Holistic health careers are becoming more and more popular these days. But what does a holistic career actually entail?

Holistic health professionals look at the whole picture with their patients. It is not just about a physical condition, but also about the mental and social situations that a person faces each day. Additionally, holistic professions tend to treat patients with more natural means in order to cure their ailments. Some of the alternative methods holistic health professionals use include acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, and herbology. There are a variety of professions that can be considered holistic and it is a good idea to become certified in a holistic health career in order to ensure that you have the best knowledge and holistic health training possible. Check out some of these cool holistic health careers…

Holistic Skin Care – there’s a lot involved with properly caring for your skin and holistic skin care professionals know it all. Being that your skin is the largest organ in your body and your pores allow for absorption from the outside world, it’s important to treat your skin the right way. Holistic skin care professionals treat skin conditions, such as acne, sun damage, rosacea, the natural aging process, and more.

Herbal Medicine – the prescriptions that we take can certainly be dangerous and dependent on many factors. With herbal medicine, holistic health care professionals attempt to use a more natural approach to curing your ailments. Some important aspects of an herbal medicine education include aromatherapy, Chinese medicine, herbal pharmacy and more.

Chiropractic Schools – work out any kinks in your career by getting a chiropractic education. Within this holistic career, professionals are able to help patients who have physical ailments with more natural means than prescribing a painkiller. Those who enter chiropractic schools will face a very intense program in order to ensure they have the best holistic training possible to help others.

For additional information on holistic health careers, visit the American Holistic Health Association.

-Amanda Fornecker

Sometimes we realize that although we love the work we do, there needs to be some sort of change. This change can be for the betterment of ourselves, our families, or even the people we work with. Debra Bebell knew something was missing in her field. After working as a critical care nurse for more than 25 years, she decided to extend her knowledge and do something where she could really help her patients even more than she had before. She enrolled in a three-year program in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Similarly, Tess Hahn found that after working for years in nursing and recommending acupuncture for patients as a last resort, she wanted to be the one to give this successful treatment to patients. She enrolled in an acupuncture college, completed her degree, and worked in China to experience firsthand Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has been working in acupuncture since 1981 and continues to learn, with her latest endeavor being understanding acupuncture for cosmetic restoration.

Read these powerful stories of women who evolved within their careers to a Traditional Chinese Medicine wellness career:
Seeing the Whole Person: Oriental Medicine Practitioner Spotlight
This Acupuncturist Has What it Takes to Make a Difference

-Amanda Fornecker

Acupuncture is a very intricate, yet interesting career. It’s becoming more popular as the years go on and holistic and natural remedies become more mainstream, which means a positive job outlook and lucrative possibilities, especially for those with acupuncture degrees. There are many places to pursue a degree in acupuncture. Some important points to consider, include flexibility, location, cost, and length of program.

Still not sure if this is the right career for you? Well, researching the acupuncture career as well as talking to acupuncturists is key. A while back I interviewed an acupuncturist who had become very successful in her own practice. By taking a personal issue, her interests in working with others, and her business savvy, she was able to go into a career that suited her both personally and professionally. Today she continues to flourish in New York City, but not without working extremely hard.

Get started on your acupuncture school research here by reading Easing the Tension at Acupuncture Schools.

-Amanda Fornecker