Exploring the Science and Art of Complementary Healing Traditions
The Department of Alternative Medicine at Harvard College UK offers a critical and scholarly exploration of healing systems that exist outside the mainstream of conventional Western medicine. Our approach is neither dismissive nor uncritical; instead, we provide a rigorous academic framework for understanding the history, philosophy, theoretical principles, and evidence base of major alternative medical traditions from around the world. We aim to produce knowledgeable practitioners and researchers who can engage with these disciplines intelligently and integrate them responsibly where evidence supports their use.
Students in our department can choose to specialize in specific modalities, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, Ayurvedic Medicine, or Western Herbal Medicine. Each pathway provides an in-depth study of the foundational texts, diagnostic methods (e.g., tongue and pulse diagnosis in TCM), and complex materia medica of that tradition. Crucially, all students also undertake core modules in biomedical sciences and research methods, enabling them to understand the human body from a conventional perspective and to critically evaluate research literature on the safety and efficacy of their chosen discipline.
Practical training is paramount, with students developing their diagnostic and treatment skills in supervised clinical settings. We foster an environment of inter-professional dialogue, encouraging students to understand the potential points of collaboration and contraindication between alternative and conventional treatments. Our European partnerships allow for unique cultural immersion, such as studying herbal medicine in contexts with long-standing regulatory frameworks. Graduates become professional practitioners of their chosen discipline, researchers contributing to the evidence base, consultants for the growing wellness industry, or informed writers and educators, all working to expand the horizons of healthcare.
