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Top Programs at Alternative Health Schools

"For example, alternative health schools that extend academic programs in naturopathy are course-intensive, and generally require some degree of formal education prior to applying."

If you've ever thought about becoming a natural healthcare practitioner, then you may wish to review some of the many alternative health schools, which offer a number of fast-growing career-training programs.

In addition to specialized natural healthcare training options, alternative health schools provide practical instruction in healing arts like massage therapy, holistic nutrition, herbal medicine, reflexology, naturopathy, homeopathy, or acupuncture, among others. 

Depending on which healthcare discipline you choose to pursue, you might be surprised at the comprehensive training and skills that you will attain.  For example, alternative health schools that extend academic programs in naturopathy are course-intensive, and generally require some degree of formal education prior to applying.  In addition to health sciences like anatomy, microbiology, and biomedical sciences; typical studies in naturopathic alternative health schools include botanical medicine, holistic nutrition, massage, Oriental medicine; naturopathic history, philosophies and applications; homeopathy, and clinical ecology, and other associated studies.

If you find herbology appealing, then a great number of alternative health schools provide varying levels of herbal medicine courses.  In a typical herbalism program, students are taught about Materia Medica, wildcrafting, physiology and anatomy in relation to plant medicine, botanical medicine history and philosophy, aromatherapy, herbal gardening and cultivation, and basic medicine making, in addition to other relative studies.

The eyes have it if you're drawn to iridology.  Numerous alternative health schools provide training and education to aspiring iridologists, who gain in-depth knowledge about the iris; learning how to identify certain markers and colorations of the eye, which correspond to specific organ systems in the human body.  Aside from learning how to map the eye using an iris chart, students in these alternative health schools learn how to use specialty tools like magnifying glass, microscopes and cameras to examine the iris. Most often, this course of study is complementary to training in a specialized field of natural healing like herbal medicine, naturopathy or homeopathy.

Massage therapy programs seem to be a core training option at alternative health schools as well.  For the future massage therapist, it is critical to receive appropriate instruction in the field; and this is why many States currently regulate education and the practice, itself.  Typical courses average between 300 and 500 hours, with some massage programs exceeding 1,000 training hours.  General curriculum in these alternative health schools is comprised of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, Swedish massage, and deep tissue massage, among other associated coursework.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding healing arts programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore alternative health schools near you.

Top Programs at Alternative Health Schools

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