Claire van den Broek d'Obrenan

I fell into the naturo world as a child. Unlike Obelix, the effects are not permanent in my case. So I trained in a number of specialized schools, not forgetting the school of life and its rich experiences (both ecstatic and traumatic). I am continuing my training and am currently preparing for the federal diploma in naturopathy. I’ll probably be training again and again, eager for new discoveries.

I’m passionate about science and medicine, always looking for a better understanding. I studied biology at the University of Lausanne to gain the best possible understanding of the current scientific approach, what we understand about biology and its applications in medicine and naturopathy.

I even took courses in the history of science for fun, because I sincerely believe that understanding the current state of knowledge requires understanding its history.

What thrills me most about learning and practicing is making connections that help me to better understand human beings. These links will help you understand why we get sick, and how to harness the body’s healing power, by applying it to myself and sharing it with my patients, students and friends.

My values

Compassion, kindness and openness are essential to any human relationship. These values are all the more important in the therapeutic context and are therefore at the heart of my practice.

My vision of health

The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and [qui] not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. I would also add emotional and spiritual well-being, which I consider vital to health.

My approach

Passionate about integrative medicine and science, my approach to scientific naturopathy is based on the search for and understanding of what is explainable by science (which I use), what is refuted by science (which I don’t use), and what is beyond the limits of current science (which I use insofar as empiricism indicates efficacy and I’m asked to).

Empiricism and science

Empirical knowledge is what we use because we’ve observed it to be effective. Much of naturopathy and traditional medicine (Chinese, Tibetan, Ayurvedic, etc.) are empirical practices. Some approaches in medical practices are also empirical: healthcare professionals use them because their experience and that of their colleagues has shown them to be genuinely effective.

This empirical knowledge enables us to formulate the hypotheses we want to study scientifically. For example, a blend of five plants has been found to be effective in helping stressed people relax. We use it, everyone’s happy because it works and this specific blend has no side effects at this dose (which is not the case with all). But what makes it effective? Is it the precise blend of these five plants? Is it mainly one or a combination of two or three plants?

This is where science comes in: scientists will ask the questions and design one or more experiments to answer them. Once the experiments have been carried out and reproduced by several groups with the same results, we consider that we have obtained the answer to the question and that the effectiveness of the herbal tea has been scientifically proven 🙂

Publications

Book

I choose my contraception. Editions Eyrolles, 2023.

Education and qualifications

In progress

Federal Diploma in Naturopathy MTE
Includes: traditional European practices, TCM differential diagnosis, naturopathic field assessment, home hygiene, geobiology
Combination of several schools, including EPSN (VD), La Mandorle (NE), CRPS (VD), training courses starting in 2010

University degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology
University of Lausanne (VD), 2018

asca-approved diplomas and disciplines

Pathophysiology (M1 of DF MTE)
La Mandorle (NE)
Courses 2019-2021, diploma 2022

Nutrition
CRPS (VD), 2010-2011
La Mandorle (NE), 2019

Phytotherapy
La Mandorle (NE)
Courses 2019-2021, diploma 2022

Classic massage
Katia Abbondanzieri, IFMV (GE), 2020-2021

Bach Flower Remedies
Michèle Picard, La Mandorle (NE)
Course 2018, diploma 2019

Other diplomas

Aromatherapy
ERA (VD)
Courses 2012-2016, diploma 2022

Spagyrics
Dr Gopalsamy Naidu, Phylak (VD), 2020

Herbalist Technician
Memoir: “Understanding contraception and reclaiming one’s body through natural methods, a review of scientific and popular literature.”
L’Alchémille (VS)
Courses 2014-2016, diploma 2020

Iridology
Gérard Luder, La Mandorle (NE), 2018

Toxemia and derivative methods
CRPS (VD), 2010-2011

Psychology, CNV, networking (M4 of DF MTE)
EPSN (VD), 2021-2022

Health and ethics (M3 of DF MTE)
La Mandorle (NE), 2018-2019

Business management (M5 of DF MTE)
La Mandorle (NE), 2018-2019

Continuing education

Reflexology
Géraldine Viatte, Gedane (VD)

Continuing education, 2022

Quality of food supplements
Edwige Jeanneret, La Mandorle (NE), 2021

Stretch therapy
Katia Abbondanzieri (GE), 2021

Energetics and therapeutic touch
Géraldine Senn, La Mandorle (NE), 2019

Palpatory anatomy
Katia Abbondanzieri, Human Health Center (VS), 2019

Touch For Health 1 and 2
Stéphane Servaux, Human Health Center (VS), 2019

Brain Gym
Jacques Tourly, Human Health Center (VS), 2019

Organic cosmetics I and II
Monika Joss, ERA (VD), 2014

Internships (M6 of DF MTE)
Clinical days, group supervision, congresses, research into the scientific validation of therapeutic approaches

Buddhist teachings and practices
Karma Kagyu, France and India

Extensive research to understand what is scientifically proven, scientifically disproven or beyond current scientific knowledge

Numerous experiences from childhood, in the family

Many other techniques and years of experience since childhood thanks to my mother (therapist) and my friends (amateurs and therapists).