Looking
after our body, mind and spirit is becoming an accepted way of making
crucial changes to the way we live our lives.
The growing acceptance of Chinese medicine means that many people are
turning to it as an effective, natural alternative to orthodox medicine.
Therapies
like acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been around for more
than two thousand years - indeed in China, conventional medicine practice
is a combination of Chinese and Western medicine techniques - and are
proven to be effective in treating an extensive range of conditions from
gynaecological problems and infertility to skin conditions and back pain.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy is to treat a person
rather than a symptom. Thus practitioners work on the body, mind and spirit
as a whole through the body's energy paths, or meridians, to enhance wellbeing.
This concept of treating the whole person is without doubt, one of the
major attractions of TCM - both for the practitioner and for the patient.
If you are considering a career in complementary medicine, there's no
better time to start training. There is a variety of courses available
and a fantastic selection of therapies to choose from. Many students opt
to study acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine together and practitioners
will often complement acupuncture treatment in a clinic with Chinese herbs
for the patient to take home. If you enjoy working with your hands, Tui
Na - an ancient form of Chinese massage that is a cross between physiotherapy,
shiatsu and acupressure - may be the course for you.
Whatever course you choose, training in TCM is a life-changing process.
Taking a holistic approach to your life and to the health of your patients
will reap rewards. The ability to help patients who otherwise might never
have been treated successfully is a deeply humbling and gratifying experience.
If you want to find out more about training in Oriental medicine, visit
http://www.lcta.com
or contact LCTA on 020 8371 0820.