Elements and Performance Criteria

Common herbs means at least 30 herbs which must include but are not limited to:
Achillea millefolium
Allium sativum
Althea officinalis
Angelica archangelica
Apium graveolens
Arnica montana
Avena sativa
Calendula officinalis
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Crataegus monogyna and/or oxycanthoides
Filipendula ulmaria
Foeniculum vulgare
Galium aparine
Hypericum perforatum
Inula helenium
Lavandula angustifolia
Matricaria recutita
Mentha x piperita
Plantago lanceolata
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rubeus idaeus
Rumex crispus
Salvia officinalis
Sambucus nigra
Silybum marianum
Stellaria media
Taraxacum officinale
Thymus vulgaris
Urtica dioica
Verbascum thapsus

Pharmaceutical ingredients and equipment may include but are not limited to:
Various raw or prepared herbs
Different extraction medium which may include:
Water
Vinegar
Wine
Alcohol
Ether
Glycerol
Oil
Mortar and pestle
Clean containers
Measuring instruments
Percolator, press and blender
Containers
Scoops
Labels
Protective clothing

Guidelines and methodology refers to:
Published methodology in peer reviewed literature and/or official pharmacopœia where appropriate
Methodology as described in writing by the prescribing practitioner
Legal restrictions
Therapeutic Goods Act and regulations
Health and safety labelling requirements
Methodology specific to preparing herbal medicines eg scheduled herbs, testing of herbal medicines
Principles of manufacturing medicines

Dispensing ingredients and equipment may include but is not limited to:
Various raw or prepared herbs
Measuring instruments
Containers
Scoops
Labels
Protective clothing

The form of the medicine may include but is not limited to:
Creams
Capsules
Emulsions
Ointments
Suppositories
Tinctures
Extracts
Pessaries

Care is taken to prevent contamination means:
One medicine is dispensed at one time
Medicines are made and prepared over an impervious surface
Objects that come in contact with the medicine are cleaned or discarded
Medicines which come in contact with contaminants are discarded
The work space is well ventilated
Direct contact between the practitioner and ingredients is avoided

Clinic guidelines may include:
OHS guidelines
Quality system guidelines
Dispensing procedure
Hygiene and waste guidelines
Stock and storage procedures

Instructions for taking the medicine refer to:
Mode of administration, eg external or internal
Frequency of administration
Factors which may interfere with the medicine, eg consumption of food, alcohol or tobacco concurrent use of allopathic medications
Need to report incidences to the prescribing practitioner

Acceptable sources includes:
Herbal medicine manufacturers listed in the Therapeutic Goods Administration
Overseas manufacturers
Collected and prepared from natural sources after ascertaining that the plant material is uncontaminated by pesticides or other contaminants

Labelled correctly means:
According to legislative guidelines
According to clinic requirements

Factors which may have an effect on the storage may include:
Heat above 50°c
Prolonged exposure to heat over 30°C
Prolonged exposure to sunlight

Workplace information may include:
Details of preparation and dispensing undertaken
Stock documentation
Details of person(s) conducting preparation and dispensing
Dispensing information for prescriptions

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrated ability to correctly identify equipment and ingredients for herbal medicine preparation and dispensing
Demonstrated ability to identify herbs listed in the range of variables
Demonstrated ability to identify herbal ingredients in raw form and/or natural habitat
Demonstrated ability to identify herbal ingredients in their dried form where appropriate for medicine preparation
Demonstrated ability to describe plant classifications
Demonstrated ability to describe plant nomenclature
Demonstrated ability to describe general plant anatomy
Demonstrated ability to utilise general plant identification techniques
Demonstrated ability to use botanical keys for plants
Demonstrated ability to prepare medicines for patients in pharmaceutical forms eg capsules, emulsions, creams, ointments, suppositories
Demonstrated ability to dispense medicines in accordance with official practice, clinic guidelines and relevant legislation
Demonstrated ability to dispense medicines in a range of dosages
Demonstrated ability to take corrective action in response to out-of-specification results or non-compliance
Demonstrated ability to monitor the dispensing process and equipment operation to identify out-of-specification results or non-compliance. This may include:
Labeling
Stock flow/quantity
Measuring devices
Materials faults
Equipment faults
Service faults
Clean and sanitise equipment
Carry out routine maintenance
Demonstrated ability to dispense medicines in accordance with the order/prescription
Demonstrated ability to confirm supply of necessary materials and services to the dispensing process
Demonstrated ability to confirm equipment status and condition
Knowledge of hygiene standards
Demonstrated ability to access workplace information to identify requirements for the dispensing process

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units:
Contribute to the control of infection

Underpinning knowledge and skills:
Knowledge of herbal medicine pharmacy
Knowledge of factors that affect herbal medicines in preparation and storage
Knowledge of herbal medicine preparation from source materials
Knowledge of herbal medicine dispensing principles and methods
Knowledge of the preparation of dispensing media
Knowledge of internal preparations:
Culinary plants, common herbal teas, medicinal preparations
Biochemic and bioenergetic remedies, cold extracts, cordials, decoctions, essences, herbal honeys, infusions, methaglyns, oxymels, powders, spagyric technique, succus, syrups, tinctures
Knowledge of chemical and physical incompatibilities
Knowledge of external therapy products:
Both medicinal and domestic
Baths, bath oils, creams, dyes, fomentations, incenses, aromatherapy products, compresses, ointments, perfumes, pomanders, potpourri, poultices
Knowledge of standards of dispensing procedures
Knowledge of the non-medicinal ingredients used in the preparation of herbal medicines
Knowledge of prescription of medicines:
Legal restrictions
Therapeutic Goods Act
Health and safety
Labelling requirements
Restricted substances
Principles of manufacturing
Quality control procedures
Knowledge of how the dispensing process affects the end product
Knowledge of quality characteristics to be achieved
Knowledge of process specifications, procedures and operating parameters
Knowledge of equipment and instrumentation components, purpose and operation
Knowledge of significance and methods of monitoring control points within the dispensing process
Knowledge of common causes of variation and corrective action required
Knowledge of OHS hazards and controls
Knowledge of waste handling requirements and procedures
Knowledge of recording requirements and procedures
Knowledge of methods of administration for herbal medicines

Resource implications
Resource requirements may include:
An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
Dispensing resources
Relevant texts or medical manuals
Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
Appropriate assessment environment
Skilled assessors

Method of assessment
Assessment may include:
Practical demonstration
Simulations
Explanations of technique
Oral questioning and discussion
Case studies and scenarios

Context of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of work conditions. Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations.