Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is not only the world's oldest continuously-practiced system of health and healing, but it is also, in many ways the world's oldest and best-developed system of integrated health care. This is because the most ancient of TCM texts and scholars all emphasize the combined or integrated use of acupuncture and moxibustion with herbs and herbal formulas prepared according to the principles and insights of TCM. The principles directing the use and selection of acupuncture points and techniques are identical to those used in Chinese herbal medicine as well, so thoroughly integrated are these two methodologies.
TCTCM has a national reputation as "the herb school," and we take great pride in the quality of our herbal instruction and training. Almost from the very beginning of their studies with us, our students are taught to understand the use of Chinese herbs as an integral part of the practice of Chinese medicine. Twice recognized as one of the three best acupuncture and TCM schools in the nation by Traditional Chinese Medicine World, a leading national TCM publication, our College's exceptionally rigorous program of instruction in the integrated use of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has attracted national and even international attention.
At our school, as in the schools and teaching hospitals in China, our students learn that acupuncture and herbology must work together to secure the greatest effect. By equipping our students with the greatest possible range and variety of TCM healing modalities, we help to round out their "tool kit" and provide them with a number of very effective techniques for addressing their patients' conditions. Because of our focus on the powerful therapeutic results from the combined use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs, our graduates report greater success in treating their patients, confirming once more the wisdom of China's ancient healing sciences.
But even the best, most complete curriculum cannot, of itself, produce graduates prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the practice of complete TCM. For a curriculum such as ours, nothing less than world-class instructors will suffice, and TCTCM is honored to have an herbology faculty consisting entirely of instructors holding Ph.D. or M.D. degrees from some of the best and most prestigious TCM colleges and universities in the world. Specially selected not only for their intellectual and professional achievements and experience, but also for their skill at teaching the principles of TCM in English, all of our herbology instructors were experienced instructors in China well before they honored our school with their presence.
Scholars and teachers of their rank and experience are rarely encountered in the West, and yet, for all of their academic and professional credentials, our students enjoy warm and cordial relations with all of our faculty and staff. A supportive and collegial environment, such as the one fostered by our College, provides students with the opportunity to learn from their instructors not only in the formal classroom setting, but also through conversation and personal interaction, bringing the ancient traditions of apprenticeship into the modern world.
Given the important, even essential, role of Chinese herbology in the successful practice of TCM, my department takes great pride in the excellence of our herbology courses and the quality of our herbal training.
Guili Zheng, Ph.D. (China)
Director,
Herbology Department
Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
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