Two Interesting Careers in Alternative Medicine

A career in alternative medicine can provide a fulfilling experience for health care professionals looking to practice a non-traditional, holistic approach to medicine.

According to the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, complementary and alternative medicine -- known as CAM -- is defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not considered part of conventional Western medicine.

The CAM field takes a more holistic approach to patient care. The patient is seen and treated as a whole person, not just a set of symptoms, and a focus is often placed on prevention and the body's natural ability to heal itself.

There are different distinctions within the field of CAM. "Complementary medicine" refers to the use of CAM approaches together with conventional medicine. An example would be if a patient uses acupuncture in addition to usual care to help lessen pain. According to the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, more Americans use complementary medicine than any other approach within the CAM field.

"Alternative medicine" refers to use of CAM treatments in place of conventional medicine. "Integrative medicine," also sometimes referred to as "integrated medicine," combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM.

Millions of Americans turn to CAM for their health care needs. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey by the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 38 percent of adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine.

If you are interested in a career in complementary and alternative medicine, two popular specializations -- acupuncture and chiropractic -- are a good place to start.

Acupuncture is considered the oldest, most commonly used medical procedure in the world, originating in China more than 3,000 years ago. According to the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of specific points on the body by insertion of very fine, sterile, stainless steel needles to elicit a predictable physiological response. Specialists also use mild electrical stimulation (with or without needles), pressure techniques with the hands (acupressure) or the application of heat by various methods.

Becoming an acupuncturist involves training and, in order to practice in most states, certification. Schools accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine require at least two years of undergraduate study, such as community college, prior to enrollment. Many schools prefer that applicants have a bachelor's degree in a related field. Programs typically take three years to complete.

Currently, 43 states require acupuncturists to be certified by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or pass examinations administered by the commission to practice.

According to CBSalary.com, the national average salary for an acupuncturist is $49,869.

Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, like back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs and headaches, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic -- also known as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians -- is known as "spinal manipulation" or "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of this procedure is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury.

Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions, according to the American Chiropractic Association. Applicants to chiropractic colleges are typically required to have a pre-medical undergraduate education. Once in chiropractic college, they train for an additional four to five years, including many hours spent in hands-on clinical training.

Before they are allowed to practice, doctors of chiropractic must pass national board examinations and become state-licensed.

According to CBSalary.com, the national average salary for a chiropractic doctor is $111,675.