The ICTCM offers a three year part-time TCM Acupuncture Training programme – the Licentiate TCM Acupuncture. This is the equivalent level of an undergraduate degree and is required to progress to post graduate studies in other branches of TCM such as Chinese Herbal Medicine or Medical Qigong which are both offered at the ICTCM.
Acupuncture is one of the best known treatment options within the wider field of TCM and is now increasingly well established in the West. The Training programme at ICTCM enables graduates to set up in practice as competent TCM Acupuncturists, as soon as they have successfully completed the course. However, having completed the Lic. TCM Acupuncture Training course, there are options to further progress in the field of TCM, through post graduate level Training in some of the other branches of TCM. For example Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM)
Chinese Herbal Medicine is one of the main specialisms of TCM. In certain cases it can be the preferred treatment choice, instead of Acupuncture. Acupuncture TCM is not necessarily the best option to treat every medical complaint, just as surgery is not always the best Western Medical treatment.
CHM uses ingredients such as roots, leaves, fruits, seeds, flowers and other materials which are combined according to classical prescriptions to treat the patient. The prescription is then tailored specifically to the health condition of the client. The resulting prescription can be dispensed to the patient in a variety of different ways including as a decoction. This involves the dried herbs being boiled up in water to extract the active medicinal properties. This usually takes between 20 minutes and half an hour. The resulting fluid is passed through a sieve; the herbal residue is thrown away and the medicinal fluid is taken, as prescribed by the Chinese Medical Herbalist. Herbal prescriptions are sometimes dispensed as pills, tablets, or tinctures and can also be dispensed, where appropriate, for external use, as lotions, ointments, salves or embrocations.
The Chinese Herbal Medicine course is a two year part time course. At the end of which the successful participant will be able to safely and effectively prescribe and dispense a range of Chinese Herbal prescriptions. 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.
For more information about our courses check out the ICTCM College website and find details on the Lic. TCM Acupuncture course which runs every year beginning in October and on the Herbal course which runs at different intervals, you can keep an eye on the websites for any updates on the next start date. Applications are now being received for the Lic. TCM Acupuncture Training course 2024 October intake.