Department of Herbal (HM)

The Department of Herbal Medicine curriculum provides the student with knowledge and skills to treat disease and illness from both an external and internal perspective. Herbal medicine works from the exterior and interior of the body to support the normal Qi, blood, and fluids, as well as correct irregular patterns and expel abnormal influences. The skills in herbs herbal formulas, including identification, categorization and clinical use of herbs, which these courses emphasize, are required to become an effective practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.

CM Materia Medica I, II, III & IV
HM546, 547, 548, 549           12.0 credits
This four-course sequence presents the major herbs used in clinical practice, including their Chinese (Pin Yin) names, nature, entering meridians, therapeutic functions and contraindications. The herbs are divided into functional categories and are studied with regard to unique and common characteristics. The first course in the series covers the history and development of the Chinese pharmacopoeia, herb processing and dosage. Each of the four courses covers a different set of herb categories. The herb categories covered in the first course include: spicy and warm herbs, spicy and cool herbs, herbs that clear heat and purge fire, herbs that clear heat and cool blood, and herbs that clear heat and dry damp.

The second course covers the following categories: herbs that clear heat and toxins, herbs that drain downward, herbs that expel wind dampness, herbs that aromatically transform dampness, and herbs that warm the interior and expel cold.

The third course covers the following categories: herbs that regulate Qi, herbs that relieve food stagnation, herbs that expel parasites, herbs that stop bleeding, herbs that invigorate the blood, herbs that transform phlegm, and herbs that relieve cold and wheezing.

The final course covers the following categories: herbs that calm the spirit, herbs that aromatically open the orifices, herbs that extinguish wind and stop tremors, herbs that tonify the Qi and the blood, and herbs that tonify the yin and the yang. The course also covers astringent herbs as well as a number of miscellaneous herbs, and includes a visit to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Herb Garden at the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens. (Prerequisite for HM546: CM300; Co-requisite for HM546: CM516; Prerequisite for HM547: HM546; Prerequisite for HM548: HM547; Prerequisite for HM549: HM548)

TCM Formulary I, II, III & IV
HM550, 551, 552, 553             12.0 credits
This four-course sequence covers the component herbs and therapeutic usage of major herbal prescriptions. The specific treatment principles for each prescription are presented, along with information on the classical organization of ingredients and therapeutic functions and indications. Also covered are the application of herbal prescriptions for specific disease entities and adjustment to prescriptions based on patient condition and disease course. The first course in the series focuses on diaphoretics, purgatives, the mediating regulating formulas, and opening the orifices formulas. The second course covers antipyretic formulas, warming formulas and tonifying formulas. The third course covers sedating formulas, astringent formulas, and blood regulating formulas. The final course of the series covers anticonvulsant formulas, moistening formulas, diuretics, phlegm expelling formulas, resolving formulas and antiparasitic formulas. (Prerequisites for HM550: HM549, passage of 1st level COmprehensive Exams; Prerequisite for HM551: HM550; Prerequisite for HM552: HM551; Prerequisite for HM553: HM552)

TCM Classical Works: Shang Han Lun
HM616                                  3.0 credits
This course focuses on the etiology of disease according to the patterns (Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Shaoyin, Taiyin, and Jueyin) presented in the Chinese medicine classic Shang Han Lun (External Contraction of Cold Disease). (Prerequisites: CM523, HM553)

TCM Classical Works: Wen Bing (E)
HM624                                 3.0 credits
This course covers the pathology, symptoms, and treatment of warm disease (Wen Bing) in each of the four stages (Wei, Qi, Ying, Xue). (Prerequisites: CM523, HM553; HM616 strongly recommended)

TCM Classical Works: Jin Gui (E)
HM625                                3.0 credits
This course covers the chapter on miscellaneous diseases from the Chinese medicine classic Jin Gui Yao Lue (Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber). Advanced theory, differential diagnosis, and treatment methods are also covered. (Prerequisites: CM523, HM553)

Drug and Herbal Interactions
HM640                               1.0 credit
This course focuses on the basic biomedical principles related to adverse and beneficial interactions between Chinese herbs and Western medicine. The course also examines the pharmacological effects of various Chinese herbs from a Western medical perspective. (Prerequisite: WM606)

Patent Medicines
HM653                              2.0 credits
This course covers traditionally prepared herbal prescriptions known as ?patent medicines.? Topics include recognition of symptom/sign complex in diseases common to clinical practice, along with interpretation of therapeutic function and prescription organization. The course reviews the formulas involving blood invigorating, tonics, and astringents, as well as topical and emetic herbs in a variety of forms. Also included is a discussion of toxic herbs and formulas and the interactions between Western medicines and herbs. (Prerequisites: HM553)

TCM Nutrition
HM654                              3.0 credits
This course presents general concepts for the use of nutrition as a treatment modality in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The differential diagnosis and symptom/sign complex for various diseases are reviewed, and diet/nutritional treatment approaches, including herbal stews and soups, are presented. (Prerequisite: HM549)