New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Course Descriptions
Chinese Herbology
401 Introduction to Chinese Herbology
This course introduces the student to the history of Chinese Herbology, the measurement units of herbs, herbal classification, properties, flavors and meridian affinity, and herbal preparation and processing.
2 credits
Prerequisites: None
402 Eastern Nutrition
A study of nutrition is presented from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.
2 credits
Prerequisites: TCM Syndrome Analysis, Introduction to Chinese Herbology
403 Patent Herbs
This course introduces over 100 different patent herbal formulas which are commonly used, including the Chinese name, the function, indication, contraindication and the dosage.
3 credits Prerequisites: TCM Syndrome Analysis, Introduction to Chinese Herbology
404, 405, 406 Individual Herbs 1, 2, 3
This series of three courses covers 400 individual herbs, including their botanical name, Chinese name in pinyin, their classification, property, flavor, meridian affinity, dosage, prescription examples, actions, indications, and contraindications. Identification of herbs is also covered.
3 credits each
Prerequisites: TCM Physiology, Introduction to Chinese Herbology. Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3 can be taken in any sequence. A student may take two individual herbs classes at the same time.
407, 408, 409 Herbal Formulas 1, 2, 3
Building on the knowledge of individual herbs, this course introduces the concept of herbal formulas. 250 major formulas, including their components, indications, major modifications and common methods of preparation are covered. In Herbal Formulas 3, the eight principle methods of herbal treatment and the preparation of herbal decoctions are introduced.
3 credits each
Prerequisites: TCM Syndrome Analysis, Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3. Herbal Formulas 1, 2 & 3 can be taken in any sequence. A student may take two herbal formulas classes at the same time.
410, 411 Clinical Herbal Practice 1 & 2
These two courses will briefly review the etiology, symptoms, signs and pathogenesis of common diseases, and will summarize the syndrome or syndromes to which they may belong. The courses will cover treatment strategy and formula selection in detail. Considerable time will be spent in these courses discussing Western views of these same diseases, and relating the Western and TCM approaches.
4 credits each
Prerequisites: Herbal Formulas 1, 2 & 3; Co-requisite: OM Therapeutic Strategies. Clinical Herbal Practice 1 & 2 can be taken in any order.
412, 413 OM Case Analysis 1 & 2
These two courses allow students to apply the knowledge they have gained in TCM theory courses by analysis of actual clinical cases. Emphasis will be on practical application of herbal and acupuncture treatment, and students will be expected to present their own analyses of difficult cases. OM Case Analysis 1 will focus on herbal treatment and OM Case Analysis 2 will include both acupuncture and herbal treatment.
2 credits each
Prerequisites: Herbal Formulas 1, 2 & 3; OM Case Analysis 1 & 2 can be taken in any order.
414 Shang Han Lun
This course will give students a basic knowledge of the classical treatise Shang Han Lun (Discussion of Cold-Induced Disorders), written 1700 years ago by Zhang Zhongjing. The principles of six-channel transmission will be discussed, as will the many practical cases and formulas presented in the treatise.
2 credits
Prerequisites: Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3. TCM Syndrome Analysis is a corequisite for this course.
415 Jin Gui Yao Lue
This course will give students a basic knowledge of the classical treatise Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Chamber), written 1700 years ago by Zhang Zhongjing. Many miscellaneous disorders are covered in this book, and tongue and pulse diagnosis, symptom complexes, and treatment principles are all described in detail. The wide range of cases and formulas presented provide valuable guidance to the modern practitioner.
2 credits
Prerequisites: Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3. TCM Syndrome Analysis is a corequisite for this course.
416 Commercial Herbal Formulas
This course introduces over 100 different commonly-used patent herbal formulas, including both those which are based on classical formulas and those which are modern innovations.
1 credit
Prerequisites: Syndrome Analysis, Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3
417 Toxicity / Safe Use of Herbs
This course will introduce basic toxicology as it relates to the study of Chinese herbology. Traditional knowledge of toxicity for Chinese herbs will be compared to modern scientific chemical analysis. Issues of purity and production standards for Chinese patent herbs will also be covered.
1 credit
Prerequisites: Pharmacology, Individual Herbs 1, 2 & 3
418 OM Therapeutic Strategies
This class will review the principles of treatment in TCM, Root and Manifestation of Disease, Normal and Contrary Treatment, Different Treatments for the Same Disease/Same Treatment for Different Diseases, and Treating Disease according to the Season, Environment and Individual. It will introduce in detail the therapeutic strategies of Eight Methods: Sweating, Vomiting, Draining Downward, Harmonizing, Warming, Clearing, Reducing and Tonifying, and their clinical applications. The types of formulation of Chinese herbs will be mentioned. The class will also discuss the appropriate use of Chinese herbs, acupuncture, Tui Na and dietary therapy in different cases.
2 credits
Prerequisites: Herbal Formulas 1, 2 & 3, Syndrome Analysis