Nature cure: An aromatherapy session in progress

Aromatherapy, naturopathy, ayurveda, yoga ? all these and many more are defined as therapeutic practices that are not currently considered an integral part of conventional allopathic medical practice. Although they lack biomedical explanations, some of them, such as naturopathy, ayurveda and acupuncture, are being widely accepted now. Therapies are termed as ?complementary? when used in addition to conventional treatments and as ?alternative? when used instead of conventional treatment.

Alternative therapies include, but are not limited to the following disciplines: folk medicine, herbal medicine, diet fads, faith healing, new age healing, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage and homoeopathy. They tell us about herbs and supplements, natural beauty and household products and help people improve their health and the quality of their lives.

What do I have to do?

Doctors practising alternative medicine offer holistic medicine consultations to patients for problems such as allergies and sinusitis, arthritis, asthma and lung diseases, immune system enhancement and gastro-intestinal disorders, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, menopausal problems, schizophrenia, sleep problems, stress reduction and food sensitivity disorders.

A naturopath is trained in the practices of nutrition, herbal medicine, homoeopathy and in some cases, remedial therapy. Naturopathy places an emphasis on a preventive approach to healing and treating the cause(s) of a disease.

Herbalists mainly prescribe concentrated extracts of herbs or tablets and capsules of the dried, powdered herbs. Many orthodox synthetic drugs are herbal alkaloid derivatives. However, the natural product guarantees a gentler action in harmony with the body?s needs.

A homoeopath makes minute doses of a substance potent by a special dilution process, so that the medicine is low in concentration but high in energy. One principle of homoeopathy is that people vary in their response to an illness according to their basic temperament.

Ayurveda looks at each person as a unique individual and focuses on establishing and maintaining the balance of life energies. The main objects of this science are preservation of health and prevention of diseases.

Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilising naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to harmonise and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual?s response to aromatic extracts to reduce stress and enhance the healing process.

What should I study?

For pursuing homoeopathy, ayurveda, unani or siddha systems, you should study physics, chemistry and biology at the Plus Two level. For practising homoeopathy, ayurvedic and unani systems, the qualification requirements are BHMS (bachelor of homoeopathic medicine and surgery), BAMS (bachelor of ayurvedic medicine and surgery) and BUMS (bachelor of unani medicine and surgery) respectively.

The education in unani and ayurvedic systems of medicine are presently being monitored by the Central Council of Indian Medicine , a statutory body set up by the Indian Medicine Central Council Act of 1970. The Central Council of Homoeopathy is the authorised body to regulate the educational standards of homoeopathy education in India. To become a natural therapist you usually have to complete a diploma, advanced diploma or degree in this field.

What next?

The World Health Organisation estimates that about 3 billion people in the world rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care. Hospitals, private nursing homes and polyclinics are increasingly realising the importance of ?integrated medicine? in health care. Medical colleges, training institutions and medical councils recruit doctors for teaching and research.

Other career options are available through group practices, research, consultancy, government agencies or in industries such as health food and manufacturing of natural products.

Where to study

• Indian Institute of Alternative Medicine, 80 Chowringhee Road, Calcutta

• National Institute of Homoeopathy, (affiliated to University of Calcutta), Salt Lake, Calcutta

• Dr. Abhin Chandra Medical College and Hospital (affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneswar), Kharvela Nagar, Bhubaneswar

• Aurveda and Unani Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, New Delhi