Materia Medica
MATERIA MEDICA
SCHEDULE: January - June 2026
TIME: Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:00AM -1:00PM
- No classes on February 16, 17, April 6, 7, May 18 and 19, 2026
COURSE LENGTH: 180 hours
DELIVERY: Online (Attendance is taken but recordings are available for all classes.)
COST: $2,700 or $385.71 per month
Cost for AIM Alumni: $257.14 per month (save $900)
Cost for Current AIM Students: $192.85 per month (save $1350.00) *required to have completed Diagnosis
PREREQUISITES: Registered Acupuncturist OR Student enrolled in an Acupuncture program.
Course Description:
This course presents both an exhibition of Chinese herbal theory as well as identification, application and use of individual Chinese herbs. Complementing the three main modules of herbal theory covered is a presentation of Chinese herbs employed clinically in combination with each other. This provides a well rounded foundation for the study of herbal formulas as well as a basis for planning individualized and modified herbal prescriptions.
Course Objective:
The students will learn about the name, nature, flavour, properties, functions, uses, and contraindications of Chinese medicinal substances, which will be used to make herbal formulas, which will be learned later.
Students will study individual herbs that will include:
- Latin name
- Pin Yin name
- Herb category
- Meridian affiliation
- Energy and taste
- Therapeutic actions
- Contraindications
- Dosage
- Preparation and processing
- Combinations
- Visual identification
Categories to be covered:
- Exterior-releasing herbs
- Qi regulating herbs
- Blood invigorating and stasis removing herbs
- Stop bleeding herbs
- Substances for topical application
- Obsolete substances
- Heat-clearing herbs
- Downward draining herbs
- Wind-Damp dispelling herbs
- Aromatic damp-dissolving herbs
- Water regulating and damp-resolving herbs
- Interior-Warming herbs
- Digestive herbs
- Orifice-opening herbs
- Shen calming herbs
- Antiparasitic herbs
- Tonifying herbs
- Liver calming and wind-extinguishing herbs
- Phlegm resolving, coughing and wheezing relieving herb
- Astringent herbs
NOTE: This course is also offered as part of the TCM Practitioner Diploma Program
Enroll Now by emailing info@aim-academy.ca
or by calling 416-323-1818 ext.202
Instructors:
Richard Kwan, BSc, R. TCMP, R. Ac
Richard completed the 4-year Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) program at the Toronto School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TSTCM). He lectured extensively at TSTCM and Eight Branches Academy of Eastern Medicine in the theory of TCM, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. He is also very passionate about his volunteer work with street youth and people with AIDS.
Richard has a strong commitment to Tai Chi and Qi Gong, which he has practiced for over 15 years. For the promotion of health and the prevention of disease, he teaches Tai Chi at the downtown YMCA and in the Beaches.
Richard is the Senior Advisor of TCM & Acupuncture at AIM Academy. He also teaches Fundamentals of TCM, Acupuncture Technique and is a clinic supervisor.
In 2008, he started Simple Cures - a Chinese Medicine centre and has been in private practice in The Beaches and Vaughan. Richard believes that a simple lifestyle promotes better health; he strives to empower his patients to become more proactive with their own healthcare.
Elena Dobrovetsky, M. Sc, R. TCMP, R. Ac
Elena started her medical education in Medical school in the Soviet Union.
She completed a Master’s degree in biomedical chemistry from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
She worked as a scientist at University of Toronto in the biomedical drug discovery field. Her research in the field of protein crystallization resulted in multiple publications in scientific journals. While working with the smallest parts of the human body – proteins, Elena had always been interested in the bigger picture: how smallest particles communicate with each other and work together to make our amazing organism function as ONE big unit.
Because of this search for a more holistic approach to medicine Elena entered AIM Academy in 2016.
Elena has graduated from both the Acupuncture Therapy diploma program and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine diploma program. She feels grateful and excited helping people maintain a healthy, pain free and happy life.