Copyright © Dongcheng Li

NCCAOM Examination
Review in Chinese
Herbology
Dongcheng Li
Office: (954) 763-9840
E-mail: dcljdl@yahoo.com

NCCAOM Examination
Chinese Herbology

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Chinese Herbology
• Reference Books
– All Knowledge points and Practice questions are from
the following books:
• Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Exams in
Chinese Herbology, Vol. 2 (Volume 2) by Dongcheng Li.
• Chinese Herbology Practice Tests by Dongcheng Li.
• Previous Class Handouts.
• Bensky, Dan, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew
Gamble. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Third
edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 2004.
• Scheid, Volker, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, and Randall
Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies.
2nd ed. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 2009.
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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Chinese Herbology
• DOMAIN I: Safety and Quality (10% of Total
Exam)
• DOMAIN II: Treatment Plan: Develop a
Comprehensive Treatment Plan Using Principles
of Chinese Herbology Based Upon Patient’s
Presentation and Diagnosis (60% of Total Exam)
• DOMAIN III: Patient Management: Patient
Education and Treatment Evaluation (30% of
Total Exam)

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Safety and Quality

• DOMAIN I: Safety and Quality (10% of

Total Exam)
• A. Herbs and Herbal Formulas
1. Cautions and contraindications (e.g., condition-
dependent, incompatibility)
• Identify cautions and contraindications for herbs
and herbal formulas (e.g., condition dependent,
incompatibility)
2. Herb/drug interactions
• Recognize potential herb/drug interactions
• Describe strategies to avoid herb/drug 5
interactions

Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Safety and Quality
3. Toxicity
• Identify potential toxicity of Chinese herbs and
herbal formulas
• Describe strategies to prevent toxicity of
Chinese herbs and herbal formulas
4. Potential adverse effects
• Identify potential adverse effects of Chinese
herbs and herbal formulas
• Prevent and resolve the adverse effects of
Chinese herbs and herbal formulas

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Safety and Quality

B. Herbal Purchasing and Dispensing

1. Identification of raw herbs by appearance, smell,

and taste
– Recognize the appearance of raw Chinese herbs
– Identify the quality of raw Chinese herbs by
appearance, smell, and taste

Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Safety and Quality
• 2. Identification of products containing
endangered species, animal products, and
potential allergens, (e.g., wheat, soy, sulfa)
– Recognize Chinese herbs, herbal formulas and herbal
products containing endangered species, animal
products, and potential allergens (e.g., wheat, soy,
sulfa)
– Identify patient allergies to prevent potential allergic
reactions to Chinese herbs, herbal formulas and
herbal products
– Apply substitutions for individual endangered species,
animal products, and potential allergens (e.g., wheat,
soy, sulfa) in Chinese herbs and herbal formulas 8

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Safety and Quality
• 3. Recognition of potential contamination of
stored herbs
– Identify signs of contamination of stored Chinese
herbs and herbal products
– Identify substitutions for contaminated Chinese herbs
and herbal products
• 4. Identification of product manufacturers in
compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice
standards
– Monitor Chinese herbs and herbal products for
expiration dates
– Assess the quality of Chinese herbs and herbal
products according to current Good Manufacturing 9
Practice (cGMP) standards

Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan
• DOMAIN II: Treatment Plan: Develop a
Comprehensive Treatment Plan Using Principles
of Chinese Herbology Based Upon Patient’s
Presentation and Diagnosis (60% of Total Exam)
• A. Recommend Chinese herbs for Individual
Patients Based on Assessment
• 1. Treatment strategies/methods of Chinese herbal
medicine (e.g., purging, harmonizing, sweating)
– Identify treatment strategies/methods of Chinese
herbs and herbal formulas
– Apply/prescribe Chinese herbs and herbal formulas
based on the treatment strategies/methods of 10
Chinese herbs and herbal formulas

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan
• 2. Individual herbs
• a.) Functions and indications
– Identify the functions and indications of individual Chinese herbs
– Identify the functions and indications of processed forms of Chinese
herbs [e.g., honey- processed (mi zhi), vinegar-processed (cu zhi), dry-
fried (chao), etc.]
– Apply/prescribe individual Chinese herbs for patients based on
presenting signs and symptoms
• b.) Combinations of Chinese herbs (Dui Yao)
– Identify the functions and indications of combinations of Chinese herbs
– Apply/prescribe combinations of Chinese herbs for patients based on
presenting signs and symptoms
• c.) Tastes, properties, direction, and channels entered
– Identify characteristics (tastes, properties, directions, and channels
entered) of Individual Chinese herbs
– Apply/prescribe herbs for individual patients based on Chinese herb 11
characteristics (tastes, properties, directions, and channels entered)

Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan

• 3. Chinese herbal formulas (Refer to Appendix of

Chinese Herbal Formulas)
• a.) Functions and indications
– Identify the functions and indications of Chinese herbal formulas
– Apply/prescribe Chinese herbal formulas for individual patients based
on presenting signs and symptoms
• b.) Ingredients
– Identify the ingredients of Chinese herbal formulas
– Apply/prescribe Chinese herbal formulas for individual patients
– Identify potential substitutions for individual ingredients in Chinese
herbal formulas

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan

• c.) Structure (e.g., chief (Jun); deputy (Chen); guiding

herbs)
– Identify and analyze the structure of Chinese herbal formulas [e.g., chief
(Jun); deputy (Chen); guiding herbs]
– Apply/prescribe Chinese herbs based on the theory of Chinese herbal
formula structure
• d.) Modifications
– Modify Chinese herbal formulas based on a patient’s presenting signs,
symptoms, and medical history

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan

• B. Formulate and Administer Herbal

Recommendation
• 1. Form of administration (e.g., decoction, granules,
topical)
– Differentiate between forms of administration of Chinese herbs
– Apply/prescribe Chinese herbs, herbal formulas, and herbal products for
individual patients based on forms of administration
– Advise individual patients on the use of Chinese herbs, herbal formulas
and herbal products based on forms of administration
• 2. Preparation of herbs and herbal formulas
– Demonstrate knowledge of preparation methods for individual Chinese
herbs and herbal formulas
– Advise individual patients on the preparation methods for individual
Chinese herbs and herbal formulas 14

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Treatment Plan

• 3. Dosage of herbs and formulas

– Demonstrate knowledge of common dosages of individual Chinese
herbs and herbal formulas
– Apply/prescribe appropriate dosages of Chinese herbs and herbal
formulas based on a patient’s presenting signs, symptoms and medical
history

• C. Chinese Dietary Therapy

– Identify the characteristics, actions, and indications of foods based on
TCM principles
– Advise individual patients on the use of foods and dietary therapy in
accordance with TCM principles

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Patient Management
• DOMAIN III: Patient Management: Patient
Education and Treatment Evaluation (30%
of Total Exam)
• A. Patient Education
– Advise individual patients of the benefits and
expectations of Chinese herbal therapy
– Advise individual patients of the potential side-
effect(s) and risks of Chinese herbal therapy,
including informed consent.

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Examination Contents Outline (2015)

Patient Management

• B. Treatment Evaluation and Modification

– Recognize and anticipate Chinese herbal therapy
clinical outcomes for individual patients
– Assess effectiveness of Chinese herbal therapy in
individual patients, based on presenting signs and
symptoms
– Modify treatment plans for individual patients based
on effectiveness of Chinese herbal therapy
– Assess the condition of individual patients for
appropriate medical referral and Intervention

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