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Popular Alternative Medical Careers

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The Alternative Medicine Sourcebook describes “alternative medicine” as healing practices that do “not fall within the realm of conventional medicine.” Critics claim that the effectiveness of alternative medicine is negligible, but many turn to it as a practical treatment for their ailments, often in conjunction with conventional medicine. Business is good, and practitioners are in demand. Here are a few fields that those interested in alternative medicine careers can pursue.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture treats patients via the insertion or manipulation of needles in the body. The ancient practice originated in China and is used to relieve pain, promote health, and some claim that it can prevent disease and improve fertility.
Chiropractics: This field of alternative medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Treatments involve manual therapy of joints or of the spine and certain exercises.
Iridology: This somewhat controversial alternative medicine involves diagnosing physical ailments by thoroughly examining the eye. Treatments then generally include homeopathy or herbal medication.
Naturopathy: Naturopathy involves encouraging the body’s natural ability to heal and not relying on surgery or medication. Treatments include, but are not limited to, acupuncture, massage, kinesiology, iridology, enemas, vitamins, and a variety of other therapies.

Those interested in careers in medicine alternatives generally need some sort of specific education or training. This can be gained from classes, study, apprenticing or through specialized institutions like chiropractic schools. A lot of people are either wary of chemicals or in favor of more natural treatments and will need professionals in the field of alternative medicine to help them.

Filed Under: Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, Traditional Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative medicine, China, Chiropractic, Herbalism, Medicine, Naturopathy

What is Acupressure?

A common practice in alternative medicine is known as acupressure. Acupressure is defined as being the application of the hands or the fingers to the body, creating pressure on the body. These specific points on the body, which are commonly referred to as acupoints by many acupressure practitioners, lie along meridians which are perceived to be invisible lines made up of flowing energy in the body.

Acupressure comes from traditional Chinese medicine. In traditional medicine, the stimulation of these points using acupuncture or acupressure has been thought to restore the proper flow of energy in the body, known as Qi, as well as to treat a number of specific conditions and ailments including headaches, nausea and muscle tension.

Acupressure can either be done on your own self or performed by a practitioner, typically a licensed acupuncturist. There are a number of different acupressure points, but one of the most common ones is known as PC6, and it is located just on the inside of your wrist. Another can be found in the skin between the thumb and the forefinger, and it is believed that placing pressure here for a period of time can relieve nausea as well as chronic headaches.

Acupressure is not for everyone, but if you have a chronic condition and you are looking for a non-conventional way to treat it, then you should consider that alternative medicine practices such as acupressure and acupuncture have shown themselves to be capable of helping in certain situations. Work with a licensed acupuncturist when determining whether or not this type of therapy can benefit you.

Filed Under: Ancient Practices, Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Acupressure, Medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine

Chinese Herb Guide: Ginseng

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Ginseng is a popular herb used in Chinese medicine as well as Western medicine. Ginseng is primarily used in order to increase stamina, to provide protection to the liver from harmful substances and to provide stimulation to the immune system. When ginseng was used in animal testing, their sexual activity was increased. No matter how you are using ginseng, it is important that you follow the directions on the package, whether you are using tea, tablets, tinctures or capsules.

Ginseng is a famous Chinese herb that has seen use in medicine for more than 5000 years. In Ancient China, especially during the Qing Dynasty, ginseng was worth more than gold was. Ginseng is used in a wide variety of different formulas for the production of energy and vivacity. Ginseng is one of the most commonly used herbal remedies for this purpose. Ginseng contains a number of different vitamins, minerals, fat soluble compounds, nitrogenous compounds and carbohydrate compounds in the root. The ginseng herb is not easily produced and is so quite costly, since it requires six years before the plant reaches maturity. Researchers have labeled ginseng as being a strong tonic for the immune system that is capable of affecting your entire body in unique and beneficial ways.

There are a number of different types of ginseng including Japanese ginseng or Panax japonicum, Asian ginseng or Panax Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng or Eleutherococcus Senticosus and American ginseng. The Asian form of ginseng tends to be considered the most popular of all forms of ginseng, and it can be found in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. American Ginseng is primarily found in forested areas of North America ranging from Quebec to Oklahoma, and from Minnesota to Georgia. Both American ginseng and Asian ginseng are similar in appearance and in their chemical composition, and they are the forms that are believed to have the greatest healing powers.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: American Ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Ginseng, Immune system, Medicine, Qing Dynasty, Traditional Chinese medicine, United States

Chinese Medicine: A look at the Body

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Chinese medicine has long been a practice of ancient medicine that has been practiced more many centuries. Although it has widely been practiced throughout China, it does not carry a uniform standard to it. While many of the ideas of Chinese medicine can be similar to each other, it can widely vary from person to person and family to family. While there might be a lot of variations on Chinese medicine there is one element that is very similar and that is the idea of the body when it comes to Chinese medicine.

When it comes to Chinese medicine it is believed that they look at the body as a small universe that is to itself. Within this universe the body is made up of energy called the qi. It is believed that the whole body has a complex system of smaller universes that make up the body and keep it running healthy and at full power. These five systems derive from the five elements such as earth, air, wind, fire and water.

It is believed that when one of these systems has an internal or external factor that causes it to not operate smoothly that the body falls apart and can cause illness, mental illness or disease. Only be restoring these systems can the body safely operate at its full potential.

It is believed that under this structure the Chinese are able to treat not just one small element of the body but it treats the body as a whole and can allow the mind, body and soul to be treated as one element something that many believe modern medicine does not look at all.

The body is a very important fundamental element of the Chinese medicine system. It is what they go back to in order to figure out what is wrong with a person and what must be restored for a person to be whole again and healthy.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, China, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Health, Herbalism, Medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine

Chinese Medicine: A Look at Diagnostic Practices

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When a health system such as the ancient Chinese medicine is looked at one of the most intriguing factors is that of whole doctors and practitioners worked as a whole in order to diagnosis elements. Today’s health care system requires a lot of tests, x-rays and various other diagnostic tools, that it is hard to imagine a system that is less complex but at the same time offered the same amount of treatment.

Chinese medicine uses a system of diagnostics largely based off of the observation method. These observations can come in a wide form of types of observations. A practitioner can sit down and observe human behavior, physical symptoms and various other visual aspects of the disease. They can also observe auditory, sensory and physical types of elements. These involve running a few elementary tests and seeing how the patient reacts. Another huge element of the diagnostic process involves questioning. This can range from asking about types of symptoms, when they started, how a person feels, etc. The last area of observation that comes under Chinese medicine is that of touch. Touch is very important when diagnosing illnesses and conditions and learning the right areas to prob and look at takes a lot of skill and knowledge as many conditions can have over 5 areas to touch to see if something is wrong.

Those that practice Chinese medicine practice the art of observing and diagnosing illness for a number of years. It does not come naturally to a person and could take over two decades to learn. Because of this it takes extreme skill and patience to learn to practice in Chinese medicine. It does not happen over night and it takes a number of years to develop the knowledge and ability to be able to diagnosis a number of illnesses and conditions that can be treated by Chinese medicine.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Education, Health, Herb, Large intestine, Medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine

Chinese Medicine Diagnostics

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If you were ill and decided to go to a Chinese medicine practitioner to get some help with the health care what could you expect in terms of treatment?

Under the Traditional Chinese Medicine practice the way to diagnosis an illness is through observation. This involves looking at the visual, sensory, questioning and observation area of a patient. If you were to go to a Chinese medicine practice here are some of the items that you may expect to come upon in order for them to figure out what was wrong with you.

Heart. The way the heart beats can really help in figuring out a diagnosis. In Chinese medicine a practitioner will look at the heart pulse or palpitations in six different areas to see if there is any difference in the areas.

Observing Body Parts. By looking at various areas such as the hair, body, tongue, throat, skin, fingers and veins a person can figure out if there is something going on with the body and where. A practitioner will look at all of these areas and see if they can observe something along the way.

Tenderness/Pulse. The chest, abs and heart area are all areas that can become swollen or tender when there are various health concerns by a person. Looking at these areas will help them figure out if something is wrong and help figure out what it is.

Questioning. There will be tons of questions regarding past health problems, what is currently going on with them, what feels odd and various other aspects of the body. This will give them a better understanding of what is going on and your past health issues.

Odors. What a person can smell will help with a diagnosis. Also occasional illnesses will cause you to omit odors that are not always natural.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Health, Herb, Herbalism, Large intestine, Medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine

Alternative Medicines and Therapies: Fasting

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Fasting is not just something mentioned in the Bible. Many view this abstinence from food, drink or both as not only a spiritual means of meditation, but also as an effective alternative medicine â€“ a means of cleansing the body and starting anew with healthier eating practices.

What someone who is fasting abstains from can vary. While one individual might fast from all food, another individual may just fast from meat for a determined amount of time. Someone who fasts may also exclude certain types of drinks with the exception of water, or may substitute all food with a protein drink. Additionally, the time frame of a fast differs with each individual.

Fasting is sometimes a requirement for certain medical tests performed in modern medicine, but this is actually different from the more spiritually centered approach. In modern medicine, fasting refers to someone who has not eaten overnight (usually a period of 8-12 hours) or the state of the body after a meal is completely absorbed and digested.

Fasting for an extended period of time triggers the bodyâ€™s â€œfamine response.â€ The body depends on glucose as the primary source of fuel or energy. After a period of 4-8 hours without food in the body producing glucose, the body starts to glycogen stored in the liver for fuel. After approximately 12 hours of relying upon the glycogen in the liver, the body will start extracting glycogen from muscles. In order to preserve the muscles, the body will turn to fat as a fuel source after a few more days.

While most people end a fast long before complications begins to occur, fasting for too long will cause the body to break down proteins as it moves from the famine response to starvation. Fast-induced starvation can lead to medical problems such as electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmia and renal failure.

Despite this risk, medical research shows that there are benefits to a controlled fasting approach focusing more on calorie restriction, including decreased risk for cancer, heart problems, diabetes and immune deficiencies. However, experts recommend consulting a doctor before using fasting as diet regimen.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine, Healthy Tips, Herbal, Traditional Medicine Tagged With: Alternative, Bible, Conditions and Diseases, Fasting, Fasting and Cleansing, Glycogen, Health, Medicine

Herbal Remedies in Alternative Medicine

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Herbalism is the use of plants and herbs to cure ailments, wounds and illnesses and a tradition that spans centuries. More than likely, several members of your genealogy used a variety of herbal remedies.

In a study called “The value of plants used in traditional medicine for drug discovery”, published in the March 2001 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, it was determined that at least 122 compounds found in modern medications were derived from plant sources. Approximately 80 percent of them were being used in the same manner in which your great grandmother used them decades ago.

Some traditional alternative herbal medicines include:

Aloe Vera – The most popular use of aloe vera is in association with skin burns and moisturizing the skin. It is also used for gastrointestinal issues, aiding in circulation and assisting in better function of the kidney, liver and gall bladder.

Black Walnut – The outer hull of a black walnut contain a substance that helps eliminate parasites from the body. It has also been used in treating skin problems such as poison oak and ringworm.

Cayenne Pepper – Cayenne pepper is beneficial to both the circulatory and digestive systems.

Ginger Root - Ginger is a well-known remedy for upset stomach and nausea. Even doctors recommend that pregnant women take a ginger supplement to help prevent morning sickness.

Hops - One of the main ingredients in most beers, hops, is effective in relieving pain and insomnia.

Kelp – Also known as seaweed, kelp contains approximately 30 minerals that are beneficial to the body’s glands, balancing out metabolism.

Licorice - Licorice root has many benefits to the body. It’s a great expectorant for mucus. It stimulates adrenaline and helps relieve the physical symptoms associated with stress. It also has properties that are beneficial to the body’s respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.

Passionflower - Passionflower is often used in association with the nervous system. It helps alleviate anxiety, pain, insomnia, asthma and even symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Some might say that the earth provides us with everything we need, we just have to know where to look.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Alternative, Health, Herb, Herbalism, Medicine, Pharmaceutical drug, Shopping, United States

Alternative Medicine and Therapies: Acupuncture

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Have you ever seen those movies where someone is lying very still on a table with a thousand long needles protruding from his body? That is a depiction of the Chinese form of therapeutic treatment called acupuncture.

The belief with the practice of acupuncture is that inserting sterile thin needles into certain pressure points in the body in order to relieve pain. These pressure points are said to exist on the 12 main meridians of the body and two of the eight extra meridians. They are expressed as channels where the blood flows in critical locations that effect how the body responses to stimulus.

The 12 main acupuncture channels are the bladder, gall bladder, heart, kidney, large intestine, liver, lung, pericardium, spleen, stomach and the San Jiao. The San Jiao is an intangible part of the body, roughly translated as the triple burner and loosely used in reference to one’s metabolism in traditional Chinese medicine.

The eight extra meridians include the divergents, luo vessels, sinew channels, ren mai and du mai. Ren mai and du mai are the only of these eight extra meridians that are subject to needle manipulation, while the rest can be reached through the original 12 meridians.

The idea is that the blood, also known as the qi, became stagnant within the body, when it normally flows continually and creates a continuous circuit between the meridians. Stagnant qi causes pain. There are both internal and external pathways associated with the qi. The external pathways are those in which the needles are used.

Acupuncturists typically only treat the area related to the patientâ€™s specific pain problem through interrogation and observation. Traditional Chinese medicine implements four diagnostic methods:

Inspection – analysis of the face and tongue
Auscultation and Olfaction – listening to sounds and observing odors produced by the body
Inquiring – looking for chills/fever, perspiration, appetite, thirst/taste and defecation/urination
Palpation – analysis of the heart rhythms and pulse

While the idea of having needles stuck into your body to relieve pain can be intimidating, there are very few injuries reported by those treated by a trained acupuncturist.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Alternative, Health, Large intestine, Medicine, Practitioners, Traditional Chinese medicine

Alternative Medicine and Therapies: Aromatherapy

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Nearly every candle company advertises candles that provide aromatherapy for the user, claiming to produce smells that calm anxiety and relax the body. This is where an alternative medical treatment has gone mainstream, being utilized as a marketing tool.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants, in combination with other compounds that provide a notable scent. Smelling items with particular aromatic properties is supposed to benefit an individual’s health and alter moods to a more beneficial state.

There are three main ways that aromatherapy is applied. The first, and most common, is through aerial release, such as with burning candles or incents or in the use of aerosol sprays. Some aromatherapy products are inhaled directly by the patient as a means of providing relief from respiratory infections, congestion or as an expectorant for mucus. Direct inhalation is also thought to provide psychological benefits. The final means of application is topical, usually though massage oils, bath oils, compresses or skin care regimens.

There are several types of materials used in aromatherapy, which include:

Essential Oils – fragrant oils obtained through steam distillation or expression of the plant
Absolutes- fragrant oils from delicate plants like flowers through the use of solvent or supercritical fluid extraction
Phytoncides – plant compounds added to aromatherapies that kill microbes
Hydrosols – the remains of a plant after a extraction process that still have culinary or medical uses, such as rose petals
Volatized Raw Herbs – plants with a higher oil content that are dried and used in direct inhalation methods

The belief is that certain aromas have an effect on the brain and that some have pharmacological benefits as well. The purpose of aromatherapy is to find a balance between the two. While some studies show a positive effect in the use of aromatherapy, it is typically is conjunction with other medical treatments, such as an aromatic massage in addition to physical therapy as treatment for an injury.

Filed Under: Chinese Medicine Tagged With: Alternative, Aromatherapy, Essential oil, Health, Medicine, Odor, Shopping, Therapy