| |
 At
the heart of the ICH program is the unique emphasis on learning
to think homoeopathically, and in building and maintaining
a strong foundation in the classical philosophy. A thorough
study of all the works of Hahnemann and his most dedicated
and effective followers, including Allen, Boenninghausen,
Boger, Dunham, the Farringtons, Hering, Hubbard, Kent, Roberts,
and Close, ensure a solid framework in the classical tradition
of homoeopathy. Students go directly to the original source
of the most authentic and successful classical homoeopathy.
Throughout the four year program, philosophy, materia medica,
analysis methodology, and clinical practice are taught.
Materia
Medica is the study of the homoeopathic remedies, or medicines.
Remedies are made from plants, animals, minerals, and metals,
and are prepared in approved homoeopathic
pharmacies. Each remedy has distinctive characteristics that
have been discovered through careful experimentation on healthy
humans. These experiments are called ‘provings,’ and are the equivalent of modern-day drug trials. In the ICH course, only classical provings and materia medicas are used because they are the result of dedicated, careful research, based on Hahnemann's standards. These include the works of the authors mentioned above, as well as Lippe, Knerr, Boericke, Nash, and Clarke.
Over the four years of the program, the remedies are studied more and more extensively. The school has evolved a uniquely comprehensive way of teaching the relationship of remedies, a subject which is critical to practicing effectively the elegant art of homoeopathy. This is taught throughout the program, each year becoming more deeply understood as it is seen in the context of clinical application.
 To
complete the understanding of Materia Medica, it is important
to know how remedies are made. An overview of homoeopathic
pharmacology is, therefore, presented by a qualified homoeopathic
pharmacist. The preparation of remedies is demonstrated, together
with consideration of the different scales of potencies. There
is also a visit to a homoeopathic pharmacy where the medicines
are made by hand in strict accordance with Hahnemann’s
instruction for medicine preparation.
The weekly tutorial is used for more hands-on experience using the repertory, finding symptoms in repertory language and then by the middle of the first year beginning to work out acute cases. It is a time to have all questions answered about the weekend class material and reading assignments. During this class the students form a strong working relationship with their future homoeopathic colleagues.
The student is instructed in the
skills of a good classical practitioner, including the practice
of compassion, the ability to listen, perceive, observe, note
subtleties and interact effectively with patients—in
the spirit of the unprejudiced observer.
Clinical training runs throughout the course. It includes study of the Repertory (an index of symptoms ascertained through provings of the remedies) and case analysis, through cases discussed and analyzed in class. It also includes the presentation of live cases in the ICH teaching clinic and advice on students’ cases for certification. There are a large number of clinical hours available to students, and students acquire case taking experience in the school clinic with faculty supervision. Students participate fully in the entire process from taking the case to deciding on the remedy. This occurs in a lively interactive forum with input from students, graduates and teachers. Students get long term case management experience from keeping some cases in the clinic over several years of treatment.
Students start building their practices in the third year, with lots of support from the school which offers intensive case consultation and supervision and refers clients to the student practitioners.
Students have access to case consultations and supervision by faculty; use of a homoeopathic library; use of a consulting room for taking their own cases; use of classrooms for study groups; referral of clients to student interns and graduates; post-graduate seminars and ongoing support; other classes offered on meditation and other subjects of interest to students and practitioners.
|
