HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL MEDICINE

The School of Natural Medicine was founded in Cambridge, England in 1978 by Dr. Farida Sharan, ND MIr FBRI FGNI MDMA, author of 'Iridology - a Complete Guide', 'Herbs of Grace – Becoming Independently Healthy' and 'Creative Menopause'. The School of Natural Medicine evolved out of the British School of Iridology & Natural Medicine, which was the first school of Iridology in England (also founded by Dr. Farida Sharan) and set the standards for the professional education of Integrated Iridology in this part of the world.

During the 1980's, Dr. Farida Sharan hosted conferences to bring many pioneers in the world of Iridology to England, including Dr. John R. Christopher (Patron to the School of Natural Medicine until his death in 1983), Dr. Bernard Jensen, Dorothy Hall (also a Patron of SNM), Denny Johnson, Willy Hauser and others and trained many of the most respected and successful practitioners of Iridology in the UK and abroad. She also founded Herbs of Grace (now run by Peter Enkel, a SNM graduate and his son) and Wholistic Research Company, a well known company run by a former client and her family. Together with John Morley, Farida co-created the Iridology Research Manifesto to protect the integrity and quality of Iridology.

The School of Natural Medicine created the first iridology register in the UK, The British Registar of Iridologists, to honor professional standards of training and practice. This register was given to Peter and Angela Bradbury by Farida Sharan so that they could create the Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists. SNM courses and graduates are the foundation for standards set by the Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists, an organization that is administrated by dedicated and skilled Iridologists, many of whom are graduates of the School of Natural Medicine. The Guild of Naturopathic Iridologists has gone on over the years to provide tremendous support to Iridologists here in the U.K. and are actively involved in supporting Iridologists and Naturopaths in the transition leading to self-regulation in 2010.

In 1988 a U.S. branch of the School of Natural Medicine was opened in Boulder, Colorado. This school was an approved and accredited occupational school offering Natural Physician, Master Iridologist, Master Herbalist, and Naturopath diplomas, and Living Foods Teacher, Essential Oils Therapist, Flower Essence Practitioner, and Master Touch Reflexology certifications. The Boulder, Colorado school was a stronghold for the education and practice of pure naturopathy, integrated iridology and the principles of holistic wellness in United States, and attracted students from around the world for twenty years. The School of Natural Medicine in Boulder, Colorado, was sold in 2008 to Krista Toledo and now offers her own range of classes.

In 2007 Bonny White, a graduate of the School of Natural Medicine, opened the School of Natural Medicine in Devon. Offering a central location that is easy for students to access from across Europe, it has already attracted a strong international student body. The School of Natural Medicine in Devon is dedicating to remaining a small school that specialises in training students to become the highest level of primary care natural physicians. We offer personal and caring class environments where evolution of the individual and self healing is considered of equal value to academic and clinical training. We are also committed to remaining true to the spirit of wholistic and natural medicine; a form of medicine with a long and honourable tradition, a history of deep rooted integrity and with a beauty and sincerity deserving of a practitioners lasting passion.

Farida Sharan now resides in Vancouver, British Colombia and offers Self Healing Intensives and classes for International Students working towards their school diplomas. She is currently working on several new books. She also visits the U.K. regularly to teach students in Devon.