In recent years, interest in alternative medicine has grown significantly. Many people think this field involves new ideas and practices. However, the roots of alternative medicine go back thousands of years, when modern medicine was unavailable. Things such as acupuncture, acupressure, and massage, date to the ancient Chinese. Even fields without obvious connections to ancient times borrow much of their inspiration to these civilizations. For instance, acupuncture and acupressure, chiropractics, and colonics are all examples of this modern trend toward ancient ideas.
- Massage Therapy. Current massage therapy encompasses a variety of methods borrowed from different cultures. The overall goal of massage therapy is to use physical pressure to manipulate the body, decreasing physical pain and discomfort while relieving muscle tension.
- Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (including Acupressure) also involve working on the human frame. Acupressure consists of applying pressure to specific points on the body to achieve a desired result within it. Acupuncture works with those same points but practitioners use needles rather than pressure and lightly pierce the skin. The primary purpose of these methods is alleviating pain.
- Chiropractic Care. Similar to both massage therapy as well as acupuncture and oriental medicine, Chiropractic care practitioners focus on the human bone structure. However, rather than trying to temporarily alleviate pain, practitioners attempt to produce long-lasting results through manipulating the human body, particularly the spine. Also, chiropractic care practitioners believe that through their methods they can not only alleviate pain but also produce all over good health.
- Colon Hydrotherapy. Proponents of colon hydrotherapy subscribe to the ancient idea that most health problems stem from digestive issues. According to this belief, if the digestive system malfunctions and the body cannot properly absorb nutrients, an individual’s overall health will suffer. Colon hydrotherapy seeks to help this problem by removing built-up waste from the colon.
These options for study in alternative health only skim the surface. Interested individuals will want to do their own research on both the origin of and study time required for these options. Some fields require only a short certification process. Others demand a full college degree, incurring more funds than a less intensive program might demand. Of course, these more expensive degrees will likely provide a more lucrative career. Still, choosing what path to study will depend on your own interests, time, and finances.
