Education inspired by nature
Core College, also known as the Irish School of Herbal Medicine, was founded in 2000 with a mission to provide high-quality, professional training in herbal medicine, organic medicinal herb growing, and other subjects such as organic plant-based living food preparation and natural healing therapies.
Core College
The ethos of the college is centred around plant-based principles. Students are encouraged to fully dedicate themselves to the principles that they study.
The mission of Core College is to facilitate the rebirth of Western medical herbalism and organic medicinal herb growing, as these subjects were taught and practised in a time when people lived in greater harmony with the natural environment.
Why Core CollegeA unique training in herbal medicine and other subjects
A working clinic on site
Our herbal medicine clinic at the Castlecomer campus is open to the public. Patients present to the clinic with various health issues, and students participate in consultations, always under the supervision of a herbalist.
Each patient’s situation is unique, and iridology is used as a health assessment tool.
Practical training in the dispensary and gardens
Clinical training takes place in the on-site dispensary and certified organic medicinal herb gardens.
Students encounter a wide range of medicinal herbs in the garden and learn to formulate tinctures, bowel powders, infusions, decoctions, fomentations, and other preparations in the dispensary.
Taught in person, by practitioners
Tutors who moderate the online component of the herbal medicine programme are all qualified Master Herbalists, and each also sees patients and supervises student learning during consultations and in the herbal dispensary as a practitioner at the herbal clinic.
Herbal Stories
writing on herbal medicine, organic growing, nutrition, and natural health.