CM 516 - Herbs I

Credit(s): 2.00

In the Herbs I-III series, students develop the foundation of Chinese herbology in preparation to become competent practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine. Students learn approximately 180 key herbs including properties, therapeutic actions, preparation and application.

Herbs I introduces the history and development of Chinese herbal medical knowledge. Students focus on learning approximately half of 64 core herbs used in Zhang Zhongjing’s Shanghan Zabing Lun, which is a major, foundational text of Chinese herbal medicine. Herbs are presented sequentially in groups for their affinity and formulaic relation in classical formulas. Student learn properties and therapeutic actions of individual herbs described in materia medicas and textbooks. In addition, students are introduced to the concept of herb patterns and corresponding pathomechanisms, and gain knowledge of time-tested herbal combinations and formulary employed in classical herbal formulas. Prerequisite(s): These courses are to be taken in the ordered sequence of CM516, CM526, CM536, CM616 and CM626.