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Essentials of Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine

Courses
Duration:

10 Weeks

Six week course with ten weeks access to content and tutor support; 30 hours.
Price:

$765.00 USD

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About the Course

Want to know what you can use to help protect your patients' livers and kidneys from potential side effects of some medications? Learn how to make a skin cream to alleviate dermatitis? How about treating kennel cough with a simple formula you can make in your own practice? When your clients asks if it's ok to give a herb with the treatment you are providing what do you say? 

This CIVT course is developed by Dr Barbara Fougere and taught by the faculty of CIVT. It is designed to provide you with confidence and a working knowledge of ten of the most popular herbs for use in practice. The course helps you to address the common questions that clients ask about herbal medicine. It is not designed to make you a herbalist, but it will give you important insights and knowledge that will help in every day practice. CIVT provides an evidence based approach bridging science with  the tradition of herbal medicine.

Testimonials from some who have completed Essentials of Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine Course:

Dr Judy McFarlen:  "Loved the course would recommend to other practitioners."

Dr Katherine Kindlesparker:  "Had a great time! Thanks for all the newly opened doors to information and studies on herbal medications."

Dr Lesley Kenmur: "Thank you very much. I thoroughly enjoyed the course."

Dr Clare Ellis:  "Loved it! .....this short course came up and it has definitely changed the direction I am heading in........ (also) a great basic course for your average practitioner that just wants to know a little about basic herbs that their clients may ask about but not actually become a herbalist."

 

 

Please note that this is an evidence-based course delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners but is not an Australian government-accredited qualification.

Communication and course materials

  • Recorded lectures and tutorials
  • Downloadable course materials and readings

We will provide self paced learning content and activities within the myCIVT classroom online. You will receive a log in and password to access this room. From myCIVT you can access course content as well as submit assessment tasks. Email/Zoom support is available.

Assessments

  • multiple choice open book
  • short answers
  • forum participation

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course participants will be able to:

  • Describe the basic history of herbal medicine and in particular the use of herbs for the treatment of animals
  • Understand where Western Herbal Medicine fits into the global herbal medicine systems
  • Define phytomedicine
  • Make three basic herbal preparations in veterinary practice
  • Know the basic classification of herbal phytochemicals and their action
  • Know basic terminology used in herbal medicine, from 'alteratives' to 'vulneraries'
  • Begin to apply principles in the selection of an appropriate dose for a herbal medicine and for a patient
  • Look up and look out for potential herb drug interactions
  • Use 10 herbs for the treatment of animals in everyday cases;
  • Answer clients' basic questions on herbal medicine. 

Credits

  • 12 RACE Credits
  • 10.75 IVAS Credits
Download Brochure
Dr Alexia Tsakiris
Dr Monica Chapman
Dr Holly Mash
Dr Barbara Fougere

Meet the Tutors and Lecturers

Dr Alexia Tsakiris
BVetMed GDVWHM CVA RH(AHG) FACVBM
Dr Tsakiris is a graduate of the Royal University of London (2005) Since graduation, she has worked as a small animal veterinarian focusing on internal medicine. She received her Certification of Veterinary Acupuncture in 2009. She studied herbal...
3 Webinars and 1 Course
DVM, GDVWHM
Dr. Chapman is a 1991 graduate of the Virginia Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She has always practiced in Virginia(USA), first as a private practitioner for 10 years and then served 15 years in public practice in shelter medicine....
1 Course
BVSc MRCVS GDVWHM CVA
Dr Holly Mash is a UK-based integrative veterinarian. She graduated with a bachelor of veterinary science from the University of Bristol in 2001 and after a short stint in mixed and equine practice she has concentrated on companion animals....
1 Webinar and 3 Courses
BSc BVMS (Hons) MODT BHSc (CMed) MHSc (Herb Med) FACVBM GDVA GDVCHM GDVWHM CVA (IVAS) CVBM CVCP CMAVA
Dr Barbara Fougere is a 1986 graduate from Murdoch University Veterinary School Western Australia. She practices in Sydney Australia, exclusively in veterinary integrative medicine. She has served on the Australian Veterinary Association Policy...
18 Webinars and 11 Courses

What will you Learn

  • VWHM10011 - Foundations of Veterinary Herbal Medicine
    • What is herbal medicine?
    • A brief history of herbal medicine
    • Veterinary herbal medicine history
    • Major herbal medicine systems
    • What is phytomedicine?
  • VWHM10012 - Sources of herbal medicines
    • Issues and Quality
    • Herbal manufacture
    • Preparations
    • ...
  • VWHM10011 - Foundations of Veterinary Herbal Medicine
    • What is herbal medicine?
    • A brief history of herbal medicine
    • Veterinary herbal medicine history
    • Major herbal medicine systems
    • What is phytomedicine?
  • VWHM10012 - Sources of herbal medicines
    • Issues and Quality
    • Herbal manufacture
    • Preparations
    • What can you recommend?
    • What should you stock?
    • Making your own
  • VWHM10013 - Basic Phytochemistry and pharmacology of herbs
    • The complexity of herbs
    • Classification of herbal constituents
    • Terminology and the language of herbal medicine
    • Introduction to Materia Medica
  • VWHM10014 - Philosophy and Principles of Western Herbal Medicine
    • Wholism and vitalism
    • Health and disease
    • Therapeutic approach in veterinary herbal medicine
    • Taking the case
  • VWHM10015 - Dosing considerations in Veterinary medicine
    • Review of dosage approaches
    • Dosing considerations
    • How to give herbs to animals
    • Adverse reactions, potential toxicities.
  • VWHM10016 - Practicing herbal medicine
    • Prescribing and dispensing
    • Herb drug interactions
    • A basic herbal pharmacy
    • Resources
Read More
Download Brochure
Essentials of Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine

Before you take the course

Below requirements are needed before you can take this course.
  • You should have independent computer skills and be able to access the internet.
  • This course is restricted to qualified veterinarians and veterinary students, veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses.

Course Testimonial

Get inspired with our student journeys.

"I run a small holistic veterinary consulting practice. Besides Chinese medicine, acupuncture and aromatherapy I wanted to know more about Western phytotherapy. This six week course was brilliant, the teachers were amazing and it gave me much more confidence to use Western herbal medicine, in all its forms. The teachers answered all my questions and encouraged me to try using herbs. For me it was very important feeling I had somebody supporting me and giving me feedback. I recommend this course to every vet who wants to learn about phytotherapy, but right now doesn’t have the time for longer study. Thanks for everything and hopefully I’ll enroll in the graduate diploma course sometime in the future."

Dr Nina Sukup
BVSc, CVO, CVA
Spain

Download Brochure

Submit your information and we will send the brochure to the provided email address.
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about the questions that our students asked?
Is online study right for me?

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. Online or distance learning is not for everyone. Think carefully before you enroll. To succeed in online learning and distance education you will need:

  • A commitment to study and enquiry
  • To be capable of self directed learning with our guidance and support through your course
  • Motivation to pursue your course of study
  • Access to the internet and a printer
  • A good internet service that provides a good speed for downloads
  • An enthusiasm for engaging with your tutors and peers
  • The ability to work on your own or collaborate in a team
  • The capability of an independent level of written and spoken English
  • An appointment by phone may be requested prior to course commencement- we don't want you to start if we think we can't provide the right experience for you
  • If you are not sure contact us, we can help you gain a  full understanding of our courses before applying.

What you won't need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

All our courses are available to enrol at any time.  Our courses are part time, self paced within the course timeframe, and fully online.  Sometimes there is a scheduled start date for a course, in which we accept a group intake of enrolments. This encourages a cohort of students to move through the course together, making for a more interactive learning experience.

Although some courses have live sessions available, there are no live sessions that you are required to attend for any of our courses.  Our courses are delivered online and are self paced within the course timeframe, to give you the greatest flexibility with your study. You can study anywhere, anytime that suits you. We have great learning tools such as lectures, comprehensive course notes, videos, online resources, discussion forum and continuous support from our highly qualified and experienced tutors to help you can get the most out of your course.

Please refer to our enrolment terms and conditions when seeking extra time in a course, https://civtedu.org/enrolment-terms-and-conditions 

If you take a "leave of absence/deferral" from a course this freezes your progress in the course.  You will have no access to the course during this time.  A request for a leave of absence/deferral can be made for up to 3 months, initially.  Longer periods of time away from the course can be reviewed after this time.  If you want to use any course resources whilst you are taking your leave of absence/deferral you will need to download the material (such as documents, course notes, reading material) beforehand.  There is no fee to take a leave of absence/deferral, however your regular payment instalments for the course will continue.

If you request an "extension" for a course, you may be given extra time in a course and still have full access to the course.  An extension can be granted for up to, or equal to, the maximal period of study for that course.  There is a fee involved in applying for an extension, this varies according to the amount of extra time requested and is found on the link provided.

 

This depends on the type of course you enrol in.

Our introductory or short courses require approximately 3-5 hours per week.  Our Certifications and Graduate Diplomas require approximately 5-10 hours per week.  This will vary amongst individuals, depending on the pace in which they learn.  More time may be needed each week, depending on how long an individual needs to spend on completing assignments. 

If you are a registered Veterinarian, you are eligible to enrol in any of our courses, https://civtedu.org/courses 

If you are a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse or Animal Health Professional you may be able to apply to enrol in selected courses for Veterinarians, however you will need to go through an eligibility process first. Otherwise, you can apply for our courses for Animal Health Professionals, https://civtedu.org/courses/animal-health-professionals 

If you are a Pet Owner, you can apply for our courses designed for Pet Owners, https://civtedu.org/courses/pet-owners 

 

Earn your own CIVT certificate of completion

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. What you won’t need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

Download Brochure

What's next after taking this course

Recommended courses after you completed this course
11086NAT-Graduate Diploma of Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine
2 Years
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Western Herbal Medicine, Graduate Diploma
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Certification in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine
12 Months
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Western Herbal Medicine
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