CH7100 CHM Dispensary 2
Two labs are required in the Chinese herbal dispensary at Bastyr Center for Natural Health. These courses provide students with hands-on experience in dispensing Chinese herbal medicinal formulations. This includes the assembly of raw (bulk) herbs, powders, or granule formulas from an herbal prescription provided by a clinic supervisor, an herbal student on shift, or a licensed acupuncturist. The student selects the correct ingredients, weighs them out, and packages the formula appropriately for dispensing. The course also covers physical identification of herbs, basic sanitation, toxic herbs and safety considerations, and the proper handling of herbs that must be crushed, packaged separately, precooked, or added at the end of the decocting process. The labs can be taken at any time once a student has begun the herbal curriculum. It is recommended that students complete at least one dispensary lab prior to starting Internship 2.