DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NATURAL MEDICINE
Program Overview
Doctor of Philosophy in Medicine (Ph.D.)
Lead the future of natural medicine through the therapeutic power of plants
Professional Designation:
Upon successful completion, graduates also qualify for national board certification as Holistic Natural Health Practitioners through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).
Core Curriculum
DNMP-101 | Art of Restoring & Preserving Health I: Fasting
4.0 Credits
This course evaluates the physiological mechanisms and clinical applications of fasting in acute and chronic disease management. Students will examine how metabolic rest redirects cellular energy toward tissue repair, recovery, and homeostatic restoration.
DNMP-102 | Art of Restoring & Preserving Health II: Sunbathing
4.0 Credits
This course explores the physiology of sunbathing as a mechanism for restoring and preserving human health. Students will examine the relationship between natural light exposure and the body’s metabolic processes, evaluating the theoretical principles of the Hygienic System and its practical application in holistic wellness.
DNMP-103 | Ultimate Therapeutic Healing
4.0 Credits
This course examines the botanical and geographical origins of medicinal plants, the localization of active pharmaceutical constituents, and traditional cultivation methods. Students learn how microscopy and chemical testing procedures were used to identify plant structures and verify active constituents, resulting in extraction techniques, pharmacology, and toxicology. In addition, the curriculum integrates traditional herbal medicine with contemporary clinical trials and modern research, evaluating the scientific rationale for botanical products in health care and self-care.
DNMP-104 | Natural Healing Energy Concepts
4.0 Credits
This course explores methods to maximize nerve energy for optimal health, physical endurance, and holistic disease prevention. Students will master techniques to increase, maintain, and utilize nerve energy for improved vitality and physical strength, while learning to identify, prevent, and reverse the processes of enervation and toxemia.
DNMP-105 | Natural Medicine & Healing Concepts I
4.0 Credits
This course explores the foundational health laws and restorative concepts developed by Dr. Herbert M. Shelton during the 20th century. Students will examine the fundamental principles of health restoration and preservation through natural, unadulterated methods.
DNMP-106 | Natural Medicine & Healing Concepts II
4.0 Credits
This course is a continuation of Natural Medicine & Healing Concepts I, offering an in-depth exploration of the hygienic laws and health paradigms established by Dr. Herbert M. Shelton. Students will critically examine 20th-century natural health concepts, focusing on advanced strategies for the restoration and preservation of wellness through unadulterated, holistic means.
DNMP-107 | Natural Physiology of Beliefs
4.0 Credits
This course explores the connection between brain health, success, and long-term well-being. Students will examine methods to optimize cognitive function, boost focus and creativity, and improve emotional stability. Through practical, natural strategies, this course provides tools to manage anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline at any age, fostering peak mental performance and overall health.
DNMP-108 | Developing a Successful Wholistic Medicine Healing Practice I & II
Part I: Legal Requirements
4.0 Credits
Part I provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework and professional standards required to establish a natural health counseling practice. Students will research and outline, in depth, the relevant state laws and scope of practice regulations. The course further defines the structural, ethical, and operational components for a professional natural health practice.
Part II: Natural Behavioral Counseling Techniques
4.0 Credits
In Part II, students will master advanced cognitive restructuring techniques designed to help clients identify and overcome self-sabotaging behaviors. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based strategies for fostering long-term behavioral change and achieving sustainable health goals.
DNMP-109 | Advanced Green Herbal Pharmacy
4.0 Credits
This course introduces the foundational principles of botany, focusing on the practical applications and potential safety hazards of medicinal herbs. Students will explore the relationship between nutrition and cognitive health, examining how specific nutrient-dense foods and antioxidant-rich diets support neurological function. Through evidence-based dietary strategies, the curriculum addresses preventative measures against chronic, debilitating conditions and neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.
DNMP-110 | Science of Aromatherapy: Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils
4.0 Credits
This course explores the scientific mechanisms of plant-based healing through the foundation of evidence-based aromatherapy. Students will analyze the bioactivity of authentic essential oils and their therapeutic applications for complex health conditions. The curriculum emphasizes clinical support strategies, including managing chemotherapy-induced side effects like nausea and vomiting, and supporting patients with autoimmune diseases. Through a review of emerging scientific research, students will evaluate the evolving therapeutic possibilities and clinical efficacy of plant-based interventions.
DNMP-111 | Healing powers of Western Herbs
4.0 Credits
This course presents the student with 180 of the most powerful and useful medicinal herbs based on their native properties, which includes their habitat and geographical location. The student will learn about the medicinal, botanical, scientific, and pharmacological safety information about each herb. Information includes how to recognize and suggest herbal use for specific ailments. The student will gain an understanding of pharmacological and medicinal actions and interactions and how they are related as a whole process.
DNMP-112 | Healing Traditions of Aromatherapy & Essential Oils I & II
4.0 Credits
Unlock the "inner mindset" by aligning thoughts with a divine active force. This course explores spiritual "sowing and reaping," providing tools to move away from habits that corrupt the mind and body. Learn to live in harmony with spiritual consciousness to perfect the health of the soul.
DNMP-113-E |Nature & Concepts of Spirituality
4.0 Credits
Optional Elective
This course explores the core characteristics of spirituality and the practical development of spiritual discernment by gaining a deeper insight into spiritual practices and experiences.
DNMP-114 | Doctorate’s Thesis or Sports Nutrition & Physiology & Essay (Student Choice)
Part I: Sports Nutrition & Physiology
4.0 Credits
This course examines 21st-century human physiology with a focus on the metabolic and digestive processes essential for peak athletic performance. Students will analyze how nutrient assimilation—rather than mere consumption—directly impacts power, strength, and endurance. Emphasis is placed on optimizing physiological efficiency through targeted nutritional strategies.
Part II: Essay
4.0 Credits
This essay examines physiological mechanisms, including measuring muscle performance, the power of muscle, ATP in relation to exercise, and other topics that should be included in a minimal 1,000-word essay. Students analyze advanced metabolic concepts from Guyton & Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology to evaluate the nutritional philosophies designed for high-performance athletes.
Part III: Doctorate’s Thesis
4.0 Credits
Students will formulate a thesis statement and develop a minimum 3,000-word scholarly paper exploring a specialized dimension of holistic nutrition relating to personal health, or the health of others. This capstone project requires the application of theoretical principles to be drawn from the material learned within the doctorate program.