Exploring Opportunities in the Alternative/Complementary Medicine Field

Thinking about a job in alternative or complementary medicine, but don't have a degree? Don't be discouraged. There are many vocational and technical programs available to help you break into the field of complementary medicine, whether you want to go into acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, or massage therapy.

Working in Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine careers include health-related positions that usually aren't considered a part of conventional medicine, such as:
  • Acupuncturists
  • Homeopaths
  • Hypnotherapists
  • Massage therapists
  • Naturopaths.
 
You may be successful working in the alternative medicine field if you like helping people, are good with your hands and are interested in natural healing.

Jobs in Alternative Medicine

There are many career options in the alternative medicine field. Depending on what you’re interested in, some possible positions are the following:
  • Acupuncturists use procedures that stimulate specific points on the body to help treat health conditions (such as headache, back pain and asthma). Acupuncturists decide which sized needle to use and where to insert it in the body. The treatment is not usually painful and several sessions are sometimes needed to get results.

  • Homeopaths will treat a patient based on her body type, genetic history and history of personal health. The homeopath uses natural remedies that come from natural substances such as plants, minerals or animals.

  • Massage therapists provide massage therapy to clients who may be experiencing sports injuries or want to reduce stress, anxiety or depression. Therapists use techniques like pressing, rubbing and manipulating the body with their hands, fingers, elbow, forearms or even feet. Different types of massage therapy include deep tissue massage, sports massage and Swedish massage.

  • Naturopaths emphasize a healthy lifestyle, cleansing the body and noninvasive treatments.

Facts and Figures

The future of alternative medicine is very bright, as this field has been growing steadily over the last decade. In fact, nearly 40 percent of adults in the United States have used complementary/alternative medicine at some point in their lives.
 
As for salary, pay varies depending on what type of alternative medicine is practiced. In 2008 the average salary for massage therapists was $39,850, while acupuncturists earned, on average, $43,000 to $60,000 a year.

Education, Training and Work Experience

If you are considering a career in the alternative medicine field, you’ll want to enter a vocational or technical school to gain the necessary skills and training. There are certain segments of the alternative medicine field, such as massage therapy, that also require state licensing and at least 500 hours of classroom instruction. Classes in anatomy, biology and physiology can also help in this field.
 
Many acupuncture schools do not require students to have an undergraduate degree, but certain accredited schools require at least two years of undergraduate study at a community college before acceptance.

Related Associations and Groups

For more information on the alternative medicine field, check out the following:
  • The American Holistic Medical Association is an advocate for the use of holistic and integrative, complementary and alternative medicine techniques.

  • The American Massage Therapy Association advances the art, science and practice of massage therapy.

  • The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is the Federal Government’s lead agency for complementary and alternative medicine scientific research.
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