Oriental Medicine Practitioners
Overview
Introduction
Oriental medicine practitioners, or OM practitioners, are health care professionals who practice a variety of health care therapies that are part of the ancient healing system of Oriental medicine. Oriental medicine is a comprehensive system of health care. It includes several major modalities: acupuncture, Chinese herbology, Oriental bodywork or massage, exercise, and dietary therapy. Each of these major areas has numerous variations, but all forms are based on traditional Oriental medicine principles. A practitioner may p...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Starting pay for a private practitioner specializing in acupuncture and Oriental medicine may be $15,000 to $20,000 until the practice expands. Income is directly related to the number of hours worked and the rate charged per hour, which generally increases with experience. According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, practitioners of acupuncture and Oriental medicine earn an average salary of $52,00...
Work Environment
Oriental bodywork therapists work in a variety of settings, and the work environment can vary greatly. In most locations, they work indoors in clean, comfortable surroundings. Solo practitioners may set up their own offices or travel to their clients' homes or places of business. If they have to travel, they frequently charge a travel fee. They have flexible schedules and can set their own hour...
Outlook
The national emphasis on wellness and natural health care is expected to keep up the demand for Oriental bodywork therapists and other OM practitioners. Interest from the mainstream medical community, recent advances in research, and favorable changes in government policy are strong indicators that the field will continue to expand. As insurance, health maintenance organizations, and other thir...