Elements and Performance Criteria

Therapeutic principles of herbal medicine framework refers to:
Practices, theories and philosophies specific to the use of herbal medicines in the treatment of clients/patients eg concurrent, palliative and continuing care and recognise the stage of the client/patient's illness in terms of chronicity, tendency for the condition to degenerate or spontaneously resolve.

Contra-indications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include:
Acute surgical and medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute hypovolaemic shock, paralytic ileus and loss of consciousness
Traumatic injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical attention
Life threatening situations
Personal or life circumstances
Ability or willingness to comply with treatment
Allergies/sensitivities
Past treatment history
Current conditions/disease state
Current medications/treatments
Contra-indications for use of certain excipients and bases

Treatments may include:
Prescription of herbal medicines
Dispensing of extemporaneous preparations

Client/patient compliance refers to:
Ability to follow instructions or suggestions
Willingness to follow instructions or suggestions

Discrepancies may include:
Client/patient is unaware of the immediate danger of their condition
Client/patient is over anxious about their condition
Client/patient is unaware of maintaining causes acting on their condition
Practitioner is unaware of some implications of the client/patient's condition
Practitioner and client/patient have a different view as to what the main problem is

Practitioner responsibilities may include:
Isolating the sick person
Notifying doctor about their condition
Appropriate hygienic procedures
Notifying state health authorities of notifiable/communicable disease
Commitment to the treatment plan
Discussing relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
Reviewing of treatment plan

Client/patient responsibilities may include:
Following instruction/advice during and post treatment
Advising practitioner of any relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
Advising practitioner of compliance issues
Commitment to the treatment plan

Treatment evaluation strategies may include:
Discussing and reviewing of response to treatment
Reviewing achievement of treatment goals
Monitoring time-frame for achieving treatment goals

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrated ability to identify treatment options and establish treatment regimes
Demonstrated ability to prepare treatment plans
Demonstrated ability to understand and discuss medical reports and other data relevant to the case
Knowledge of remedies/treatments and dosages used to treat particular conditions
Demonstrated ability to dispense remedies/treatments
Demonstrated ability to prescribe herbal medicines according to the time-frame appropriate to the client/patient condition and the herbs selected, and to the dosage recommended for the client/patient's age
Knowledge of legal and ethical considerations in treating clients with herbal remedies
Knowledge of lifestyle factors relevant to treatment of specific conditions and diseases
Demonstrated consideration of the impact of client/patient vitality on selected treatments
Knowledge of possible obstacles to cure
Knowledge of community resources and support services
Demonstrated communication and negotiation skills
Demonstrated ability to provide advice

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units:
Work within a herbal medicine framework
Communicate effectively with clients
Apply diagnostic framework

Underpinning knowledge and skills:
Knowledge of common disease states and functional problems of each bodily system
Knowledge of the principles and practice of treating common conditions
Knowledge of the active principles of the herbs which may be prescribed for treatment of each condition/system
Knowledge of the principles of formulation (including dosage and duration of treatment),
Knowledge of supplementary measures in the management of the condition/system eg dietary considerations and exercise
Ability to apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using herbal medicines
Knowledge of major herbs with respect to their use for general symptoms, psychological and physiological indications
Knowledge of minor herbs in respect to their most important indications
Knowledge of groups of herbs and how to distinguish between them
Knowledge of the clinical indications of herbal medicines relevant to specific circumstances eg infectious diseases, First Aid and injuries
Knowledge of the interaction of treatments with foods, other herbs, nutritional supplements and drugs
Knowledge of pharmacology of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines
Knowledge of allopathic drugs, their classifications, usage and side effects
Advanced knowledge of medical terminology
Knowledge of pharmacokinetics of herbal medicines - drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
Knowledge of pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and the theory of drug action; factors modifying drug effect and dosage; drug toxicity and toxicology
Knowledge of drug abuse - signs, consequences, treatment and community resources available
Knowledge of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used in pregnancy and breast feeding
Knowledge of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used to treat disorders of each system of the body
Knowledge of medical reports and diagnostic procedures
Knowledge of the possible responses to treatments
Knowledge of contra-indications of treatment
Knowledge of drug interactions with herbal medicines
Ability to access and understand reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal
Ability to access and interpret up-to-date information on herbal medicines and practices
Knowledge and understanding of methods of preparing treatment and management plans
Knowledge of the correct preparations required for specific treatment
Interpersonal and questioning skills

Resource implications
Resource requirements may include:
An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
Relevant texts or medical manuals
Documented process to enable the access and interpretation of up to date information
Relevant assessment instruments
Appropriate assessment environment
Skilled assessors

Method of assessment
Assessment may include:
Practical demonstration
Simulations
Explanations for plan preparations
Oral questioning and discussion
Practical assignments
Written, multiple choice or short answer tests
Case studies and scenarios
Observation in a practical setting
Research work

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.