Chinese Herbal Medicine & Formulae 2

General Information
Duration 1 semester
Level Year 2, Semester 1
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 TCM106 TCM Diagnosis & Clinical Theory; CHM108 Chinese Herbal Medicine and Formulae 1
Academic Details
Description This unit complements and extends the study of CHM108 Chinese Herbal Medicine and Formulae 1 completed earlier in the course and provides additional information on herbal categories for integration into the student’s knowledge of Chinese herbal substances. This unit aims to consolidate the student’s developing understanding and familiarity with the full spectrum of medicinal substances.
The unit also introduces the student to TCM herbal formulae (as a pre-requisite for CHM208 Chinese Herbal Medicine and Formulae 3 which is studied later in the course). Students study the historical development, principles of formulae construction, classification, components, functions and indications of Chinese herbal formulae theory and practice. A total of 120 (minimum) commonly used medicinal formulae are studied throughout this unit (and CHM208). For each formula category, students examine and explore the formulae modification, preparation, administration, and multi-cultural/multi-racial issues that may affect its application.
Throughout the unit, students learn about restricted and scheduled herbs and their use in accordance with Australian regulations and the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) including appropriate reporting of adverse events and referral when necessary.
Learning outcomes On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Describe the nomenclature (in Pinyin and/or Chinese characters, their scientific name and common English name if applicable), the characteristics, the properties, channel tropism, functions, therapeutic effects, dosage range, and special preparation requirements for herbal substances.
  2. Evaluate the cautions, contraindications, compatibility, incompatibility, and toxicity for commonly used Chinese medicinal substances.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with regulations and guidelines about restricted schedules of drugs, endangered species, reporting of adverse events, and referral to other medical practitioners in simulated settings.
  4. Explain the historical development of TCM formula theory and its principles of construction.
  5. Compare the preparation, compositions, principles for combining substances, main functions, indications, applications, administration, contraindications and modifications for the main formulas in each category.
UPCOMING INTAKES