| The College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM) is | | | | how well trained CNM students are they would |
| often asked by prospective students and the | | | | have peace of mind knowing that their heath is in |
| general 'interested' public what draws people to | | | | very good hands. As a practitioner I can now |
| study Naturopathy and what it is like studying | | | | offer clients: Naturopathy; diet/lifestyle advice; |
| with the CNM. | | | | iridology; detoxification; supplementation; nutritional |
| We asked CNM Graduate, Liadh Mulcahy-Fitzgerald | | | | advice etc. and either Acupuncture, Homeopathy |
| ND, Dip. Ac, MANP, who made it clear that these | | | | or Herbal Medicine as a speciality. What other |
| questions are easily answered... | | | | health care practitioners can offer such a diverse |
| "Five years ago I was disillusioned with my career | | | | and holistic range of treatments to their clients? |
| choices since leaving University. I had travelled and | | | | I found life as a CNM student to be great fun, |
| worked in Greece and London and found myself | | | | supremely challenging and highly educative. I am |
| back in Ireland realising that I had never followed | | | | starting out as a Naturopathic Practitioner and |
| my true desires, which were to work with the | | | | Acupuncturist in Ballincollig, Cork and know that I |
| general public in a health care capacity. I had spent | | | | am an extremely well trained and highly skilled |
| the first part of my life in and out of hospitals and | | | | practitioner, which is entirely due to the CNM, my |
| because of this I vowed to find an alternative to | | | | teachers, the study co-ordinators, my fellow |
| medicines and drugs (which were not a necessity | | | | students and of course myself and my well worn |
| to my well-being i.e. I would be okay without | | | | desk! |
| them). Therefore the thought of natural medicines | | | | For anyone wondering how to deal with their own |
| were never far from my mind. | | | | illnesses; exchange antibiotics (etc.) for safe, |
| For the next eighteen months I scoured colleges | | | | effective and natural alternatives; maintain |
| trying to find a health care course which appealed | | | | well-being and obtain optimal health then |
| to me. This course had to include superb training; | | | | Naturopathy is the way forward. Furthermore if |
| a wide variety of health care choices from which | | | | you want to understand why you are ill or why |
| clients could choose from and, it had to educate | | | | you have symptoms of disease then consult your |
| me in the ways of natural medicines. This course, | | | | Naturopath who is concerned with finding the root |
| to my dismay, seemed to be an impossibility to | | | | causes. |
| find - until I came across the CNM. Within days of | | | | Finally, it is always important to remember that |
| gathering all the information I could find about the | | | | Orthodox medicine treats the symptoms of |
| CNM, I signed up as a student and was on my | | | | disease and is vital in life and death situations |
| way to becoming a Naturopathic Practitioner and | | | | whereas Naturopathic medicine treats the |
| Acupuncturist. | | | | underlying causes of disease and hence (from |
| At the CNM, 'study' is the operative word (it has | | | | this) the symptoms. Fundamentally Naturopathy |
| to be when you consider every exam has to be | | | | lays emphasis on the 'internal terrain' and when |
| passed by 80%!). The college encourages | | | | this is nourished and flourishing well, disease states |
| students at every stage of their training, helping | | | | can be well managed or eradicated. |
| them with study plans, exam preparation etc. I | | | | To all fellow graduates and new or existing CNM |
| have never studied in a college that is so student | | | | students I wish you well and hope you all realise |
| and exam focused. If the general public knew | | | | what a fantastic career you have ahead of you. |