Kalandra offers a one-day introductory course to Complementary Therapies, suitable for experienced health professionals and primary caregivers, which includes a broad range of Complementary Health topics with course content specific to each modality. These short courses include Food as Medicine, Immune Responsiveness, Longevity Nutrition, Gut Health, Mindfulness, Reflexology, Flower Essence Therapy, Tissue Salts, Medicinal Cannabis for the Older Person, Hydrotherapy, Therapeutic Touch, Herbal Therapy and Homoeopathy.
Participants do not need to have completed the Introductory course before enrolling in any of the other short courses.
NB: These are a non-credit courses and are NOT approved by NZQA.
Details for all options are listed below
Tutor - Erin Hudson: CBE (PCNZ), Bach Health Science (Complementary Therapies)
Erin Hudson has over 35 years teaching experience in a range of health care settings. She has worked in geriatrics, obstetrics and managed a health practice for acute and chronic naturopathic prescribing. Erin lectured at the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine for over 20 years where she taught all facets of naturopathy, therapeutic massage and clinical management. Her students enjoy her down-to-earth approach and her wealth of experience in complementary health modalities.
An Introduction to Complementary Health Therapies
Duration: 6 hours tuition (9am- 3.30pm)
Cost: $155 Purchase your tickets here: Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-complimentary-health-tickets-65765356953
This one-day course will provide primary caregivers and health professionals an Introduction to Complementary Health Therapies. The focus will be on patient safety and the impact that this treatment can have on the older person’s well-being.
During the course the participants will:
- Investigate consumer rights and health practitioners’ responsibilities
- Define complementary health therapy in the NZ context
- List the barriers to accessing complementary health care globally
- Provide the basis of a therapeutic relationship in a care setting
- Explore a range of complementary health modalities
- Discuss real-time scenarios for patients in care requesting complementary health practices.
At the conclusion of the one-day course participants will have the following knowledge and skills available to apply in the care and wellbeing of the older client:
- Communication: Initiate health orientated communication to obtain the information needed for appropriate complimentary therapy selection.
- Problem-solving: Engage in a range of health care problem-solving scenarios to consolidate the recommendations.
- Therapeutic Touch: Apply knowledge and skills using therapeutic touch principals to enhance the therapeutic relationship.
- Safety and Competency: Identify clear safety perimeters to enable confident and competent recommendations and ability to support these therapies in a health practice environment on an ongoing basis,
- Practitioner Skills: Develop real-time skills within their scope of practice that can be effectively applied to the older person in a health care setting.
Complementary Health Therapy Short Courses
Each of the following courses focus on a separate complementary health therapy and will expand participants’ knowledge and ability to provide a range of options when caring for the older person.
| Half Day Courses (3 hours) |
Full Day Courses (6 hours) |
| Food As Medicine |
Medicinal Cannabis |
| Immune Responsiveness |
Hydrotherapy |
| Longevity Nutrition |
Therapeutic Touch |
| Gut Health |
Herbal Therapy
|
| Mindfulness |
Homoeopathy |
| Reflexology |
|
| Flower Essence Therapy |
|
| Tissue Salts |
|
Half Day Short Courses
Each of the courses listed below is a stand-alone option. Students have the flexibility to enrol in just one course, to choose both the morning and afternoon options in a Group for a full day course, or to enrol in any combination that suits their interests.
No course is a prerequisite for another so students can enrol in the courses in any order.
- Morning Course: 9am – 12.15pm (including a 15 minute break)
- Afternoon Course: 12.45pm – 4pm (including a 15 minute break)
GROUP ONE
Immune Responsiveness: morning
Fortify yourselves and your families this winter with proven, effective treatments to support your innate immune system. Appreciate the balance needed within your organ systems to ensure your immune response is impacted by nutrition and lifestyle factors.
- Challenges to the immune response
- How to maintain immune health
- Reduce stress to improve immune system response
Food as Medicine: afternoon
Most societies and cultures have long-standing recipes to ensure their families’ good health all year round. Revisit the basics of eating seasonally with fresh wholefoods as the focus. Eat specifically for your body type and learn how to ignore the trends and fashions of the “diet” industry.
- Investigate "let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food"
- Prepare and sample a range of healing foods
- Take home recipe recommendations
GROUP TWO
Longevity Nutrition: morning
As we age, we require less sleep, less food and less excitement! Unravel the complexities of fat, fibre and staying fabulous by examining what constitutes a superfood and how eating well and sensibly can improve your lifespan.
- Everything in “moderation”
- Good fats for optimal brain function
- Benefits, risks and known contraindications for dietary changes
Gut Health: afternoon
Poor food options, excessive use of antibiotics and sedentary lifestyle choices can impact the colon making bowel movements sluggish and uncomfortable. Discover treatments, recipes and lifehacks that could improve your digestion to ensure it remains a key part of your overall immune protection.
- Purpose and limitations of the digestive system
- Prebiotic and Probiotic usage in the older person
- How to restore good digestion after medication or surgery
GROUP THREE
Mindfulness: morning
Unravel the power behind the impact our brain has on managing and experiencing stress. Practise the art of mindfulness and discuss the science behind its acceptance within mainstream health practices. Learn to mobilise triggers for calm and acceptance, while re-programming triggers for fear and grief.
- Nervous system basics
- Mindfulness and music therapy
- Meditation
Reflexology Massage: afternoon
As we move into an era of social distancing we need to continue with safe ways to hold space for a person who needs physical touch. Basic questioning will provide a platform for a relaxing and conversation-provoking encounter. Wax provided.
- Holding hands
- Establish rudimentary case-taking skills
- Benefits and contraindications for physical touch
GROUP FOUR
Flower Essence Therapy: morning
Right from our earliest traditions we offer scented and colourful flowers to those we care about to help lift their mood. Discuss the link between our emotional health and self esteem. Develop your knowledge of common flowers and trees that have enabled practitioners over centuries to work with this fascinating modality.
- Flower essence origins
- Producing flower essences
- Matching the remedy to the person
Tissue Salts: afternoon
The building blocks that support the entire body consist of 12 essential minerals. As you prepare the compost and soil for your garden so too should you nourish and maintain your basic nutritional status. Get back to basic suggestions for acute and chronic health concerns using mineral based supplements straight out of the periodic table.
- Minerals and why we need them
- The basics of tissues salt prescribing
- Matching the remedy to the person
Full Day Short Courses
Medicinal Cannabis for the Older Person
There is a need for safe and effective medicinal cannabis products for our older population. Current research tell us Cannabis can provide calm for the mind and good pain management for a number of inflammatory conditions. Attend this course to be ahead of the regulatory changes and prescribing conditions that will affect health care provision in this emerging domain. During the course the participants will:
- Explore the Endocannabinoid system and its relevance to longevity
- Review the current legislation regarding Cannabis use in NZ
- Explore the Endocannabinoid system and its relevance to longevity
- Discuss access via the GP for Cannabis prescriptions
- Explore whole plant medicine for pain and inflammation
- Benefits and limitations of use for the older person
- Drug interactions, safety and dosing support in a residential setting
The Introduction to Hydrotherapy Short Course
The healing power of water in all its forms has been well documented and practiced for centuries. We are all familiar with the “RICER” method that has become the recommended first treatment for soft tissue injuries. Come along to capalitise on the use of heat, cold, baths and showers to reduce or manage localised pain and chronic inflammation with what is often the first treatment at hand. During the course the participants will:
- Define the common principles of hydrotherapy
- Explore historical use of hydrotherapy in NZ
- Identify first aid use and constitutional use of hydrotherapy
- List the indications and contraindications for hydrotherapy
- Select a range of hydrotherapy treatment suitable for the older person
- Demonstrate the use of hydrotherapy alongside other treatments
- Discuss real-time scenarios for patients requesting hydrotherapy
The Introduction to Therapeutic Touch Short Course
Human beings have a fundamental requirement for touch. Managing safe and hygienic therapeutic touch can be a challenge however there are many ways that this simple practice can become part of the everyday activities for an older person or for those who struggle with other forms of communication. As we move into a time of social distancing this practise needs to be adapted to keep practitioners and their client’s safe. During the course the participants will:
- Define common terms associated with therapeutic touch
- Discuss ethics, rights and professionalism of providing therapeutic touch
- Practice case-taking when working with an older person
- Develop the therapeutic relationship required for a massage session
- List the indications and contraindications of therapeutic touch
- Demonstrate a sample massage practice on the neck and shoulders
- Discuss real-time scenarios for patients in care requesting therapeutic touch
The Introduction to Herbal Therapy Short Course
Maintain a simple kitchen garden and create therapeutic herbal options for maintaining good health. Access information on drug/herb interactions to safeguard your recommendations. Learn how to make basic herbal creams, infusions and poultices that an older person will benefit from. During the course the participants will:
- Share culinary herb experience in hands-on food preparation
- Explore diverse ways to use different herbal preparations
- Identify a range of safe and effective herbal treatments for the older person
- Raise awareness of common drug/herb interactions
- Experience the making of a herbal tincture or topical balm
- Discuss real-time scenarios for patients requesting herbal treatment
The Introduction to Homoeopathy Short Course
The art of Homoeopathy is an age-old practice that even has the Royal Seal of approval. Take the time to understand the basic principles of homoeopathic treatment and become confident with using fist aid remedies for the everyday concerns that an older person may experience. Practical and timely modality that takes into consideration our busy lifestyles. During the course the participants will:
- Define the common principles of homoeopathy
- Explore constitutional and polypharmacy prescribing
- Investigate historical input from founder Samuel Hahnemann
- List the indications and contraindications of homoeopathy
- Select a range of first aid remedies for the older person
- Demonstrate the use of homoeopathy with other treatments
- Discuss real-time scenarios for patients requesting homoeopathy
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