Other practitioners of natural healing
Career Overview
Practitioners of natural healing provide complementary forms of care to promote, maintain and restore the overall or holistic health of patients. They use a variety of treatments including herbology, homeopathy and reflexology.
Job Titles
Duties
Herbalists:
- Assess patients and advise them on the use of herbs to treat arthritis, rheumatism, asthma, skin disorders, stomach problems and other conditions
- Use plant-based foods to promote healing and wellness
- May grow, manufacture and sell herbal compounds
Osteopathic manual practitioners:
- Assess, treat and manage musculoskeletal and other related disorders of the body's structure by moving, stretching, and massaging a patients' muscles and joints to correct biomechanical dysfunctions
Homeopaths:
- Assess illnesses
- Treat patients by giving a small dose of a herbal or chemical remedy made from natural substances
- Suggest lifestyle changes
Reflexologists:
- Assess clients’ physical, mental and emotional health
- Provide advice and feedback to support clients’ wellbeing
- Apply gentle pressure with fingers to reflex points on the hands, feet, ears and face
Holistic nutritionists:
- Evaluate the health and wellness of clients and recommend nutritional and lifestyle adjustments to address their health issues and to support health goals
Naturotherapists:
- Assess and treat illness and injury through the use of holistic approaches such as herbal remedies, massage and counselling in nutrition and exercise
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,030% Employed Full Time
15%Many practitioners of natural healing work in private practice, including group or team practices. Some have home-based or mobile businesses. Others are employed by health clinics, health clubs or spas.
They may work regular business hours, evenings or weekends. Most work environments are quiet and soothing.
Practitioners must keep treatment areas clean and take other safety measures to protect their clients and themselves from infection. They may feel strain from standing or sitting during treatments. They also risk injury when lifting and moving tables and other equipment.
Career Pathways
Career pathways information is currently not available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
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Education, Training and Skills
Qualifications vary depending on the area of practice. In general, practitioners of natural healing must complete a training program and gain supervised practical experience.
- Homeopaths usually need to complete a three-year diploma program in homeopathy
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Health/Medical - General
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,030Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 2.9% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 2.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 500 | 48.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 130 | 12.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 335 | 32.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
360Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 190 | 1.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 110 | 2.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 260 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 50 |
| Retail Trade | 40 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 10 |
Insights from Industry
In addition to herbology, homeopathy and reflexology, practitioners of natural healing use a range of lesser-known holistic practices including:
- Acupressure – stimulating points on the body to change energy flow
- Aromatherapy – using essential oils to relax clients and enhance the effects of other treatments
- Rolfing – manipulating soft tissue to release stress, improve movement and reduce pain
- Shiatsu – using touch to balance energy flow
Resources
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Natural Health Practitioners of Canadawww.nhpcanada.org
