Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine an Ayurvedic medicine treatment strategy based on an existing diagnosis, provide relevant advice to the client and complete treatment documentation.
This unit applies to Ayurvedic practitioners working with clients to address specific therapeutic needs.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine treatment strategy | 1.1 Determine the treatment strategy, prognosis and therapeutic expectations according to the diagnosis, client needs and stage of life 1.2 Determine contraindications to treatment and modify treatment strategy accordingly 1.3 Consider treatment and advice information provided by other health care professionals 1.4 Evaluate the impact of disease phase or stage on treatment selection 1.5 Take into consideration possible client compliance issues in specific treatment options 1.6 Select medicines and administration method based on prakruti, vikruti, agni, seasons, ojas & strength of client |
2. Provide advice and resources to the client | 2.1 Clearly explain treatment rationale and expectations 2.2 Provide clear instructions for taking medicines, and negotiate if required 2.3 Explain factors which may interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment 2.4 Negotiate the management of selected Ayurvedic medicines in relation to any other current medicines 2.5 Request client to monitor responses to the supplements 2.6 Clarify and agree responsibilities of practitioner and client within the treatment plan 2.7 Explain and agree treatment evaluation strategies |
3. Complete treatment documentation | 3.1 Document accurate details of Ayurvedic medicines to be provided 3.2 Accurately record details of treatment recommendations in client file 3.3 Record arrangements for treatment review according to clinic guidelines |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 400 hours of Ayurvedic client consultation work,
created at least 40 different client prescriptions. Clients must include males and females from different stages of life with varied presentations
selected medicines based on Ayurvedic principles, determining appropriate medicines based on the diagnosis, including:
information about the condition including phase or stage
prevalent season and sandhi
agni, prapaka, vipaka, malas
triguna/state of mind
available vikruti/medical data
ahara, vihar, aushadhi
kaya chikitsa
bhaishajya kala
available medical data
particular client issues or preferences
contraindications
planned strategies to balance rajasic and tamasic gunnas, to reduce ama generation, to eliminate the excessive build up of doshas, to open all srotamsi, to maintain optimum agni, to restore balance and ojas and to sustain health at all the four levels
interacted effectively with clients:
provided clear explanations about treatment rationale, expectations and affecting factors
provided clear instructions about administration of medicine
explained and agreed treatment monitoring and evaluation
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for Ayurvedic medicines:
codes of conduct
duty of care
informed consent
mandatory reporting
practitioner/client boundaries
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements
work role boundaries
working within scope of practice
presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner
work health and safety
dravyaguna, including:
gunas, rasapanchaka and uses of:
minimum of 100 dravya
current scheduled or restricted Ayurvedic herbs
culinary herbs
groups of herbs used in Ayurveda, their contraindications, identification and distinguishing features, interrelationships and incompatibilities
Ayurvedic herbs with respect to their use for general symptoms, energetic, psychological and physiological indications
active principles of the medicines used for each dosha/condition/system
methods of administration for medicines
ubtans, lepas, base, essential and herb oils, resins, extracts, clays, balms, washes, lubricants, pastes, decoctions
contraindications to treatments
ways to address excessive ama/doshas
principles of chikitsa to achieve the following:
shad upkarma
vyadhiharam
prakrutisthapanam
prakrutivighataka
nidanparivarjana (ch. vi)
dhatushamya chikitsa (ch. su)
vishudha chikitsa (ch. ni)
svabhava chikitsa (ch. su)
pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical and medicines and the theory of drug action, factors modifying drug effect and dosage, drug toxicity and toxicology
pharmacokinetics of Ayurvedic medicines – drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
possible obstacles to cure and responses to treatments
Supplementary measures in the management of the condition/system:
dietary considerations
exercise
lifestyle
stress
interaction of treatments with foods, other herbs, nutritional supplements and drugs
principles of formulation (including dosage and duration of treatment) for:
avaleha
chitrakharitaki
drakshavelha
erand pak
haridrai khanda
haritakyadi rasayana
kutjavelha
musali pak
saubhagya shounthi pak
shilajatu rasayana
supari pak
triphala rasayana
ghritam - a minimum of 5
kashayam - a minimum of 5
choorana - a minimum of 10
guggulu – a minimum of 7
vati - a minimum of 5
lauh mandoor – a minimum of 2
asava and arishta – a minimum of 10
bhasmas - a minimum of 5
arka - a minimm of 2
shad bindu taila- a minimum of 5
swarsa
kalka
kwatha
hima
phanta
ubtan,
dravaka
ghrita
lavana kshara
lepa
mandoora
pishti
sattva
taila
varti
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated clinical environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
client information – case notes, health record
private consultation area
Ayurvedic Formulary of India
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
other Ayurvedic reference texts
online TGA references regarding labelling
information on scheduled herbs
modelling of industry operating conditions, including provision of services to the general public
clinic supervision by a person who meets the assessor requirements outlined below
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must:
have at least 5 years current clinical experience working as an Ayurvedic practitioner providing services to the general public
hold practising membership of an Australian professional body that represents Ayurvedic practitioners
fulfil the continuing professional development requirements of the professional body to which they belong
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency