An Education in Chinese Medicine

Saturday, November 17, 2012

More individuals are looking for non-invasive forms of medical treatment at an increasing rate every year. As a result schools and colleges are meeting this need by providing degree distinctions in a variety of alternative medical practices. Traditional Chinese Medicine is becoming more popular every year because of the wide range of medical techniques this specific form of medicine provides.

Chinese medicine has been practiced for over 2,000 years and encompasses treating patients in a number of ways that includes acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, nutrition, and more. Lets look at a few of these treatments to gain a better understanding of how they are non-invasive forms of health care. Acupuncture is a treatment that involves placing fine needles in a patient at certain depths and patterns. Needles are placed in areas a chiropractor is attempting to heal. For example, a cluster of needles would be placed in a pattern in the lower back to relieve chronic pain in that area. The purpose is to increase the body's energy flow and promote healing in the centralized area within the needle cluster. Moxibustion is a treatment to prevent disease that involves applying heat on different areas of the body to promote health. The goal of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to focus on healing with Chinese practices and traditional forms of medicine. However, Chinese medicine practitioners try to avoid surgical treatment for their patients.

Prospective students have many options when it comes to gaining an education within the industry. Students can choose an overall educational approach. Meaning they can gain a degree that involves all the aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Or, students can choose a specialty within the practice and become a specific type of Chinese medicine practitioner. Students can step into specific fields including:

  • acupuncture
  • nutrition
  • herbal medicine

All of these degree options are available at a wide range of colleges and universities that want to provide the best possible education in a student's chosen path.

Let's look at a master's degree program that is an overall approach to the medical profession of Chinese medicine. Programs like this can be taken and sometimes are designed for students who haven't started medical schooling yet. A program at this level may break down coursework into 11-week quarters. Most colleges require some level of undergraduate study in science prior to admission into the program. A set schedule is given to students because the knowledge obtained through the program is a continuation of previous knowledge. Meaning that each course is designed to repeat previous courses and add to the knowledge gained.

Each year is designed to focus on Traditional Chinese Medicine in theory, knowledge, and practice. In the first year education will build a foundation by teaching students the main theories, procedures, and medical uses of the practice. Courses will also cover patient care, clean needle techniques, diagnosis, principles of care, and natural healing training. Year two will have students diving deeper into techniques, learning theories, and gaining knowledge of Western internal medicine. The third and fourth years of study students are given opportunities to practice inside clinics while still learning procedures. Students also will continue learning holistic health to help them know how to diagnose and treat patients in a variety of traditional ways.

Becoming a medical practitioner inside the industry of Chinese medicine gives students a wide range of options to choose from. Start a fulfilling career in patient care today. Search out accredited Chinese medicine colleges and universities that offer degree programs that fit your career goals. Accreditation is awarded to programs that offer quality training, by agencies like the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine http://www.acaom.org/.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised on HolisticJunction.com. Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by HolisticJunction.com.