3-year Extended Diploma in Naturopathy

  • In-person lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops

  • Online synchronous lectures, webinars and tutorials

  • Supervised clinical training

  • Guest lectures and masterclasses

  • First aid training

  • Pharmacy/dispensary training

The course includes 500 hours of supervised clinical training in our own dedicated premises, comprising patient assessment, diagnosis, dispensing, the formulation of detailed personalised treatment plans, clinical skills development, real-time case study analyses, and clinic and dispensary management.

ABOUT THE COURSE

The course is a distillation of many years of experience of Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine, and their ability to promote self-healing.

It describes natural, effective and safe ways to improve health, and presents a wide range of therapeutic techniques that can be used to relieve stress, increase vitality, promote the prevention of disease and encourage wellness.

It regards health as a natural state, and it regards disease as nature's way of restoring health when an individual is out of balance with their environment.

It recognises that all healing is ultimately dependent on nature – the surgeon may set the bone, but it is the body that actually mends the break.

It suggests that the aim of all treatment should be to create the best possible circumstances for the body to heal itself, while avoiding as far as possible things that may do harm.

It acknowledges the existence of a life-force which animates our biological vehicle, and sees body, mind, emotion, and spirit as interwoven strands in the fabric of life.

It emphasizes the responsibility of each individual to create conditions favouring health, and this requires paying attention to the basics of life - air, water, food, rest, activity, play and community.

The Healing Garden Institute’s aim is to deliver a naturopathic training course that is engaging, fun, flexible, affordable, comprehensive, inclusive, environmentally responsible, international in outlook, and up to date.

It seeks to fulfil this aim by offering a high-quality learning experience, expert tuition by experienced tutors, an innovative clinical training scheme, rich and varied content, and learning materials that cater for a wide range of learning styles.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  • To instil deep understanding of Naturopathic history, principles, philosophy and theory.

  • To present detailed information on naturopathic modalities, practices and treatment, and promote understanding of their use in real-life situations.


  • To make familiar the language of human sciences. 


  • To promote understanding of the body’s systems in terms of structure, purpose and function.


  • To encourage comprehension of the root causes and processes of disease.

  • To explore the naturopathic use of herbal medicine through direct acquaintance with living plants, investigating their pharmacology, biology and ecology as well as their therapeutic uses.

  • To enable a non-judgemental, open and self-reflective approach to learning and practice through cultivating capacity to listen.

  • To produce skilled, safe, empathetic and effective Naturopaths able to communicate effectively with their patients and the wider health community.

  • To encourage understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of research, and to introduce concepts and procedures relevant to qualitative and quantitative clinical research.

  • To promote understanding of ethical and safeguarding issues within clinical practice.

  • To provide future practitioners with the business knowledge and skills necessary to develop, promote and run sustainable clinical practices.

FACILITIES

  • Arc Hall

    The Healing Garden Institute is based at Arc Hall, Hoathly Hill in Sussex, UK. The main hall can accommodate 18 students for lectures and practical sessions, and up to 50 for larger events.

  • training clinic

    The thriving dedicated training clinic and dispensary is open 4 days per week (including weekends), offering low-cost consultations to the local community and providing good facilities for students.

  • the library

    In addition to a comfortable waiting area (with good access and disabled toilet facilities), there is a library space hosting over 1,000 books on health, healing, and human structure and function.

  • the apothecary garden

    Close by the hall, we maintain and manage a beautiful and extensive Demeter/organic certified herb garden that is also registered as a Botanic Garden with the BGCI - Botanic Gardens Conservation International (https://www.bcgi.org/).

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course consists of 5 modules, all studied concurrently over 3 years.

The modules are:

  1. Naturopathic history, principles, philosophy and theory

  2. Naturopathic medical and science knowledge

  3. Naturopathic modalities, practice and treatment 

  4. Clinical practice

  5. Research methodology, ethics and business

  • INTRODUCTION


    Year 1 is designed to develop understanding and knowledge of Naturopathy, and to help students better understand how the body, mind, and spirit work together as an integrated ecosystem within the natural world. 

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    By the end of Year One, learners will:

    1. Be aware of different naturopathic perspectives and approaches to the understanding of human health. 

    2. Have up-to-date, factual knowledge of human anatomy and physiology as it relates to the promotion and maintenance of good health.

    3. Be able to identify, select and use appropriate cognitive and practical skills and methods to understand the human ecosystem and its relationship to the broader ecosystems within which humans live, work and interact, and how this relationship impacts human health and wellbeing.

    4. Be able to review the effectiveness of a variety of naturopathic techniques used in the promotion and maintenance of good health.

    5. Be confident in interpreting and evaluating information on the structure, taxonomy, habitat, function, cultivation, and action of a range of medicinal plants.

    6. Be aware of - and describe in outline - common pathological processes implicated in human dysfunction and disease.

  • PREREQUISITES

    All students studying Year 2 of the Extended Diploma Course in Naturopathy must have successfully completed Year 1, including the hand-in and presentation of all required monographs. 

    INTRODUCTION

    The beginning of Year 2 is taught to Level 4 standard, soon progressing to Level 5. It encourages learners to gain a deep understanding of natural health and disease patterns by considering how major pathological processes can impact the human ecosystem; and how the therapeutic use of naturopathic, dietetic, and herbal medicine principles can be applied to strengthen the body’s self-healing abilities, and thus repair and heal illnesses resulting from such pathological processes. 

    Students learn to gather clinical information in a reliable and systematic way, and start to develop practical skills in the safe and considered application of naturopathic techniques to promote cure. 

    Students also gain a clear understanding of those situations in which collaboration with - or referral to - other health care practitioners or services is necessary in the best interests of patients. In that context, they will learn how to communicate effectively and concisely with other health professionals and services. 

    At the same time, students will develop confidence in the efficacy of Naturopathy, and will develop understanding of the value and application of Naturopathy within the broader primary care ecosystem. 

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    By the end of Year Two, learners will: 

    1. Be able to describe, explain and evaluate a range naturopathic approaches appropriate to the general management of particular pathological processes. 

    2. Have demonstrated understanding and competence in the practical application of naturopathic techniques and medicinal plants to promote health and relieve illness. 

    3. Be able to take, record and interpret a detailed case history, and perform a concise general clinical examination. 

    4. Communicate - accurately and reliably - understanding of the process of formulating a diagnosis, based on first-principle understanding of disease processes in relation to particular clinical presentations. 

    5. Demonstrate ability to formulate rational naturopathic treatment plans on the basis of the analysis of particular clinical presentations. 

    6. Demonstrate ability to summarize and communicate clinical findings clearly and succinctly including, where appropriate, to other health professionals. 


  • PREREQUISITES

    All students entering Year 3 of the course must have successfully completed Year 2 - including the hand-in and presentation of all required case study analyses and treatment plans.

    Note also that progression to Year 3 requires students to obtain an RQF Level 3 Emergency First Aid award from a course provider of their choice, and to provide proof of an up-to-date enhanced DBS check. 

    Students will also learn how to use naturopathic and herbal first aid techniques in the management of trauma over the course of the year.

    INTRODUCTION

    Year 3 is focused around supervised clinical training in the community clinic, which is interspersed with practical workshops, case conferences, and a number of special topic lectures. 

    LEARNING OUTCOMES

    The broad goal of teaching the principles and practice of Naturopathy is to equip the students with the knowledge, practical ability and communication skills required to function effectively as a practising naturopathic practitioner. 

    By the end of year 3 students will:

    1. Demonstrate skill in history taking, observation and clinical examination, and in the concise and accurate recording of clinical information.

    2. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills with patients, colleagues, and other health professionals in the formulation of solutions to patients’ problems that promote health and well-being.

    3. Demonstrate skill in verbal and written communication with patients, colleagues and other health professionals on all matters concerning the patient’s wellbeing and their personal health plan.

    4. Be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, treatment, and prognosis of common disorders of human function.

    5. Be able to formulate personal health plans for patients (involving specialist referral and further investigations where indicated) by the integration of clinical information, based on scientific rationale and informed by the established principles of Naturopathy.

    6. Be able to describe various modes of management with proper regard to dosages, side effects, potential toxicity, interactions with other treatments, and contra-indications (wherever applicable).

  • All students wishing to continue into clinical practice are required to complete a minimum of 500 hours supervised clinical hours.

    A core aim of the training is to maximize the quality of learning for every hour that students spend in clinic, and to offer hands-on experience and exposure to a wide range of clinical presentations and situations.

    Clinical training is centred around the Healing Garden student clinic, operating 4 days a week and offering low-cost naturopathic care to the local population.