In the past few years’ naturopathic medicine has won the respect of government bodies, members of the conventional medical community and educators, celebrities, the media and an ever-increasing number of patients. The main reason for Naturopathy’s rise in popularity is its common-sense use of simple, yet tremendously effective, natural therapies.

 

Naturopathic Nutrition stresses the use of whole and organic foods as medicine – a concept that is an integral part of many indigenous societies. A return to chemical-free foods, alongside other dietary measurements, is an effective answer to many health complaints and common conditions. The College of Naturopathic Medicine Diploma Course in Naturopathic Nutrition is designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to enable them to become successful nutritionists.

 

Hermann Keppler and his wife Nicole started the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) over nine years ago when they moved from Germany to England. Hermann explains, “When we first started offering the course in England, we only had one college and about eight students. Now we have grown to match the increasing demand for naturopathic treatments and we now have 12 colleges throughout Ireland and the UK and over 800 students.”

 

The Naturopathic Nutrition course teaches students about the physiological and biochemical processes involved in nourishment, but also about the energetic side of food. Hermann explains, “Thousands of years ago, master healers in China perceived a way to classify food and disease according to simple, easily observed patterns. The CNM Diploma course in Naturopathic Nutrition brings together authentic traditions of oriental medicine with current Western research-based nutrition.”

 

The course can take from two to three years and the syllabus includes a course in Medicine, covering anatomy, physiology and pathology. The second part covers building blocks of nutrition, which includes an in depth look at foods and their energies. The third part concentrates on the natural applications for diseases, including the laws of cure and suppression of diseases. Courses are taken either as a weekend course (one weekend per month over a year) or as a day course (21 full weekdays over a year).

The students’ progress is assessed using small exams over the course of the year and a final exam at the end of each year. In addition to this, students also have to provide 100 clinical hours in years two and year three. The students receive a Diploma in Nutrition from the College, which is recognised and respected throughout the world. The CNM Diploma course in Naturopathic Nutrition is recognised by the British Association of Nutritional Therapists (BANT) and the British Complementary Medical Association (BCMA).

 

There is a range of career options for graduates and most will probably enter clinical practice, either alone or as a partner in health care clinics. Some gain jobs in industry or a variety of social welfare and community health service settings. Other possibilities include working as nutritional remedies sales representative or in development and manufacturing.

 

There are a number of other courses available to study at the CNM and people from all over the world travel to study at the college, due to its enviable international reputation for excellence. Other courses available include Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Homeopathy and the college runs a number of Open Days throughout the year, details of which can be obtained from the number below.