Course Overview: https://youtu.be/L0-cZt1Hw7c
Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine are two distinct medical systems, yet they both aim at the prevention and treatment of human diseases. With this in mind, we should understand the practice of Chinese Medicine in the context of Modern Medicine.
In this course, we explore the basic theories underlying the practice of Chinese Medicine, compare and contrast the use of Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in Preventive Health, and discuss how to restore a healthy condition and understand the pharmacological basis of different types of Chinese tonifying herbs.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â state the important Chinese Medicine literature from 5th century B.C. to 16th century A.D.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â describe and interpret basic Chinese Medicine theories
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â apply the basic Chinese Medicine theories (such as the balance between Yin and Yang and the interaction among organs) to restore a healthy condition
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â compare and contrast the use of Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in Preventive Health
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â explain how the balance of Yang/Qi and/or Yin/Blood can be restored by using Chinese tonifying herbs
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â adapt the Chinese Medicine concepts by reviewing the contemporary researches on pharmacological activities in Chinese tonifying herbs
Overview
Syllabus
- Basic Theories in Chinese Medicine
- In the first foundation module, students are going to learn basic theories in Chinese Medicine. Please enjoy a series of animations introducing Chinese Medicine History and different Chinese Medicine Concepts. Prof. Ko explains these concepts further in the lecture videos afterwards.
- Balance and Interactions, and Preventive Health
- Chinese Medicine concerns about "Holisticity", which involves (1) Yin and Yang balance and (2) Five Elements Interaction among visceral organs. In this foundation module, you will learn the importance of Balance and Interactions, as poor Balance and Interactions lead to body function deficiencies. Common examples of body function deficiencies encountered by many city dwellers are illustrated. Prof. Ko also explains how different Chinese Medicines can prevent and/or treat these deficiencies. Some people may make use of Modern Medicine, such as Vitamins, for preventive health, Prof. Ko also compares and contrasts the difference between Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in preventive health.
- Pharmacological Basis of Chinese Tonifying Herbs
- In the last foundation module, Prof. Ko explains, in the language of Modern Medicine, the pharmacological basis of different kinds of Chinese Tonifying Herbs - (1) Yang and Qi invigoration, (2) Yin Nourishment and (3) Blood Enrichment, We also look into different examples of Chinese Medicine for their effects and applications.
- Seminar 1: Yin and Yang: A Pharmacological Perspective
- Chinese Medicine concerns about Yin Yang Balance, as Yin Yang balance generates Qi, which can circulate along the Meridian and nourish different organs. In this seminar series, Prof. Ko explains how Yin Yang is related to Modern Medicine. Chinese Medicine also believes that Chinese tonifying herbs can restore the Yin Yang balance in body function and hence a healthy body status. The seminar series also describes how different Chinese tonifying herbs can enhance the physiological function by means of activating energy metabolism, stimulating immunomodulatory action, enhancing antioxidation ability, etc.
- Seminar 2: Yang Invigoration and Yin Nourishment
- From the previous seminar series, we understand that Yang is primarily related to energy metabolism while Yin is primarily related to the immune system in our body. In this seminar series, we look into the effect of Yang Invigoration and Yin Nourishment to our body, from the biochemical perspective, in the language of Modern Medicine.
- Seminar 3-4: Qi Invigoration and Chinese Tonifying Herbs for Promoting Health
- In Chinese Medicine, Yin Yang Balance generates Qi. In the last module of the course, Prof. Ko gives a thorough explanation of the nature of Qi from the biochemical perspective. Schisandra Berry - a common Qi invigorating tonifying herb is used for illustration on how Qi invigoration is important to our health. Due to the gradual change of diseases over the past century from the prevalence of infectious diseases to age-associated diseases, Chinese Medicine is highly regarded as a gold mine for exploring alternative ways to prevent and treat these diseases. Prof. Ko wraps up the course by summarizing the use of different categories of Chinese tonifying herbs and when we should use them for preventive health.
Taught by
Robert Ko
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Reviews
4.6 rating, based on 103 Class Central reviews
4.7 rating at Coursera based on 388 ratings
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Hello my honorable professors, I have learned a lot through this course and I hope you will provide us with more research information that you have reached, which is how to make medicines with Chinese medicinal herbs
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Helpful for beginner to understand the concepts in TCM. Best if the explanation in the articles/lecture are illustrated with graphics/ diagram because the explanation especially with long sentences can be confusing or not easily understood by readers. Overall, it has been insightful . Thank you.
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I am in my retirement age, with a lot of free time, so I did the course in about a week instead of six, just one lesson per day, I am doing it fine.
I hope this course will offer in another language such as Cantonese, easier for me to pick up the main Chinese Medicine concept, sometimes I have tough time to link the English terminology into the Chinese.
Enjoy the course very much, wish to study more if they are available, thank you. -
This course was extremely beneficial in my desire to begin learning about Chinese medicine and the various uses of Chinese herbs. It is just a foundation for learning, because it seems that there is a lot of terminology that as an American I am not familiar with.
It does make it seem that the optimal health of the body is easier to achieve with Chinese medicine vs Modern medicine. I would much rather ingest various herbs than the endless amount of supplements that I have been studying. -
Spending my entire career working as a registered nurse in Western modern medicine, I initially felt overwhelmed with the theories behind Chinese Medicine. As the course progressed and the theories were explained on a cellular level, I gained a greater understanding and respect for Chinese Medicine theories. I enjoyed this course immensely. It provides the opportunity to consider how Chinese Medicine can be applied to our present treatment options.
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I really enjoyed working on this subject, the course material was more than enough to succeed. It allowed me to work independently as often as I wanted. I did the whole thing in 2 days, which was very intense but very rewarding!
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I like this course very much
Let me learn a lot of TCM concepts
Thank you very much, Professor Gao
I hope to have the opportunity to study in Hong Kong University of Science and Technology again -
Fantastic and informative course. I am very grateful to learn the knowledge in this excellent course. Thank you Prof Ko and Coursera!
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El curso esta super maravilloso, lo único que me gustarÃa es que los documentos también estuvieran en formato del lenguaje español.
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This course is very informative, the course is a good addition in building a career in holistic health.
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O curso atendeu minhas expectativas e agregou um bom conhecimento para meu estado pessoal e academico
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This course was valuable for my personal introduction to Chinese Medicine Health Concepts because I am interested in integrated medicine and not a fan of biomedical. My mother healed herself of more than 6 cancers over 25 years and her only response when they would ask her was "My mind is my health", she used herbs, exercise, and nutrition. I am a firm believer in "The body can heal itself", the biomedical evidence, and "The placebo effect". I actually applied what I learned in this course about Chinese Medicine to my own health. I am getting great results.
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Excellent foundational course in Chinese Medicine, presenting a thorough and well-rounded approach to understanding the basics of the field. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the topic, whether as a compliment to Western medical studies, as a first step toward a TCM career, or just to enhance one's own health journey.
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The course professor was wonderful, clearly knowledgeable and well spoken. However, the quizzes and the final did not relate well to the information provided. I felt concerned with the grading. However, again, the professor was wonderful, engaging, and clearly knows his subject.
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Thank you sir for all the explanation on Chinese medicine concepts I am highly grateful. This course gave me the knowledge on how to prevent health related diseases based on an energetic point of view and in addition to that it tries to give the int…
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Good course but there are problems in the automatic corrections of the different quizz.
Also the traductions from english to other languages are not always correct. -
very informative and I learned so much. I am happy to have notes to reference when I need it. Thank you.
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I have a better appreciation of the Yin/Yan, five-element, meridian and Zang Fu theories from taking this course. The reading materials on Yin, Yang, Qi, and blood tonics are valuable for getting a basic understanding of tonigying herbs. I also enjoy the comparison and contrast between CM and western medicine, particularly how mitochondria and ATP production is related to Qi.
It's been a rewarding learning experience.
Thank you, Professor Ko, for an outstanding course! -
As a doctor, I find the course quite repetitive. I expected a more in-depth discussion on Chinese medicine through the lens of a Chinese medicine doctor. It feels as if it's being marketed that Chinese medicine "works" with all the medical concepts that I already know. I would rather learn it from a different perspective rather than through cellular, molecular perspectives. Yes, it's nice to have the correlation but not to be repeated over and over again
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Daniel AlvesExcelente curso, muito claro e objetivo.
agradeço a todos os envolvidos neste presente inestimável.
Agradeço em particular ao Dr. Robert Ko, que conduziu magnificamente o curso explicando de forma clara e impressionante sobre os assuntos da Medicina Chinesa.
MuitÃssimo Obrigado amigos.
