By Dr. N.K Sharma, Director at Reiki Healing Foundation
The naturopathy principle was first used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in about 400 BC. The Greek philosopher Hippocrates thinks of viewing the whole person in view to finding a cause of disease and using the laws of nature to encourage cure.
Before starting the article, you should know what is Naturopathy? A Naturopath empowers the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health by teaching self-care, they are not just another doctor for consultation, they do not emphasis much on treatments but try to open the eyes of the patients, they educate them the laws of nature and health, they are made to believe that their body is all the time engaged in the healing process, striving for normal condition. The idea of Naturopathy is to work with the body, to help it in its natural ability to heal and keep healthy. Treatments are natural and include herbal remedies, lifestyle changes, and dietary modifications, and in some cases other balancing techniques including massage and acupuncture.
If you have a concern in working with people, helping and enabling them to improve, maintain or recover their health and well-being, and doing so in a personal, gentle manner, Naturopathy could well be the career for you! This article is written with the purpose to educate the aspirants who want to choose a career in Naturopathy.
Scope for Naturopathy doctors in India
A career in Naturopathy (Complementary medicine) is not allied with an ordinary 9 to 5 job. As a Naturopath, you have to treat with different clienteles, which can range from elderly people with chronic health objections to pregnant women with their children or the people suffering from constant high stress. The final objective of the Naturopath is to gradually and smoothly improve the health of their patients by allowing and motivating them to adapt to a much healthier lifestyle.
Obviously, there are healings that are aimed at the illness-causing different symptoms, but not at masking the individual symptoms themselves. It’s about treating the whole body, its physical, emotional, and mental aspects.
Skills and Knowledge
Complementary medicine has been considered by western medical practitioners. In India, naturopaths are assigned in govt. as well as private hospitals and health centers. On the other hand, they can also start their own undertakings as well. Naturopathy deals with the body as a whole. As such, naturopaths must have knowledge about the human biological sciences from anatomy and physiology to cell and molecular biology. They should have a clear idea of the current knowledge of pathophysiology and symptomatology, a comprehensive understanding of nutrition, medicinal herbs as well as digestive anatomy and physiology.
Career options
Naturopaths can opt for different fields based on their expertise, sector, choice, interest, and knowledge. Some of the important broad disciplines where a naturopath may find good opportunities are- Academic, Hospital and Healthcare Administration, Research, Management & Administration, Health Supervisor, and Naturopathy Consultation in the form of an instructor, expert, specialist
Opportunities in Government jobs
Naturopathy degree holders may have a good chance of taking up employment in the government sector. Moreover, they have healthier employment opportunities outside the country as well. Both the government and private sectors offer a good salary package for a deserving naturopathic provider. The center and the state governments are continuously at the forefront to hire such experts for their various organizations.
Salary offers
Naturopaths generally earn more when they start their own practice or clinics. On the other hand, the earnings may still vary, depending on the number of patients they see every day. The Initial salary of naturopaths can be in the range of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month. In developed countries like Britain and America, the salary range varies between USD 15,000 to 25,000 per annum.
Eligibility Criteria
A number of govt. and private colleges in India suggest a Naturopathy course, Bachelor of Naturopathy Sciences (BNS). Go through the following points to have in-depth knowledge about the course. If you want to enroll in BNS, then you must have cleared class 12th with subjects as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from a recognized board with 55% of the aggregate marks.
The minimum age for joining the course is 18 years. After successfully completing the BNS, one can pursue higher studies in M.Phil. and Ph.D.
Prevention is better than cure
A Naturopath may take away toxic substances and conditions from a patient’s lifestyle to prevent the onset of further disease. The simple law of health is that body is not designed to become sick, sickness is to be earned by our wrong choices and lifestyle. If do not choose disease, the body will never create any symptoms till the last breath. Except for naturopathy, there is no known therapy or pathy on this earth which can be called preventive medicine.
