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Drug-Herb Interactions

Knowing the Drugs Your Patients Are Taking and How They Interact with Chinese Medicine

By Greg Sperber

NCCAOM (12), IVAS (12), Standard Certificate (12)
Access Period: Lifetime
Series Length: 12hrs

Series Overview

We know that a large proportion of our patients are on pharmaceuticals or trying to avoid being on them. To be the most effective practitioner we can, we need to know about drugs, how they work, and how they affect what we do with Chinese medicine.

Think of this series as pharmaceutical course "lite." We are going to talk about all of the major drug categories, get into why they are prescribed, how they work, and the dangers to be on the look out for. All of this from the perspective of a Chinese medical practitioner. So we discuss drug-herb and drug-acupuncture interactions as well as important and positive combinations.

The first two courses start at the basics. In the first course, The Basics of Pharmacology and Chinese Medicine, we get into many of the basics of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics (and the ADME scheme) and pharmacodynamics. In the second course, we expand on these basics and jump deep into drug-herb interactions. After that, we explore categories of drugs.

This series is all about applying what you learn to your patients. When we discuss drug-herb interactions, we not only talk about how to understand the information but also how to communicate it to our patients by introducing a practice building tool, the Drug-Herb Matrix.

This is a super important course for any practitioner!

This seminar is based on my book published by Blue Poppy: Integrative Pharmacology, Combining Modern Pharmacology and Integrative Medicine written with Bob Flaws.

Drug-Herb Interactions - Course 1

The Basics of Pharmacology and Chinese Medicine

This course looks at basic pharmacology principles including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in a fascinating exploration. These concepts are explicitly applied to Chinese medicine and herbology.
Total CPDs: 3
NCCAOM (3), IVAS (3), Standard Certificate (3)
Access Period: Lifetime
Course Length: 3hrs
Course Notes: Notes are provided with this course.

Course Overview

This course looks at basic pharmacology principles including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in a fascinating exploration. These concepts are explicitly applied to Chinese medicine and herbology. This is a foundation for understanding how pharmaceuticals and Chinese herbs move through and work on the human body. We will be emphasizing the ADME scheme and setting the stage for a discussion of predicting drug-herb interactions.

Course Objectives

  • Understand the basics of pharmacokinetics including the ADME scheme, and pharmacodynamics
  • Identify the general mechanisms of action for drugs and herbs
  • Apply basic pharmacological concepts to Chinese herbs

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 min
Introduction
15 min - 1.75 hrs
Pharmacokinetics
1.75 hrs - 2.75 hrs
Pharmacodynamics
2.75 hrs - 3 hrs
Summary

Drug-Herb Interactions - Course 2

Drug-Herb Interactions and the Matrix

This course takes the basic pharmacology principles discussed in the Basics of Pharmacology course, including the ADME scheme and the therapeutic index, and applies them to understanding and predicting drug-herb interactions.
Total CPDs: 3
Standard Certificate (3), NCCAOM (3), IVAS (3)
Access Period: Lifetime
Course Length: 3hrs
Course Notes: Notes are provided with this course.

Course Overview

We can predict potential drug-herb interactions. This course takes the basic pharmacology principles discussed in the Basics of Pharmacology course, including the ADME scheme and the therapeutic index, and applies them to understanding and predicting drug-herb interactions. In addition, recent areas of research related to interactions, such as p-glycoprotein and other transporters, will be discussed. The emphasis is on both the theoretical prediction and real world application of strategies for preventing and dealing with interactions. This includes a discussion about creating a Drug-Herb Interaction Matrix for determining an individual patient's risk. The template for the matrix will be provided as part of the course.

Course Objectives

  • Understand how the basics of pharmacokinetics, including the ADME scheme, and pharmacodynamics can be used to predict drug-herb interactions
  • Identify the risks involved with combining drugs and herbs
  • Create a Drug-Herb Interaction Matrix for assessing individual patient risk and as a tool for communication

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 min
Introduction
15 min - 1.75 hrs
Discuss risk factors for drug-herb interactions, including pharmaco-kinetic and -dynamic aspects
1.75 hrs - 2.75 hrs
Demonstrate how to create a Drug-Herb Interaction Matrix to facilitate risk assessment and patient communication
2.75 hrs - 3 hrs
Summary

Drug-Herb Interactions - Course 3

Autonomic Nervous System Drugs and Chinese Medicine

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) drugs as a class are often used by patients of acupuncturists and Chinese medical practitioners. This seminar examines major ANS drugs and the dangers Chinese medical practitioners need to be aware of.
Total CPDs: 3
NCCAOM (3), Standard Certificate (3), IVAS (3)
Access Period: Lifetime
Course Length: 3hrs
Course Notes: Notes are provided with this course.

Course Overview

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) drugs as a class are varied in their effects and often used by patients of acupuncturists and Chinese medical practitioners. They also have serious adverse effects, drug-herb interactions, as well as interference with Chinese diagnostics. This seminar examines major ANS drugs and the dangers Chinese medical practitioners need to be aware of when combining with herbs and acupuncture. We will look at various types of biomedical treatments for Alzheimers and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, hypo- and hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other conditions. Herb-drug and acupuncture-drug interactions will be explored for each type of drug.

Course Objectives

  • Understand how autonomic nervous system drugs and herbs interact
  • Identify the most common autonomic nervous system drugs with potential for drug-herb interactions
  • Explore how major autonomic nervous system drugs act on the body

Course Outline

0 hrs - 30 min
Introduction
30 min - 2.5 hrs
Discussion of individual autonomic nervous system drug classes including functions, mechanisms of action, adverse drug reactions, red flags, Chinese medical affects, and specific drug-herb interactions
2.5 hrs - 3 hrs
Summary

Drug-Herb Interactions - Course 4

Psychiatric Drugs and Chinese Medicine

Psychiatric drugs as a class are very commonly used in the general population and by patients of acupuncturists and Chinese medical practitioners. This seminar examines major psychiatric drugs and issues when combining with herbs and acupuncture.
Total CPDs: 3
Standard Certificate (3), IVAS (3), NCCAOM (3)
Access Period: Lifetime
Course Length: 3hrs
Course Notes: Notes are provided with this course.

Course Overview

Psychiatric drugs as a class are very commonly used in the general population and by patients of acupuncturists and Chinese medical practitioners. They also have serious adverse effects, potential addiction, and drug-herb interactions. This seminar examines major psychiatric drugs and the dangers Chinese medical practitioners need to be aware of when combining with herbs and acupuncture. We will look at various types of biomedical treatments for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and mania. Herb-drug and acupuncture-drug interactions will be explored for each type of drug.

Course Objectives

  • Understand how psychiatric drugs and herbs interact.
  • Identify the most common psychiatric drugs with potential for drug-herb interactions.
  • Explore how major psychiatric drugs act on the body.
  • Protect oneself from potential medico-legal issues arising from interactions.

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 min
Introduction.
15 min - 1.75 hrs
Discussion of individual Psychiatric drug classes including functions, mechanisms of action, adverse drug reactions, red flags, Chinese medical affects, and specific drug-herb interactions.
1.75 hrs - 2.75 hrs
Introduction and description of areas of concerns for drug-herb interactions.
2.75 hrs - 3 hrs
Summary.

Disclaimers:

Accessing Your Series
After checking out, your email address will be sent to Net of Knowledge securely and you will gain instant access to your series. If you do not have a Net of Knowledge account yet, one will be created for you automatically and you will receive an email with a link to set up your password. Log in to your account at netofknowledge.com and start learning!
Unlimited Access and CEUs
You will have unlimited access to this series for as long as it is on Net of Knowledge, so that you can keep reviewing and learning from it over the years. CEU requirements must be completed within 1 year from the purchase. During this time, you must view the training and complete any required documents to get your certificate. You must also print and save your certificate for your own records. Each individual course has a separate certificate of completion. There is no certificate for the entire series.
Cancellation Policy
Please note we do not offer refunds for our recorded online courses/webinars.
Note
These recordings are available in an online format only; you will not receive a DVD or physical copy of the recording – they are only available to watch on the internet through your online account.

Taught by Greg Sperber

Dr. Greg Sperber is an author and also holds a Masters and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. He is a professor at PCOM and speaks internationally on TCM business and drug-herb interactions.
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