Acupuncture Books

This book could have been more in-depth with written description. It is also geared more to the masseuse standing and the receiver sitting. I was looking for a typical massage setting, where the masseuse stands and the receiver is lying on a massage table. Illustrations clear and gave additional instruction.

The title says it all. Anyone with a basic understanding of Oriental philosophy knows that it is impossible to go beyond Yin and Yang - the polar opposites that encompass the entire universe. The arrogance of western ideologies and the ignorance of Chinese philosophy is evident throughout this book.

As a first-year acupuncture student, I wanted to arm myself with all the help I could get. The Maciocia Channel of Acupuncture text was required, so I purchased the accompanying Cards because I felt I could easily take them with me and study in the subway, the gym, etc. First off - they are too big for that. Although they are beautifully made and spiral-bound, they are inconvenient to carry around because of their size and bulk. Second, it leaves out many very important Chinese names that in my school, at least, are essential to memorize while learning the channels and regions. For example, the cutaneous regions are labelled Greater Yang, Lesser Yang, but where are the very essential Chinese terms? I tried writing it in but the paper is so glossy that a Sharpie smears on the page. This set is beautifully packaged but not so useful - what has really served me this year is the Pocket Atlas of Acupuncture by Hempen and Chow - although it is in book form vs. cards, it is easy to carry around and has everything I need concisely organized for much less money.

The merit of this book is in providing in a central location describing many traditional Chinese herbs and the ailments they claim to treat. Having said this, there is little else of merit. Much of the text describes unsubstantiated claims, at variance with the modern scientific understanding of human biology.

Maybe some of these herbs and treatments have true theraputic value. But the onus of proof is on their proponents.

While the Qi Gong in this books may probably help you on some level, it's written by quite a controvercial figure accused of running a large-scale cult. If you are curious, definitely worth taking a look, but take with a grain of salt.

I find it interesting that the author attempts to re-write history to a point, placing Korea as the source of Qi Gong. It is a well established historical fact that India introduced the breathing exercises and body postures which were later spread to China and Korea. However, when in doubt, do your own research, and don't take all your information from one source.

This book's title does not match its contents. I was disappointed of the contents. I thought it is a dictionary where I could look for different Chinese herbal meaning and espcially the "pin yin" what actually means in English or even got pictures to make it comprehend for readers. I hope someone could introduce me a Chinese Medicine booklet which explains what the "pin yin" is, and with pictures to show what it is good for or healing for.

An introductory text that will expose the reader to veterinary acupuncture but very little depth to the information.

This book is fine if you confine your reading to the chapters on Swedish massage. Most of the other sections are loaded with silliness, including admonitions not to practice certain massage techniques during eclipses or earthquakes. These other techniques are discussed in such a vague, airy manner that I honestly don't know how someone would evaluate whether they had learned them properly or not.

I am a physician, after having first been a researcher and a psychophysiologist. I looked forward to exploring more modern concepts of accupuncture and some serious scientific inquiry into how it works or doesn't work. This however is outdated (1992) and the author has quite an oversized ego evident from the beginning and persisting at least through the the first 3 chapters. His ego trip is becoming a barrier to maintaining an open mind. I am losing interest. Even from his own account of the conflict, he is starting to make me wonder if those who disagree with him might be right.

I do appreciate his honesty in stating what he hasn't tried. However, from there I am frustrated.

For someone who claims to have the inside track on research, he provides little or no evidentiary details for his assertions. He mostly tries to represent himself as the wise debunker of all the unnecessary traditional beliefs in points, meridians and methods for enhancing further stimulation of needling. So we apparently don't need to bother with accurate point location, electrical stimulation, moxibustion,etc.

Admittedly dropping these traditions could be a lot more convenient. Instead he prefers to keep it simple by inserting deeper, twisting and finding the threshold for no gain unless there's pain.

Now is the point that as a person training to perform acupuncture and as the recipient of many sessions of it by different practitioners-- I am getting a bit skeptical about applying his ideas without solid data. I'd prefer my acupuncturist has at least some investment in choosing locations wisely and avoiding unnecessary pain when possible. I may be wrong here, but it seems logical that bones are buried deeply beneath a lot of tissue because they might prefer to minimize most external contacts, particularly those which are pointed or sharp.

So...I don't know yet. I may have to wait until further in my training experience to optimally assess his book. There is a chance he may be right. Nonetheless, he has not provided sufficient evidence-based material. Instead I found mostly indidvidual case comments not sufficienty developed to actually call them much less publish them as case studies and lots more of his strongly held opinions.

Just like the traditional schools which he no longer wants to take on faith or authority...he asks that I, the reader, take his word based on authority -- because he is the author of other textbooks and devised an international nomenclature for points, which indicidentally he no longer believes in (and which was subsequently revised by the World Health Organization apparently by people he regards as downright foolish.)

Bottomline: I haven't read anything in his book so far that qualfies as evidence-based, except evidence for too many requests to take his word for it. Like the "Chinese Masters" he now challenges, as more years pass between his stature as THE classic textbook author and THE early definer of one nomenclature system he now discredits, his writing will hold less credibility for many of us if the ratio of opinion to solid data continues to be this high.

He could do better, obviously ... if he is indeed this passionate about debunking the old myths and in persuading new generations of medical acupunturists to sell their patients on enduring deeper pain, to-the-bone pain, in order to relieve their pain.

This book looks like it was produced by a desktop publisher, or possibly even the author himself. The typeface is clunky and there are grammar and punctuation errors, which made me question its credibility. The author repeatedly states that to be successful as an acupuncturist, one must "set the stage" and look the part. The same can be said if you want to be taken seriously as a writer. The book must look professionally edited and produced, which *can* be done on a modest budget. The author has scattered pictures throughout of what appear to be his daughters(?) and his cats. There are also random pictures of a tree trunk, some kind of outdoor park, and a few other oddballs that just destroy any modicum of credibility the writer is trying to achieve with this publication.

Other than that, I guess there are a few good tips re: how to set up and run an acupuncture clinic. I wouldn't call them "secrets," however. It seems like any good and/or successful acupuncturist could impart the same knowledge. I was also put off by his tone in some parts. He comes off as sounding flippant and/or hard-edged. He often begins his advice with, "If I were you, I'd . . ." This book would benefit from a good editor!

Lastly, he says that "the best method of improving your income, is to decrease the ratio of time you spend treating a patient directly, in modalities such as needling, moxa, or cupping, and to spend the remaining visit time on modalities that only demand your momentary or indirect attention, such as acupuncture in situ or low frequency electrical acupuncture." That's not the kind of acupuncturist I'd like to be. I'd like to read a book about how to run a successful clinic while utilizing all of the aspects that make TCM TCM. Medical massage, qi gong, acupuncture, herbs, moxa, cupping, nutritional counseling -- these are the things that attracted many people to the practice of TCM in the first place. The combination of these therapies is what promotes good healing, so it would seem.

The author does seem to have an impressive bio, so I really don't know what to think about that combined with my odd feeling about the book overall. He's retired now and devoting his time to writing and photography. Thus the kitty photos he's treated us to in chapters such as "Should an Acupuncturist cultivate a medical associate?" (his punctuation).