Duties

Oriental medicine practitioners use forms of acupuncture and treatment through the Chinese concept of “qi,” which means energy. Oriental medicine treats a variety of ailments including headaches, back pain, arthritis, or other illnesses by identifying patterns of imbalance within a body’s energy levels and working to readjust fluids or tissues in order to keep the body in balance and relieve pain. Oriental medicine techniques include acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, and herbal supplements that are applied to specific body parts or tissues. Practitioners must be able to evaluate a patient’s symptoms and identify what organs or tissues are causing the ailment, and come up with a customized plan that incorporates oriental herbs and practices into a treatment. Acupuncture treatments involve the use of needles being placed in joints and tissues.

Salary: $61,000

Education:

Education and training requirements vary state to state for becoming an oriental medicine practitioner. Some practitioners are licensed to be a physician’s assistant and then take classes to become certified in oriental medicine. Most practitioners earn a Bachelor’s degree in biology or another medical related field, then go on to fill state requirements for practicing oriental medicine. Most states require students to work as an intern or apprentice for a specific number of hours in order to qualify for certification, and then have them take an examination to become certified through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.