Online Health Degrees in Natural Health |
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Online Natural Health Degree Programs
According to a study the Harvard Medical School, the number of alternative medicine practitioners has increased by more than 47 percent since 1990. As increasingly more Americans turn to alternative medicine as a source of prevention and healing, the demand for well-trained natural health professionals is rising. Many natural health practitioners are becoming part of mainstream medicine, sharing offices and clinics with traditional doctors and specialists.
The wide-ranging fields in natural health include:
- Chiropractors
- Holistic health professionals
- Naturopathic physicians
- Herbalists
- Nutritionists
- Massage therapists
- Iridology practitioners
- Acupuncturists
Career Training in Natural Health Professions
You can go as far as you can dream in the natural healing arts. Online colleges and schools offer comprehensive career training programs leading to certificates, bachelor's of science degrees, master's degrees, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in naturopathic medicine.
Class work often focuses on a holistic methodology for disease prevention, applying sound nutrition, wellness, exercise, and hands-on, non-invasive treatment using chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, or acupuncture. Studies in Eastern and Western herbal medicine, naturopathic remedies, homeopathy, and tinctures can round out the curriculum. Iridology coursework trains professionals to observe body systems as reflected in the tissues of the human eye, determining which organs are in distress.
Looking over the Natural Health Careers
With increasing interest in natural health, your career choices can include:
- Massage Therapists. Many are self-employed and work part-time. Median 2007 annual wage as $34,870, with high-end earnings of $70,840, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Training varies by state, but typically includes both theoretical classes and hands-on practice. Licensure is available through a national examination and may be required in order to practice in your state. Employment is projected to grow by 20 percent between 2006 and 2016.
- Nutritionists. Nutritionists are often self-employed or work at clinics, hospitals, and natural healing centers. Nutritionists typically must complete a college degree. Some thirty-eight states require licensing. According to the BLS, nutritionists with an advanced degree or specialized training will find good job opportunities. The 2007 median annual salary was $ $49,010, with $71,130 reported among the top 10 percent of earners.
- Chiropractors generally work in their own clinics or with partners. More than 50 percent are self employed. Educational requirements include graduation from a two or four-year undergraduate program coupled with completion of a four-year chiropractic college program and passage of a national licensing examination. Job growth is projected to reach 14 percent during the 2006-2016 decade. According to BLS, the 2007 median annual salary was $65,890, with a high end of $97,880.
The field of natural health is undergoing rapid expansion as implications of how environmental and pharmaceutical factors affect aging and longevity spark investigations into alternative methods for preventing disease and treating chronic conditions. Other natural health careers include naturopath physician, herbologist, physical therapist, nurse-midwife, and natural health specialist.
Pursue your Natural Health degree today.
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