Diploma in Chinese Herbal Studies

This course is the natural next step for graduates of our Postgraduate Certificate course who wish to continue studying Chinese herbs. It is a stepping stone between the Certificate course and our MSc (which confers full practitioner status). Accreditation of prior learning (APL) will determine the precise details of an applicant's course. First intake September 2009.

Over the last few years the demand for Chinese herbal medicine in the UK has grown considerably. The herbal profession in the UK is about to be regulated which will further reinforce this positive growth and development. Now is an excellent time to study this fascinating subject and take part in the emergence of the newly-regulated profession. We have been offering training in patent herbal remedies and Chinese herbs since 1994. Building on this valuable experience we have now devised a new learning structure (subject to validation) providing students with a comprehensive and flexible study package to suit a variety of circumstances.

The Postgraduate Diploma is the second of a set of three available courses which can be taken individually or in combination, leading to an MSc.

Designed for graduates of the postgraduate certificate, this course lasts a year and provides the vital theoretical foundation required for the clinical research module undertaken during the MSc course This qualification acts as a stepping stone between the postgraduate certificate and the MSc. It provides an opportunity for you to expand your knowledge of the differentiation of disease, and to accumulate more clinical observations. As a graduate you will be well equipped to progress towards joining the herbal profession at masters level as an autonomous, safe and competent practitioner.

Programme modules

Chinese herbal formulae 1,
Differentiation of disease 1

You will study the differentiation of many of the most common ‘named’ diseases, allowing you to identify the most commonly used herbs and formulae to treat a specific disease category. Study days will focus on health problems such as gynaecology, paediatrics or digestive disorders. Most of the herbs and formulae studied during the postgraduate certificate are revisited within the context of these disease patterns, allowing you to develop a detailed knowledge of disease pathologies and the herbal formulae used in their treatment.

Module content Tonify qi formulae, tonify Blood formulae, tonify yin formulae, treat Dryness formulae, clear Heat formulae, the structure of formulae, herb combinations, list of additional herbs, learning styles to help remember the formulae Differentiation of disease 1 Exteriorconditions, respiratory conditions,
headaches

Nutrition 3 Clinical imbalances, nutrition and disease, interactions

Chinese herbal formulae 2,
Differentiation of disease 2

In this module you will continue to develop your knowledge of herbal formulae and how they can be adjusted to suit individual patterns of disharmony. Disease differentiation continues as a theme, and you will learn how to modify formulae according to presenting disease symptoms. Module content Tonify yang formulae, formulae to promote urination and leach out Dampness, formulae that transform Damp turbidity, formulae that clear Damp- Heat, formulae that warm and transform Water and Dampness, formulae that
dispel Wind-Dampness, invigorate blood formulae, stop bleeding formulae, reduce food stagnation formulae, expel parasite formulae, expel Wind formulae, treat Phlegm formulae, writing a prescription –
the basic steps, modifying a basic formula, dosages in Chinese herbal medicine, combinations of herbs
Differentiation of disease 2 Digestive disorders, rheumatology, gynaecology Nutrition 4 Chinese dietary theory, TCM properties of foods, food energetics and temperatures, the five flavours

Research methods, Project planning and processes, Differentiation of disease 3

This part of the course gives students the tools they need to carry out research effectively and methodically at masters level. You will be taught how to plan a piece of research and carry it through to completion, and to critically review, evaluate and develop your independent learning, research
and reflection skills.

Module content Application of a range of interactive, communication, practice, independent learning and study skills; description/debate about appropriate and ethical professional behaviours and expectations,
including the perspectives of patient, public and other healthcare professionals; design/comparison of different qualitative and quantitative research strategies, with emphasis on the case study as a practical and clinically relevant approach for the research-minded practitioner; experiential encounters in the clinical
situation; the use of ICT (information and communication technology) for literature search and the retrieval/critical review of information; identification, retrieval and critical analysis of literature relevant to a research area; analysis/synthesis of data
Differentiation of disease 3
Dermatology, mental emotional patterns

Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Dispensary practice

Phytochemistry is concerned with the classification of plants, the how their chemical constituents are usedin herbal medicine to treat disease. This unit gives you the detailed knowledge of the properties of plantbased medicine needed to understand the actions of Chinese herbs from a Western scientific perspective. This will equip you with an awareness of the biochemical actions of herbs which is
essential when prescribing them.

The knowledge you gain on the phytochemistryunit is integrated with the
pharmacology, nutrition and pharmacognosy units to help increase your awareness of potential toxicities and adverse reactions of herbs.

Pharmacognosy and dispensary skills are taught throughout the course. You will be introduced to the skills you will need if you decide to run your own pharmacy – such as stock control, dispensary audit, makingexternal preparations such as creams, and the processing of herbs. You will also learn ancient and modern methods of herb recognition such as microscopy and chromatography. Familiarity with the herbs is necessary for this unit. You will receive samples of each herb so you can develop your own herb reference guide – a resource for identifying herbs in the future.

During the dispensary practice day understanding of subjects including herb processing (pao zhi) is developed.

Module content Plant kingdom classifications; the biochemical constituents of plants; identifying characteristics of commonly-used herbs, the nature and properties of plant substances and how different analytical techniques are used to identify them; the integration of pharmacology, phytochemistry and nutrition into Chinese herbal medicine practice; issues of quality assurance, pharmacognosy and
good dispensary practice; the foundations of nutrition and diet as a means for themaintenance of good health and treatingdisease; the relationship between herbs, medications and food/supplements