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Chinese Herbalism · Chinese Herbs & Formula Study

Chinese Herbalism & Formulas: A Comprehensive Beginner Course

100 lessons: 66 herbs, traditional foundations, 15 classic formulas and applied study

Level
Beginner
Estimated study
About 25.7 hours
Lessons
100 lessons in 14 modules
Format
Online, self-paced
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About this course

Build a detailed beginner reference to Chinese herbalism through 100 ordered lessons and 300 knowledge-check questions. Study herb names, source species and medicinal parts, traditional properties and pattern logic, processing distinctions, formula roles, clinical evidence, interactions, quality and sustainability. Each herb profile includes an attributed photograph with its identification limits. Begin with the safety and evidence foundations, then compare herb families and 15 classic formulas. Activities use photographs, labels and written cases. This is educational reference study and does not confer a clinical qualification or teach self-prescribing, toxic-herb processing or dosing.

Course outline

Module 1: Foundations: Language, Patterns, Evidence & Safety

12 lessons · 3 h

Learn names, source identity, traditional pattern language, processing, evidence appraisal and safety before approaching individual herbs.

  1. Chinese herbalism: history, scope, and safe study15 min
  2. Yin, yang, and the five phases15 min
  3. Qi, blood, body fluids, essence, and shen15 min
  4. Zang-fu: traditional functional systems15 min
  5. Eight principles: learning pattern language15 min
  6. Four qi, five flavors, directions, and channels15 min
  7. Names, botanical identity, medicinal parts, and substitutes15 min
  8. Processing: raw and prepared materials15 min
  9. Herb categories and comparative study15 min
  10. Formula structure, roles, and preparation forms15 min
  11. Evidence literacy: from tradition to clinical research15 min
  12. Safety, interactions, and knowing when to seek care15 min

Module 2: High-Risk Herbs: Recognition & Safety Literacy

4 lessons · 1 h 12 min

Recognize ephedra, Asarum, aconite and Mu Tong naming risks. Learn why species verification and professional control matter and why home processing is unsafe.

  1. Ma Huang: ephedra hazard recognition18 min
  2. Xi Xin: Asarum and aristolochic-acid hazard literacy18 min
  3. Fu Zi: aconite hazard recognition18 min
  4. Mu Tong: Akebia, Clematis and Aristolochia name safety18 min

Module 3: Qi Tonics & Supporting Herbs

7 lessons · 1 h 45 min

Compare ginseng, codonopsis, astragalus, atractylodes, yam, licorice and jujube through their traditional roles and modern safety limits.

  1. Ren Shen: Asian ginseng15 min
  2. Dang Shen: Codonopsis root15 min
  3. Huang Qi: Astragalus root15 min
  4. Bai Zhu: Atractylodes rhizome15 min
  5. Shan Yao: Chinese yam rhizome15 min
  6. Gan Cao: Licorice root and rhizome15 min
  7. Da Zao: Jujube fruit15 min

Module 4: Blood, Yin & Nourishing Herbs

12 lessons · 3 h

Study nourishing roots, fruits, tubers and stems, including the differences between raw and prepared Rehmannia and the liver-injury concern with He Shou Wu.

  1. Dang Gui: Chinese angelica root15 min
  2. Bai Shao: White peony root15 min
  3. Shu Di Huang: Prepared Rehmannia15 min
  4. Sheng Di Huang: Unprepared Rehmannia15 min
  5. Gou Qi Zi: Goji fruit15 min
  6. Long Yan Rou: Longan aril15 min
  7. He Shou Wu: Raw and prepared Polygonum root15 min
  8. Mai Men Dong: Ophiopogon tuberous root15 min
  9. Tian Men Dong: Asparagus tuberous root15 min
  10. Bei Sha Shen: Glehnia root15 min
  11. Yu Zhu: Solomon's seal rhizome15 min
  12. Shi Hu: Dendrobium stem15 min

Module 5: Astringent & Spirit-Calming Herbs

2 lessons · 30 min

Compare Schisandra fruit and sour jujube seed, paying attention to traditional retention and calming language, evidence and medicine interactions.

  1. Wu Wei Zi: Schisandra fruit15 min
  2. Suan Zao Ren: Sour jujube seed15 min

Module 6: Warming Herbs: Ginger & Cinnamon Comparisons

4 lessons · 1 h

Separate fresh from dried ginger and cinnamon twig from bark. Compare plant parts, processing, traditional roles and coumarin concerns.

  1. Sheng Jiang: fresh ginger15 min
  2. Gan Jiang: dried ginger15 min
  3. Gui Zhi: cassia cinnamon twig15 min
  4. Rou Gui: cassia cinnamon bark15 min

Module 7: Exterior-Releasing Herbs

8 lessons · 2 h

Read the traditional exterior framework through mint, perilla, Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, kudzu, bupleurum, chrysanthemum and mulberry leaf.

  1. Bo He: Chinese mint15 min
  2. Zi Su Ye: perilla leaf15 min
  3. Jing Jie: schizonepeta herb15 min
  4. Fang Feng: saposhnikovia root15 min
  5. Ge Gen: kudzu root15 min
  6. Chai Hu: bupleurum root15 min
  7. Ju Hua: chrysanthemum flower15 min
  8. Sang Ye: mulberry leaf15 min

Module 8: Heat-Clearing Herbs

9 lessons · 2 h 15 min

Compare roots, bark, flowers, fruits and whole herbs in the heat-clearing family without equating traditional heat with a biomedical diagnosis.

  1. Zhi Mu: Anemarrhena rhizome15 min
  2. Huang Qin: Chinese skullcap root15 min
  3. Huang Lian: Coptis rhizome15 min
  4. Huang Bai: Phellodendron bark15 min
  5. Zhi Zi: gardenia fruit15 min
  6. Jin Yin Hua: Japanese honeysuckle bud15 min
  7. Lian Qiao: forsythia fruit15 min
  8. Ban Lan Gen: isatis root15 min
  9. Xia Ku Cao: prunella fruiting spike15 min

Module 9: Qi Regulation & Digestive Study

8 lessons · 2 h

Study citrus parts, aromatic herbs and digestive materials through identity, processing, formula relationships and appropriate evidence limits.

  1. Chen Pi: aged tangerine peel15 min
  2. Qing Pi: immature tangerine peel15 min
  3. Zhi Shi: immature bitter orange15 min
  4. Hou Po: magnolia bark15 min
  5. Sha Ren: amomum fruit15 min
  6. Mu Xiang: costus root and substitution safety15 min
  7. Shan Zha: Chinese hawthorn fruit15 min
  8. Mai Ya: germinated barley15 min

Module 10: Dampness, Phlegm & Cough Herbs

8 lessons · 2 h 6 min

Explore Poria, water-regulating materials and cough/phlegm herbs, including explicit hazards associated with Pinellia and bitter apricot kernels.

  1. Fu Ling: poria15 min
  2. Ze Xie: oriental waterplantain rhizome15 min
  3. Yi Yi Ren: coix seed15 min
  4. Che Qian Zi: plantain seed15 min
  5. Ban Xia: Pinellia recognition and processing literacy18 min
  6. Jie Geng: balloonflower root15 min
  7. Chuan Bei Mu: fritillary bulbs15 min
  8. Xing Ren: apricot kernel recognition and cyanide safety18 min

Module 11: Blood-Moving & Draining Herbs

4 lessons · 1 h

Compare Salvia, Ligusticum, safflower and rhubarb. Study traditional movement language, bleeding interactions and stimulant-laxative cautions.

  1. Dan Shen: red sage root15 min
  2. Chuan Xiong: Sichuan lovage rhizome15 min
  3. Hong Hua: safflower flowers15 min
  4. Da Huang: medicinal rhubarb root and rhizome15 min

Module 12: How to Read a Formula

2 lessons · 30 min

Read formula architecture, ingredient relationships, preparation labels and historical variants as educational reference work.

  1. Formula architecture: a method for reading ingredient relationships15 min
  2. Sources, variants, translation, and product equivalence15 min

Module 13: Fifteen Classic Formula Case Studies

15 lessons · 3 h 45 min

Study fifteen classic formula designs, their ingredient relationships, traditional pattern descriptions, evidence limits and referral concerns.

  1. Gui Zhi Tang: balancing the exterior15 min
  2. Yin Qiao San: reading an acrid-cool design15 min
  3. Si Jun Zi Tang: the four-herb qi-tonic framework15 min
  4. Si Wu Tang: nourishing and moving in one design15 min
  5. Ba Zhen Tang: combining qi and blood frameworks15 min
  6. Liu Wei Di Huang Wan: supporting without simple accumulation15 min
  7. Yu Ping Feng San: wei qi without immune-system shortcuts15 min
  8. Xiao Yao San: harmonizing several traditional relationships15 min
  9. Er Chen Tang: phlegm, dampness, and product identity15 min
  10. Ban Xia Hou Po Tang: throat sensations and careful referral15 min
  11. Bao He Wan: studying food accumulation without shortcut diagnosis15 min
  12. Ping Wei San: dampness and qi in the middle region15 min
  13. Suan Zao Ren Tang: studying sleep without reducing a formula to sedation15 min
  14. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang: the traditional idea of raising clear yang15 min
  15. Gui Pi Tang: Heart-Spleen relationships and safe symptom interpretation15 min

Module 14: Applied Comparison, Quality & Evidence Study

5 lessons · 1 h 40 min

Build comparison tables, evaluate labels and quality evidence, investigate sourcing and conservation, appraise a study and complete an integrated written case.

  1. Comparing formula families without prescribing shortcuts20 min
  2. Labels, quality documents, and certificate limits20 min
  3. Sourcing, sustainability, and CITES20 min
  4. Appraising evidence: single herbs, compounds, and formulas20 min
  5. Capstone: identity, evidence, medicines, and referral20 min
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