Herbal Medicine is the oldest form of healing and in recent times a Herbal Renaissance has occurred with widespread interest in herbs and their healing qualities.
The educational philosophy behind the stream is that the students be actively involved in the learning process, with the emphasis on understanding the philosophy, theory and application of herbal medicine.
In keeping with the aims of the stream the curriculum is, wherever possible, integrated, i.e. a systems approach is followed whereby each organ system of the body is studied in depth, incorporating both the Materia Medica and Therapeutics for that system.
The stream is designed to give students a detailed knowledge of medicinal herbs, their constituents, uses and cautions. The manufacture of different herbal preparations will also be covered. On completion, the students will be highly knowledgeable practitioners of Western Herbal Medicine.
The curriculum is designed to be as flexible as possible, allowing students to design a programme of study which suits their needs. Class sizes allow for a high level of student participation and interaction with the lecturers.
Students are required to do a minimum of 440 hours of Supervised Clinical Training where they observe, dispense and eventually conduct consultations with clients in the School’s Naturopathic Clinics. The School believes that this experiential learning is a critical component of the studies, allowing the student to develop a high level of clinical skill and confidence and preparing them to be successful practitioners.
A VETAB Accredited Senior First Aid Certificate (Level 2 or equivalent) must also be obtained during the course. First Aid courses are delivered by external providers and these fees are additional.
