Since 1992, CIHS has offered courses for the 
   study of Traditional  Chinese Medicine (TCM). 
   This Home Study option allows for an 

   independent, yet well supported approach 
   for learning the 5000 year old tradition of 
   Chinese Medicine Theory & Herbology.

                                                  Certified

                                     Home Study Courses 

                                                        in

                               Traditional Chinese Medicine

Summary of Course Content: A student enrolled in any of our courses will receive 
CDs of the information covered in our classes, punctuated by clinical experiences 
which makes the study come to life. Detailed outlines of the material covered and 
handouts to facilitate note-taking are also included. In addition, all students will have
 access to experienced TCM practitioners and Chinese Herbalists as tutors online 
and by phone, when questions arise.

A final exam/review  with case studies will help determine satisfactory understanding 
before next module is provided for study.

Individualized Options: Module One (the TCM Theory course) may be omitted from 
certification requirements when a student can demonstrate equivalent experience. 

Module One and Module Two are studied at an individual pace with access to a tutor 
throughout the year. 

Module Three is an intensive four-day experience that takes place at the school twice 
a year. The completion of Modules One and Two is required before taking part in 
Module Three.  Completion of all 3 modules is required for a Certificate of  Completion 
leading to a National Certification.

It should be noted that at this time, no state has authorized separate licensing 

for practicing herbologists. In many states, only acupuncturists or Naturopaths can 

legally prescribe herbs using a western diagnosis. However, that does not prevent you

from consulting with clients and suggesting formulas for them in accordance with Chinese 

medical theory. It is not using herbs that is at issue but diagnosing a Western named 

disease and suggesting a treatment, without having a medical license issued from the 

state you practice in. There are thousands of herbalists in America and Europe. 

In the West, Herbologists have been accepted as healers for hundreds of years. 

In China, Herbalists have been mainstays of the medical healing arts for thousands 

of years.

Module One

Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory

(a pre-requisite for the Chinese Herbology Program or a Stand Alone Course of Study)

                                                                             30 hours    Tuition:$369.00 

This is a powerful course for anyone interested in the Differential Diagnosis of 
Traditional Chinese Medicine and it's uses today.

Aromatherapists, Body workers, Massage therapists, and other wellness practitioners 
 benefit from incorporating this holistic perspective of the human energetic systems. 
Through recognition of patterns, TCM describes disharmonies without diagnosing 
disease.  By studying this material, patients of TCM practitioners can increase their
understanding of the perspective of Chinese medicine, and participate more fully in 
their treatment.

This course also serves as the foundation on which our Chinese Herbology Intensive 
is built upon. All our courses are taught with an emphasis on clinical diagnosis as
 practiced in China today.

Course Objective: Among the distinctive perspectives of Traditional Chinese Medicine 
is the Eight Principle theory. The Eight Principle theory is the foundation for differential 
diagnosis. This course offers a student the opportunity to learn about the terminology and 
diagnostic skills needed for accurately recognizing the clinical signs and symptoms of the 
patterns of disharmonies.

                             CHINESE HERBOLOGY Intensive 

         (This is the complete Home Study version of the One Year Nationally Certified 
                                                    Chinese Herbology Program)

Our Chinese Herbology Intensive is appropriate for every individual interested in the energetics 
of herbs and their uses in Chinese Medicine. Move at your own pace and enjoy the journey into
 this ancient view of the world and discover its modern practical applications. It is an opportunity
 to become empowered with knowledge that is useful in a variety of circumstances. This course is 
appropriate for novice as well as  health practitioners. 

Please remember:

Traditional Chinese Medicine is a system in which no one sign or symptom means anything, 
until it is viewed within the context of patterns and relationships.

Course Objective: Herbology is one of the pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The 
Eight Diagnostic Principles are the background against which Chinese Herbology is 
thoroughly explored. Students are presented with details about the selection and 
therapeutic use of over 150 herbs, and more than 50 Chinese Herbal Formulas.

Summary of Course Content: In this course, Chinese Herbal Medicine is studied 
through the use and understanding of a differential diagnosis. Upon successful completion 
of Level Three, ability to purchase Professional Chinese herbs and formulas
will be given. Also included is information on taking a patient summary, ethics, 
and record keeping.  Module Two has five chapters and each contain:

 1)   A review of the organ and its energetic relationships to the whole, with a thorough 
discussion of the disharmonies of the organ including all the relevant clinical signs 
and symptoms.

2)  A Materia medica of Chinese Herbs that are typically part of formulas used to treat 
specific organ disharmonies. This includes herb identification, classification, taste, 
temperature, and energetic influence.

3)  Chinese Herbal Formula selection and contraindications. This section matches 
disharmonies with formulas, giving careful consideration to all available details of 
the clinical presentation. Pattern recognition and vocabulary are emphasized throughout. 
Multiple case studies are used to illustrate pattern identification, diagnosis and herbal 
formula selection. Samples of most herbs discussed will be included.

Module Two     

Organ Disharmonies

                                                                              100 hours    $1459.00

Module Two consists of five chapters. 

Students will receive all materials (easy to understand text, hand-outs for note taking & CD that 

punctuates the clinical experiences of each organ disharmony) one chapter at a time. Tutoring is 
provided for questions and upon completion of material, each student returns the open book test 
and completed case studies. After the tutor has made an evaluation of the work with remarks, 
the next chapter will be provided.

Chapter One:  SPLEEN DISHARMONIES: Herbs and formulas for transformation (digestive)
 disorders are the focus of this chapter. Spleen disharmonies are typically about deficient Qi
 or excess dampness, and can include the symptoms of wet phlegm, food stagnation, 
diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and discomfort, as well as other middle burner issues. 
Some patterns will include the clinical signs and symptoms that lead to Western diagnoses 
such as acid reflux, food allergies, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome &  urinary in-                                 continence, etc.

Chapter Two:  LIVER DISHARMONIES: Herbs and formulas for disharmonies to promote
 the harmony and smooth flow of movement throughout the body are the emphasis of this 
chapter. Liver disharmonies are often associated with stagnation, confrontation, and issues 
with boundaries. Some of the clinical signs and symptoms include pain, emotional stagnation,
 an abnormal fluctuation of cycles, headaches, dry eyes and more. Some patterns will include 
the signs and symptoms that lead to Western diagnoses such as cysts, PMS, high blood 
pressure, migraines, hepatitis, etc

Chapter Three:  HEART DISHARMONIES: Herbs and formulas to address the Shen and 
heart are covered. The heart is most often affected by patterns of deficiency or excess and 
includes alterations in the aspects of connection and interaction with time and place. Heart 
disharmonies can include clinical signs and symptoms that lead to Western diagnoses such 
as insomnia, depression, anxiety, manic depression and more.

Chapter Four:  LUNG DISHARMONIES: Herbs and formulas to treat the Lung dis-

harmonies are often targeting disturbances in inhalation and exhalation and excessive grief. 

TCM sees this organ as a form of our immune system. Chronic Lung disharmonies are often 
connected with other organ disharmonies, and these patterns are explored. Some clinical 
signs and symptoms may be similar to the western diagnoses of sinus infections, flus and 
colds, coughs,allergies, and asthma.

Chapter Five:  KIDNEY DISHARMONIES AND HERBAL TONICS: Herbs and formulas to
 treat the disharmonies of the kidneys are typically concerned with deficiency, and this 
deficiency typically affects processes to do with maturation. Kidney disharmonies often 
impact other organs. Clinical signs and symptoms may be similar to the Western diagnoses 
of urinary tract infections, incontinence, yeast infections, sexual dysfunctions, premature 
aging and others. Tonic formulas to keep the body strong are also covered in this chapter. 
Each student will receive ingredients and recipes for the preparation of a warming Kidney

Tonic and a Defense Formula Tea for use during the winter months.

Module Three

Clinical Training                           

                                                  32 hours Tuition: $595.00

This four-day intensive will be scheduled twice a year at the Connecticut School for Herbal Studies. 
 Materials to study will be provided prior to the training, so that practical experience can be 
emphasized during the intensive. The school will provide individuals for differential diagnosis..  
Modules one and two are pre-requisites.
The clinical training course will be administered by 
Dr. Gary Fleischman, OMD and Laura Mignosa, NCCH.

TONGUE AND PULSE DIAGNOSIS: Looking is one of the Four Examinations. The TCM 
practitioner includes looking at the tongue and taking the pulse as part of the process of 
gathering information with which to make a diagnosis. Tongue Diagnosis Theory will include 
the basis of color, shape, location, coating, and movement of the tongue for TCM diagnosis.
 Fundamental Theory of Pulse taking, it's parameters, diagnostic skills and hands-on training 
will also be included.

CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS & OBSERVATION: Students will have several opportunities to
 perform clinical differential diagnoses of patients and prescribe appropriate herbal
 formulas. Each student will then present at least one of their cases to the group for discussion 
and feedback.

             The satisfactory completion of the Chinese Herbology Intensive, completion of 
    all assignments, attending the Clinical Training, and submitting a final review, is required 
            to receive a Certificate of Completion. Upon receiving the Certificate of Completion, 
                                          a student may apply for National Certification.

Electives:

After completing your program in Chinese Herbology, you may wish to continue your study and find 
more in depth information on the following subjects. Advanced study in these programs provide additional
certificates with hours reflected below.

BI-SYNDROME: This pattern is about pain in TCM. It includes the Western Diagnosis of 
arthritis, joint pain, trauma and muscular pain. Differential diagnosis and herbs, and formulas 
are covered.

                                                                                                           20 hours        $289.00

GYNOCOLOGICAL ISSUES: Common pathologies seen in the transition of a woman's 
body will be covered including menses irregularities, menopause, mastitis and cancers as
  seen in TCM. Formulas learned in China Hospitals will be shared. The theory of the 
Conception and Penetrating vessel will be addressed.

                                                                                      20 hours        $289.00

EXTERNAL APPLICATION OF CHINESE HERBS: This class will show how to use the 
ancient  Chinese medical tool of observation in determining Chinese organ  disharmonies
 seen on the skin. Chinese Medical Theory, as well as clinical applications of salves, 
liniments, compresses, soaks and  plasters will be addressed. How to apply and make
 these treatments and where to purchase products will be covered as well. Massage 
therapists and lay people alike will find this class extremely useful..                                                          
                                                                                      20 hours         $289.00

 ALTERNATIVES TO SAFE "OVER THE COUNTER" HERBAL PRODUCTS: Learn 
the herbal equivalent to many of our  "over-the-counter" drugs in this class. Discussion 
on formulas to treat common disharmony like stomach and abdominal distress, arthritis, 
flus and colds, coughs, hayfever, trauma and more. You will learn where to purchase 
these herbs, see how affordable they are and value the fact that they are not drugs.

                                                                                       10 hours          $69.00

 
Instructors: 
Laura Mignosa is a Nationally Certified Chinese Herbologist who is both Western and 
China trained. She is the director and primary educator of CIHS since 1992 and travels yearly 
to China for study and to expose her students to the culture and clinical training of Beijing Hospitals. 
Since 1996, Laura has also worked with UConn Medical Center's Oncology Department. For the
 past 3 years she is using Chinese herbs to treat hot flashes with breast cancer patients who are not 
able to use Hormone Replacement Therapy in a clinical study there.

In addition to her work at the school, she is a national lecturer, designs Chinese herbal formulas for
 Pets and works as a consultant on Chinese Herbal Formulas. Her private practice is maintained at
 the school where she effectively treats all types of disharmonies. Appointments for care are made
 thru the school

Sandra Porter is a Registered Aromatherapist and  Chinese Herbologist.  She has studied 
with Jade Shutes, Gabriel Mojay, Laura Mignosa, and Arthur Shattuck. Sandra has recently joined

 the teaching team at CIHS as a co-creator of  the Home Study Programs. She and her husband 
Richard Porter own the Healing Gateways LLC in Guilford, Ct. utilizing  holistic modalities to 
facilitate change toward wellness. Sandra  is a bodyworker instructor and practitioner and 
incorporates her skills of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Essential Oils into her work with clients.

Connecticut School of Herbal Studies

 900 Wells Road

 Wethersfield, CT 06109-2417   (860) 666-5064 

 or email