Chinese Herbal Medicine Course

The Herbal Medicine class introduces students in the knowledge of Chinese herbs and trains them to run a practice independently as well as to work safely, competently and effectively.

Study duration of 3 Years (including FCM)See Class Schedule

English spokenThe training is given in English

Tuition fee is €2.395,-Including exams, Syllabus (except study books), tea & coffee

Kruidenboek - Opleiding Chinese Kruidengeneeskunde - Shenzhou Open University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese herbs compliments acupuncture therapy

In China, the study of Herbal Medicine is integrated in TCM education. Acupuncture therapy and Chinese Herbal Medicine when combined, not only complement each other, but also reinforce each other.

In the West, students often embark on this course after the completion of the acupuncture course. The advantage then is that Chinese medical concepts are already integrated, making the study of Chinese herbs more tangible.

In addition to the teacher contact hours, you will work together with fellow students in a Literature study group and practise together in the Interactive Practice groups.

During the first year of the Herbal Medicine course, the apprenticeship takes place mainly at the herbal department preparing herbal prescriptions. In the second year it is possible to do your apprenticeship at herbal specialists. On top of that you can sign up for up to 10 practical days under supervision. Finally students will write a thesis to complete their course.

“After you have graduated, you are ready to independently practice the profession of Chinese herbalist”

Meet your teachers

Below is a brief introduction of our teachers. On the page Teachers and internship supervisors you will find an extensive introduction of all the teaching team .

Dan Tan

Dan Tan is a passionate and conscientious academic professional with extensive clinical practice and teaching experience within the Higher Education sector, mainly in the UK and China. Dan taught Chinese Medicine at Middlesex University in the UK for 15 years and at London South Bank University in the UK for…

Cheng Hao Zhou

Cheng was trained at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and qualified in 1992 as Doctor of TCM. She worked in the Chinese Health Service for eight years and qualified as “Doctor-in-Charge” in 1998. She joined the NCA team in 2001 and soon acquired a reputation as an excellent…

Huijun Shen

Graduated from Shanghai University of TCM in 1982. From 1982 until 1985, he worked as a physician at the Xinjiang Hospital of Chinese Medicine. He obtained his master’s degree at the College of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Beijing University of TCM in 1988. After that, he worked as a lecturer and…

Jidong Wu

Dr Jidong Wu graduated from the Nanjing Medical School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in China and practiced Chinese Medicine at a Nanjing general hospital for four years. In 1986, Dr Wu completed his master’s degree in Medicine from the Shanghai University of TCM, before lecturing at the Nanjing University…

Mei Xing

Graduated with a BSc degree from Guiyang College of TCM in Guizhou in 1985 and with a MSc degree from Chengdu University of TCM in Sichuan in 1999, Mei Xing has accumulated years of experience in treating patients and giving lectures in the field of Chinese medicine at various TCM…

Ricky Bochem

Ricky Bochem has been working as an acupuncturist and herbalist in the Netherlands since 2017. After completing his acupuncture studies in 2010 at Qing Bai in the Netherlands, he followed his heart and continued to develop his passion for Chinese medicine in the country of origin. In Beijing, he completed…

Tiejun Tang

Tiejun Tang graduated from Heilongjiang University of TCM with a BSc degree in 1984. After graduation, he worked in the TCM Department of Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University. After graduation with a MSc degree from the TCM Department of the First Military Medical University in 1992, he…

Be inspired to learn more about what Shenzhou Open University of TCM has to offer and be ready to embrace a new career path in your life.

Practical information about the Herbal Medicine course

Lesson program

Basic theory, concepts, properties and taste of single herbs
Single herbs, herbal formulas and their functions
Chemistry, pharmacology and guidelines for safety use of

Chinese herbs
Quality assurance of Chinese herbs, European regulations, forbidden animal and botanical medical substances in Europe
Principles of prescribing herbal formulas
Administering of herbs
Differentiation and treatment of various diseases
‘Walk steadily over the bridge’: from class to clinic

Class schedule

Time 10.00 – 17.00 hr.

Herbal Medicine 1st year

2025

September: 27+28 (online)
October: 25+26 (online)
November: 22+23 (online)
December: 6+7 (online)

2026

January: 17+18 (online)
February: 14+15 (Midterm Exam)
March: 14+15 (online)
April: 11+12 (online)
May: 2+3 (online)
June: 6+7
July: Final Exam

Herbal Medicine 2nd year

Practice and Internship

After completing the Basic Year of Chinese Medicine – or the full acupuncture study – the practical part of herbal medicine consists of the following parts. Case studies are discussed during each lesson. You learn to determine which herbal recipe is suitable for a particular patient on the basis of symptoms and analysis.

In addition, you will do an internship in the Shenzhou herbal department during the first year. Here you get to know the real ingredients of the different herbal recipes, you help to prepare and weigh them and prepare the recipes for shipping.

In the second year, you will do internships in clinics of TCM practitioners who specialize in treatment with Chinese herbs.

The total number of hours of internship is 300 hours.

Study requirements

In addition to the ten teaching weekends per academic year and the required self-study, students are expected to dedicate a substantial amount of time to the following study requirements:,

E-learning
Homework
Study group (practice and/or theory)
Clinical apprenticeship
Portfolio assignments particulars for each specific course

Accreditation

All our English TCM-programs have been fully accredited by the independent accreditation organisation SNRO with 200 EC according to the newest higher professional education standards (HBO).

Together with our SNRO accredited Western Medicine course this leads to a total of 240 EC. This enables our graduates to operate at a similar level as HBO bachelor graduates in the Dutch health care system as well as being able to give VAT-free health treatments.

More information

Study material and study books

Students have to purchase a number of books and for Western Medicine, a mandatory reader. Extended syllabi will be distributed during the course via the student platform.

Below, some of the mandatory study books are listed. After registration you will receive the list with all the required books.

Please do not purchase any books from this list before your registration is completed. After you have registered, our study coordinators will provide you with the most up-to-date information, including editions and ISBN numbers.

Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Formulas & Strategies (two volumes), Dan Bensky
The Practice of Herbs and Formulae (syllabi), Shenzhou Open University of TCM
Chinese Herbal Medicines: Comparisons and Characteristics, Yifan Yang
Chinese Herbal Formulas: Treatment Principles and Composition Strategies, Yifan Yang

Opleiding Chinese Kruidengeneeskunde - Shenzhou Open University of Traditional Chinese Medicine