The Chinese materia medica consists of hundreds of herbs that have been used as medicine in China for centuries. Students are introduced to the general concepts of Chinese herbal medicine and then become familiar with the most common and widely used herbs, including their Latin, English and Chinese names and their physical, energetic and therapeutic properties according to Eastern philosophies. In addition, students learn to identify dried herbs and avoid common complications and negative interactions.

This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Building on CBOT331 Chinese Materia Medica I, this course continues to explore the most common and widely used herbs, including their Latin, English and Chinese names and their physical, energetic and therapeutic properties according to Eastern philosophies. In addition, students learn to identify dried herbs and avoid common complications and negative interactions.

This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Building on CBOT331 Chinese Materia Medica I, this course continues to explore the most common and widely used herbs, including their Latin, English and Chinese names and their physical, energetic and therapeutic properties according to Eastern philosophies. In addition, students learn to identify dried herbs and avoid common complications and negative interactions.

This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Approximately 200 formulas in 20 therapeutic groups are covered in detail. For each formula, students learn its composition/ingredients, dosage, indications, formula analysis, cautions and contraindications and common modifications. At the conclusion of the course students are capable to safely and competently apply at least 100 formulas in the clinical setting and are prepared to pass British Columbia’s registration exam by having mastered 171 formulas as required by CTCMA. Furthermore, students gain the skill to develop their own formulas to treat a vast majority of disorders or syndrome patterns. Methods of formulation, preparation and modification are included as well as safety concerns for patient administration including contraindications and other patient concerns.

This course introduces the chemistry of plants and how those chemical constituents interact with human physiology, pharmaceuticals and synergistically within individual plants. Groups of chemical compounds are examined including saponins, tannins, resins, alcohols, volatile oils, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, coumarins, anthraquinones, flavones, bitters, glycosides and alkaloids.

Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the study of the interaction of herb-related drugs with living organisms under the guidance of the basic theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and with the aid of modern technology. Based on the updated research achievements, the course explores the actions, related mechanisms, and active components of herbal medicine. Students are required to master the modern scientific connotations concerning the effects and the main indications of Chinese Medicine. They learn basic knowledge and principles that are likely to be drawn upon during research and clinical work.

This course provides students with hands-on experience in preparing various herbal remedies and products, including tinctures, teas, creams, capsules, salves, syrups poultices, oils, ointments and more. The concept of polypharmacy is introduced and students learn the techniques of dispensing. Students learn to maintain a safe working environment and ensure that all equipment is safe and functional. Each class is dedicated to making different herbal preparations and students get to keep the products they make in class.

Students gain a thorough understanding of the complexity of pathogenesis and the treatment of TCM internal syndromes including etiology, pathology, syndrome differentiation and treatment using herbal medicine. This course covers the following TCM diseases: common cold, cough, asthma and wheezing, spontaneous and night sweating, palpitations, chest Bi, syncope, apoplexy, convulsions, headache, dizziness and vertigo, insomnia, mania, epilepsy, stomachache, vomiting, regurgitation, hiccup, dysphagia, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, parasites, abdominal pain, hypochondrium pain, jaundice, abdominal masses, tympanites and ascites, bleeding, edema, stranguria, urinary difficulties, lumbago, diabetes, Bi syndrome, atrophy, fever due to internal injury and consumptive disease. The history and principles of the Shang Han Lun, Jing Gui Yao Lue and Win Bing Xue are reintroduced and applied when appropriate.

Students utilize their prior knowledge and in a challenging and theoretical manner in the investigation and assessment of both theoretical and actual clinical cases. Assessments of both straightforward and challenging cases prepare students for providing patients with the optimal treatment plan and herbal prescriptions. Since this course requires a strong base in TCM knowledge, it is an excellent review course in general, but is essentially a course to advance a student’s knowledge and ability to work with complex diagnoses in order to be fully prepared for the post-graduate clinical setting.

By studying 2 simplified formats of herbal combinations – herbal pairs and patent formulas – this course broadens and deepens students’ knowledge of the application of herbal medicine and increases their competency in prescribing herbal formulas. Approximately 150 herbal pairs, selected from the classic texts the Shang Han Lun and the Jin Gui Yao Lue and from modern TCM research and application in China, are discussed in detail. Also explored is an additional 150 of the most effective patent herbal formulas currently used in China, many of which are readily available in North America.

After completing CBOT331/332 Materia Medica, students can deepen their understanding with this course. It offers hands-on experience in recognizing TCM herbal medicine using all five senses. This course focuses on the practical recognition of prevalent herbs from the Chinese Materia Medica commonly adopted in Western practices. For optimal understanding, it’s best to take this course following CBOT331/332.

This course has practical components that require mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE) use. Faculty and students are required to wear gloves and use additional PPE as needed and follow required hygiene, equipment and sharps management during class time.

Gynecology is the field of medicine that deals with specific women’s health issues, primarily those related to reproductive organs. This course applies the principles of Chinese Herbal Medicine to the field of gynecology. Students gain knowledge of physical and pathological features of women and learn to diagnose based on syndrome patterns to and create appropriate treatment procedures for diseases and conditions related to menstruation, leucorrhea, pregnancy and labour. Twenty-five diseases are thoroughly discussed leaving students confident in the treatment of gynecological conditions with basic herbal prescriptions and their relevant modifications.

This course applies the principles of Chinese Medicine to the study of dermatology and other disorders of the external body. Through studying various dermatological diseases, students gain skills in diagnosis, syndrome differentiation and treatment using herbal medicine for conditions such as carbuncles and furuncles, goiter, hemorrhoids, scrofula, herpes zoster, and warts.

This course applies the principles of Chinese Medicine to the study of the five sense organs. Through studying various sense organ-related diseases, students gain skills in diagnosis, syndrome differentiation and treatment using herbal medicine for conditions such as blindness, cataracts, conjunctivitis, deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, epistaxis, and sore throat.

This course applies the principles of Chinese Medicine to the study of pediatrics. Students gain skills in diagnosis, syndrome differentiation and treatment using herbal medicine for conditions such as common colds, thrush, malnutrition, developmental disorders, febrile conditions and more.

Through the investigation and review of past TCM herbal coursework, practical techniques, and case studies, student utilize their prior knowledge in a challenging and theoretical manner. In order to prepare students for various licensing exams, and for providing their patients with optimal care, this course helps students organize straight forward and challenging concepts and cases efficiently and thoroughly for both theoretical and practical application in the clinic.

This course teaches the therapeutic application of western herbs using TCM energetic diagnostic principles. Students learn 40 commonly used herbs, many of which grow locally. Participants gain knowledge in using plant medicine to confidently treat the TCM patterns of common ailments such as anxiety, coughs and colds, depression, digestive upset, menstrual irregularities, pain management, sleep disturbances, stress and more. This course is comprehensive, yet simple enough to immediately understand and apply in practice. Monographs are provided and each herb is sampled in various forms including teas and tinctures.

Although Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine date back thousands of years, there is a continual stream of modern research being conducted on these ancient techniques, especially in their application to modern-day illnesses and diseases. This course traces the medical uses of Chinese Medicine from today all the way back to its roots, and also examines research that is guiding these ancient practices into uncharted future territories.

Herb-Drug Interactions is the study of potential toxicity that particular formula and its herbal components. Based on the updated research achievements, the course introduces formula contraindications, potential formula toxicities & Interactions, and special herbs in the formula potential medicinal toxicities & interactions. Herb-drug interactions and contraindications associated with human being.