Southern California University School of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture
Syllabus Form
Course Number:
Course Title:
HB 504
Formula Writing
Term:
Instructor:
Contact Number:
Email:
Units/ Hours: 3/ 30
Pre-requisite/ PRC: HB 400-406
Learning Methods:
Description:
Lecture, Class Discussion, Reading, Memorization, and Application to
Case Studies
This course provides students the ability to write formula prescriptions on their
own. While embracing the classic formulas students will learn how to formulate
and modify previously learned formulas by the use of modules compared to the
whole formulas usually used.
Objectives:
1.
Students will be able to describe the general signs, symptoms of a patient’s syndrome
to form an accurate diagnosis. .
2.
Students will be able to create a detailed treatment plan, which will mirror the
diagnosis, addressing each of the patient’s issues including the chief complaint.
3.
Students will be able to create a formula that will reflect each step of the treatment
plan.
4.
Students will understand how to choose the correct herbs when constructing a
formula
5.
Students will become more familiar with the dosage range of herbs and how this can
change the action of a formula
6.
Student will learn to apply all of the above to realistic case studies
Required Text(s):
1.
Bensky, D., & Boralet, R. (1990). Chinese Herbal Medicine formulas and Strategies.
Seattle: Eastland Press, Inc. [Bensky ll] (중의 방제학 translated in Korean)
2.
Bensky, Dl, & Gamble, A (2005) Chinese Herbal Material Medica (Revised
Edition). Seattle: Eastland Press, Inc. [Abbreviation: Bensky]
(중의 본초학 translated in Korean)
Southern California University School of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture
Supplemental Text(s):
1.
Chen, J. (1990) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications Art of Medicine Press
Course requirements:
1. Regular attendance as defined according to the SCUSOMA University catalog
and the California State Board Laws and Regulations, which state that students
may not receive credit for the course if they are absent fro more that two classes
or miss part of more that four classes (e.g., leaving early, arriving late) or any
combination thereof.
2. Class participation
3. Midterm and Final Examinations
4. Weekly Quizzes
5. Homework assignments
Grading:
___% Attendance
___% Class participation
___% Practical
___% Homework
___% Midterm examination
___% Quizzes
___% Final examination
Course Outline:
WEEKLY TOPICS, LEARNING OBJECTIVES, AND ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1
Introduction and description of the three step process for writing herbal formulas.
The diagnosis, the treatment plan, and choosing the herbs. This weeks class will
focus on the importance of a good diagnosis and how this can help create a
detailed and effective treatment plan.
Week 2
Review of treatment strategies such as tonifying, draining, regulating, and
sedating.
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Week 3
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Regulating Qi. Of the Lung, Liver, Spleen, Heart, Kidney, Stomach, Gallbladder,
Large Intestine , and the Small intestine.
Activating Blood. The Liver and Heart
Drain Damp Heat from Lower Jiao, Liv/GB. GB, Sp/St, UB,
Transforming Phlegm
Calming the Shen
A continuation of week two with the following treatment strategies and how they
are applied to the appropriate organs.
Warming
Astringing
Southern California University School of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture
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Week 4
Bleeding
Pain
Clearing heat
Dispel wind
Subdue wind
Harmonize Spleen and Stomach
Clear Heat Cool Blood
Choosing modules for the formula
Students will be able to describe how modules are chosen according to organ, as
well as the symptoms they treat. The discussion will include the overall
temperature of modules along with all the different combinations of warm and
neutral etc.
Week 5
Students will be able to describe the general signs, symptoms, properties, entering
channels, cautions, and contraindications of herbal combinations (modules) that
treat the Liver and Spleen. Special case studies will be used that accentuate only
pathology associated with Liver and Spleen syndromes.
Week 6
MIDTERM EXAMINATION.
Week 7
Students will be able to describe the general signs, symptoms, properties, entering
channels, cautions, and contraindications of herbal combinations (modules) that
treat the Kidney and Heart. Special case studies will be used that accentuate only
pathology associated with Kidney and Heart syndromes.
Week 8
Students will be able to describe the general signs, symptoms, properties, entering
channels, cautions, and contraindications of herbal combinations (modules) that
treat the Lung and Stomach. Special case studies will be used that accentuate only
pathology associated with Lund and Stomach syndromes.
Week 9
Students will be able to describe the general signs, symptoms, properties, entering
channels, cautions, and contraindications of herbal combinations (modules) that
treat the Large Intestine and Urinary Bladder. Special case studies will be used
that accentuate only pathology associated with Large Intestine and Urinary
Bladder syndromes.
Week 10
Students will understand the importance of dosage when constructing formulas.
This will include raw herb formulas as well as conversion of raw herb dosages to
herbal extracts. Students will write formulas for complex case studies which will
cover all of the possible pathology of the Zang-Fu.
Week 11
FINAL EXAMINATION