How to Become a Holistic Doctor

Holistic doctors are medical doctors, but they also use methods of healing and treatment that were not learned in medical school. They are not typical doctors you will find in practice that prescribe a lot of medications. Instead they focus on the mind, body and spirit as a whole. Most patients who come to holistic doctors are looking for alternative healing, but still want a doctor that has been traditionally trained.

Although holistic doctors differ from traditional doctors, they still have to go through intense medical career training. Holistic doctors will take the same classes necessary to become a medical doctor, and then need to further their training for holistic medicine. If you're interested in obtaining the medical degree for this career, you may want to consider online learning options.

Here are some tips on how to become a medical doctor, and then seek the additional training to provide holistic healing options.

• Obtain a bachelor’s degree. In order to get accepted into medical school you must first obtain a bachelor’s degree, and you should major in pre-med. Courses like anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and medical terminology will be some of the main courses you are required to take. A few colleges will offer class selections like massage therapy, acupressure, and even classes about herbs and their use for treating certain aliments. These are the courses you want to take as well if you plan to pursue a career in holistic medicine. After you have obtained a bachelor’s degree you will need to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in order to be accepted into medical school. 
• Apply for medical schools with holistic medicine courses. Find medical schools that are accredited that offer holistic medicine courses. Talk to a counselor at your current school to see what you can do to improve your chances of getting accepted. Medical school is very competitive, and you must have excellent grades as well as a good MCAT score. They can guide you to any finical aide, or scholarships you may be eligible for to help offset the costs of medical school. Most doctors leave medical school with a minimum of $250,000 in student loans.
• Study hard while in school. During your time in medical school you will spend the first two years in the classroom with no patient contact. After you have completed two years of classwork and tests, you will finally come into contact with patients. You will work under the strict and direct supervision of physicians. This is generally when most doctors decide what they want to specialize in, and choose a mentor from whom to learn.
• Complete your residency. Find programs that include the use of holistic healing methods and therapies in patient care. You can ask your mentors for recommendations. Most residents receive small paychecks for being doctors and working long hours. This of course is dependent on whether or not you choose to work in an ER, family practice, or in a specialty clinic with other doctors. The average resident starts out around $70,000-120,000 per year. Doctors’ salaries have many variables such as the choice of specialty, state and county in which you work. After completing your residency you can expect to be paid anywhere from $150-$200,000 or more. While you are in your residency you will learn all of the skills you need to work on your own as a doctor. You should also learn to practice one or more of the following holistic healing skills on your own:
  
  1. Biofeedback and stress management
  2. Body work
  3. Nutrition
  4. Herbal medicine
  5. Spinal manipulation
  6. Homeopathy
  7. Acupuncture
• Obtain your medical license. You cannot practice medicine on your own until you have your medical license. Each state has different requirements and laws for when you need to obtain a state medical license. As to when you need to take your United States Medical Licensing Exams, these tests are split up in medical school. Some states may require you to take the last test during your residency.

Apply at hospitals and other medical facilities that practice holistic healing. Ask your former professors or mentors for information as to which hospitals are open to holistic healing. Use the Internet as well when searching for medical facilities that practice holistic health.

A different option from medical school is to look for naturopathic medical school programs. The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) can point you to one of their accredited educational institutions. Naturopathic medical programs combine medicine and natural healing therapies. You graduate as a naturopathic doctor (ND) instead of a holistic doctor.

Holistic doctors go beyond the traditional medical therapies and solutions when handling ailments and other health problems. They are full-fledged medical doctors who seek out other ways of treating patients. They not only focus on healing the patient’s body but also using the powers of the patient’s mind and spirit in achieving good physical health. A good holistic doctor is one who can meld medical science with natural healing techniques for the benefit of his patients.