Program Overview

Course Plan for Natural Remedies and Complementary Medicine

Introduction

The course plan for Natural Remedies and Complementary Medicine is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. The course is offered by the Department of Neurobiology, Nursing and Society at Karolinska Institutet.

Base data

• Course code: 1QA146
• Course name: Natural Remedies and Complementary Medicine
• Higher education credits: 7.5
• Education form: Higher education, 2007 study order
• Main field of study: Other subjects
• Level: Basic level, the course's in-depth study cannot be classified
• Grading scale: Failed (U) or passed (G)
• Course responsible department: Department of Neurobiology, Health Sciences and Society
• Deciding body: The Education Board NVS
• Date of establishment:
• Revised by: Utbildningsnämnden NVS
• The course plan applies from: Autumn semester 2025

Special authorization

• Special eligibility: 90 higher education credits in health and medical care. Additionally, Swedish B/Swedish 3 and English A/English 6 with a minimum grade of passed/E are required.

Goal

The overall goal of the course is for the student to be able to describe the most commonly used methods in complementary medicine, its research situation, applicable laws and regulations, and to professionally approach patients who use or request these methods.

• After completing the course, the student should be able to:
  • describe the most common complementary medical methods, including herbal medicines, mindfulness, yoga, massage, and acupuncture, as well as their areas of use, applicable laws and regulations, and underlying theories
  • critically examine scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness, safety, and mechanisms of action for a selection of herbal medicines and complementary medical methods
  • compare the importance of different types of scientific studies in the field in relation to the concept of evidence-based care
  • problematize the use of complementary medical methods from a national and international perspective, as well as in relation to culture, gender, and the concept of placebo

Contents

The course focuses on the most commonly used forms of complementary medicine in Sweden, including mechanisms of action, clinical research, and legal aspects:

• herbal medicines
• mindfulness
• yoga
• massage
• acupuncture

Forms of work

The teaching is based on a problem-oriented and collaborative approach to learning, where the working methods provide the opportunity for the student to take active responsibility for their learning. The working methods used are lectures, seminars, study questions, and quizzes.

Examination

The course is examined through a written examination assignment in the form of a home exam.

• Mandatory educational components, in addition to the examination assignment:
  • Attendance at seminars
  • Written individual assignment, including peer review

Transitional provisions

For courses that have ceased or undergone significant changes, at least three additional examination opportunities (in addition to the regular one) will be provided on the previous content for a period of at least one year from the time the change occurred.

Other regulations

Course evaluation is carried out according to the guidelines established by the Committee for Education at the basic and advanced level.

• Language of instruction: Swedish. Teaching in English may occur.

Bibliography and other teaching aids

Compulsory literature

• Complementary and alternative medicine and care - Safety, knowledge and dialogue SOU 2019:15, Asplund, Kjell; Hagelin, Hans; Hultcrantz, Monica; Landerholm, Lisa; Nilsson, Mats; Envall-Rystedt, Anna, Ministry of Social Affairs, 2019

Recommended reading

Offprints and scientific articles are distributed during the course.