BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine

BSc (Hons)Herbal Medicine(Phytotherapy)If you would like more information or requireadvice about applying, please contact:Liz IrvineSchool of Community HealthNapier UniversityTel: 0131 455 5315Email: communityhealth@napier.ac.uk

IntroductionHerbal Medicine is the use of plant remedies to promote optimum healthand to prevent and treat disease. Around 25 per cent of conventionaldrugs are derived from plants. Herbal remedies are different in thatthey are whole plant preparations which contain the full range of plantconstituents rather than isolated chemical extracts. Proponents of herbalmedicines contend that this makes them, in general, better tolerated,gentler and safer than the majority of conventional drugs. Herbal medicineis arguably the oldest form of medicine and is still, when viewed froma global perspective, the most commonly used type of medicine today.Although many people buy herbal medicines over the counter, there isan established group of professional herbal practitioners who consult withpatients in their surgeries and prescribe tailor-made herbal medicines forthem.The profession has been growing steadily over the last decadeand is on the verge of achieving statutory self-registration.This willimprove the status of the profession and lead to its greater integrationinto mainstream healthcare. This coupled with the development of asound research base for practice, makes it an exciting time for thoseinvolved in herbal medicine.Programme StructureNapier University degree programmes are modular with each modulenormally lasting for one semester (15 weeks). There are two semestersin the academic year which starts each September.Mode of StudyThe programme is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. Part-timestudents normally complete two modules per semester and full-time studentscomplete four modules per semester. Modules are delivered at various timesof the day and some are in flexible learning format.Entry Requirements (200 points)a) SQA Higher : BBC plus English, Maths, Chemistry and Biologyat Standard Gradeb) GCE ‘A’ Level : CC plus English, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at GCSEc) Applicants over 21 years may be considered for entry without the abovequalifications on providing evidence of academic ability to undertakethe programme.What you studyLevel One Level Two Level Three Level FourModules Modules Modules Modules• Study Skills Toolkit• Introduction toherbal medicine• Introductionto botany• Anatomy andphysiology• Materia medica• Plants and theenvironment• Biological chemistry• Research• Clinical medicine• Materia medica• Biochemistry• Clinical diagnosis• Applied physiology• Pharmacologyand toxicology• Research• Biochemistry• Materia medica• Clinical medicine• Clinical practice• Counselling• Nutrition• Honours project• Clinical medicine• Clinical practice• Ethnobotany• Herbal commerceWork PlacementClinical education takes place in herbal clinics.Career OpportunitiesGraduates from the BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) willbe able to join key professional bodies in herbal medicine and work asherbal practitioners.