YEAR 4
subdivided into twelve units
GYNAECOLOGY, OBSTETRICS AND PAEDIATRICS
Review of the anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system including circulation, innervation, hormones and structure. Disorders of menstruation, the vagina, cervix and vulva including herbal treatment. Chronic pelvic inflammation, tumours of the uterus and ovaries, uterine displacement and prolapse, and suggested herbal treatment. Obstetrics; circulation, elimination, psychological conditions and diet during pregnancy. Common obstetric disorder. Herbs used in pregnancy. Post-natal care and infant feeding. Childhood diseases, symptoms and herbal treatment.

PHARMACY
Basic principles and processes of preparing medicines from plant material. Methods of extraction of plants. Pharmacopoeia preparations; liquid preparations for internal and external use, solid preparations for internal and external use, semi-solid preparations for external use. Dispensing, prescription writing and posology.

MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
Basic principles and processes of preparing medicines from plant material. Methods of extraction of plants. Pharmacopoeia preparations; liquid preparations for internal and external use, solid preparations for internal and external use, semi-solid preparations for external use. Dispensing, prescription writing and posology.

GENERAL MEDICINE
Endocrine and metabolic diseases (pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, sexual disorders in the male & female, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia), diseases of the blood (anaemias, polycythaemia,leukaemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, platelet disorders, coagulation disorders, acquired bleeding disorders, thrombosis), connective tissue and bone disease (inflammatory joint disease, infective arthritis, metabolic and degenerative disease, bone infections & tumours), diseases of the nervous system (cranial nerves, cerebral tumours, headache & facial pain, epilepsy, cerebral vascular disorders, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, infections, spinal cord & peripheral nerves, muscles), skin disease (eczema, psoriasis, acne etc.)

DERMATOLOGY
Skin structure and function, diagnostic features, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, pityriasis, rosea, lichen planus, ichthyosis, autoimmune conditions, infections, and infestations, acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, urticaria, bullous disease and tumours. Disorders of hair, nails, sweat glands and buccal cavity. Herbal remedies used in skin disorders.

GERIATRICS
Mechanisms involved in the ageing process, social aspects of ageing, disability and rehabilitation, falls and immobility, locomotor disease, cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, blood and malignant disease. Metabolic and endocrine disorders, genito-urinary system, medical and surgical treatment of the old. Death and dying.

PSYCHIATRY
Psychopathology, aetiology and classification. Affective disorders, schizophrenia, paranoid states, organic disorders, epilepsy, alcoholism, drug dependence, abnormal emotional reactions, anxiety states, hysteria, obsessive-compulsive disorders, personality disorders, disturbances of sexual behaviour, psychiatry of childhood, adolescence and old age, and mental handicap. Treatment. Psychiatry and the Law.

ETHICS AND MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE
The Herbal Practitioner and the Law. Supply of remedies. Code of ethics and rules of practice of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

FOURTH YEAR SEMINAR
Lectures will place emphasis on the therapeutic approach towards the patient and prescription writing. Reinforcement of subjects covered in previous seminars will aim at preparing students for the written and clinical examinations, discussing the finer points concerning; clinical assessment, differential assessment, therapeutics and pharmacology.

EXAMINATIONS - Year 4
These comprise written papers in General Medicine & Specialities, Differential Assessments and Therapeutics and Applied Pharmacy, all of which may be taken after completion of the fourth year of study. Upon completion of all academic and clinical requirements students will be invited to sit the practical clinical examination.

CLINICAL PRACTICUM - 500 hours
The purpose of the clinical Training is to enable the students to combine and take thorough case histories, follow up consultations, learn examination techniques, formulate and dispense herbal remedies. The 500 hours of clinic are ongoing from the second year and are supervised by Clinic Practitioners at the Dominion Herbal College student training clinics in Vancouver, British Columbis and Toronto, Ontario.

ELECTIVE HOURS -150 hours
Elective hours consist of seminars, workshops relating to complementary health other than the required course curriculum. 15-25 hours should consist of actual gardening experience. Verification of attendance required.

St. John's CPR Course required (cost responsibility of student)

Diploma issued upon successful completion of all academic, clinical and financial obligations to Dominion Herbal College.

Currently in Canada, as in many countries there are no government regulations or requirement for registration of herbalists. There is, however, a Herbal Association or Society in many countries, states or provinces, and should you wish to join, you will be expected to meet certain educational standards.