An introduction to the theory of herbal medicine, this course identifies major plants used in Oriental Medicine, as well as the Latin classification of those plants. This class focuses particularly on identifying the basic properties of herbs, including their tastes and temperature, within traditional herbal categories. It also includes the identification of toxic and non-toxic herbs, storage, and rules governing pharmacy.

This four-part classes teaches students about the most commonly used herbs in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Students will learn the properties, taste, functions, dosages, and contra-indications of each herb covered.

Category 1: herbs that release the exterior, clear heat, and drain downward.

Category 2: herbs that drain dampness, dispel wind dampness, transform dampness, warm the interior and expel cold, regulate Qi, relieve food stagnation and expel parasites.

Category 3: herbs that regulate blood, transform phlegm and relieve coughing, calm the spirit, extinguish wind and stop tremors, as well as aromatic herbs that open the orifices.

Category 4: herbs that tonify Qi, warm the Yang, nourish the Yin, and nourish Blood, astringent herbs, emetics and herbs for external application.

This course is a comprehensive introduction to Chinese Herbal Formulas for various clinical applications. Students will learn the herbal components of each formula and the role that each herb plays within the formula. In addition, students will learn modifications, clinical applications, and contraindications of the formulas. The entire course consists of four parts.

Formula 1: the formulas used for diaphoretic, purgative, harmonizing, antipyretics and summer heat clearing.

Formula 2: formulas used for warming, exterior releasing, tonifying, sedation, resuscitation, and astringents.

Formula 3: formulas with carminative, blood regulating, anticonvulsant, and moisturizing characteristics.

Formula 4: formulas with diuretic, phlegm expelling, resolving/pertussis, anti-parasitic, and anti-abscess qualities.

This course is designed as an introduction to the concepts of Oriental Medical nutritional theory. Students will discuss the importance of a proper diet and eating habits in maintaining health and preventing disease and will differentiate OM nutritional principles and practices from concepts of Western nutrition. Students learn to create and demonstrate several recipes with medicinal effects and apply OM nutrition theory to foods from other ethnic and cultural dietary traditions, extrapolating some of their likely functions and properties from existing knowledge.

Chinese traditional pediatrics is a clinical science based on traditional Chinese medical theory combined with physiological pathology to study the laws for the prevention of childhood diseases. The unique characteristics of tissue, structure, physiology and pathology of children will be introduced in this class. The course uses the Oriental Medicine principles in diagnosing and treating of children.

This course examines the anatomy, physiology, and pathologies of gynecological diseases and their diagnoses and treatments. Students will learn to apply TCM diagnostic skills in differentiating and diagnosing symptoms of the female reproductive cycle and construct treatment plans appropriate to the presenting pattern of symptoms. Finally, students will learn classical applications and modern clinical modifications of herbal treatments for gynecological disorders.

This course discusses oriental medical perspectives on the etiology, pathology, and diagnosis of a variety of skin diseases with therapeutic treatments focusing on herbal medicine. Students will learn to apply TCM diagnostic skills in differentiating and diagnosing symptoms of the skin and construct treatment plans appropriate to the presenting pattern of symptoms. This class teaches classical applications and modern clinical modifications of internal and external herbal treatments for skin disorders.

This class requires students to present case studies of medical problems that have been researched, analyzed, and diagnosed by students from the perspective of Oriental and Western medicine. Students will compare certain illnesses, their etiologies, and their treatments from both Eastern and Western perspectives.

This course covers topics in herbology of particular importance to their practical applications in clinic, as well as their relevance to licensing examination requirements. The course consists of review, case-study presentation and formula writing for the case. Through this class, students will have a better grasp of commonly used herbs, their properties, functions, and use.