TCM Paediatrics & Dermatology

General Information
Duration 1 semester (14 teaching weeks)
Level Year 4, Semester 7
Unit Weighting Unit Credit Points: 10 credit points
Total Course Credit Points: 320 credit points
Student Workload Number of timetabled hours per week: 4
Number of personal study hours per week: 6
Total workload hours per week: 10
Prerequisites ACU207 TCM Practice 1 (Acupuncture Techniques); CHM208 Chinese Herbal Medicine & Formulae 3
Academic Details
Description This unit aims to enable students to apply their knowledge and clinical skills in the management of common contemporary medical conditions with Chinese herbal medicine and pain management with acupuncture. The unit consolidates for students their developing clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine and for diseases diagnosed through Western medicine and acupuncture intervention for pain management.

The unit covers relevant terminology, clinical manifestations, definition, aetiologies, pathologies of the diseases, and diagnostic methods in Western medicine and Chinese medicine, the strengths and limitations of herbal treatment, and the necessary referral. The emphasis will be on the clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine for the common diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive system, renal and urological, autoimmune and endocrine systems and oncology. Additionally, students explore contemporary evidence-based research findings on the effectiveness and limits of acupuncture in the pain management. Students will study the neurophysiology of acupuncture; learn to critically assess its application in a range of clinical settings and practices; and develop problem-solving and decision-making skills in the prognosis and treatment management of patients through acupuncture.

The application and management common diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive system, renal and urological, autoimmune and endocrine systems and cancer. with Chinese herbal medicine will also discussed.

Students will be informed about restricted and scheduled herbs and their use throughout the study of this subject in accordance with Australian regulations and the SUSMP. Emphasis will be placed on awareness of cultural and social issues/concerns within the Australian healthcare context, the importance of a commitment to appropriate reporting of adverse events, and the implementation of appropriate first aid measures when a patient displays an adverse reaction to treatment, and ensure prompt transfer to medical services where necessary and/or appropriate. The desire to achieve excellence in the practice of Chinese herbal medicine and to contribute to improving both the quality of life of patients and the wellbeing of the community and the environment will be a key feature in the teaching and learning of this unit.

Learning outcomes Upon completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe and analyse common diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive system, renal and urological, autoimmune and endocrine systems and oncology in the context of disease diagnosis, syndrome differentiation, aetiology and pathogenesis in TCM perspectives on the base of WM perspectives.
  2. Describe, explain and discuss the contemporary evidence-based practice of combining traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) with WM in the clinical treatment of the above diseases; Critically evaluate and interpret research and clinical literature in the context of TCM strengths and limitations and the necessity to refer to other medical and health professionals when appropriate; Demonstrate a working knowledge of or restricted and scheduled herbs and their use in accordance with Australian regulations and the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).
  3. Describe the neurophysiology of acupuncture; complexity, types, symptoms, aetiology, pathogenesis and mechanism of pain in TCM perspectives on the base of WM perspectives; and the limitations associated with the WM management of pain. Demonstrate clinical proficiency and excellence in the examination of pain through the application of new techniques and knowledge.
  4. Drawing on evidence-based research findings, describe the interaction between acupuncture and commonly used medications in the management of pain; Critically evaluate the strengths and limits of the acupuncture treatment, the effects of integrating new evidence-based findings into the assessment and treatment of common pain symptoms and the necessity of referral to other medical specialist when appropriate.
  5. Describe and explain the procedures for the appropriate reporting of adverse events and the implementation of appropriate first aid measures when a patient displays an adverse reaction to treatment, and to ensure prompt transfer to medical services where necessary; CHM and/or acupuncture intervention of the above diseases and conditions with a view to achieving excellence in the practice of TCM and contributing to improving the quality of life of patients and the wellbeing of the community and the environment in appreciation of Australia’s multi-cultural/racial healthcare context and how this may affect the practice of Chinese medicine and herbal treatment of common diseases.
Unit requirement To successfully complete the unit, students must: attend 80% of all the lectures and tutorial classes; attempt all assessment tasks and achieve at least 50% of the total marks
Assessment Assessment 1: Class Exam (Part A) (20%)

Assessment 2: Case Study Analysis (Part A) (40%)

Assessment 3: Literature Review (Part B) (40%) 

Prescribed text * The prescribed and recommended readings are subject to annual review.

Flaws B, Sionneau P (2005). The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with CHINESE Medicine, A Textbook and Clinical Manual. Boulder: Blue Poppy Press, 2005

Hou, W. et al. (2011). Treating Autoimmune disease with Chinese Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone.

Feng, W., & Fan, G. (2009). The clinical practice of Chinese medicine: Diabetes and obesity. Beijing, China: People’s Medical Publishing House..

Bäcker, M., &Hammes, M. G. (Eds.). (2010). Acupuncture in the treatment of pain: An integrative approach. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

White A, Cummings M, Filshie J. (2008). An Introduction to Western Medical Acupuncture: Churchill Livingstone.

Recommended readings Flaws, B. et al. (2002). The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus with Chinese Medicine. Boulder: Blue Poppy Press

Bensky, D., & Barolet, R. (1990). Chinese herbal medicine: Formulas & strategies. Seattle, Wash.: Eastland Press.

Liu, Y., Eckman, P., &Vian, K. (1988). The essential book of traditional Chinese medicine vol 2 (clinical practice). New York: Columbia University Press.

Ou, M. (1992). Chinese-English manual of common-used prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine [Han yingch’angyung Chung i ch’u fang shouts’e ]. Guangzhou, China: Guangdong Science and Technology Press.

Xu, H., & Xu, Z. (1990). Commonly used Chinese herbal formulas: Companion handbook [Chang yong Han fang fangjishouce] (2 Rev. ed.). Long Beach, CA: Oriental Healing Arts Institute.

Yu, R. C. (2012). Cancer Management with Chinese Medicine, World Scientific Publishing

Cheng, X., Cheng, Y., & Deng, L. (2010). Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion (3thed.). Beijing: Foreign Languages Press.

Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (2013). Infection prevention and control guidelines for acupuncture practice. Available at http://www.chinesemedicineboard.gov.au/Codes- Guidelines.aspx(Accessed 01/09/2013).

Deadman, P., Al-Khafaji, M., & Baker, K. (2007). A manual of acupuncture (2nd ed.). Hove, East Sussex: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.

Kong JC, Lee MS, Shin B-C, et al. Acupuncture for functional recovery after stroke: a systematic review of sham-controlled randomized clinical trials. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2010 November 9, 2010; 182(16):1723-9.

National Health and Medical Research Council (2010). Australian Guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare.Australian Government: Canberra. Available at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/node/30290(Accessed 04/09/2013).

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