Historically, the roots of pharmacology go back to the ancient civilisations which used plants and plant extracts both in healing and as poisons. The accumulated total of this empirical knowledge, acquired by mankind through the ages, provided a foundation for the evolution of scientific pharmacology as it exists today. The well known discovery of the beneficial effects of foxglove extracts for treating some kinds of heart disease, the use of the bark of the willow and cinchona trees in treating fever and the effectiveness of extracts of the poppy in the treatment of dysenteries are outstanding examples of such knowledge which have resulted in important advances in pharmacology, developments which continue today.

The purpose of this module is to provide the learner with theoretical competency in pharmacology, as appropriate for a professional practitioner of natural therapies. The mode of action and classification of commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs are examined, and compared with the actions of preparations used by natural therapists. Competencies gained through completion of this module are intended to facilitate communication between the learner as a naturopathic practitioner, and patients/clients as well as referring practitioners and other health professionals.