Holistic Health Practitioner: What Are The Requirements To Become One?
A holistic health practitioner is a medical professional who applies holistic medicine to their patients. Various health-related services observe holistic healthcare in addressing the concerns of the patients as a whole. For instance, we need to get checked up by a dentist if we have dental problems. Could there be a holistic health practitioner in the world of dentistry? We’ll try to find out relative details about it. Eventually, we are about to discover what a holistic health practitioner aims to achieve and the requirements to become a certified holistic health practitioner.
Holistic Health Practitioners
Other names for holistic health practitioners are integrative health practitioners or wellness practitioners. Various health professionals are in practice, providing holistic healthcare. Moreover, a holistic health practitioner has a high level of empathy and understanding with their patient’s pains, committed to life-long learning.
Generally speaking, a holistic health practitioner addresses a patient’s concern as a whole person. That includes considering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Even social aspects belong to these considerations. They would even gain knowledge about anatomy and physiology, stress management, and even natural health remedies.
Additionally, a holistic health practitioner offers various treatment techniques making their patients responsible for caring for their wellbeing and optimal health. Holistic health careers may include the following practices:
- Patient education, including lifestyle changes
- Complementary and alternative therapies
- Western medications and surgical procedures
Holistic Health Care
Before anything else, let me give you a brief education on what holistic health is all about. As mentioned, a holistic health practitioner aims to treat a person covering all aspects of their whole personality. That involves physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social needs. Furthermore, a holistic health practitioner believes that these aspects contribute to a person’s overall health condition. The body reacts to factors from these aspects, which later on causes health issues. Overall, we can say that various health issues often occur due to the combined underlying causes.
What Does It Take to Become a Holistic Health Practitioner?
There are five primary requirements in becoming a holistic health practitioner. Every practice, whether medically related or not, has various conditions to accomplish. If you aim to be one of the promising holistic health practitioners, ensure to complete the following.
a. Bachelor’s Degree
First and foremost, you have to earn a holistic health-related bachelor’s degree. When taking this path, the requirement often starts with gaining this degree. A holistic healthcare training covers various fields. Here are some of the education and training requirements.
- Herbalism -- certificate program
- Therapeutic massage -- associate’s degree or certificate and certification
- Counseling and psychology -- bachelor’s degree recommended
- Nutrition -- bachelor program and credential as a Registered Dietitian
Note: Those who wish to earn a master’s degree or doctoral degree must complete the prerequisites for graduate programs.
b. Graduate Degree
Secondly, a graduate or professional degree is also a requirement. Physicians and various health practitioners require to have a graduate degree. Meanwhile, this requirement includes training covering the following:
Acupuncture- Nursing and nurse practitioners
- Osteopathy
- Naturopathy
- Physical therapy
Acupuncturec. State License
d. Holistic Health Post-Graduate Program
e. Holistic Health Care License
Lastly, certification requirements include the completion of post-graduate medical education and passing the exam. But then again, this certification involves a renewal every five years.
Traditional vs Alternative Medicine
Generally speaking, each of us has different beliefs and values when it comes to addressing clinical conditions. As much as possible, we wanted to receive treatment in line with these aspects. How could that be possible? In this case, we tend to look for various ways of treating illnesses or diseases. Furthermore, several theories and practices excellently work with modern treatment. These treatment practices involve two categories, which are traditional and alternative.
Traditional Medicine
It involves knowledge, skills, and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences from various cultures. Additionally, many people around the world still happen to stick with their traditional medical system to achieve optimal health. Here are a few examples of the conventional medical system.
- Chinese medicine
- Ayurvedic medicine
- Homeopathy
- Kampo medicine
- Naturopathic medicine
Alternative Medicine
These are medical practices that do not belong to a country’s traditions nor primary health care system. Other terms for this category are integrative or complementary. However, it does not have the purpose of replacing standard medical practices. Below are examples of alternative medicine.
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Herbal
- Energy therapies
- Massage therapy
Conclusion
Generally speaking, the healing method a person may choose varies according to their personal preferences. In the final analysis, what matters is achieving holistic health. Holistic health practitioners cover all the aspects of a person and promote a higher level of wellness. Holistic health practitioners have plenty of jobs available. For example, a holistic health practitioner becoming a massage therapist. There are programs available for massage therapy certification. The career of a holistic health practitioner is broad and fulfilling. Overall, the body needs services to help achieve the holistic healing that a holistic health practitioner can give. Furthermore, we all need a doctor who can provide comprehensive treatments for optimal health conditions.
Final Thoughts
Before we end this article, we have mentioned dentistry earlier. We wanted to know if dentistry also applies holistic medicine practices. Well, the answer is yes. Even in dentistry, a holistic approach is available. Addressing both oral and overall health is like hitting two birds with one stone. All in all, holistic health is achievable through various medical treatment systems.
References:
Becoming a Holistic Health Practitioner: Education & Career Requirements, Study.com, January 07, 2021, https://study.com/articles/How_to_Become_a_Holistic_Health_Practitioner_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html
Traditional vs. Alternative Medicine: How Are They Different?, Makatimed.net.ph, November 17, 2020, https://www.makatimed.net.ph/news-and-exhibits/news/traditional-vs-alternative-medicine-how-are-they-different
