Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) is one of the treatment modalities of TCM.
We offer full Chinese Herbal Medicine training as a postgraduate Diploma Course, for Acupuncturists or other TCM professionals wishing to add CHM to their treatment options.
The postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine (Dip.CHM) is a part-time programme, which provides theoretical, practical and clinical training in CHM for professional Acupuncture practitioners, enabling them to augment their TCM therapeutic options with the addition of what, for many ordinary Chinese people, represents “Real” Chinese Medicine – the use of Chinese Medical Herbs and Prescriptions.
Course Aim
At the end of the course the successful participant will be able to safely and effectively prescribe and dispense a range of Chinese Herbal Prescriptions from each of the Categories of Prescription listed in the syllabus. They will also be able to modify each herbal prescription to better match the presenting condition of the patient by the addition, subtraction or modification of individual herbal ingredients and to make up their own “prepared” medicines for their clients.
Course schedule and dates
- This is a part-time course, with approximately 40 training and assessment days (including distance learning modules) spread over two calendar years.
- Attendance at the college in Dublin is required for approximately 3 days (usually Friday to Sunday inclusive) every 3 months or so. The college days are prinicipally devoted to the practical aspects of CHM.
- Theoretical learning modules are provided either via Zoom at fixed meeting times where students are taught together as a group or as Audio teaching material that can be completed at home at times that suit each individual.
- Additional workshops, assignments, and clinical and tutorial support are provided as required.
- The most recent Dip.CHM commenced in January 2018 and was completed in early 2020.
- Subject to staff availability the next Dip.CHM is scheduled to begin in late 2025.
Herbal Medicine Teacher and Clinical Supervisor
Mary Plunkett has been the main teacher of this course, which is based on the information she received as a student of Chinese Herbal Medicine with Dr. Ted Kaptchuk and on her many years of clinical experience as a CHM practitioner.
Once the dates for the next programme are finalised there will be a link here to the Dip.CHM Syllabus.
Or you can find out more about the relationship between Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine and TCM on our What we do pages.
Teaching Methods
The course is taught in small groups by Seminar and group participation methods. Students will be expected to complete designated assignments between sessions and to undertake home study using the required text books. Students will be given a list of essential texts and other materials which they will need to purchase.
Parts of the programme will be taught as Distance Learning modules. Students will be provided with materials and given guidance on the work that must be completed before the next taught session. This reduced the number of face-to-face taught sessions and will make the programme more accessible to those living a long way from Dublin.
Teaching location
The practical components of the programme will be held in a location with suitable facilities for preparing prescriptions and cooking decoctions, and in the College in Dublin, while the theoretical aspects will mainly be taught via Zoom and using Open Learning methods.
The Clinical component will take place in the Teaching Clinic facilities in ICTCM House. Students will each provide a detailed case history and diagnosis of a requisite number of clients who may benefit from Herbal Treatment. The student will provide a detailed rationale for the choice of the prescription and, as they gain experience, for the modification of that prescription. Some of these clients will be seen in the Teaching Clinic. Others may be prescribed the appropriate herbal prescription under the auspices of the Herbal Medicine Teacher/Clinical supervisor and their progress will be reviewed as part of the Clinical training.
Assessment Methods
Student progress will be assessed through coursework, assignments, project work, case histories, practical exams, and clinical assessment. A series of written examinations will be held, some of which permit the use of textbooks and student notes as reference materials. Students are NOT required to memorise ALL the individual herbs and prescriptions.
Students will only gain the Diploma in CHM after successful completion of the assignments, projects and examinations and successful completion of all the practical and clinical components of the Course.
Qualification Entitlements
On completion of the Chinese Herbal Medicine examinations, successful candidates will be awarded the qualification of Diploma in Chinese Herbal Medicine and receive the corresponding certification and will be entitled to use the designatory letters Dip.CHM. They will also be able to use the title Practitioner of Chinese Herbal Medicine on a Business Card.
In addition, they may apply for membership of the Professional Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (PRCHM), a sister organisation of the PRTCM. Members of the PRTCM who hold a Diploma in CHM from the ICTCM are NOT charged an additional membership fee for their membership of the PRCHM. On graduation from the Diploma programme those who are members of the Professional Register of TCM will, then, also have insurance cover for their practice of CHM.
The course has been designed to meet the curriculum standards set out by the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA), and to meet the requirements for entry to :
- The Professional Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Ireland and
- The Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the UK.
Go directly to the Dip.CHM Application procedures.