An Oriental Medicine Degree Could Put You On The Right Track

Oriental Medicine is the term used to describe alternative medicine treatments which generally originate from Asia. In order to practice this form of medicine, you need to obtain an oriental medicine degree from an institution or program which has been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

If you are planning to practice in the United States of America, make sure that you are licensed in the state in which you intend to work. The licensing rules vary from state to state and many do not yet recognize or allow the practicing of this form of medicine.

There are many different areas of Oriental Medicine. One of the most popular is acupuncture. This is a technique where the practitioner will insert very fine needles into points on the body. This technique can be used to release tight muscles, increase circulation and to balance energy within the body.

Oriental Medicine also includes various massage techniques like Tui na, Shiatsu and cupping. Cupping is a unique method where the therapist will place several glass cups or spheres on the patients body. The therapist will light a match inside the cup and remove it just before placing the cup on the skin. Doing this causes the cup to stick to the skin by suction and when the skin is coated with a massage oil the cups can be moved across the skin as a form of massage.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has its roots in the study of nature, the universe, and of the human body.

Chinese herbal medicine is another form of oriental medicine and in china it is considered to be the primary means of internal medicine. There are over 500 Chinese herbs which are used to heal ailments. These herbs are combined to make specific formulas for each individual patient.