The Complete Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive System for Health and Fitness

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Chinese Medicine is a fine prescription for those tired of the bureaucracy or the ineffectiveness of Western medicine. It's also a good resource for those who are just interested in exploring ways to improve their general health. Replete with hundreds of color photographs that lucidly introduce and explain the arts of acupuncture, meditation, acupressure massage, and herbalism, the book includes fitness programs such as qigong and taiji, which help to unblock Qi (pronounced "chee"), the body's life force. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) focuses on Qi and maintains that imbalances of Qi cause illness. The Complete Illustrated Guide shows the meridians, or energy fields, that determine the placement of acupuncture needles to stimulate the Qi. It also explains shen the mental aspect of the body; jing, the constitution; and zangfu, the organ systems. Numerous case studies show how traditional Chinese medical techniques have been used to diagnose and treat patients with various complaints, including heartburn, PMS, and exhaustion. Overall, this is a solid, beautifully organized resource for the family that you'll turn to again and again.