Naturopathy, Doctor of Natural Health, or a | | | | holistic and alternative practitioners vary |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Nutrition | | | | by training, experience, and geographic |
| degree. | | | | location of their practice. Massage |
| | | | therapists earned a median 2007 wage of |
| Herbology graduates often have their own | | | | $34,870, with top earners taking home more |
| practice, or consult with acupuncturists, | | | | than $70,000. |
| doctors, chiropractors, and dentists. | | | | |