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Alternative Medicine and Related Studies is a degree category that consists of the following common degrees:
- Read more about Naturopathic Medicine
Are you interested in health and wellness? Do you believe in the healing power of nature? If so, a degree in naturopathic medicine might be for you.
The practice of naturopathic medicine or "naturopathy" is centuries old. This alternative wellness system is built on the belief that the body can heal itself. It combines modern medical methods with a broad range of natural therapies to aid recovery, prevent illness, and boost overall health. Massage, herbs, exercise, nutritional counseling, and acupuncture all fall under the umbrella of naturopathy.
If you’re interested in studying this fascinating field, you’re in luck. There are lots of degree options to choose from. You could specialize in a particular aspect of naturopathic medicine, like homeopathy or hydrotherapy, for example. Or you could keep things broad, pursuing more generalized studies. You could study part-time or full-time, in a formal institution or in your own time. You could even apprentice, learning your craft through hands-on experience.
Whatever direction you choose, you’ll learn to respect these basic tenants of naturopathic medicine:
- The healing power of nature: naturopathic practitioners believe that people have a natural, inherent ability to heal themselves.
- Rather than treating or suppressing the symptoms of disease, naturopathy aims to identify and treat the causes.
- First do no harm: like medical doctors, naturopathic physicians aim to minimize risk when diagnosing and treating patients.
- Doctor as teacher: naturopathy is built on a premise of educating patients so that they can take responsibility for their own health.
- Naturopathy aims to treat the whole person by considering the mental, emotional, physical, social, and environmental aspects of wellness.
- Prevention: the practice of naturopathy is focused on preventing illnesses and injuries before they occur.
If these naturopathic concepts appeal to you, read on. In this article, we’ll cover the following:
- What kinds of naturopathy degrees are there?
- What’s the difference between studying naturopathic medicine and going to medical school?
- What will you learn in a naturopathy degree?
- What can you do with a degree in naturopathic medicine?
- Read more about Acupuncture
A key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture is used to treat pain and mobility problems, contribute to overall wellness, and manage stress. TCM explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force – known as qi (pronounced ‘chee’) – believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in the human body. By inserting very thin needles at various depths into specific points along these meridians, acupuncturists believe that energy flow will re-balance. In the West, acupuncture treatment is considered a complementary approach to stimulate nerves, muscles, and connective tissue.
Students of acupuncture study the philosophy behind the practice, acupuncture point selection, and needle insertion. Programs typically incorporate coursework in Western medicine, food therapy and ‘energetic’ foods, Chinese therapeutic massage, traditional herbs and formulas, and professional ethics.
Acupuncture, thought to have originated in China more than 2,500 years ago, has been recognized as a healing option by the US National Institute of Health since 1997.