Careers in Natural Healing
by NaturalHealers.com Staff
Natural healing, often referred to as "alternative" "complementary" or "integrative" medicine covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches and therapies. It refers to treatments and healthcare practices not taught widely in medical schools or not generally used in hospitals. As these healing methods continue to become integrated with mainstream healthcare, the outlook for careers in the natural healing field remains strong.
Essential Statistics
It is exciting to note the increasing acceptance and visibility of alternative and complementary forms of healing:
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The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reports that more than 42% of Americans use alternative medicine to address their health and wellness concerns.
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The budget for the NCCAM went from $2 million in 1993, to $50 million in 1999.
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In addition, Americans spent more than $27 billion on these therapies in 1997, exceeding out-of-pocket spending for all U.S. hospitalizations.
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The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) reports a 47.3% increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners between 1990 and 1997.
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A survey published in 1994 revealed that more than 60% of doctors from a wide range of specialties recommended alternative therapies to their patients at least once. That same study also reported that 47% of those doctors used alternative therapies themselves.
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Nearly 3/4 of U.S. medical schools offer elective courses in alternative and complementary medicine or include it in required courses.
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A 1998 JAMA study showed that people turn to alternative healing not so much as a result of dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, but largely because the healthcare alternatives more closely mirror their own values, beliefs and philosophical orientations toward life.
In addition, in the last decade, natural medicine has really made its way into the media and mainstream consciousness. Examples of this progress include:
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In 1993, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that more than 34% of all Americans have used some form of alternative medicine. A 1997 follow-up study showed that this figure increased to 42% of all Americans;
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Many doctors and nurses now seek information and continuing education in natural medicine modalities.
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Schools and practitioners also promote research to validate and further their professions (some natural healing arts schools now have their own research departments);
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Collaborative healing arts centers and integrative medicine clinics are opening up across the U.S. to address the needs of the whole person from a variety of healing arts perspectives;
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And, patient demand for health insurance coverage for natural therapies is increasing as people want improved access to alternative therapies.
Natural Healing Modalities
Many natural healing modalities focus on treating the root cause of a patient's symptoms, instead of the just the symptoms themselves. The practitioners look at a person as whole, or holistically, considering the physical body, the mind, emotions, and spirit of the patient. Many modalities are also unique in that they assist the body in healing itself, in a sense, jump starting the body's innate healing wisdom. Much of natural healing involves preventative measures as well, meaning the practitioner educates and treats people to prevent health problems from arising.
These therapies come from many places. Some have been developed over the past 100 years in Western cultures, while others trace their roots to India and China, and are thousands of years old. Natural healing modalities are used in many ways. Some therapies are used alone, some in combination with other natural therapies, and still others are used in addition to conventional, allopathic medical care.
More Individualized Care
Many healing modalities incorporate more contact time per patient than the Western medical model. The practitioner often takes more time to learn about the person, conduct the assessment and provide treatment. A natural health practitioner may ask questions that delve into other aspects of the patient's life beyond the physical symptoms. There is an overall greater emphasis on the importance of the patient/practitioner relationship.
Natural health practitioners often look at a patient's diet, lifestyle, exercise habits, energy, emotions, dreams, and much more to get the complete picture of one's health. Many times it's a combination of factors that affect one's health: nutritional deficiencies, poor digestion, food allergies, toxicity from environmental pollutants, or mental or emotional stress, overuse of antibiotics, etc. Treatments may last from ? hour to 50 minutes for a massage, or 1? to 2 hours for a first visit to a naturopath or acupuncturist, compared with 7 to 15 minutes for a conventional medicine office visit.
Abundant Career Opportunities
Some students of the healing arts find themselves in private practice or in practitioner groups after several months of schooling, while other natural healing careers require three to five years of preparation and training. Potential students, as well as practitioners already in the field, are seeing training programs (and continuing education) become more standardized, more schools are gaining accreditation and many modalities are experiencing increased regulations and licensing requirements in their fields.
Overall, practitioners trained in the natural healing arts are experiencing tremendous career opportunities in a climate of support, growth, collaboration, and integration. While some practitioners have a private practice, others work for clinics, wellness centers, and other companies. Some healing modalities, once considered fringe, are now deemed "mainstream," and other ancient healing traditions are enjoying newfound interest, curiosity and acceptance. Natural health is an area to watch as more healing modalities continue to emerge and become an integral part of how we heal ourselves.
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