Chinese Medicine Theory 1 is a one-semester course that will cover the history and development of Chinese medicine and the philosophies and fundamental principles that guide its practice and achievements. The course will provide you with a solid theoretical basis and foundation for your future learning in subsequent courses across Chinese Herbal Medicine or Acupuncture programs (but particularly for diagnosis of Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, medicinal formulae, Clinical Chinese Medicine, classic literature and Chinese Medicine Research courses).

You will learn some basic pinyin, the official phonetic system for transcribing the Mandarin pronunciations of Chinese characters into the Latin alphabet to enable you to understand terminology in Chinese medicine. Study topics will include: the theory of yin-yang, the theory of five elements, the theory of zang-fu organs, aetiology and pathology of Chinese medicine and principles of treatment.

This course is foundational for all other courses in the Chinese Medicine programs.