MSc/PGDip in Chinese Herbal Medicine - Year One

Year One is an exciting time during which you will be introduced to the key herbs & formulae which will form the backbone of your practice. The herbs are introduced via short e-learning segments which have proved very popular with students as you can revisit these as often as you like and the engaging audio-visual style helps the information sink in. The formulae are introduced in class where the constituent herbs are revisited alongside case examples which make the material memorable. All of this comes alive in clinic where you will experience the application to real patients. We believe in the value of ‘learning by doing’, so you will be ‘hands on’ in clinic – sharing the lead on patient consultations with other students and taking part in discussion of the diagnosis and treatment strategy. Rest assured, though, that in Year One you will have strong support and direction from the clinic supervisor in deciding on the herbal prescription actually given. All modules are taught at level 7.

Herbs and Formulae - Year One

This module covers a core set of classical formulae and the properties of their constituent herbs, along with the principles on which treatment is based (including the root and manifestation of disease; normal and contrary treatment; treating disease according to the season, environment and individual) and the methods or strategies (Sweating, Draining Downward, Harmonising, Warming, Clearing, Reducing, Tonifying - focussing on those which are most applicable clinically). You will cover:

• Basic principles of Chinese herbal medicine
• Classical and modern sources
• Key treatment strategies and formulae including:
  • Tonify Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang
  • Regulate Qi, invigorate Blood, harmonise
  • Clear Damp (drain, dry and transform)
  • Clear Heat (clear Damp Heat, clear Fire Toxins, cool Blood, drain Fire)
  • Resolve Phlegm
  • Stop cough and wheezing
  • Calm the Shen
  • Stabilise and bind
  • Extinguish Wind and stop tremors
  • Release the Exterior
  • Clear Wind (and Wind-Cold-Damp)
  • Warm the Interior and expel Cold
  • Food stagnation
  • Exterior treatments (creams, washes, liniments and medicated plasters)

At the end of the module you will be able to design safe, effective and appropriate individualised treatment plans suitable for complex cases, based upon classical formulae and the above principles and methods.

Chinese Herbal Medicine in Context - Year One

This module gives you the opportunity to integrate your developing thinking on Chinese herbal medicine with the modern context within which it is practised, including the perspectives of biological and medical sciences. The content comprises:

• Key aspects of plant science (with a focus on clinically relevant aspects such as potential herb/drug/food interactions)

• The basics of modern nutrition

• Arrangements for dispensing, along with quality assurance and the legal framework for practice

• The opportunity to refresh your research skills in relation to key safety aspects such as evaluating adverse events reports

At the end of the module you will be able to bring your knowledge base to bear on formulating proposals for safe practice. This knowledge base will also underpin your ability to critically evaluate emerging research and risk-benefit issues in relation to Chinese herbal medicines.

Clinic - Year One

This module comprises your first experience of the clinical practice of Chinese herbal medicine and includes 9 days in the online herbs teaching clinic. You will have the opportunity to extend your clinical skills under close supervision – including:

• Devising herbal treatment strategies

• Prescribing major classical formulae with modifications

You will also have the opportunity to reflect on incorporating developmental elements related to your learning on the herbs course within your personal development plan.

At the end of the module you will be able to formulate safe, appropriate prescriptions based on classical formulae, modifying these as appropriate as treatment progresses.