Over recent years, there has been a dramatic surge of interest in all forms of alternative and complementary medicine. Rather unsurprisingly, large numbers of people are now enrolling on various courses and practitioner training programmes to meet this demand. But with so different colleges, how do you choose the course which is right for you?
To begin with, one of the most important decisions is which therapy to specialise in. Whether you're drawn to nutritional therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, herbalism, homoeopathy or massage, or are more interested in an esoteric approach and would like to work with crystals, reiki or zero balancing, there is a course out there to cater for everyone. Many people who want to study a form of natural medicine are successful patients themselves and therefore have a good idea of the direction they want to take.
However, it's unfortunate how many people choose the nearest / lowest priced / shortest course with the most nicely printed prospectus, then find the subject taught differs drastically from their own experience as a patient. Even with a clear idea of the chosen subject, after researching your local courses, you might find some very big differences in the paradigm taught in different schools. One good example of this would be homoeopathy.
Originally discovered in the 18th century by German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, homoeopathy is taught and practiced in many forms today, often with very diverse approaches and principles. Before choosing a course, it's important to research the ethos of the college - does it fit with your idea of homoeopathy, or are they teaching a totally different system which is not exactly what you expected when you sent off your application form?
Possibly the most traditional and well established form of homoeopathy is termed 'Classical Homoeopathy.' This is essentially an extremely effective style of practice which is truly holistic in that it seeks to find one remedy to treat each patient as an individual. An interview with a classical homoeopath involves them taking careful, detailed notes about your complaints, temperament, emotional state and overall general health, working (often afterwards) on finding the best prescription for you and sending it onto you either in the form of a liquid or single dose of a tablet. After taking the correct remedy, patients generally feel better in many ways; their health complaints start to disappear and they may also experience a general feeling of wellbeing or freedom. You don't need to be medically qualified to study Classical Homoeopathy, but as with all forms of alternative medicine, a working knowledge of the physical body is important.
Another common method of homoeopathy is 'Medical Homoeopathy.' This is normally a route only open to qualified doctors who wish to prescribe homoeopathic medicines alongside conventional treatments, perhaps to lessen side effects or where conventional medicine has proved ineffective.
There are many courses available now which teach 'Practical Homeopathy'. While integrating some aspects of classical homoeopathy, practical homeopathy is quite different and has less emphasis on philosophy of disease / health. Patients may be given repeated doses of different medicines and sometimes a combination of different therapeutic prescriptions for various health complaints. Although this is a less holistic approach, it is very hands on and students can expect to start giving treatments very early on in the course. Classical homoeopaths would argue that without a thorough understanding of the whole state of a patient and the philosophy of each individual’s disease, it is difficult to achieve long term, deep results with this method. Again, you don't need to be medically qualified to embark on a course of practical homeopathy, but anatomy and physiology will usually be taught.
Another new style of homoeopathy which has gained popularity recently is Shamanic Homoeopathy. Although this type of course would cover many of the same remedies and ideas as a more conventional study route, students would also be taught how to tune into the vibration of different plants and substances and use healing techniques borrowed from shamanism, herbalism, astrology, etc. If you're a naturally intuitive person who likes to work energetically, this may be the course for you, but if you have a very logical, philosophical mind, or come from a scientific background, it might not be what you are looking for.
With so many course and styles available, if in doubt, a course in purely classical homoeopathy will give you all the groundwork, philosophy, in-depth study of remedies and understanding of health to begin safe, effective practice. If later on you would like to study other techniques, there are plenty of seminars, workshops and postgraduate courses available, but with a firm basis in classical homoeopathy you'll have sound principles and understanding with which to have dramatic results with patients, and on which to choose all further courses.
Whichever field of therapy you choose to study, find a course that meets your needs as a person, covering the style of treatment you wish to practice one day. Talk to the tutors if possible; find out what their approach is and whether this fits with your view of the subject. After all, if you're investing several thousand pounds and countless hours of study time into a subject, make sure you're signed up to a course which suits your own style, or offers the basis for evolving as a practitioner.
© School of New Physis 2007
