The primary goal of this module is to understand the body’s musculoskeletal system through the eyes of the herbalist. During this four week course we will explore in depth the physiology (and some anatomy) of the musculoskeletal system.
Injury, illness and healing in the body can be more fully understood by investigating the tissue affected. This includes understanding soft tissue and skeletal response to injury, infection and chronic illness. What types of tissue, blood supply and cellular regrowth/recovery do we see when working our way from the innermost section of a bone, to the tissue surrounding the bone superficially to connective tissue and muscle? What are some of the most important anatomical landmarks and locations that we should be aware of in responding to musculoskeletal injury and illness? What other organ and physiological systems are crucial to understand in their support of the musculoskeletal system as it heals?
Topics that will be explored and taught in this course include:
- Understanding musculoskeletal inflammation – local and systemic
- Musculoskeletal stress: Load vs. recovery
- Crucial stress points – joints and joint physiology
- Herbal delivery systems: Getting the herb to the tissue
- Sports medicine concepts for the herbalist
- Understanding infection in musculoskeletal tissue
- Chronic musculoskeletal diseases
- Chronic musculoskeletal injuries
- Musculoskeletal pain management
- Materia medica (i.e. herbs) and their usage for musculoskeletal pathologies
There will be a weekly release of materials to include recorded lectures, pdfs, slideshows, and resources in addition to live sessions each week with instructor Carol Jones.
