Master of Herbal Medicines
Since its beginning in 2000 the Masters course has produced over 60 graduates who are applying their knowledge in the medicine, pharmacy, Chinese medicine, manufacturing, research and education sectors. The course has attracted international students, including some from Harvard Medical School and Yale University. The course emphasises interactive teaching and learning, and welcomes the diversity of student backgrounds. The teaching staff includes experts in herbal and Western medicine research and clinical practitioners, supporting the Universities emphasis on research-led teaching. The restructured course will add practical experience through visits to industry and clinical settings.
2006 Restructure
The Australian Government Response to the Expert Committee Report has highlighted the importance of education on complementary medicines to healthcare professionals and the public. There are many models of education on complementary medicines existing in Australia. Courses taught in universities and colleges include Chinese medicine and acupuncture, herbal medicine, naturopathy, complementary medicines, nutrition and environmental medicine. For Chinese medicine practitioner and herbalists, it is difficult to keep up with new research and developments on common herbs. There are over 700 publications on propolis alone! For medical practitioners it takes time to understand the terminology and opportunities and limitations of traditional medicines.
The Herbal Medicines Research and Education Centre has restructured its successful Masters of Herbal Medicines program for 2006 by providing increased flexibility to allow students of herbal medicines choice in emphasizing either industry or clinical streams in their study. The overriding theme of the course remains the same, that is to provide health care practitioners, basic scientists, local and international students with a high quality scientifically grounded course emphasizing the integrative approach to complementary and Western medicine. The two streams, which allow students to undertake the core subjects and choose from subjects from clinical, industry, Chinese or Western paradigms are briefly summarised as follows:
The Clinical stream includes:
- 4 core units of study: Botany and Herbal Chemistry, Herbal Pharmacology, Herbal Toxicology, Clinical Studies and Monographs
- electives such as Integrative Herbal Therapeutics, Chinese Medicine and Materia Medica, Chinese Herbal Formulas and Processing.
The Industry and Dispensing stream includes electives such as:
- Herbal Regulation and Dispensing
- Herbal Pharmaceutics and Analysis
- and Pharmacognosy