Chinese Medicine Practitioner - Career Advice - Community and Health

Chinese Herbalist

Chinese Medicine Practitioners treat imbalances of energy flows through the body by assessing the whole person and using techniques and methods such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, diet, exercise and breathing therapy. Future Growth Strong A traditional Chinese medicine practitioner practices a form of traditional complementary medicine (CM). They are trained to diagnose and treat a range of conditions. Treatments may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, remedial massage, exercise and breathing therapy, and diet and lifestyle advice. Chinese medicine practitioners must be registered under the national registration and accreditation scheme with the AHPRA Chinese Medicine Board of Australia.

Oriental medicine practitioners use forms of acupuncture and treatment through the Chinese concept of “qi,” which means energy. Oriental medicine treats a variety of ailments including headaches, back pain, arthritis, or other illnesses by identifying patterns of imbalance within a body’s energy levels and working to readjust fluids or tissues in order to keep the body in balance and relieve pain. Oriental medicine techniques include acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, and herbal supplements that are applied to specific body parts or tissues. Practitioners must be able to evaluate a patient’s symptoms and identify what organs or tissues are causing the ailment, and come up with a customized plan that incorporates oriental herbs and practices into a treatment.

ANZSCO ID: 252214

Alternative names: Oriental Medicine Practitioner, Chinese Medical Practitioner, Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, TCM,

Specialisations:

Chinese Herbalist [below]
Acupuncturist [on a different page]- treats disorders and illnesses by inserting fine, sterile needles into specific points on the skin to stimulate the body's defence mechanisms.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

good communication skills
good analytical skills
patient, tactful and compassionate
interest in health and wellbeing

With client
(Source: SITCM)

Duties and Tasks

Chinese medicine practitioners may perform the following tasks:

Assesses patients to determine the nature of the disorder, illness, problem or need by questioning, examining and observing.
Diagnose health problems through discussions with the patient, checking the patient's pulse and tongue, and observing abnormalities in sleep, appetite, perspiration and body temperature
Develops and implements treatment plans using techniques and methods such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage, diet, exercise and breathing therapy.
Formulate traditional Chinese medicine treatment plans based on the patient's diagnosis
Evaluates and documents patients' progress through treatment plans.
Provides dietary and lifestyle advice and guidelines.
Prescribes natural medicines, such as herbal, mineral and animal extracts, to stimulate the body's capacity for self-healing.
Prescribe medicinal substances derived from roots, flowers, seeds and leaves in the form of teas, capsules, tinctures or powders
Advise on dietary and lifestyle choices
Apply other therapies such as acupuncture, cupping (applying a heated cup to the skin to create suction), tui na, and exercise and breathing therapy

Working conditions

An oriental medicine practitioner must feel comfortable working closely with the human body and inserting needles into specific joints or tissues. They must also be calm and friendly in order to make patients feel comfortable, as they may have to remove clothes or wear nothing but a towel or drape.

Most oriental medicine practitioners work in a hospital or private clinic. Most procedures involve the use of calming relaxation techniques, so it is important for a practitioner to make sure the room and environment is relaxing for the patient. Some rooms and procedures may involve candlelight or incense, so it is the practitioner’s job to make sure the environment and atmosphere is just right for the patient.

Some oriental medicine practitioners work in hospitals where the environment can become stressful or tense if patients are dealing with extreme pain or illness. Hospital practitioners will need to be able to maintain a calm disposition with patients even in a stressful or uncomfortable situation. It is their job to relax the patient and help to quickly treat any extreme pain.

Cupping
Cupping
(Source: Torrens University)

Tools and technologies

Oriental medicine techniques include acupuncture, cupping, acupressure, and herbal supplements that are applied to specific body parts or tissues. Acupuncture treatments involve the use of needles being placed in joints and tissues. Cupping involves using cups as a suction equipment to help release toxins from within the body. Acupressure is a form of massage that applies pressure on various points in order to relieve pain in other body parts. Herbal supplements are used to treat ailments from the inside and flush toxins out that may be the cause.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You usually need a bachelor degree in traditional Chinese medicine or health science majoring in traditional Chinese medicine to work as a Chinese Medicine Practitioner.

To get into these courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, biology, chemistry, and earth and environmental science are normally required. A number of institutions in Australia offer degrees in health science with a major in Chinese medicine. Institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study.

Before undertaking clinical placements required by courses, students will need to obtain a National Police Certificate, a Provide First Aid Certificate, immunisations and a Working with Children Check (NSW) or a Working with Vulnerable People Check (ACT).

Employment Opportunities

Most Chinese medicine practitioners work in private practice, but some join other healthcare professionals in multidisciplinary centres. Some may also work in research or operate as consultants. employment opportunities depend on the level of community awareness and acceptance of alternative healthcare practices.

Most oriental medicine practitioners start off working for a hospital or massage therapy clinic. Over time, many practitioners move on to become self-employed, performing Chinese medicine out of their home or own personal clinic. Many also become trained in massage therapy to provide those services to patients as well. There are many business opportunities in oriental medicine between medical advancements and the demand from patients who want to incorporate therapy practices into their life.

Did You Know?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) system of medicine, at least 23 centuries old, that aims to prevent or heal disease by maintaining or restoring yinyang balance. China has one of the world’s oldest medical systems.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal remedies date back at least 2,200 years, although the earliest known written record of Chinese medicine is the Huangdi neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) from the 3rd century BCE. That opus provided the theoretical concepts for TCM that remain the basis of its practice today.

In essence, traditional Chinese healers seek to restore a dynamic balance between two complementary forces, yin (passive) and yang (active), which pervade the human body as they do the universe as a whole. According to TCM, a person is healthy when harmony exists between these two forces; illness, on the other hand, results from a breakdown in the equilibrium of yin and yang.

Chinese herbal medicine focuses on both preventing and treating illness.

All Chinese medicine practitioners must prescribe and dispense Chinese herbal medicines according to guidelines published by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia. These guidelines are important as they aim to protect your health and safety.

Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions are personalised, so people with similar health conditions may receive different Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions.

A qualified Chinese herbal medicine practitioner will adapt your formula as you recover.

Hundreds of substances are used in Chinese herbal medicine. Most substances are of plant origin, although some animal and mineral substances may also be used.

Like all herbal medicines, Chinese medicines can be toxic. They can also interact with other prescription medicines that you may be taking.

Always tell your doctor if you are taking Chinese herbal products.

Traditional Chinese Practitioner
(Source: University of Queensland News)

ANZSCO ID: 252214

Alternative names: Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner, Herbal Medicine Practitioner,

Future Growth Strong
Knowledge, skills and attributes

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been traditionally used as a form of treatment for a multitude of diseases and ailments. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine consists of some 6,000 substances derived from plant, animal and mineral sources, each with its own unique property and specific effect on the body. Herbs are viewed in terms of their properties (cold, cool, warm, hot, or neutral), flavours (pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, or salty) and the respective organs they affect (eg liver, spleen, and kidney).

Over the past 5,000 years, Chinese herbal medicine has evolved into an art form of its own. Ancient herbal information was gathered, complied, formulated, tested, and handed down from generation to generation. Today, practitioners of Chinese medicine continue to prescribe herbal formulas because they are a powerful therapeutic method. The prescribing of Chinese herbal medicine is based upon individual pattern differentiation using “four techniques diagnosis” including pulse and tongue.

Individual herbs are combined to form a formula to increase the benefits of particular actions, and minimise any harmful side effects.

Chinese Herbs
(Source: Cleveland Clinic)

Duties and Tasks

A Chinese Herbalist assesses patient health, prescribes and dispenses herbal remedies, and educates on lifestyle and wellbeing within the framework of Chinese medicine. They consider the potential risks and interactions of herbs, maintain accurate records, and ensure proper usage instructions. They may also work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

In order to create the most effective formula, the herbs are used in different quantities and for different purposes. This allows the herbalist to create a formula aimed at addressing individual needs. Within each formula exists a specific hierarchy of herbs:

Chief (Jun) herb – has the greatest effect upon the principal problem and is the most important ingredient. It is the energetic and therapeutic focus of the entire formula.
Adjuvant (Chen) herbs – strengthen the curative action of the chief herb. These herbs usually address secondary signs and symptoms.
Assistant (Zuo) herbs – The role of assistant herbs is to support and reinforce the effects of other herbs. They also help moderate or eliminate any harsh properties of herbs within the formula.
Guiding (Shi) herbs – harmonise, guide and focus the action of the entire formula on certain meridians or areas of the body.

Chinese herbal formulas combined this way offer specific synergistic actions and effects upon body and mind.

The art and skill of creating a formula lies within choosing the precise and most effective herbs that target an individual’s disharmony. It is important to work with a qualified herbalist who can prescribe the correct formula, monitor progress and adjust it as needed.

Chinese Medicine Practitioner
(Source: YourCareer)

Working conditions

Chinese medical practitioners are very hands-on, often inspecting the patient’s tongue, eyes, and colouring as well as deeply observing the patient using sound, touch, and smell in order to detect any possible disharmony in the patient’s qi. Due to the holistic nature of Chinese medicine, practitioners often make deeper connections with their patients, working to fully understand what may be causing ill health or disease, rather than relying solely on external tests.

Did You Know?

Chinese medicine practitioners are regulated in Australia by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

In Australia, herbs and medicines used by Chinese medicine practitioners are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA makes sure that the medicines meet quality and safety standards. Some herbs used in Chinese herbal products may be safe, but others might not be.

In Australia, Chinese medicine is a nationally registered profession.

Tools and technologies

Besides the mortar and pestle, a Chinese herbalist uses various tools for preparing and administering herbal remedies. These include grinders, sieves, containers, measuring tools, and heating equipment. Specific examples include mixer grinders, spice grinders, fine metal strainers, measuring cups and spoons, and saucepans. Additionally, specialized tools like empty capsules, cellophane bags, and cheesecloth are also used for packaging and processing herbs

Education and training/entrance requirements

To be qualified to practice Chinese herbal medicine, you will need to complete a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

To practice, they must also be registered through regulatory boards AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) and CMBA (Chinese Medicine Board of Australia).

Before undertaking clinical placements required by courses, students will need to obtain a National Police Certificate, a Provide First Aid Certificate, immunisations and a Working with Children Check (NSW) or a Working with Vulnerable People Check (ACT).

Employment Opportunities

By choosing a career in TCM, you’re entering an industry that is on the rise, with demand for TCM services increasing year by year, offering great job security.

Many students of TCM dream of one day opening their own clinic, and this is a definite possibility for a registered practitioner. Owning your own clinic or being self-employed allows you the ultimate professional flexibility. You can choose your own hours, dictate your own work environment, and set up shop wherever you’d like to live.

Chinese Herbal Medicine
(Source: Dantian Health)