University of Technology Sydney

99567 Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Science: Life Sciences
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 99639 Chinese Medicine Foundations 1 OR 99665 Chinese Medicine Foundations 1

Description

This subject provides introductory information on the basic properties and functions of Chinese herbal substances and forms an essential foundation for second- and third-year subjects 99651 Chinese Herbal Formulae 1, 99652 Chinese Herbal Formulae 2, and 99650 Pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicine. The objectives of this subject include the recognition and safe use of commonly used herbs of the Chinese materia medica. Students learn their nomenclature, properties, indications, contraindications, combined usage as well as herbal substance processing (pao zhi), herbs-drug interactions, toxicology. This subject also introduces the regulations and guidelines on restricted substances such as the CITES, TGA and CMBA restrictions and guidelines.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Apply and use different forms of communication (written and oral) appropriately and effectively.
2. Identify the major therapeutic categories of the TCM materia medica, describe the taste, nature, channel tropism, indications and functions of individual medicinal substances, and explain the theories behind the application of selected principal medicinal substances to the treatment of certain TCM illness patterns.
3. Describe the methods of herb preparation and processing (pao zhi), and explain the rationales behind specific processing methods and how the method alters the taste, nature and therapeutic actions of specific medicinal substances compared to their original or raw form.
4. Explain how the combination of medicinal substances, both from an intra and inter-categorical perspective, is applied to the treatment of illness patterns, and illustrate how medicinal substances are paired and employed in the therapeutic construction of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) formulas.
5. Recognise the contraindications, toxicity issues and precautions relevant to Chinese medicinal substances, and of the regulations and guidelines on restricted substances such as the CITES, TGA and CMBA restrictions and guidelines.
6. Identify, select and write the Chinese characters of common terms in used CHM, the pharmacological and scientific (botanical) nomenclature of selected medicinal substances.
7. Identify and recognise dispensing terminology, dispensary procedures, safe storage, maintenance and record-keeping.

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The faculty of Science lists seven graduate attributes that you will develop during your course at UTS. This subject is intended to assess three of those attributes:

1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application

Introduction to Chinese Herbal Medicine will develop a solid knowledge base of the characteristics, functions and indications, contraindications, toxicity, methods of preparation and processing (pao zhi) and application of major herbs found in the Chinese Herbal Medicine materia medica. Your disciplinary knowledge will be assessed in all three of the assessments in this subject.

2. An Inquiry-oriented approach

a) Problem solving

The ability to take wider view when presented with case studies where Chinese herbal medicine are prescribed and utilising a problem based learning approach to understand the role of individual herbs and their interactions in a diagnostic and clinical situations.

b) Critical thinking

You will also develop the ability to apply lateral thinking in analysing the functions of partial characteristics of individual herbs in a therapeutic framework. Reflecting on the solid foundations of your TCM theories, you will begin to make connections between medical conditions and the functions and dynamics of herbal medicine.

3. Professional skills and their appropriate application

(a) Computing skills, in the form of editing and working to create a multimedia presentation

(b) Teamwork is developed as you work in groups in various activities in class as well as on the group multimedia assessment

6. Communication skills

Two essential skills for a health professional that are addressed are oral and written communication skills. These are assessed in the development of the multimedia presentation.

Teaching and learning strategies

You will learn by way of lectures, workshops and dispensary visits.

Lectures:

Attending lectures is crucial to a full understanding of the subject. It is expected that students prepare for classes by reading lecture notes which will be uploaded on UTS Online prior class. In the interactive lectures feedback will be given on the mistakes made and concepts that are unclear and misunderstood. Different herbal categories will be covered each week but the teaching and learning format will be the same. In the lectures you will gain important context through examples, case studies, and comparing and contrasting different Chinese herbs and some basic formulas. You will draw upon all your experience from Chinese Medical Foundations 1&2, as well as any clinical studies when recalling and developing these concepts.

2 hours of lecture weekly.

Workshops:

During these sessions you will get the opportunity to consolidate and apply the knowledge gained earlier in class through various activities including short answer questions, case studies, hand Chinese character writing. You will need to apply your knowledge of Chinese medicine theories, diagnosis, treatment principles, dietetics and Chinese herbal knowledge including indications, contraindications and toxicology. The herbs will need to be prescribed in Chinese pin yin, Chinese character, pharmaceutical and scientific name as recommended by the Chinese Medicine Board Association (CMBA). Specifically you will work collaboratively in small groups to work through and discuss questions and case studies, and engage in reflective exercises.

1 hour weekly

Dispensary Visits

Students will visit the UTS Chinese Medicine clinic on a weekly basis to engage and see, touch and smell the individual herbs which are taught, so that knowledge learnt will not only be intellectual but be sensory as well. This will also allow students to familiarise themselves with the Chinese Medicine clinic as well as handling of raw herbs. This activity aims to familiarise you in recognising Chinese herbs which is essential for clinical practice.

1 hour weekly

Formative and summative, verbal feedback will be provided by both convenors (facilitators and lecturer) and peers

Content (topics)

You will have the opportunity to learn:

  • the major herbal substances by Chinese Herbal Medicine therapeutic categories.
  • therapeutic differentiation of the herbs in each of these categories.
  • basic concepts involved in combining these herbs in formulas to treat human disorders.
  • preparation and processing methods (Pao Zhi) and the application to Chinese medicinal substances
  • Chinese characters and pharmacological nomenclature of the major herbal substances.
  • indications and contra-indications of the principal herbal agents.
  • taste, nature, and channel tropism of selected key herbs.
  • introduction to the concepts of dosage regarding principal herbal substances.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Assessment Task 1: Online Quizzes

Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application

2. An inquiry-oriented approach

3. Professional skills and their appropriate application

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 5 and 6

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.0, .0 and .0

Type: Quiz/test
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 20%
Criteria:

Accuracy of answers in accordance to the content covered in the lectures and workshops.

Assessment task 2: Assessment Task 2: Group Multimedia Presentation

Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application

2. An inquiry-oriented approach

3. Professional skills and their appropriate application

6. Communication skills

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.0 and .0

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 30%
Criteria:

You will be assessed on:

  1. Accuracy of researched information
  2. Innovative communication skills

Assessment task 3: Final Examination

Intent:

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

1. Disciplinary knowledge and its appropriate application

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.0

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%
Length: 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time
Criteria:

Accuracy of answers in accordance to the content covered in the lectures and workshops.

Minimum requirements

To successfully complete this subject you must:

• attempt all assessment tasks
• obtain a minimum of 40% in the final exam. If 40% is not reached in each of these assessment tasks, an X grade fail may be awarded for the subject, irrespective of an overall mark greater than 50.

Recommended texts

Dan Bensky et al.. 2004, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd Edition, Eastland Press: Seattle.

Zeng. 2003, Essentials of Chinese Medicine: Materia Medica, 1st Edition, Bridge Publishing Group: California

References

Xu Li and Wang Wei (2002) Chinese Materia Medica: Combinations and Applications, St.Albans: Donica Press.

Chmelik, S. Pao Zhi: Preparation of Chinese Herbs. Journal of Chinese Medicine (JCM 72/16)

Schafer, P, Foster, S and Fannin, S. (2011). The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator's Guide to Small-scale organic herb production. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing

Sionneau, P and Flaws, B (1995). Pao Zhi: An Introduction to the Use of Processed Chinese Medicinals. Boulder: Blue Poppy Press

Sionneau, P., Flaws, B and Cote, B. (1997). Dui Yao: The Art of Combining Chinese Medicinals. Boulder: Blue Poppy Press.