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- updated 2010-05-15
 

HerbalThink-TCM
Chinese herbal medicine software: reference, databases, study aids, tutorials

(Formerly: Traditional Chinese Herbal Sciences Self-Study Reference,
TCM Herbal Tutor & TCM Pulse Simulator)

The complete reference database, self-study guide, and self-testing program for physicians and health professionals. Comprehensive interactive-learning software, extensive clinical reference databases, and instructional material. For PC or Mac; now including full support for the newer Intel Macs.

Page contents.....

Copyright ©2002-2009 by RMH-Publications Trust; all rights reserved.


What you will achieve by using HerbalThink-TCM

HerbalThink-TCM provides one of the most thorough means for health professionals to learn aspects of Chinese herbology not taught even at many TCM colleges. HerbalThink-TCM is completely self-explanatory yet thorough, taking you step-by-step from the theory of Chinese herbology (traditional Chinese medicine or "TCM") to clinical applications. Topics include:

  • A complete, self-explanatory reference and study guide for learning clinical Chinese herbology
    • Assessing patterns of disharmony (patterns of symptom and clinical signs)
    • TCM tongue inspection, pulse palpation, and body-type analysis
    • Using the TCM materia medica (herbs)
    • Tailoring herbal formulas to individual needs
    • Detailed guidelines for clinical assessment and strategy
    • Integrating other aspects of health care, including counseling, diet, environmental toxicity
  • Self-testing software that adapts to each user's needs, incrementally introduces new information, tracks performance, and embeds skills into long-term memory
  • Video simulation software that makes learning traditional pulse palpation easy
  • Databases that facilitate complex searches (multiple criteria, Boolean searches)
  • Supplementary material useful in clinical practice: diet and nutrition, environmental toxicity, legal information, office procedures, herb storage and inventory, practical politics of health care

How interactive learning helps you build clinical skills

A unique feature of HerbalThink-TCM is its sophisticated interactive game software, TCM Herbal Tutor, that interactively monitors and displays your progress, progressively introducing and recommending new material as you demonstrate readiness.

TCM Herbal Tutor engages your mind, your senses, and your enthusiasm in interactive activities that simulate as closely as possible the types of thought processes that are crucial in clinical practice. Interactive computer-aided learning, when intelligently designed, is far superior to learning the old-fashioned way (passively listening to lectures and watching videos, and reading texts followed by multiple choice exams). Medical schools have figured this out almost a decade ago, and modern medical education increasingly involves clinical-case-oriented learning and use of simulators and computer-aided instruction before students are allowed to "practice" on real people. The following article explores how computer-aided learning can enhance understanding of TCM theory and practice:

The design team (Roger Wicke, Ph.D., and Curtis Kruse, M.S.) has extensive background in computer science as well as Chinese herbology. The software has been used by students worldwide since the year 2000, and material included in the software has been through several major revisions to fine-tune its effectiveness.

How HerbalThink-TCM fits into our curriculum

HerbalThink-TCM provides a convenient way for international health practitioners to learn a substantial portion of the course material without the inconvenience of travel and taking time away from work. Anyone is welcome to purchase the software; one does not have to enroll as a student at RMHI to purchase it.

RMHI's Levels 1-3 courses all use HerbalThink-TCM as their basic text and reference. These courses require application for admission.

Comments from users

Roger has created a learning tool that goes far and above anything else I've seen in interactive learning for TCM. Working with the Herbal Tutor and games, the material almost "learns itself" -- that is, I learn it faster and easier than I ever would have thought possible without the effort or tedium of memorizing long lists of material.
--- Pauline Vaughan, MA, DAc - Upper Canada Centre for Oriental Medicine (Ontario)

Read what other health professionals and students of TCM herbology have said about HerbalThink-TCM.

Features

The primary differences between HerbalThink-TCM Basic and Pro options are as follows:

  • Only the Pro option includes access to the complete TCM Herbal Tutor module, which is required for use in RMHI's Level-1 training program and is recommended for professional study.
  • Only the Pro option includes access to the complete TCM Pulse Simulator module, which allows you to create real-time video animations of a wide variety of palpated pulse qualities.

Option:  HerbalThink-TCM
Summary of features
Basic Pro
Help (instruction manual) YES YES
 
Traditional Chinese Herbal Sciences (TCHS)
Self-Study Reference (v2.0.7)
Access to all tables of contents and directories YES YES
TCHS Lesson Plans, 41 Lessons YES YES
TCHS volume 1: The Language and Patterns of Life YES YES
TCHS volume 2: Herbs, Strategies, and Case Studies YES YES
TCHS Database, 137 Syndromes YES YES
TCHS Database, 290 Herbs: traditional classifications and descriptions YES YES
TCHS Database, 254 Formulas YES YES
Clinical Case Database, 62 cases YES YES
Special Topics, 17 articles YES YES
 
TCM Herbal Tutor (v3.0.4.2)
    Quick overview of features: TCM Herbal Tutor slideshow (opens in new window)
Study Advisor Partial
(access to a small, limited data set)
YES
Database Tables with advanced search capability Partial
(access to a small, limited data set)
YES
 
TCM Pulse Simulator (v1.0.0.2)
    Quick overview of features: TCM Pulse Simulator slideshow (opens in new window)
Pulse Simulator No YES

System requirements

Windows:

  • Windows 2000 or later (XP, Vista, 2003, 2000)
  • Java* SE 5.0 or later version
  • At least 256 MB free disk space, 512 MB RAM

* Java is standard freeware available from Sun Microsystems
        http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

Macintosh:

  • OSX 10.4.6 or later recommended
  • J2SE 5.0 (included as part of OS X)
  • At least 256 MB free disk space, 512 MB RAM
  • Works on both PowerPC and Intel Macs

Help (instruction manual)

The HerbalThink-TCM software includes a complete instructional manual. You can also access the instruction manual here:

  • HerbalThink-TCM Help

The instruction manual includes several audio-visual tutorials and slideshows that most users find helpful in getting started.


 

Prices

HerbalThink-TCM
Options: Price (USD):
Basic $375
Pro $595

Shipping: Shipping is free within the U.S. Additional shipping/handling fees apply for international orders.

Refunds: If the software does not function correctly on your computer, and the RMHI support staff cannot help you determine the problem, you may return the software for refund or credit within 30 days from shipping date for U.S. orders, and within 45 days of shipping date for international orders.

Prices are subject to change.

Certification option: RMHI candidates for Level-1 Certification will pay an annual tuition fee in addition to the cost of the software. See "How to get started" for step-by-step instructions for enrolling if you wish to receive certification.

To order

Contact us — software orders

Version upgrades

To upgrade from a previous version, please contact us for current discounted prices.

HerbalThink-TCM Users' Forum

Commonly asked questions from registered users are posted on our HerbalThink-TCM Users Forum. Register your software, let us know if your e-mail address changes - registered users receive HerbalThink-TCM User News, a newsletter with tips on using the software, notice of special upgrade offers, etc.

 

Mac OS and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Java is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
All other marks are properties of their respective owners.


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