Master the Science of Healing with Herbal Medicine

The full time course will be delivered online, two modules at a time. Two bridging courses are also included, Health Sciences, Foundations and Chemistry, Foundations, to set students up for success.  You will be required to pass each pair of modules, before advancing to the next.  Modules are delivered in the following pairs:

NB: Students will also be required to complete a Senior First Aid Certificate, which is not offered by Iconic Health Academy, prior to commencing their supervised clinic elements.

The part time course will be delivered online, one module at a time.  Two bridging courses are also included, Health Sciences, Foundations and Chemistry, Foundations, to set students up for success.  You will be required to pass each module, before advancing to the next module.  Modules are delivered in this order:

NB: Students will also be required to complete a Senior First Aid Certificate, which is not offered by Iconic Health Academy, prior to commencing their supervised clinic elements.

Anatomy and Physiology 1

This module introduces students to the anatomical structure and physiological function of the human body, including the chemical, cellular and tissue levels of organisation. Students will also learn about the structure and specialised functions of the integumentary, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal systems, as well as gaining a basic overview of human metabolism.

Anatomy and Physiology 2

This module follows AP1, providing information on the structure and specialised functions of the lymphatic, immune, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems. Key concepts associated with fluid, electrolyte and acid-base homeostasis are also introduced.

Biochemistry

This module teaches chemistry and organic chemistry principles, and relates biochemical structure to the function of substances within the body. It provides a basic understanding of biochemical processes and metabolic pathways of macronutrients and energy production.

Biochemistry for Naturopaths

Building on the Biochemistry module, students will gain a deeper understanding of the biochemistry and metabolism of various micronutrients and herbal constituents in order to predict the physiological effects of nutritional and herbal therapy.

Botany & Pharmacognosy

In this module, students will learn to identify and describe plant morphological features and their functions, as well as recognise the therapeutic constituents of medicinal herbs. Students will also be introduced to basic pharmacological concepts to gain an understanding of phytotherapeutic actions and interactions, and how pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants.

Chemistry, Foundations

This module introduces basic chemistry and organic chemistry principles, and relates biochemical structure to the function of substances within the body. It will provide an introduction to biochemical processes and metabolic pathways of macronutrients and energy production.

Clinic Administration

This is the first in a series of modules designed to give students practical experience within an operational clinical practice setting. Students will be introduced to administrative systems, clinical practice guidelines, marketing strategies, and occupational and health safety requirements. Students will be taught how to interact with the public in a retail or clinic setting, including marketing duties, and professionalism with respect to attendance, punctuality, appearance, communication, time-management and working within a team.

Clinical Practice 1

This is the first of two modules which are managed via a student log book, which includes checklists designed to give students practical experience within a real or simulated operational clinical practice setting. CP1 students will progress through reception duties, clinic dispensary duties. Students will observe other consulting practitioners and/or students. They may also undertake mock consultations with peers. They will assist in developing treatment protocols to client needs with respect to current evidence. Students will also explore how to write effective referral letters, as well as critically analyse claims of therapeutic actions of natural therapies. By the end of this module, students will start to engage in health consultations with clients, to propose his/her own treatment protocols. Under direct supervision, students will prescribe appropriate therapies and educate their clients with regard to natural medicine philosophy and evidence-based practice. They will learn to recognise limits of competency and identify when referrals to other health practitioners are appropriate.

Clinical Practice 2

This is the second of two modules which are managed via a student log book, which includes checklists designed to give students practical experience within a real or simulated operational clinical practice setting. CP2 students may continue to undertake mock consultations with peers. They will assist in developing treatment protocols and applying knowledge of appropriate modalities to client needs with respect to current evidence. Under direct supervision, students will prescribe appropriate therapies and educate their clients with regard to natural medicine philosophy and evidence-based practice. They will learn to recognise limits of competency and identify when referrals to other health practitioners are appropriate.

Clinical Safety and Exit Exam

This module focuses on safety in practice, including prioritisation and appropriate action with respect to red flag signs and symptoms, a review of CAM-drug interactions and restricted herbs in pregnancy, interpretation of pathology test results, and communication with medical practitioners. Students will expand and cultivate their clinical reasoning capabilities by working through real clinical cases. The exit exam is the final assessment for all degrees (non-accredited) awarded by the college, and can only be attempted when all other course work and assessments have been satisfactorily completed.

Clinical Studies

The Clinical Studies module will teach students case-taking and diagnostic skills in order to carry out a thorough health assessment. A range of diagnostic and examination techniques pertaining to all systems of the body will be discussed.

Critical Thinking 1

In this module, students will explore the theoretical assumptions underpinning quantitative and qualitative evidence and utilise an appraisal framework to evaluate the quality of research. They will learn to identify bias in research and to communicate their findings within a team setting. Academic writing sills, referencing styles and plagiarism will also be discussed.

Critical Thinking 2

This module follows on from CT1, further developing critical appraisal skills. Students will learn to search for studies based on a hierarchy of evidence and implement a systematic approach to the management of information. They will develop further skills in the review and assessment of scientific literature.

Differential Diagnosis 1

This module integrates the knowledge gained in the previous biological science modules to provide students with an understanding of the different signs and symptoms of common health conditions. Based on their clinical findings, students will learn to understand likely underlying pathology and prognoses, and decide on appropriate further investigations and referrals. This module will cover differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal, hepatic, metabolic, integumentary, immune, respiratory and urinary tract disorders.

Differential Diagnosis 2

This module follows DD1, to provide students with an understanding of the different signs and symptoms of common health conditions. This module will cover differential diagnosis of musculoskeletal, nervous, mental health, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive disorders.

Health Sciences, Foundations

HSF is a self-paced learning module for students without prior human biology studies. It introduces the structure and function of the human body and the major body systems, together with an introduction to pathology, microbiology and pharmacology.

Herbal Cultivation

Herbal Cultivation covers the growing and harvesting of medicinal plants in local and international contexts. The module critically explores and evaluates various growing methods, sustainability of plants and production. Students will differentiate between ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological plant use in historical and geographical contexts, including medicinal plant use and bioprospecting.

Herbal Medicine 1

This module provides an introduction to herbal medicine, including the history, philosophy and traditional uses of medicinal herbs; plant morphology, identification and classification; herbal constituents and actions; principles of prescribing; and restricted herbs. Students will also learn how to manufacture topical herbal preparations.

Herbal Medicine 2

By the completion of this module, students will have gained an overview of more than a hundred medicinal herbs, including their common and botanical names, parts used, constituents, actions and indications. Herbal pharmacology, safety issues and contraindications are also discussed.

Herbal Medicine 3

This module builds on HM1 and HM2, teaching the student to create treatment plans and choose herbal remedies for selected conditions of the gastrointestinal, integumentary, immune, respiratory, and urinary tract systems. Dosages, cautions and contraindications are discussed, and herbs are analysed in context of their historical application as well as current evidence.

Herbal Medicine 4

This module continues the exploration of treatment plans and herbal preparations for selected conditions of the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive systems. Dosages, cautions and contraindications are discussed, and herbs are analysed in context of their historical application as well as current evidence.

Herbal Medicine 5

In Herbal Medicine 5, students will evaluate the principles, scope and legal framework of the herbal treatment of chronic, multifactorial conditions, including autoimmune disease, cancer, emerging infections and mental health disorders. Students will utilise the scientific literature to hypothesise about common causative factors of chronic disease and their potential effect on individual and public health.

Manufacturing of Herbs

From modern extraction and processing methods of herbal manufacturing to classifying herbal extracts in relation to pharmaceutical medicines and raw materials, this module delves into biochemistry, examines government regulatory guidelines, and compares national manufacturers of herbal products.

Medical Terminology

Specifically designed to teach students to effectively and efficiently communicate with other health professionals, this module analyses the structure of medical terms, diagnostic tests and referrals.

Microbiology & Public Health

Beginning with the history and chemical principles of microbiology, this module discusses the classification and nomenclature of microorganisms, with consideration of the effects of their lifecycles and pathogenicity. Food- and water-borne pathogens, and microbial diseases of specific body systems, will also be covered.

Natural Health Philosophy

Exploring the cultural origins, philosophies and historical development of modern day natural therapies, this module will outline the philosophical foundations of natural medicine and provide an overview of various modalities. Theories and applications of specific natural therapies are compared with each other and biomedical practice.
Nutrition 1 This module provides a broad overview of nutrition, including an introduction to macro- and micro-nutrients, energy requirements, exogenous factors affecting nutrition, and dietary guidelines. The student will learn how to perform a basic nutritional assessment, and to plan and implement dietary modifications based on healthy eating guidelines. We will also look at nutrition in respect to different life stages, weight management and food reactions.

Nutrition 2

Expanding on NU1, Nutrition 2 provides students with an in-depth look into specific micro- and macro-nutrients, including their food sources, physiological function, metabolism, and deficiency and excess symptoms. Students will explore therapeutic applications of nutrients and rationales for supplementation, as well as gaining an understanding of current TGA regulations.

Pathology

Integrating knowledge of anatomy and physiology, students will learn to apply knowledge of pathological processes to clinical outcomes. Diseases states are identified and discussed in terms of their effects on cell structure and function, as well as their underlying risk factors. Appropriate pathological tests and the interpretation of their results are also discussed.

Pharmacology

Pharmacological principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics are applied to define drug actions and interactions. Students will learn to classify drugs according to mechanisms of action and reflect upon the legal and ethical responsibilities of practitioners and the media.

Practical Counselling

In this practical module, various counselling theories will be explored and applied to different situations and personality types. Students will discuss the impact of judgement and compassion in the therapeutic encounter, as well as analyse case studies, in which they will learn to recommend therapies and identify warning signs that may indicate the need for referral.

Practice Management

This module will develop awareness of the necessary factors involved in operating a complementary medicine practice, including financial considerations, taxation requirements, record keeping, legal issues, implementation of systems, policies & procedures, and statutory & regulatory requirements. Students will create a business plan, formulate marketing strategies and materials for use in practice, and learn the basics of managing human resources.

Professional Development

In this module, we will explore techniques for effective communication, including the use of micro-skills, to enable students to develop oral and written communication skills to enhance the therapeutic encounter. We will also discuss self-esteem, self-concept, self-presentation and social psychology, as well as professional boundaries and legal and ethical considerations.

Theory & Practice of Herbal Medicine

In this module, students will look at the incorporation of both tradition and science in herbal medicine and analyse the available evidence on herbal medicine, be introduced to herb-drug-nutrient interactions, and explore the safety of herbs in various life stages, including pregnancy. The position and role of herbalists and naturopaths in the health care system, and the regulatory framework of a non-registered profession will also be explored. This module will develop the ability to think critically and independently and assess available evidence with respect to modern herbal medicine practice.

Treatment Protocols (HM) 1

This module integrates the knowledge gained in previous modules to enable students to critically analyse clinical cases from a holistic perspective, and develop evidence-based herbal and nutritional medicine treatment protocols for gastro-intestinal, hepatic, integumentary, immune, respiratory, urinary tract and metabolic conditions. Treatment protocols will be critically evaluated and management plans adapted for follow up cases. Students will also learn to recognise red flags and decide on appropriate referrals.

Treatment Protocols (HM) 2

This module integrates the knowledge gained in previous modules to enable students to critically analyse clinical cases from a holistic perspective, and develop evidence-based herbal and nutritional medicine treatment protocols for musculoskeletal, nervous, mental health, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive conditions. Treatment protocols will be critically evaluated and management plans adapted for follow up cases. Students will also learn to recognise red flags and decide on appropriate referrals.