We are living in the age of modern medicine where there are solutions for all problems and issues of the human body. Allopathic medicine offers tablets for various human ailments like stomach pain, headache, diabetes etc.
Many people are unaware of the side effects of such medicines, but those who are aware are seeking ‘Alternative Medicine’ to solve health issues. Alternative Medicine uses physical therapies like acupressure for solving health problems.
‘Alternative’, ‘new-age’ or ‘pseudo’ medicine as a medical field is not biologically plausible and cannot be proved beneficial. This field is not backed by medical research and is untested. Alternative medicine can be referred to as holistic medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or integrated/integrative medicine (IM). ParamedicsAlternative treatments based on pseudoscience are techniques that are applied beyond their intended scope and lack required scientific proof.
Doctors operating in the field of alternative medicine are called Naturopathic Physicians. These doctors use a mix of traditional and modern practices, holistic therapies and preventive strategies. They provide natural treatments, give prescriptions and conduct simple surgeries but rarely do they perform complex procedures. A doctor practising holistic medicine can specialise in herbology and homeopathy as well. These doctors treat allergies, digestion issues, chronic pain, cancer, etc. Patients of all ages can reach them through health centres, private clinics and hospitals.
Common roles and tasks of alternative medical practitioners are:
Degrees in alternative medicine vary as per the education levels. Students can pursue the following courses in alternative medicine at different education levels.
Bachelor Courses:
Masters Courses:
Diploma Courses:
Advance Courses:
Doctorate Courses:
Alternative or complementary medicines are of the following types:
Whole Medical Systems
Inclusive systems with definite explanations for diagnosis, disease and treatment are called whole medical systems. Examples of such systems are:
Mind-Body Medicine
Hormones, immune linkages and neurons operate throughout the body and affect health through emotional and mental variables. Mind-body medicine combines social, psychological, spiritual and behavioural strategies for health preservation, disease prevention and cure. This also leads to improvement of the mind’s influence on the body.
BiologicalPractices
Here natural chemicals are used for improving health. Biologically based methods include:
Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
These techniques and practices are based on the notion that the body (bones, tissues and joints) are interconnected. Here the main focus is on the body mechanism and structure. The following practices are included here:
Energy Medicine
Energy medicine is based on the idea that there is a subtle energy or a universal life force (Qi) around us. This field aims at working with these subtle energy fields or biofields that are believed to be surrounding the body. This medicine field is being researched for a deeper understanding. Different treatments under energy practices are:
Eligibility Criteria
Although the universities and colleges have specific eligibility criteria for various courses in alternative medicine, the following general criteria should be met by the aspirants:
Following are best colleges and universities in the world that offer courses in alternative medicine:
Following are best colleges and universities in India that offer courses in alternative medicine:
Students of Alternative Medicine have many career options post completion of their degree or diploma. They can work in clinics, government or private hospitals, wellness and community centres, research-based institutes, start their own practice etc. Popular job profiles for alternative medicine are:
Following table summarises the salary for major alternative medicine career profiles:
Career |
Annual Salary (approx.) |
Chiropractor |
9-10 lakhs |
Acupuncturist |
4-4.5 lakhs |
Nutritionist |
2.5-3 lakhs |
Lifestyle Counselor |
4 lakhs |
Massage Therapist |
2-2.5 lakhs |