India is home to a wide variety of healing practices. Some originated here, 

Employment opportunities are available to qualified practitioners of the various traditional systems of medicine in:

· Government hospitals where such departments have been set up,
· Relevant charitable or private clinics, hospitals and dispensaries,
· Teaching institutions that conduct such courses,
· Research institutions, 
· Private practice (except in the case of Tibetan medicine)

Career paths vary with the branch of practice, the institutions joined and the field of specialization (i.e. practice, teaching, research). In general, those working in government institutions would be at par with practitioners of allopathic medicine. In private practice, no fixed rules exist.

PRESSURES

Pressures of working in any of these fields include: competition from other systems of medicine, depleting forests that are causing extinction of rare herbs essential to some remedies, and in some cases, lack of adequate funding and research required to develop and further the system. Besides these, practitioners are subject to the usual stresses experienced by those in the medical profession who are responsible for the lives and well being of others.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

A sense of vocation, interest in and liking for people, self confidence, a personality that inspires trust, ability to be a good listener, patience, willingness to work hard, keen sense of observation, a logical and analytical mind.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Traditional medicine seems to be gaining in popularity, and for those with the right aptitude and a sincere desire to help others, any of these fields could offer a fulfilling and rewarding career.

RELATED CAREERS

Teaching, research, medicine, nursing.