How to Get a PhD in Natural Healing
Holistic healing and other alternative methods of medicine have been on the rise in the public eye, and demand for knowledgeable practitioners of natural medicine is swelling. In this relatively young field, those who know how to get a PhD in natural healing can get into the industry ahead of the pack and transform their passion for healing into a lucrative and rewarding career.
What is natural healing?
The field of natural healing--also known as naturopathy or natural medicine--revolves around the concept of the body as a network of nested systems in balance. It relies principally on the body's built-in vital abilities to correct disease and focuses on bringing about the conditions required for the body's cell defense response to work efficiently. Take a look at this list of disciplines included in natural healing:
- Herbology
- Nutrition
- Chiropraxis
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Acupuncture
Candidates for a PhD in natural medicine will learn about the basic techniques of the above disciplines, as well as gain operational knowledge of the body at large. PhD programs in natural healing can take anywhere from 3 to 10 years, depending on your available time and energy for the coursework.
What are the steps to earning a PhD in Natural Health?
Coursework requirements will vary depending on the program's level of intensity, and online degrees can present students with a less strict set of policies and procedures than traditional, campus-based programs, so check with your chosen institution to be sure. Here's a basic outline of a four-year doctoral program in natural medicine:
- First year courses focus on introductions to naturopathic theory, therapeutics, and philosophy, accompanied by basic anatomy, physiology, and biology courses
- Second year students begin to study disease and diagnosis, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine and elements of physical and massage therapies
- Third year studies include continuation of specialized studies begun the previous year and includes training in organ systems and individual case management.
- Fourth year work continues the organ systems courses but focuses primarily on practical clinical training, caring for patients alongside licensed physicians
At the end of their practical clinical training, students must take a clinic proficiency exam to ensure they have solidified their skills. In many cases, students also write and submit a dissertation paper on a subject relevant to their degree.
What types of career specialties are available after completing the degree?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the education and health services industry was the only economic sector on the rise in recent years, adding 319,237 new jobs from March 2009 to March 2010. What's more, the mean annual salary for healthcare practitioner and technical occupations checked in at nearly $70,000, and chiropractors and physical therapists earned about $80,000 and $76,000, respectively, for the same period. Health specialties teachers at the university level took home an average of $103,340.
Whether your dream is to open a clinic, work in a clinic, or teach clinical naturopathy to other aspiring healers, knowing how to get a PhD in natural healing makes that dream all the more likely to come true. Take the time to look into PhD programs in natural medicine and determine which one is right for you.
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