Course info

Course Objective

   Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced in China and other Asian nations for more than 2,000 years and applied in the treatment of literally almost all types of diseases and disorders. As a major component of complementary and alternative medicine, TCM has gained increasing attention and popularity in the European nations and North America, despite the complicated nature of herbal medicine. The development of ephedrine, a chemically defined compound from TCM herb ephedra, as a therapeutic in the late 19th century is one of the first works that applied scientific methodology in the study of TCM. With the intense interest in the development of medicinal use of TCM from academics and industry, researchers seek to demystify ancient wisdom from the scientific points of view. The main objective of this course is to provide an overview of TCM. The basic TCM concepts and main modalities of TCM therapeutic technics, including herbology and acupuncture will be introduced. The major results of scientific research on Chinese herbs will be discussed. The course will focus on the pharmacology and R&D of TCM. Students will learn the basic principles of TCM, and get up-to-date information on the medicinal use and scientific research of TCM. 

Content

The main content of this course includes the following issues:

1. Introduction to the basic TCM theory

2. The basics of TCM herbology and acupuncture 

3. Major research methods for TCM

4. The recent advances in herbal medicine

5. Application of modern technologies in TCM

6. TCM based drug discovery and development 

7. Development of Chinese medicine through scientific approaches

Reference

1. Yang MD MSc, Chinese Herbal Medicines: Comparisons and Characteristics. Yifan Churchill Livingstone (2009-12)  

2. Han O.M.D., et al. Ancient Herbs, Modern Medicine: Improving Your Health by Combining Chinese Herbal Medicine and Western Medicine Nancy Bantam (2003-01)

3. Wang L, et al. Dissection of mechanisms of Chinese medicinal formula Realgar-Indigo naturalis as an effective treatment for promyelocytic leukemia. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105: 4826-4831, 2008. 

4. Lam W, et al. The four-herb Chinese medicine PHY906 reduces chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Sci Transl Med, 2: 45ra59, 2010.