100 Free Open Courses & Tutorials to Learn About Alternative Medicine

By Donna Moore

Complementary and alternative medicine has become mainstream, and as such, there are a variety of high quality learning resources available online to study it. Whether you’re looking for a full course or tutorial, you’ll find plenty of useful education online. Read on to find 100 of these resources from universities, organizations, and more.

Introductory

Get started with alternative medicine through these courses.

1. Overview of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): This class will teach you the basic information you need to know about complementary and alternative medicine. [NIH]
2. Alternative Medicine: A Physician’s Guide: Use this guide to get a physician’s introduction to alternative medicine. [UTMB]
3. Issues in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Learn about a variety of issues in CAM through this learning resource. [The Open University]
4. Introduction to Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine: With this resource, you’ll get an overview of evidence-based CAM. [American Medical Student Association]
5. Advances in Integrative/Complementary & Alternative Medicine Education: Progress Notes: See how well CAM has come along in recent years through this presentation. [UTMB]
6. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Curriculum: Who Needs It? Educational Challenges: Find out why you should study complementary and alternative medicine with the help of this presentation from Dr. Victor Sierpina. [UTMB]
7. Alternative and Integrative Health Care Program, Year 1: You’ll get an introduction to CAM, the practice of medicine, and more in this learning resource. [UTMB]
8. Alternative and Integrative Health Care Program, Year 2: Follow this resource to learn about super foods, culture, physical fitness, and beyond in alternative medicine. [UTMB]
9. Alternative Therapies: Safety, Efficacy, Liability, and Rational Use: Get an introduction to using alternative therapies in medicine from this resource. [UTMB]
10. Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Follow this resource to get an introduction to CAM. [UTMB]
11. Integrative Medicine: Take this course to better understand the concept of integrative medicine. [NIH]

Traditional Medicine

Although these courses are not specifically about alternative medicine, they offer a good foundation for you to get started on.

12. The Duty of Oriental and Western Medicine: This resource offers an interpretation on the difference between Oriental and Western medicine. [Acupuncture.com]
13. General Biology: You’ll get a foundation in the study of biology from this course. [Johns Hopkins]
14. Human Growth and Development: This course will help you learn about human development through the lifespan. [Tufts]
15. Behavioral Endocrinology: In Behavioral Endocrinology, you’ll learn about the interrelationships between hormones, brain, and behavior. [Johns Hopkins]
16. Adolescent Health and Development: Use this course to get an understanding of the development that takes place during adolescence. [Johns Hopkins]
17. General Human Anatomy: Check out this course to learn about the functional anatomy of the human body. [Berkeley]
18. Introduction to Biology: Learn about the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology through this course. [MIT]

Alternative Medicine in Action

See how alternative medicine can be used through these courses.

19. CAM Web Cases: Get a look into the treatment and diagnosis of a variety of afflictions in this resource. [UTMB]
20. Integrating Alternative Therapies into Medical Practice: In this presentation, Dr. Victor Sierpina will show you how to integrate alternative therapies into your medical practice. [UTMB]
21. Auscultation and Olfaction: Use these methods of listening and smelling to diagnose a disease. [Hopkins Technology]

Holistic Medicine

These courses will help you learn more about holistic medicine.

22. Culture, Integrative Medicine, and Holism: This presentation will help you learn how holistic medicine works with culture and integrative medicine. [UTMB]
23. First Aid with Homeopathic Medicines: Check out this resource to learn how homeopathic medicines can be used in first aid. [Homeopathic.com]
24. Homeopathy-Foundations: Learn more about homeopathy before choosing it as a career by taking this course. [Hpathy]
25. The Role of Integrative Medicine in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: This resource from Dr. Alex Vasquez will help you see how integrative medicine can help in health and disease prevention. [UTMB]
26. Integrative Medicine: Using Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Office Practice: Dr. Victor Sierpina explains how complementary and alternative medicine can be used in your office practice. [UTMB]
27. Integrative Health Care: The Medicine of the Future: Check out this resource that discusses integrative health care as a medicine we’ll all be using in the future. [UTMB]
28. Why Homeopathy Makes Sense and Works: This in-depth resource explains a good deal about the reasons why homeopathy is a good medical field. [Homeopathic.com]
29. Homeopathy Elementary Course: Use this orientation course to learn the basics of homeopathy. [Hpathy]
30. Homeopathic Medicine and the Immune System: This resource explains how homeopathic medicine can influence the immune system. [Homeopathic.com]
31. Holistic Pediatrics: Follow this resource to learn all about using holistic medicine in pediatrics. [UTMB]

Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine

Find out how acupuncture heals by taking these courses.

32. The Mechanism of Acupuncture: Dr. Charles Shang discusses how acupuncture works. [Acupuncute.com]
33. An Introduction to Acupuncture: Learn more about acupuncture through this course. [NIH]
34. Traditional Chinese Medicine: This learning resource will give you a good overview of the practices of traditional Chinese medicine. [University of Minnesota]
35. Chinese Medicine Basics: Learn the basics of Chinese medicine with the help of this learning resource. [Acupuncture.com]
36. Acupuncture, a Brief Introduction: Use this resource to learn more about the basics of acupuncture. [Acupuncture.com]
37. Acupuncture: An Evidence-Based Assessment: You’ll learn about the history, research, and more about acupuncture through this course. [NIH]
38. Acupuncture Point Location: Get the important details of acupuncture point location from this learning resource. [Acupuncture.com]
39. Acupuncture and Primary Care: See how acupuncture can be used in primary care through this presentation. [UTMB]
40. History of Acupuncture: Get an overview of acupuncture’s history from this resource. [Acupuncture.com]

Diseases & Illness

See how alternative medicine can influence a variety of diseases and afflictions through these courses.

41. Hyperthyroid Disorders: This course explains how alternative medicine and lifestyle influences can affect hyperthyroid disorders. [Suite101]
42. Breast Cancer: In this course, you’ll learn about alternative treatment options and approaches to breast cancer. [Suite101]
43. Arthritis: Alternative Therapies That Work (And Some That Don’t): This resource gives a good overview of alternative therapies that are helpful and harmful for arthritis. [UTMB]
44. Coping with Infertility: Find out some of the alternative treatments for infertility in this course. [Suite101]
45. Fibromyalgia: This course takes a look at some of the alternative treatments and non-traditional medicine available to sufferers of fibromyalgia. [Suite101]

Herbs & Dietary Supplements

Check out these courses to get an understanding of how herbs and dietary supplements work in alternative medicine.

46. Herbs and Other Dietary Supplements: You will learn about current research and use of herbs and dietary supplements in complementary and alternative medicine. [NIH]
47. Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life: Check out this presentation from Dr. Victor Sierpina to learn about superfoods. [UTMB]
48. Herbal Purity, Potency, and Regulation: From Garden to Pharmacy: This presentation discusses herbal medicine from start to finish. [UTMB]
49. What You Should Know About the Herbs Your Patients Are Taking: This resource offers information about monitoring the herbs taken by patients. [UTMB]
50. Critical Analysis of Popular Diets and Dietary Supplements: This course will help you learn how to cast a critical eye on supplements. [Johns Hopkins]
51. Botanical Medicines: Use this resource to learn about using botanical medicines for healing and preventive treatment. [University of Minnesota]
52. Over-the-Counter Supplement Interactions with Cancer Therapy: Be sure to check out this resource to learn how cancer therapy can be influenced by over the counter supplements. [UTMB]
53. Nutriceuticals: An Introduction and Overview with Practical Clinical Applications: Get a look at the applications of using nutriceuticals with the help of this presentation. [UTMB]
54. Herbal Medicines in the Perioperative Period: The ABC’s-Ask Before Cutting: This presentation discusses using herbal medicine as an alternative or complement to surgery. [UTMB]
55. Athletic Performance Herbal Nutrition: Check out this presentation from Dr. Victor Sierpina to learn how herbal nutrition can improve athletic performance. [UTMB]
56. Herbal Medicine-What’s the Evidence?: This presentation explores the evidence behind using herbs as medicine. [UTMB]

Mind-Body

See the power that the mind and emotions have over health with the help of these courses.

57. Mind-Body Medicine: Check out this course to learn about the way the mind affects health and medicine. [NIH]
58. Quick Guide for Cultures and Spiritual Traditions: Find out how cultures and spiritual traditions influence alternative medicine through this course. [UTMB]
59. Music, Mind-Body Medicine, and Surgery: Dr. Victor Sierpina discusses how mind-body medicine and music can help with surgery. [UTMB]
60. Overview of Meditation: Get an introduction to the essentials of meditation in this learning module. [University of Minnesota]
61. Overview of Prayer: This learning module discusses prayer as a tool for medicine. [University of Minnesota]
62. Health and Spirituality: Better understand the relationship between health and spiritual practice through this course. [NIH]
63. Selected and Timely Topics in Religion and Medical Care: Andrew French discusses religion and medical care in this resource. [UTMB]
64. Spirituality and Clinical Care: Dr. Kay Sandor discusses the intersection of spirituality and clinical care in this presentation. [UTMB]
65. Spirituality in Health Care: This learning resource is all about bringing spirituality into health care. [University of Minnesota]
66. Overview of Hypnosis: Get an understanding of the essentials of hypnosis through this learning module. [University of Minnesota]
67. Paths to Recovery: Paths to Recovery will help you learn about diverse treatments for depression. [Columbia]
68. Medicine, Religion and Politics in Africa and the African Diaspora: Find out how religion has an effect on health and medicine in Africa by studying this course. [MIT]
69. Mind-Body Medicine: the Relaxation Response-What, How, When, Why?: Check out this presentation to learn about mind-body medicine and relaxation. [UTMB]
70. How To Be Happy: Cultivate the conditions for happiness with the help of this course. [Columbia]
71. Buddhist Psychology: This course discusses mindfulness, meditation, and more. [Berkeley]
72. Challenging ideas in Mental Health: This course will ask you to look at mental health from a new perspective. [The Open University]
73. Spirituality in Healthcare: Dr. Victor Sierpina’s resource explains why spirituality has a place in healthcare. [UTMB]

Culture & Politics

See how culture and politics influence alternative medicine through these resources.

74. Introduction to Health Policy: Here you’ll learn about the basics of health policy. [Johns Hopkins]
75. Culture, Faith Traditions, and Healing: Through this course, you’ll learn about using faith and culture for healing. [University of Minnesota]
76. The Politics of Health Care: This lecture series will help you learn more about working with the politics of health care. [Columbia]

Treatment

In these courses, you’ll see a variety of alternative medicine treatments.

77. Introduction to Clinical Pain Problems: This course covers a variety of options for complementary and alternative medical use to treat pain problems. [Tufts]
78. Pain Management-Options from the Field of Complementary and Alternative Therapies: Find out how complementary and alternative therapies can play a role in pain management from this resource. [UTMB]
79. Clinical Aromatherapy: This course will help you better understand how to use aromatherapy in a clinical setting. [University of Minnesota]
80. Music Therapy: With the help of this learning module, you’ll see how music therapy can be used in medicine. [University of Minnesota]
81. Natural Health Strategies for Depression: Use this resource to learn how depression can be treated with natural health. [Homeopathic.com]
82. Antioxidants and Alternative Therapies for Cancer: Learn about using antioxidants and alternative therapies to treat cancer. [UTMB]
83. Alternate Approaches to Healing: You’ll get an introduction to treatment through complementary and alternative medicine in this course. [University of Washington]
84. Barriers to the Integration of Complementary/Alternative Medicine: The Case of Mind-Body Medicine: Dr. John Astin’s presentation will help you understand the barriers of using mind-body medicine. [UTMB]
85. Alternative and Integrative Approaches to the Woman with Dysmenorrhea, PMS, Menopause: This presentation offers relief to women with hormonal issues. [UTMB]
86. Christ Mind-Buddha Body: Alternative Self Healing: This online tutorial in alternative medicine kinesiology offers guidance in 10 different priorities. [Dr. Phillip Petersen]

Manipulation & Manual Therapy

Explore the treatments of manipulation and manual therapy in these learning resources.

87. Massage: In this learning module, you’ll see how massage is used in medicine and health. [University of Minnesota]
88. Whole Body Vibration: A New Exercise Approach: Martha Hinman covers the essentials of whole body vibration as exercise. [UTMB]
89. Craniosacral Therapy: Get an understanding of what craniosacral therapy is, and how it can be used by studying this learning module. [University of Minnesota]
90. Reflexology: Study this resource to learn more about using reflexology. [University of Minnesota]
91. Manipulative and Body-Based Therapies: Chiropractic and Spinal: This course takes a look at chiropractic medicine, manipulation, and more. [NIH]
92. Healing Touch: With this module, you’ll learn how to use healing touch. [University of Minnesota]
93. Chiropractic: Use this course, and you’ll be able to get a good overview of Chiropractic practice. [University of Minnesota]
94. Reiki: Check out this course to learn all about using Reiki for healing. [University of Minnesota]
95. Manual Therapies: Osteopathy: In this module, you can expect to find an overview of osteopathy. [University of Minnesota]
96. Yoga: With the help of this course, you’ll be able to understand how to use yoga as a medical tool. [University of Minnesota]
97. Yoga and the Heart: This resource explains how yoga can benefit the heart. [UTMB]

Well-Being

These courses focus on using alternative medicine for overall well being.

98. Complimentary and Alternative Medicine and Aging: Learn about the principles of complementary and alternative medicine and how they relate to the aging process. [NIH]
99. Living with Grace, Aging with Grace: The Art & Science of Meditation: Dr. John Astin covers the art and science of meditation as it relates to aging in this presentation. [UTMB]
100. Developing a Personal Plan for Health & Well-Being: This resource will help you learn more about health and well being. [University of Minnesota]