After doing a presentation recently on Meniere’s Disease, I found out a few interesting tidbits regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Meniere’s Disease is a disorder of the inner ear, whose cause is unknown. Symptoms include tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), hearing loss, vertigo, and aural fullness (a sensation that you have cotton in your ears). There is no cure for Meniere’s Disease, but there are some treatments that may help alleviate these bothersome symptoms. Some include the use of ototoxic drugs (which can really only be used in patients who have a severe hearing loss, as these drugs tend to worsen hearing and cause permanent damage); others have begun to turn to alternative medicine methods, like CAM.

Meniere’s Disease patients who seek CAM treatment for relief have found significant betterment of their symptoms. CAM includes treatments such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathy, hypnosis, and many other treatments. A CAM practitioner is one who is skilled in alternative medicine practices and treatments. They have received their licensure after completing a prescribed course of CAM school study and can legally practice on clients. Some CAM practitioners may specialize in a particular type of CAM treatment, but all have a pretty generalized knowledge of the scope of the field.

The benefits of CAM treatment on Meniere’s Disease patients are becoming more widely studied, as many patients are willing to try this natural method in order to alleviate their symptoms. Although it’s not a specific cure, CAM could be a helpful way for these patients to cope with their disease, which can actually cause an increase in demand for CAM practitioners.

Read up on some holistic health stories here.

-Amanda Fornecker

Below, you’ll find part two of the cool spa careers I’ve been exploring. Check each of them out and see what they’re about!

Reiki – this natural healing technique uses energy to create a more positive and balanced lifestyle, free of stress. Using a laying on of hands, Reiki promotes relaxation of the body, mind, and spirit. There are a variety of levels of training so getting certified may take some time, but will definitely be worth it, as Reiki is on the rise.

Rubenfeld Synergy Method – to cleanse its clients of negative energies, the Rubenfeld Synergy Method uses gentle touch massage and more to promote healthy living. You may become certified in this holistic practice or specialize in it within a broader field of natural healing.

Trager Approach – for an improved lifestyle in both the physical and emotional sense, the Trager Approach is a method in which a practitioner works with a client. It is not formally recognized in the medical community, but it is possible to earn certification within a six-month time period form the United States Trager Association.

Tui Na – to balance the body and achieve natural chi, this Chinese technique uses a variety of massages to manipulate the joints in a healthy manner. Tui na generally can be learned at massage schools, resulting in certification.

Zero Balancing – through massage, zero balancing connects the body’s energy fields and brings them to harmony. Certification is possible for those interested in zero balancing, however you must be a licensed health care professional in order to practice this massage technique on clients.

-Amanda Fornecker

At a metaphysical university, students discover a wide variety of alternative education courses including certificate and degree programs in metaphysical health studies, higher consciousness, world religions, and more. The unique aspect of enrolling in a metaphysical university is the fact that you don’t always have to attend a physical campus, as many schools of metaphysics offer home study courses that individuals can complete from the comfort of home or office.

Common degree programs that you may find at a metaphysical university are sometimes referred to as “New Age.” Though quite the contrary in many cases, new age studies aren’t always so “new age” as some may have you believe. Metaphysics simply means “to explain what anything or any matter must be like in order to exist altogether. The discovery of what lies beneath, is also a good definition of metaphysics as it addresses all things.” Given this consideration, students of metaphysics may well include the likes of Plato, Hippocrates, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Nikola Tessla — and many other famous or not-so-famous individuals throughout history.

But what exactly can I learn in a metaphysical university, you ask? Ah, the acquiescence of knowledge is paramount to any quality metaphysical education. This is why metaphysical colleges offer such a vast assortment of academic studies. Whether you choose to pursue a degree in religious theosophy or just want to brush up your intuitive skills in astrology, hypnotherapy or NLP (neuro linguistic programming), then a metaphysical school is where you need to enroll.

For more information on Metaphysics and Divinity schools, check out Educational Enlightenment: Metaphysics and Divinity Schools.