Miss Ailsa Yuen

ABCT, Y801
ailsa.yuen@polyu.edu.hk
 Lecture: 12:30 – 14:20 (Wed)
Tutorial: 14:30 – 15:20 (Wed)
Daniel Mok (D), Sibao Chen (S) and Charmaine Tsang (C)

Wk Date Topic Tutorial

Introduction on
1 Sept 9 Course Introduction/ History (D)
TCM
Concepts on TCM
Safe or Not?:
2 16 theory/ Herbal
Knowing about herbs (D)
Identifications
Literature Search
TCM Theory (C)
3 23 and Grouping for
assessment
TCM Theory (C) Outline for Pres.
4 30
Topic (I)
TCM Theory (C) Outline for Pres.
5 Oct 7
Topic (II)
 Lecture: 12:30 – 14:20 (Wed)
Tutorial: 14:30 – 15:20 (Wed)
Daniel Mok (D), Sibao Chen (S) and Charmaine Tsang (C)

Wk Date Topic Tutorial

Modern Botanical/Drug Outline for Pres.
6 14
Development (D) Topic (III)
Drug from TCM: Artemisinin Outline for Pres.
7 21
(Prof. Larry Chow) Topic (VI)
8 28 TCM and COVID-19 (S) TCM around us
Consultation for
9 Nov 4 TCM Resources (S)
presentations
10 11 Quiz
11 18 Presentation Presentation

12 25 Presentation Presentation

13 Dec 2 Presentation Presentation

Learning Outcome
(a) Read with greater comprehension on literature related to traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) and health care.
(b) Describe the development and characteristics of TCM and the
chemistry principles and techniques for assessing its efficacy and safety.
(c) Apply scientific methods to find evidence and answers using TCM as a
case.
(d) Develop rational judgment on use of TCM and related health products.
(e) Study and work more effectively in a team.

Assessments
Plant Hunt Exercise 7-Oct
Quiz 11-Nov
Individual Report 18-Nov
Group Presentation 18-Nov
Lecture and Tutorial Participation Whole lecture
period
1. Surveys on visits to TCM practitioners in peer and family members
2. Surveys on visits to Herbal tea shops in peer and/or family members
3. Use of mineral CMM should be banned.
4. Use of mineral CMM should not be banned.
5. Chinese herbal medicine is only good for chronic diseases
6. Chinese herbal medicine is not for emergency
7. TCM should integrate Western medicine.
8. TCM should not integrate with Western medicine
9. Use of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (土沉香) in TCM should be stopped.
10.Use of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum (土沉香) in TCM should not be stopped.
11.The high price tag of Cordyceps worth the value.
12.The high price tag of Cordyceps does not worth the value.
13. TCM Granules are not as good as the decoction.
14. TCM Granules are equivalent to decoction.
15.Cupping should be considered as a doping in sports
16.Cupping should not be considered as a doping in sports
17.Other topics related TCM
Cardinal
Characteristics
1. Concept of Holism
(整體觀) Theories
2. Treatment 1. Yin-Yang TCM
Determination 2. Five- Diagnosis
Treatment
based on Syndrome elements and its
Differentiation (辨 3. Qi, blood, method
證論治) essence

TCM safety

Drug
What is develo
science pment
Evaluation of
systematic
herbs from
view of
composition
herbs-
Medicinal
botany

How modern science

review/evaluate TCM
King of Chinese Medicine
Sun Simiao 藥王孫思邈

A great TCM doctor in

Tang Dynasty

Have temple all over China

TCM theory
1. Ying and Yang Theory 2. Five Elements Theory

TCM has it’s own theory to explain it’s healing mechanism

and it’s not a myth!
Special diagnostic method
4 Diagnostic Methods

Looking at
Patient’s tongue
(inspection)

Palpation (pulse on different

part represent different body part condition)
  Herb, CMM (Chinese Materia Medica)
 Mineral: from rocks
 Animal: from animal e.g. reptiles, insects,
mammals etc.
 Herbal: from plant, can be fruit, roots, flowers,
even resin

Cicadae Periostracum Chrysanthemi Flos

蟬蛻 [animal] 菊花 [plant]
Alumen 白礬 [mineral] dispersing external wind, Dispersing wind and clear
Detoxification and kill worms, improving eyesight heat, smoothing liver and
stop bleeding and diarrhea improve eyesight
 experience
 TCM theories (Yin & Yang theory, 5 element
theory, analogy [linkage of the function using the
similarity between like features of two things])

Wood
green, liver
Water
black, kidney
Fire
red, heart

Metal Earth
white, lung yellow, spleen
Pig’s lung and almond soup
White -> lung function
Pig’s lung -> replenish lung

Guess the function of snake

Dispels wind, frees channel,

stops convulsion
Red dates

Black sesame
 Function:
Tonifying middle energizer and qi,
tonifying blood and calming the
mental state
Red dates

Function:
Tonifying liver and kidney, nourishing
blood, increasing essence, lubricating
intestine and relaxing bowel

Black sesame
 Observation on the phenomenon, external
features only
 taste
 May aid with water, fire for simple testing

Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen 胖大海

Swollen when soaked with water

秦皮，書紙色青 (Extract of Fraxini Cortex appears
blue when write on paper)
-> differentiate from other tree barks

Esculin

Polygoni Multiflori Radix

cloudy brocade pattern

abnormal vascular bundles
Atractylodis Lanceae Rhizoma (蒼朮)

Cinnerbar spots (朱砂點) on

cross-section
->oil cells and their secretions

Lygodii Spora (海金沙)

Booming sound when

Burning
-> breaking of the spores
Summary:
 TCM had it’s own theory which is different from
modern science
 Ancient herbal records only had descriptions, but
not in a very organized/systematic manner

This course is to give you the basic understanding

on TCM and its theory with the aid of modern
science