Herbal Pharmacy Programme
HERBAL PHARMACY program aims at producing professional pharmacists in African Herbal Medicine in order to meet the needs arising from the burgeoning interest in and development of integrative healthcare services, regulation in the production, marketing and sales of herbal medicines, as well as research and development of new products from African materia medica. The vision is to facilitate learning about plants and plant-centered medicine, guiding students to apply this knowledge to growing, harvesting, manufacturing and clinical practice. The inclusive range of knowledge runs from traditional wisdom to the contemporary scientific information, emphasizing critical and creative thought and discovery.
The rationale for launching professional academic programmes in African Herbal Pharmacy is to achieve coordinated development in the education of African Herbal Medicine and Pharmacy, and to foster the integrated development of African Herbal Medicine as a whole. The course aims at producing professional pharmacists in African Herbal Medicine in order to meet the needs arising from the followings:
- Development of Integrative healthcare services
- Regulation in the production, marketing and sales of African materia medica and its products
- Research and development of new products from African materia medica.
We inspire students and colleagues to carry forward the traditions and enrich the knowledge of botanical medicine with integrity. The vision is to facilitate learning about plants and plant-centered medicine, guiding students to apply this knowledge to growing, harvesting, manufacturing and clinical practice. The inclusive range of knowledge runs from traditional wisdom to the contemporary scientific information, emphasizing critical and creative thought and discovery.
Programme Aims
- To create the optimal educational conditions whereby students are able to gain the competence and experience to effectively support physicians in the treatment of patients using herbal medicines.
- To provide the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary for students to embark on and sustain a professional career in herbal pharmacy.
- To support the development of integrative medicine as a specialised health care discipline and encourage continuing professional development and research.
- To enable students to practise professionally and independently as Members of the National Institute of Herbal Pharmacists.
Programme Objectives
By the end of the full program students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of biomedical sciences including normal structure and functioning in health, causes and clinical presentation in illness.
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge and application of key herbal sciences, including pharmacognosy, pharmacology, drug formulations, preparations and therapeutics combined with the ability to support patient treatment and management.
- Demonstrate the mastery of skills to ensure safe manufacture, storage, dispensing and application of herbal medicines.
- Understand the professional, legal, ethical and business requirements involved in herbal practice and be able to fulfill the statutory requirements of a herbal pharmacist.
- Appreciate and contribute to the development of herbal pharmacy as a scientific area of study and research and maintain ongoing professional development including a reflective approach to practice.
- Recognize the role of herbal pharmacy within medicine as a whole - both complementary and conventional, and the contribution it can make as a specialist health care discipline.
- Undertake authentication, quality assessment and control of African materia medica
- Engage in research, development and production of new drugs and healthcare products based on African materia medica
Career Opportunities
After graduation, students will be: -
- Experts in the manufacture of herbal medicines from African herbs using modern scientific methods to produce high quality herbal medicines.
- Competent supervisors in herbal medicines dispensaries in clinics and institutions
- Well versed in quality assessment and control of African materia medica and its products,
- Experts in research, development, production and marketing of new products from African materia medica.
- Medical and herbal sales/marketing professionals
- Scientific researchers and writers
Course Structure and Content
The African Herbal Pharmacy programme consists of three main courses. Broad areas of study include basic sciences, herbal sciences, and clinical training.
Basic Sciences
Basic science courses within the herbal sciences program include anatomy and physiology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and pharmacology. These courses serve as a foundation for an understanding of the human body and provide students with the necessary skills and competency to pursue course work in their chosen field. These courses occur during the first and second years of this program.
Herbal Sciences
The curriculum in herbal sciences does not include the diagnosis and treatment of disease, but rather introduces the student to concepts of disease prevention and health maintenance using medicinal herbs. The curriculum addresses economic, historical and sociopolitical perspectives regarding the herbal sciences.
Additionally, issues related to herbal product manufacturing and quality assurance/quality control introduce the analytical aspects of herbs and herbal products. This program offers a substantial breadth of perspectives and approaches in the herbal sciences. The program is based upon scientific inquiry in the herbal sciences.
Beginning in the first year and heavily concentrated in the second year are courses exploring various aspects of the herbal sciences. A core sequence of herbal science courses focuses on the history and traditions of herbal use, preparations, pharmacognosy, pharmacology and medicinal actions of a core of materia medica. There are also various courses introducing the student to diverse world traditions of herbal medicine. In Research Analysis for Herbal Sciences, the student learns to interpret scientific literature on medicinal herbs. In ethno-botany, the door opens to the connection between people and plants in indigenous cultures, old and new. In additional courses, the student becomes familiar with environmental, economic and political issues surrounding the herbal sciences.
The core curriculum in botanical medicine for integrative medicine and herbal pharmacy students covers fundamental plant identification and nomenclature, pharmacognosy, therapeutic actions, extraction principles, dosage considerations, contraindications, toxicology, herb-drug interactions, clinical applications and treatment regimens.
Clinical therapeutics draws from traditional uses, herbal formulae and use, and from international scientific and clinical research, as well as advances in Phytotherapy. The materia medica courses are linked with a laboratory experience in botanical medicine lab. Completion of the required curriculum, along with the required clinical experience, prepares the student for effective and safe clinical utilization of preventive and therapeutic botanicals.
Clinical Training
