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Alternative Medical Jobs

Jobs in alternative medicine fall into one of four main domains. Whole medical systems, such as homeopathic and traditional Chinese medicine, follow the philosophy that the body's parts work together to function efficiently as a whole. Mind-body practices, including reiki and hypnotherapy, contend that the mind directly affects body systems, causing illness. Biology-based practices use herbs, vitamins and supplements to create and maintain health, while manipulative and body-based practices, which align the body's core through spinal manipulation, include chiropractic and osteopathic medicine.

  1. Whole System Approach

    • Homeopathic practitioners earn salaries that vary depending on the setting and scope of practice. The Natural Healers website states that family practice doctors who incorporate homeopathy can expect to earn $137,000 to $156,000 annually, while independent practitioners, whose income varies based on their clientele, make around $50 per hour. Traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, has benefited from the scientifically proven method of acupuncture, according to Natural Healers, with new acupuncturists making as much as $40,000 per year. Education required in each field depends on the scope of practice chosen, and graduate work and specialized training exists for current medical professionals wishing to add homeopathy or TCM to their scope of practice.

    Mind-Body Therapy

    • A beginning reiki healer may expect to earn about $20,000 annually, according to Natural Healers, while an experienced or master instructor may make $70,000 per year or more, depending on location and certification. Hypnotherapy practitioners range from hypnotists to licensed therapists incorporating the technique into an existing counseling practice. Salary.com says qualified hypnotherapists typically earn $50 to $150 per hour during a part-time practice, while licensed hypnotists working report making $75,000 a year. Education expectations also vary greatly, depending on the type of hypnotherapy chosen.

    Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

    • Osteopathic physicians and chiropractors have more education than most alternative medical practitioners. Chiropractors typically possess a four-year degree in addition to four years of training at an accredited chiropractic school, and earn between $67,641 and $101,492 annually, according to Natural Healers. Osteopathic physicians prescribe and perform all diagnostic tests, along with manual medicine (manipulation). They also have the training for surgery and can prescribe medication, linking them closely with conventional or Western medical practitioners. They spend an average of three to eight years of medical school, after obtaining a four-year degree. Osteopaths earn about $149,194 per year, reports the Healthcare-Training Center website, depending on their medical specialization.

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