Herbal Medicine

This module covers essential knowledge that ensures you are starting with a clear understanding of what herbal medicine is, how it is regulated, and why botanical medicine can be challenging to research. This will set you up for success as you move forward in the course and apply it to your professional life. 

Now that you’ve gotten an overview of the field of herbal medicine, we’ll identify some important cautions to keep in mind when using botanicals, including contaminants, herb-drug interactions, product quality measures, and safety guidelines. By the end of this week you’ll be equipped with the skills you need to identify quality products and assess if a patient is a good candidate for botanicals.

In this module we’ll be taking a deeper look at how botanical medicines work. What is an adaptogen? When should you recommend a carminative? How do you make a botanical preparation? You’ll also have the chance to discuss with your peers about the potential impact on healthcare systems if more patients knew how to make botanical preparations.

In this module we’ll discuss botanicals that can help manage symptoms related to mental health, women’s health, and musculoskeletal pain. You’ll get some handy reference sheets that you can use for quick access to information on uses and precautions, and we’ll identify the level of evidence for each botanical in the research guides.

In this module we’ll explore botanicals that can be used for upper respiratory and skin conditions. You will also continue to learn how to assess, educate, and advise patients on botanicals from a real-life scenario.

In this module we will discuss botanicals that can help manage symptoms related to GERD, GI and liver disorders, and UTIs.