What’s Inside: Alternative medicine careers may be a pathway for your child if they “always wanted to be a doctor” but suddenly feel disappointed in that choice. This post is for you if you or your kiddo likes the healing arts.
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Homeschooling High School
Homeschooling can include “career exploration” for your child. So sit back, don’t panic, and let’s explore an area that may be a path to find out “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Alternative Medicine Careers
Does your child lean towards the healing arts? Did they always want to be a doctor when they were little? Are they fascinated by how the body can heal and grow? Are they compassionate?
Maybe you’ve had a disappointing experience with conventional medicine or are discouraged by the overwhelming bureaucracy and paperwork at doctor’s offices and hospitals. Maybe you think there’s more to healing than a robot with protocols can do. And maybe you are nervous about the future of medicine as AI takes control of routine issues – maybe there will be fewer “regular” doctors needed in the future.
And what does that mean for you if you were considering becoming a doctor as a career choice?
Future is bright
I get it, career choices can be overwhelming as a young person. But, fear not! People will always need the human touch in healing and in life.
You’ve probably seen it, or perhaps met someone who was a genuine healer. Maybe it was even a mom’s care as she nursed you back to health with something as simple as chicken soup and TLC. Maybe it was a chiropractor who made that excruciating back pain simply go away.
Still, there are many opportunities for young people in the healing arts, even though we are in a time of shifting technological change.
Who is this for?
I’ve gathered ideas for the young person who is exploring possibilities for their future. Do any of these questions resonate with you:
- Do you like biology or science?
- Are you interested in how things work – what makes things the way they are?
- Can you look at interconnections – causes and reactions, how things work together?
- Do you like detective-like approaches to solving puzzles?
- Do you enjoy people and helping them to overcome problems? Are you a people person?
- Are you compassionate or empathetic?
- Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives?
Western Medicine vs. Alternative Medicine
Western medicine doctors are supposed to fix you when you are broken. (They are still really good at broken bones!!) Western medicine is also known as conventional or allopathic medicine.
According to Cleveland Clinic, “Western medicine uses an evidence-based approach to diagnose and treat illness and disease. Western medicine healthcare providers use scientifically proven methods to treat and prevent disease.”
Yet, according to several news articles, people are losing their faith in the traditional medical system. Even the NIH has published an article on “How Medicine Has Lost its Soul” which talks about the turn towards “holistic” medicine where some traditional doctors are trying to incorporate lost techniques of treating a person instead of a symptom.
Alternative medicine careers instead of traditional medicine may be a pathway for someone who really wants to make a difference and help people.
Alternative choices
Let’s look at some alternative medicine careers. Here’s a giant table to get the conversation going. This is arranged (mostly) in order of most like traditional doctors to least – most allopathic to most holistic.
Alternative Medicine Careers Chart
| Job | What do they do? | Licensing / Degree Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Naturopath Doctor | Uses natural therapies and lifestyle changes to treat illness. Different schools than medical schools. Note: There are naturopaths that are not NDs. These have generally done a mentorship type of program. | Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND or NMD); state license. Still takes 4 years after BS |
| Physical Therapist | Diagnoses and treats medical problems or health-related conditions that limit people’s ability to move and perform functional activities. | Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program; must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for state licensing. Takes an additional 3 years after BS |
| Midwife | Provides care to women especially for pregnancy & childbirth | Different levels and certifications including Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Certified Midwife (CM), and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Currently. State licensure required for all |
| Chiropractor | Diagnoses and treats musculoskeletal issues, primarily spine-related. | Doctor of Chiropractic (DC); state license |
| Paramedic | First responders at the scene of an accident or medical crisis who perform life-saving procedures such as CPR, administering medications, and using defibrillators. | Two years of coursework and clinical and field internships. Certification and licensure are required |
| Holistic Nutritionist | Advises on diet and nutrition for overall health. | Certification or degree in nutrition; state requirements vary |
| Acupuncturist | Uses needles to stimulate the nervous system for healing; often integrates herbal medicine. Related fields: Chi gong healer and TCM herbalist. | Master’s degree in acupuncture or Oriental medicine; state license |
| Massage Therapist | Manipulates soft tissues to relieve pain and promote relaxation. Specialties include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, and sports massage | State-licensed; typically requires 500+ hours of training |
| Herbalist | Recommends and prepares herbal remedies for health and wellness. | No formal degree required usually; certification optional |
| Reiki Practitioner | Uses hands-on or hands-off energy healing techniques. | Certification & training varies, No formal degree required |
| Ayurvedic Practitioner | Applies traditional Indian medicine principles for holistic health. | Certification or diploma from an accredited school |
| Yoga Therapist | Uses yoga postures, breathing, and meditation for healing. | Certification from Yoga Alliance or equivalent; advanced training |
| Reflexologist | Applies pressure to specific points on the feet, hands, or ears to affect organs and systems. | Certification or diploma; state requirements vary |
| Homeopath | Uses highly diluted natural substances to stimulate the body’s healing response. | Certification or degree; state requirements vary |
| Applied Kinesiology Practitioner | Uses muscle testing to assess health conditions and guide treatment decisions. Often used in conjunction with other modalities | International College of Applied Kinesiology has a 100 hour accreditation course, as well as higher levels. State requirements vary. |
| Aromatherapist | Uses plant-derived essential oils to support wellness through aromatherapy, topical application, or inhalation. | No formal degree or state licensure is required in the U.S. for essential oils practitioners. Many complete non-accredited training programs or certifications |
Some notes for consideration
I’ve used many of these alternatives and find them very helpful. I’ve studied and learned the basics of homeopathy, reflexology, herbalism, aromatherapy, and nutrition. If you have interest in any of these areas, you can learn more too.
Recently, one of our friends graduated high school and will be going into midwifery. Her update on the field is that many midwives and the certification groups are now pushing for a full degree in midwifery along with apprenticeship. And there are midwifery schools now.
I know another recent graduate who was unsure of the path she would take and so went into dental assistant college (highly selective, by the way). Now she can work her way through college, earning money as a hygienist, while studying to become a medical researcher.
Best recommendations
There are so many opportunities in the healing fields. If any of these career ideas appeal to you, I recommend that you see if you can “shadow” someone in the field. Most of the people in these healing fields genuinely like to help. And I bet that if they can’t let you shadow them, they they can recommend the next steps for you to take.
For the fields that require less training and certification, begin studying now. Get recommended books, or start following a trusted healer with a newsletter.
Here are some books I love:
- Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use. This is a great book to have as you are learning.
- Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook That Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon. Learn nutrition as you learn to cook traditionally.
- The Complete Homeopathy Handbook: Safe and Effective Ways to Treat Fevers, Coughs, Colds and Sore Throats, Childhood Ailments, Food Poisoning, Flu, and a Wide Range of Everyday Complaints by Miranda Castro. You’d need a homeopathy kit also to learn with (there are lots of good ones). Recommendation is to start small and learn one remedy at a time. The “A,B,C”s are good for kids: “Aconitum, Belladonna, & Chamomile,” although my most used is Arnica!
- Check out any beginner book from your local library to see if you want it for your home reference shelf.
Here are some healers that I follow:
- Dr. Henry Ealy, N.D. of the Energetic Health Institute. This institute has courses that lead to certification in Nutrition, among others. There are also free courses and papers available. Dr. H teaches about the immense healing power of the body and encourages people to take control their own healing.
- Heidi Villages of Healing Harvest Homestead. Heidi offers a wealth of information from a lifetime of studying herbal healing. Her free library is full of wonderful resources.
- The Herbal Academy offers certification in herbalism through course offerings. They’ve got some great recipes and ways to get started.
- The Weston A. Price Foundation. Learn nutrition with your local, in-person, chapter.
