BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine

Level One

Introduction to Herbal Medicine

This unit is intended to give a general introduction to the subject of herbal medicine and forms the foundation of future herbal studies. The unit will introduce basic botany, focusing on plant taxonomy and anatomy, and the subject of pharmacognosy. It will also provide a brief introduction to plant chemistry and the study of secondary metabolites.

However, the main focus of the unit will be on the method of classifying herbs by their physiological actions in different body systems and how this relates to a holistic understanding of how herbs can influence body functions.

The History and Philosophy of Herbal Medicine

This unit aims to provide students with an overview of the history of herbal medicine, together with an understanding of the roots of modern-day practice. An introduction to the different philosophies behind the current professional practice of herbal medicine and other complementary therapies will be given. The clinical and research issues raised by complementary therapies will be investigated from the perspective of both complementary and western orthodox medicine. The placebo effect and basic concepts of psychoneuroimmunology and the role of the healer will be introduced as they relate to complementary therapies and influence health care choices and outcomes

Anatomy and Physiology.

The unit provides an introductory understanding of the anatomical structure and physiology of the human body and covers the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, immune, musculo-skeletal, endocrine, reproductive and nervous systems. This Unit will also explore the components of the blood and its various functions and the organisation and control of the human body. Prior knowledge of human biology is not required.

Health Psychology

Clinical Practice - Introductory

Biochemistry for Herbal Medicine

This unit underpins an understanding of the human body in health and disease and an appreciation of the biochemistry of plants as medicines; both core elements of the discipline of Herbal Medicine.

The structure and function of living matter in humans and plants is explored in modern biological terms from the atomic level, through the molecular and cellular to the tissue and organismal level. The unit is taught from the perspective that the student has no previous education in chemistry.

Clinical Practice - Introductory

This unit provides an introduction for the student into the clinical practice of herbal medicine. The student will be able to gain an insight into professional practice at an early stage of the programme. It also provides a practical framework to enhance the applicability and acquisition of knowledge gained in the academic units at this level.

Students will be supported and guided and feedback given throughout the unit in order to ensure that any problems students are having with clinical practice are recognised and remedial action is taken at an early stage before the commencement of the more advanced clinical units.

Students will spend ½ day per week in the clinical environment and undertake seminar work in related studies.

Level Two

Materia Medica

This unit is designed to build further upon the work done in the level one Introduction to Herbal Medicine unit and will develop the students understanding of materia medica and the dynamics of herbal actions. Medicinal plants are categorised according to their primary usage and how this relates to the tissues, organs and physiological processes. It will include a discussion of dosages, herbs with restricted use and contra-indications. The unit will provide a complementary perspective on the treatment of disease to that found in the pathophysiology unit and will provide theoretical support to the clinical practice unit.

Pharmacy & Phytopharmacy

This unit will build further upom discussions in earlier units of the chemical constituents of the most common herbs, their effects on the human body, and their reactions with orthodox drugs. It also looks at the processes by which herbal medicines are grown, harvested, stored and processed. This enables herbalists to read and evaluate technical material published on herbal medicines in pharmacopoeias, monographs and research related material. In particular, methods of identification and authentication of plant materials, quality control and quality assurance procedures will be examined. The skills needed for running a herbal dispensary will be covered with practical sessions on the preparation of herbal remedies.

Nutrition as Therapy

The unit is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of nutrition and diet as a means of maintaining good health and treating disease. Students will explore what constitutes a healthy diet in terms of conventional western nutrition and dietetics as well from the perspective of complementary medicine. It will consider the effects of food and diet on specific body systems and disease processes and examine the influence of diet on psychological processes and states.

Students will use various models to assess the diets of various people presented as case histories of differing cultures and ages

Pathophysiology

This unit will build on the knowledge gained in Anatomy and Physiology and provide an overview of the systems of the body in the state of disease from a conventional western medical perspective. The depth of presentation and the coverage of topics will be aimed at ensuring that the students are confident to understand the pathologies and treatments that their patients present to them in conventional western medical terms, know when to refer to medical colleagues, recognise the limits of their complementary medicine approaches and have confidence in liaising with other health professionals. The students will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills as they explore conventional western medicine against the backdrop of their study of herbal medicine.

Research Methods

This Unit will provide a broad introduction to the main research methodology used in complementary medicine. Differences between qualitative and quantitative methodologies will be explored. Students will consider different approaches to qualitative research, such as ethnography, phenomenology, and grounded theory. The unit will enable students to consider ways in which research data are collected and analysed using observation, interviewing and questionnaire techniques. Research design will be analysed and an exploration of knowledge undertaken. Students will develop skills of critical analysis when reading and applying published research to health care scenarios. The Unit concludes with students developing a small-scale research proposal

Clinical Practice - Intermediate

This unit seeks to build upon the introductory clinical experience of the student in level one. Initially the students will concentrate on their communication skills to ensure the development of a confident, thorough and professional approach to relating to patients and taking case histories. Students will be required to demonstrate holistic and sensitive interaction with patients. Throughout the unit the student will be encouraged to practice and develop their diagnostic skills and knowledge and will take increasing responsibility for handling cases.

Students will spend 1 day per week in the clinical environment and undertake seminar work in associated studies.

Level Three

Therapeutic Principles of Herbal Medicine

This unit is designed to cover the academic body of knowledge needed to understand the practice of applying herbal medicines to the treatment of a wide variety of conditions. The approach is holistic and the student is encouraged to explore the root causes and patterns of disease and to investigate the effects of herbal medicine on all levels; body, mind and spirit. The student is provided with a combination of traditional knowledge and use, current scientific and medical concepts and a thorough knowledge of contemporary materia medica and therapeutics which will engender the development of a ‘rounded’ practitioner who is able to develop informed and innovative herbal practice beyond the limitations of current knowledge and practice. The unit accompanies the developing clinical practice of the student and encourages the use of reflexive and intuitive skills to aid the student to treat holistically

Herbal Medicine Clinical Studies

This unit is the final academic unit of the programme and is designed to enable the students to build upon and integrate their knowledge obtained to date and to relate this to their clinical practice. It requires the student to be able to discuss objectively alternative prescriptions and treatment strategies and to give supporting evidence and justification. The student at this stage should be competent and confident and time will be allocated for open discussion and guidance in areas where the group or individual student feels there are weaknesses. Within this framework the student will be encouraged to develop further their individual skills of intuition and to continue their process of personal development.

Differential Diagnosis

This unit emphasises the development of evaluative processes to distinguish between the variety of diagnoses that may be associated with particular case history, physical examination and laboratory test findings.

This Unit will introduce the students to a range of key clinical reasoning processes. The students will study the assessment of a patient through the clinical symptoms and signs, and through clinical examination and laboratory tests. The common clinical complaints will be systematically examined.

Independent Study

The unit provides an opportunity for each student to carry out a clinical research project under supervision. The research project, which will be carried out through semester A and B of level 3, will demand the application of initiative, analytical, laboratory and investigative skills and require a comprehensive synthesis of each student’ s intellectual scientific and evaluative skills.

Clinical Practice - Advanced

This unit is designed to build upon the experience and competence achieved by the student in the preceding clinical practice units so that by the end of the unit the student will have the required professional knowledge, skills and competencies to enter practice independently. At the start of the unit it is expected that the student will already be competent in case history taking and will become increasingly responsible throughout the unit for deciding upon treatment regimes and prescription formulation so that by the end of the unit they are completely competent in the assessment, treatment and care of patients. A minimum of 1 day per week is spent in the clinical environment in addition to supporting studies.

The programme is currently available as 3 years full time or 5 years part time

Full time students attend for approximately 10 hours contact hours per week plus in year one ½ day per week in clinical practice and in years two & three 1 day in clinic practice.

Part time students attend for 5 hours per week plus clinic practice.

Extra attendance would also be necessary to complete the clinical practice modules. Students must complete 100 hours of clinical training in the first year; 200 hours in each of the second and third years. This may be achieved through regular weekly or fortnightly attendance during termtimes; through regular attendance at weekend clinics; or by coming in for blocks of up to four days at a time. An individual plan for this will be negotiated with staff at the start of each level.

The programme uses a mixture of assessments including essays, seminar presentations, case studies, student reflection and examinations.

The programme attracts students from many different walks of life, some whom are professionally qualified in other fields, some who have degree or post graduate qualifications and some who may little in the way of academic qualifications. Our students tend to share a common interest in the values of ‘holism’ in healthcare, a respect for the environment and a motivation to help others. Some students are looking to make a major change in their life and many are those who have witnessed the healing power of herbs personally. Our students are of a diverse age range, from 18 to 60 but are predominantly mature, that is over the age of 21.

You will need to have the capability of study at degree level. This may be evidenced by conventional qualifications or alternatively by other qualifications or work based training or experience if you are a mature student. Although this is a science based course we do not require a science background but you will need an ability to understand complex concepts.

We are looking for applicants who have the skills and capabilities to become practitioners. Applicants need to have a basic understanding of what herbal medicine is, to be enthusiastic, motivated and committed to the subject and to have honesty and integrity in their dealings with others. An ability to relate empathetically to others is essential.

All applicants are interviewed and given an opportunity to inspect the facilities.

240 points from the UCAS tariff, from a minimum of 2 6 unit awards, excluding key skills, Students must also have 3 GCSE's at grade C or above including English Language. Mature student applications are looked at on an individual basis.

A registration charge is payable, which covers both the cost of registration and an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Further information can be found at www.isa-gov.org.uk

The majority of graduates will enter into private practice as medical herbalists but other opportunities may exist within the health and fitness industry, retail outlets and manufacturing.

For information on fees, please contact Lincoln College on 01522 876000.