Welcome to the Frontpage

Even in these times of “global downturn” holistic medicine is a continually expanding feld which offers the potential to develop a fnancially and personally rewarding part-time or full-time career. Since the college opened its doors in 1985, what most of our graduates in practice have appreciated is the opportunity to be their own boss and the immense job satisfaction and sense of meaning in their lives that their new career has brought them.

The emphasis in holistic medicine is on prevention, and on creating a state of positive health. The basic philosophy of holistic medicine is that our natural state as human beings is a state of health, energy, peace of mind and connection with ourselves. It identifes a “vital force” (chi/ki energy) that fows through us when we are well, and believes that sickness, whether of mind or body results when we are cut off from that source of life. In modern life, what cuts us off most from this natural fow of life force is physical and mental stress, coming from sources as diverse as faulty eating patterns, lack of exercise, or mental and emotional overload.

Holistic medicine does not deny the existence of infections, viruses etc. but points to the fact that we are more susceptible to these when we are at a low ebb, either physically or mentally. It follows that the work of a holistic practitioner is concerned with strengthening our immune system, creating physical mental and emotional strength and calmness that enables us to connect back to ourselves and be re-energised from within. It is important to realize that this integrated view of man is key in holistic medicine: it is not just a copy of conventional medicine, using herbs or vitamins instead of drugs.

Although individual consultations are important in holistic medicine, and some therapies e.g. Ki Massage are by their nature individual, much of the most effective work in holistic medicine has been done in groups. For example, Dean Ornish, whose work in reversing heart
disease included changing his patients’ nutrition, and teaching them yoga and meditation, and new ways of thinking, worked mainly with groups. Similarly, Herbert Benson of Harvard University produced his results working in groups teaching people how to elicit what he called the relaxation response. Group approaches are more affordable, and people can continue to incorporate them into their life on a regular basis without breaking the bank. This is good news both for the man in the street and the holistic practitioner.

In essence then, people come to their holistic practitioner when they are well, with the object of staying well or feeling even better. They leave their weekly yoga class or Ki Massage or meditation session feeling re-invigorated. They come in exhausted, and leave glowing, in top form. All the practitioner has done is to enable them to “drop the load” for a while and connect back with themselves. So, is it any wonder that even in these “leaner” times people are still making it a priority to visit their holistic practitioner? Could you be a life-giver in your area?

If you feel you could have the potential, you would have to frst become a truly holistic person yourself, in touch with your own life and spirit, and of course learn the skills and knowedge appropriate to the particular branch of holistic medicine in which you choose to specialise - which is what these training courses are all about.