Abha Light College of Natural Medicine is a part of the Abha Light Foundation. ALF is dedicated to the ideals of serving humanity though affordable and available medicine.

ALF started in 2000 with the first students of homeopathy joining the informal course in April 2000 and opened the first clinic in Kariobangi North in July 2000. It was registered as an NGO in 2001.

The College is committed to quality education in the field of alternative health.

Our College has a commitment to prepare Naturopathy, Homeopathy and Herbal Medicine graduates who will be competent to take their place in the work force as prime contact naturopathic physicians. Graduates of the course are eligible to seek registration with the relevant professional associations of Kenya, i.e. the Kenyan Society of Homeopaths (KSoH) or the National Traditional Herbal Practitioners Association (NATHEPA)

The course programme and its associated activities are structured in a way to ensure that our students and staff fell part of a small community. We believe that this is integral to the development of caring health practitioners who are passionate about their profession. To ensure this, the College is committed to establishing and maintaining relationships with the community health organizations, private hospitals and institutions. The relationships benefit our students and staff, the patients who visit our Teaching Clinic, as well as the external health care groups with whom we are involved.

The College staff comprise a committed team of qualified practitioners made up of homeopaths, herbalists, naturopaths, bio-medical researchers and counsellors. The College's staff are dedicated to the integration of herbal medicine systems with modern science aimed at providing an appropriate mix of knowledge for contemporary health care. The curriculum has been constructed to provide a balance between naturopathic studies and supporting studies predominantly from the biological sciences.

The College has two major courses in Homeopathy and Naturopathy & Herbal Medicine and basic core studies in health sciences, nutrition, entrepreneurship, counselling skills and clinical practice. Students spend a minimum of 1 term in supervised clinical internship.

What is Natural Medicine?

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

Homeopathy

Homeopathy developed as science of medicine approximately 200 years ago founded by Dr. Samuel Christian Hahnemann of Germany. Along with other systems of traditional medicine, it is unique in its comprehensive and complete philosophy of health, disease and healing.

The first outstanding aspect of homeopathy is the main principle of "Like cures like", that is, a substance which produces symptoms in a healthy person will cure those symptoms in a sick person.

The homeopathic approach uses substances that have been diluted and therefore are safe, gentle and stimulate the body to heal itself.

Homeopathy is a complete and holistic system of medicine that incorporates the mental, emotional and physical aspects of each individual. It treats the person, not the disease, and is very individual in its approach in restoring health and vitality.

Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy

Nature has provided for the cure of every disease. The use of herbs and substances is a tradition found in every corner of the globe. Kenya and Africa have immense resources to draw on in herbal medicine. In this modern age, the need for formalizing these traditional treatments is pressing.

The Herbal Medicine course draws on medicines and treatments from around the world.

Naturopathy

Naturopathy is the oldest system of medicine known to humankind. The body has remarkable powers to heal itself if given the chance. Naturopathy (Nature Cure) is the use of any natural substance to cure the body, strictly practiced no drugs or herbs are used. Naturopathy cleans (detoxifies) the body in order to make it work at its best, then lets nature do the rest.

Naturopathy uses:

• water (hydrotherapy): internally and special types of baths, steams, compresses
  
• food: nutrition and diet
  
• light: from the sun, using colours
  
• air: oxygen is our best medicine
  
• exercise & yoga
  
• use of heat & cold: through packs
  
• massage, reflexology
  
• mud packs
  
• herbal compresses
  
• magnets

In the two major disciplines - Naturopathy & Herbal Medicine and Homeopathy - students share certain common units: Anatomy & Physiology, Clinical Diagnosis & Clinical Preparation, Physiological Pathology, Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and Counselling. All students gain a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of Reflexology, Massage and Yoga. Each discipline also gains some introductory knowledge of the other practices. This approach enables all students to be specialized in a particular discipline yet be familiar with all aspects of Natural Medicine.

Course Schedule

Time Table

The homeopathic distance learning course covers only the homepathic and health sciences portion of the course. Students are expected to keep in regular correspondence by letter or email. Since distance learning depends on the student's own intiative, there is no fixed time limit, however 2 years is the recommended average time.

Monthly weekend seminars at the college will be held to keep distance learners up to date in their studies.

Graduates are awarded a Diploma in Homeopathy by the Centre for Homeopathic Education (UK).

Assessment & Accreditation

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

Assessment of the student will take place in the form of short tests, term-end exams, written work, casework, clinical assessments and self assessments. There will be ongoing personal and tutorial supervision. The student will be required to complete the graduation criteria.

Accreditation

Homeopathy graduates are awarded a Diploma in Homeopathy by the Centre for Homeopathic Education (UK). This qualification demonstrates that the graduate has attained the academic and practical skill as a Homeopathic Practitioner. These qualifications enable graduates to become a member with the professional body, the Kenyan Society of Homeopaths.

Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine Course students are awarded a Diploma in Naturopathy (including Herbal Medicine) by the All India Natural Life Association (India). These qualifications enable graduates to be registered with National Traditional Health Practitioners Association, NATHEPA, the professional body for TM in Kenya.

Certificate Course: Reflexology

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

This 32 hour course (in 3½ months) covers Reflexology, Basic Condensed Anatomy & Physiology as it relates to reflexology.

Certification: Students passing the examination will receive an Abha Light Diploma in Reflexology.

Course Fees

Teaching Staff

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

Abha Light's teaching staff are qualified practitioners in their respective fields:

Didi Ananda Ruchira, DIHom, ND, FKIAM is the founder-director of Abha Light Foundation. She has been practicing yoga and natural medicine for over 30 years and homeopathy for approximately 10 years. She is a yogic-nun of Ananda Marga and on the executive committee of NATHEPA. Didi Ruchira teaches Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Yoga, Meditation

Dr. J. K. Wanjeru, BEd (UK), DipSc (UK) has been a practicing herbalist for 20 years, is a member of National Working Group of Medicinal Plants, he is on the executive board of NATHEPA and the Neryi Traditional and Alternative Association. He previously lectured herbal medicine at KIOF. His clinic is Nature Cure & Care Centre located in Nyeri. Dr. Wanjeru teaches Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine

Shem Joabh Ochieng Msc, HND (Medical Lab Technology) HND (Applied Biology) also teaches Lab Sciences at Kenyatta University. Mr. Ochieng teaches Health Sciences: Anatomy, Physiology, Clinical Pathology and Nutrition.

Dr. Arvind Kumar Pathak, ND, MDEH, CAC, TY, FKIAM has been a practicing Naturopath for more than 25 years. His clinic is located in Parklands, Natural Therapy Centre. Dr. Pathak is our examiner in Naturopathy and Reflexology.

Jacqui Morris, DHom, DRefl, AcuTP has been a practicing homeopathy for 3 years and is a graduate of Abha Light College of Natural Medicine. Ms Morris teaches Homeopathic Materia Medica, Reflexology and Massage.

Other qualified lecturers and assistant lecturers are brought in from time to time for various short modules..

Miscellaneous

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

Homeopathic Remedies & Kits

Homeopathic remedies and kits can be bought through Abha Light's dispensary. Contact the office for more information.

Textbooks

Students should prepare approximately Ksh 6,000 per year for books.

Employment opportunities

Graduates will be enabled to work as a health care professional or start their own consulting clinic.

Alternative Medicine is increasingly recognized as an important part of health care within Kenya. A reflection of its importance has been the establishment of this College as the first of its kind in East Africa. Graduates will become competent prime contact practitioners and as such will have a solid foundation in the naturopathic modalities as well as in the medical sciences.

How to Apply & Eligibility

What is Natural Medicine ¦¦ Diploma Lecture Courses ¦¦ Distance Learning Course: Homeopathy ¦¦ Assessment & Accreditation ¦¦ Certificate Course: Reflexology ¦¦ Course Fees ¦¦ Teaching Staff ¦¦ Miscellaneous Information ¦¦ How to Apply & Eligibility

Applications should be sent to the College.

Applicants should be 18 years of age or over as of the first day of college. Normal eligibility for admission to courses is by way of an acceptable grade point average of an KCSE (Kenya) or an equivalent "O-level" score. Students must be fluent in English and an ability to study is essential.

Alternative eligibility will be considered for

• those who have gained work or field experience of at least one year full-time, or equivalent (those who have been employed in the naturopathic and other health-related fields)
• professional qualifications including health care qualifications, commissioned officer qualifications, apprenticeships, traineeships and qualifying examinations of professional associations
• interview and/or audition