Careers in Naturopathy: Naturopath, or natural medicine practitioners treat illnesses and practise preventive medicine by using nutrition, herbalism, homoeopathy, radiology and other natural therapies, including remedial therapy to stimulate the body’s own ability to repair and heal itself without the use of pharmaceutical drugs or surgery. Their work involves examining patients’ health and the food they eat and prescribing diets, foods, minerals, vitamins and other treatments to help improve general health. They also stimulate the healing powers of the patient’s body by using small, strengthened doses of herbal, mineral or animal substances and use massage, exercise and pressure touch to promote healing and wellbeing. Naturopaths also examine the patient’s iris (coloured part of the eye) to analyse and treat illness in various organs of the body.
Careers in Naturopathy
Personal requirements include a strong motivation to help people, and interest in preventive medicine and a mature and confident personality.
Careers in Naturopathy – Massage Therapists
Massage therapists massage clients and administer body treatments for relaxation and remedial purposes and generally work in three broad (sometimes overlapping) areas-remedial, relaxation and sports massage. Remedial massage is a paramedical massage treatment to assist in healing parts of the body which have been injured or left inactive due to age, illness or injury. Relaxation massage combines massage techniques to promote relaxation, improve circulation, relieve muscle tension and increase range of movement. And sports massage
combines different massage techniques to enhance sports performance and recuperation and prevent injury. It can include prevent, post-event and maintenance techniques.
Careers in Naturopathy – Nature of Work
Massage therapists may perform the following tasks:
(i) massage the soft tissues of the human body, including muscles, tendons and ligaments, to assist healing;
(ii) use massage techniques to enhance relaxation and well-being;
(iii) use techniques such as muscle stretching to assist with recovery and to enhance muscle performance;
(iv) use finger pressure techniques in therapies such as Shiatsu and reflexology;
and use complementary aids, such as infra-red lamps, wet compresses, ice, essential oils and herbal or mineral therapies to promote recovery, relaxation and well being.
Careers in Naturopathy Specialisations include;
- Alexander Technique
- Aromatherapy
- Feldenrais
- Kinesiology
- Reflexology
- Shiatsu
- Swedish Massage
Personal requirements for the position include physical fitness and good health and while strength is not a major requirement, stamina is necessary. A caring, positive attitude to clients and a genuine interest in helping clients overcome their physical problems is also desirable.
Careers in Chiropractor
Chiropractors care for neuro-musculo-skeletal disturbances such as spinal problems and sporting injuries.
Nature of Work
They are trained to perform the following tasks: diagnose a patient’s condition based on case history, physical examination, pathology tests, orthopaedic tests and neurological tests; take X- rays of the appropriate skeletal structure (if qualified to do so) and provide a report on them; assist in the restoration of normal function of the vertebral column and of the structures attached to that column, namely the skull, ribs and pelvis; restore mobility and alignment to fixated joint of the spinal column and of other body parts by manual adjustments or manipulation; provide care for the healing of muscle, ligaments and tendons; provide exercises to aid healing; advise on nutrition and lifestyle to help patients regain health and establish a balanced relationship between the psychological and the physiological functioning of the body; refer patients to other health professionals as appropriate; perform preemployment examinations and workplace assessments; and provide certificates for insurance purposes, worker’s compensation, motor vehicle accidents and Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.
Personal requirements include a reasonable level of physical fitness, the ability to work independently and good interpersonal skills.
Medical Imaging Technologists
Medical imaging technologists operate x-ray and other imaging equipment to produce radiographs (x-ray films) and other images which are used in the diagnosis and subsequent management of disease or injury.
Nature of Work
Medical imaging technologists may perform the following tasks:
(i) receive and interpret requests from medical practitioners for x-ray examinations to be performed on patients:
(ii) determine the appropriate imaging techniques which will provide diagnostic information for the doctor;
(iii) calculate details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation and settings of recording equipment;
explain procedures to patients, ensure they receive the correct preparation for the procedure and make sure that any concern about radiation processes is minimized; correctly position the patient and imaging equipment to obtain the best image of the area being examined; ensure the patient’s welfare during the examination, including radiation safety; calculate the correct technical factors necessary to obtain the correct radiation exposure to the patient; develop the x- ray films; check films after they are processed to determine if any further views are necessary; and operate special equipment such as fluoroscopy equipment (which gives a moving image of the part being examined), angiography equipment (which images blood vessels) and computed tomography (CT) equipment (which gives cross-sectional) images of the body). Medical imaging technologists may specialise as sonographers who operate ultrasound machines and related equipment to produce images for medical diagnostic purposes.
Personal requirements include an interest and ability in science, the ability to work accurately and as part of a team and understanding approach.
Speech Pathologist
Speech pathologist, or therapists, diagnose, treat and provide management services to people of all ages with communication and swallowing difficulties. The problems may arise in the areas of speech, language, voice, fluency, hearing and swallowing.
Nature of work
Speech pathologists may perform the following tasks:
(i) determine the exact nature and severity of each client’s communication problems which may require the use of special equipment and test;
(ii) plan and carry out the most suitable treatment and management, taking into account the clients’ age, past and present social environment and physical and intellectual abilities;
(iii) treat children who are unable to communicate effectively for many reasons arising from conditions such as cleft palate, hearing loss, delayed speech or language development, cerebral palsy or emotional disturbances;
(iv) treat adults whose language, speech or voice has been affected by surgery, disease or disorders of the nervous system, brain damage or hearing loss;
(v) help in overcoming stuttering in both children and adults;
(vi) assess and treat children and adults who have difficulty in chewing and swallowing;
(vii) provide coordinated intervention by working closely with care givers and other professionals as part of a team; and
(viii) provide ongoing counselling advice and information to clients and families as an integral part of all treatment.
Personal requirements include a patient and tactful approach to people’s problems, being able to inspire confidence and cooperation, an interest in people and an interest in language and communication.
Cardiac Technologists or Clinical Measurement Technician
Cardiac technologists, or clinical measurement technicians, are health professionals who provide technical services for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. As part of the cardiology team, they operate a range of specialist equipment which provides data that cardiologists and other medical practitioners use for patient care.
Nature of Work
They may perform: electrocardiography (ECG) – recording the electrical activity of the heart, from which the heart rate is measured and pattern and rhythm interpreted; ambulatory monitoring – fitting a portable ECG monitor to record the ECG over a 24- hour period. The tape is replayed and analysed on a computerised system; exercise ECG stress testing – assessing a patient’s cardiac response to exercise using a treadmill or stationary bicycle and ECG recording; pacemaker implant testing and, if necessary, reprogramming implanted cardiac pacemakers with computerised equipment; echocardiography – operating echocardiographic (ultrasound) equipment that scans the heart structures, measuring parameters such as chamber size, blood flow and valve abnormalities.
Personal requirements include a careful and analytical approach to work, with skills in working as part of a team, a sympathetic, supportive and professional approach to patients and an ability to learn independently.
Careers in Acupuncturist
Acupuncturists treat disorders and illnesses by inserting fine needles into the skin to stimulate the body’s defence mechanisms. They diagnose health problems through discussions with the patient, by checking the patient’s pulse and observing the patient’s colour, face and body features, nails, tongue and temperature variations in different parts of the body. Their work involves choosing the places at which needles should be inserted, based on a thorough knowledge of body systems and inserting needles under the patient’s skin and moving or manipulating them depending on the nature of the health problem. They use massage or heat treatment, such as warming to stimulate the acupuncture point using a slowly smouldering herb, called moxa.
Acupuncturists normally work on their own, but may also work within an established clinic in which other traditional forms of health care are practised.
Personal attributes include patience, tact and compassion, the ability to gain confidence of the patients and a reasonable level of skill in using hands.
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Careers in Naturopathy – SGT UNIVERSITY (Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University)
Budhera, Gurugram-Badli Road
Gurugram 122505 (Har.), Ph: 0124-2278183/
84/85, Toll-free: 1800 102 5661
Email: [email protected]
Faculty of Indian Medical System (Mob: 9278078011)
www.sgtuniversity.ac.in Bihar office: 9205277668 Guwahati office: 8527794488. offers the following courses:
- Bachelor of Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences
- Diploma in Naturopathy & Yogic Sciences
Admission is made through Computer Based Test CBT/Marks in Qualifying Exam. Selection is made on the basis of SGTUEE.