The ability to apply complex theory to practice is a vital skill for acupuncturists. Case studies and medical records are an extremely useful resource for understanding how to differentiate between different syndromes, and provide invaluable precedents for deciding upon appropriate methods of diagnosis and treatment. This book presents a collection of real case studies of patients who have been treated by prominent acupuncture practitioners in China. The case studies are divided into five sub-categories of disease, and include information on the patient's medical history, presenting complaint, symptoms, tongue and pulse examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prescription as well as the Western diagnosis. More than 170 different case studies are included in the book, covering 73 different types of syndromes and disease. A useful appendix with the Chinese and English names for these syndromes is also included. Compiled by leading experts at the China Beijing International Acupuncture Training Center (CBIATC), under the editorial direction of leading Chinese clinicians Zhu Bing and Wang Hongcai, this book is a useful reference for acupuncture practitioners and students at all levels.

'It was August 1, a time when New York children are generally wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts. My first patient was 18 months old and dressed more appropriately for late fall. When we took off his clothes I saw why. He was covered head-to-toe with oozing, staph-infected lesions, which he promptly began to scratch. That explained the overdressing - it was the only deterrent to scratching ... I had expected quick resolution using oral medication-teas - based on my experience in China. I wasn't prepared for this level of severity.'Dr Xiu-Min LiThus began Dr Li's journey into the treatment of eczema in the United States, which afflicts some 15-20% of children and 10% of adults. This book represents years of collaboration with patients, parents, pediatricians, allergists and dermatologists to treat disorders that resist standard intervention, and in some cases are caused by conventional treatment in the form of topical corticosteroids. Chronic use of steroids by patients desperate for relief from itching, oozing and scaling, and subsequent withdrawal can result in severe physical and psychological symptoms.'It wasn't just the extent of the disease. It was also the toll it took on family quality of life. Kids were crying. Mothers were crying. They were all sleeping badly. Most of these families also had bad food allergies, but food allergy is a silent disease. People worry about it, but with eczema they suffer every day.'Dr LiThis is a book of scholarship. Dr Li, explores the literature of traditional Chinese medicine, which has a long history of describing and treating skin disorders, to find therapies that might benefit current patients. It is a book of science as Dr Li and her team use state-of-the-art technology to explore the mechanisms of disease, the therapeutic effects of the herbs, and ways to make them more effective. But it is also a book of compassion as patients and their families recount their experience of illness and the road back, after working with Dr Li's private practice.Dr Li has dual professorships in Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, and Otolaryngology at New York Medical College. Dr Li and her team have long devoted to themselves to developing novel therapies for food allergy, asthma, eczema, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and Crohn's disease, among other inflammatory conditions.

With 18 states that have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, more Americans are curious about medical cannabis: How can it help me? What illnesses does it alleviate? How do I procure it? "The Medical Cannabis Guidebook: The Definitive Guide To Using and Growing Medicinal Marijuana" is the most exhaustive guide to medicinal cannabis produced to date, with information regarding the types of illnesses and diseases that can be helped by cannabis, real case studies from medical users, grow information, legal advice, and more. With many recipes for extracts, descriptions of administration techniques, and discussions of the therapeutic uses of cannabis throughout the ages, "The Medical Cannabis Guidebook" serves as a handbook for cannabis use and also allows patients to make and grow their own medicine, prepare it in the correct way for their specific illness, dose correctly, and educate themselves so they can make their own informed choices. An indispensable guide for anyone needing medical cannabis, anyone curious about its uses and even long time users looking to get the most out of their medicine, this book is the only true medicinal cannabis handbook on the market today written by two world renowned and respected cannabis experts.

A handbook for acupuncturists and healthcare practitioners on the use of acupuncture for end-of-life care. The book covers the major hospice and palliative care diagnoses from a Chinese medicine perspective, as well as grief and loss, and includes the roots of Chinese historical perspectives on death and dying. The acupuncturist is introduced to the working medical model of hospice care and the interdisciplinary team approach and provided with evidence-based strategies for the use the acupuncture in symptom management.

This accessibly written book examines the most commonly taken dietary supplements, exploring what they are and what they're purported to do, and summarizing key research findings regarding their potential health benefits and risks. Today, more than 50 percent of Americans take at least one type of dietary supplement regularly. But do these products actually work? How are they regulated? Are there any potential health risks? Dietary Supplements: Fact versus Fiction examines the most commonly used non-nutrient supplements (those that are neither vitamins nor minerals and not essential for human health). Using a standardized structure, each entry discusses a particular supplement's origins, purported benefits, potential risks, and common dosage. Summaries of key research studies are included to help readers make informed decisions about supplements' usefulness. Introductory materials give readers a foundational understanding of how supplements are regulated and labeled and offer practical information about how to read a Supplement Facts panel. For those interested in supplements for a particular health complaint (such as fatigue or pain), a topic finder has also been included. Provides unbiased, evidence-based information to help readers make their own decisions about supplementation Summarizes and contextualizes key research findings in easy-to-understand language Uses a standardized structure and topic finder to make it easy for readers to find the exact information they're looking for Offers practical information on how to read and understand the Supplement Facts panel found on all dietary supplements

In this second "Earthwise Herbal" ('herbal', as defined by Merriam-Webster, is 'a book about plants especially with reference to their medicinal properties') Matthew Wood, an expert herbalist who has used medicinal herbs in tens of thousands of cases over a twenty-five-year career, provides detailed descriptions of New World (North American) herbs and their uses. The first volume of this two-volume set, "The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants", was published by North Atlantic Books in May 2008. Organized as a material medica (names and descriptions of herbs/plants are listed alphabetically), the book explains the use of the whole plant - not just 'active ingredients' - in the treatment of the whole person and describes symptoms and conditions that the plants have been successful in treating (digestive ailments, headaches, high blood pressure, asthma, skin rashes, and allergies, to name a few). Wood, one of very few writers who has systematically studied ancient and traditional herbal literature, rather than the occasional text, takes a historical view and presents information in a thoughtful, engaging, non-technical style. In addition, he provides remarkable case studies as well as insight into the 'logic' of each plant - its current usage, past usage, pharmacological constituents, and other elements that together produce a comprehensive portrait of the plant.

A clear and accessible two-part resource to learn the location and function of the acupuncture points. Part I of the book comprises a series of 27 charts covering the primary meridians plus the extraordinary meridians and the known extra points. These charts show the location of the meridians and acupuncture points within the body, while explaining the functions of the points. The second part of the book provides blank charts for the student to annotate. Containing a vast amount of information in an engaging format, this book offers the perfect visual reference for acupuncturists and students, and the blank sheets offer a proven and interactive way for students to learn the different points or meridians.

***This paperback edition has a new introduction by the author and updated content.
This is the first volume of North Atlantic Books' updated paperback edition of Dale Pendell's "Pharmako" trilogy, an encyclopedic study of the history and uses of psychoactive plants and related synthetics first published between 1995 and 2005. The books form an interrelated suite of works that provide the reader with a unique, reliable, and often personal immersion in this medically, culturally, and spiritually fascinating subject. All three books are beautifully designed and illustrated, and are written with unparalleled authority, erudition, playfulness, and range.
"Pharmako/Poeia: Plant Powers, Poisons, and Herbcraft "includes a new introduction by the author and as in previous editions focuses on familiar psychoactive plant-derived substances and related synthetics, ranging from the licit (tobacco, alcohol) to the illicit (cannabis, opium) and the exotic (absinthe, salvia divinorum, nitrous oxide). Each substance is explored in detail, not only with information on its history, pharmacology, preparation, and cultural and esoteric correspondences, but also the subtleties of each plant's effect on consciousness in a way that only poets can do. The whole concoction is sprinkled with abundant quotations from famous writers, creating a literary brew as intoxicating as its subject.
The "Pharmako" series is continued in "Pharmako/Dynamis" (focusing on stimulants and empathogens) and "Pharmako/Gnosis "(which addresses psychedelics and shamanic plants).

As people moved into cities and suburbs and embraced modern medicine and industrialized food, they lost their connection to nature, in particular to the plants with which humanity coevolved. These plants are essential components of our physiologies--tangible reminders of cross-kingdom signaling--and key not only to vibrant physical health and prevention of illness but also to soothing and awakening the troubled spirit. Blending traditional herbal medicine with history, mythology, clinical practice, and recent findings in physiology and biochemistry, herbalist Guido Mase explores the three classes of plants necessary for the healthy functioning of our bodies and minds--aromatics, bitters, and tonics. He explains how bitter plants ignite digestion, balance blood sugar, buffer toxicity, and improve metabolism; how tonic plants normalize the functions of our cells and nourish the immune system; and how aromatic plants relax tense organs, nerves, and muscles and stimulate sluggish systems, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. He reveals how wild plants regulate our heart variability rate and adjust the way DNA is read by our cells, controlling the self-destructive tendencies that lead to chronic inflammation or cancer. Offering examples of ancient and modern uses of wild plants in each of the 3 classes--from aromatic peppermint to bitter dandelion to tonic chocolate--Mase provides easy recipes to integrate them into meals as seasonings and as central ingredients in soups, stocks, salads, and grain dishes as well as including formulas for teas, spirits, and tinctures. Providing a framework for safe and effective use as well as new insights to enrich the practice of advanced herbalists, he shows how healing "wild plant deficiency syndrome"--that is, adding wild plants back into our diets--is vital not only to our health but also to our spiritual development.

Chinese Dietary Therapy is one of the pillars of Chinese medicine and has a large role to play in health. This comprehensive book allows practitioners to add this important element to their paediatric practice and to advise parents on positive food choices for their children. With childhood allergies, asthma, ADHD, obesity and childhood diabetes on the rise, this indispensable resource provides advice on using food as medicine for particular common ailments - such as chronic coughs, colds, stomach aches and constipation. It describes how to use food to prevent illness in children and for long-term health benefits, with a focus on strengthening digestion for a resilient immune system. It also demonstrates how diet can bring the body closer to a state of balance by living in accordance with seasons and the world around us, and listening to the body's intuitions. Focusing on the pivotal role of digestion in a resilient and better immune system for optimal health, Treating Children with Chinese Dietary Therapy gives practitioners of Chinese medicine a resource to bring this ancient awareness to today's parents.

Whether you live in a mountain cabin or a city loft, plant spirits present themselves to us everywhere. Since its first printing in 1995, Plant Spirit Medicine has passed hand-to-hand among countless readers drawn to indigenous spirituality and all things alive and green. In this updated edition, Eliot Cowan invites us to discover the healing power of plants-not merely their physical medicinal properties, but the deeper wisdom and gifts that they offer. Enriched by many new insights, this guide unfolds as a series of chapters on how plant spirit medicine helped Cowan resolve specific challenges in his own healing journey and in his work with others. In the telling, we learn how plant spirits can directly communicate with and aid all of us, including: Plant spirit medicine's five-element view of healing * Ways to assess our own states of health and balance * Receiving guidance from plants, including those found within herbal preparations * New passages on community and sacred plants such as peyote, marijuana, and tobacco * Additional interviews with plant shamans across diverse traditions, and more

In the tradition of the bestselling Alchemy of Herbs, The Complete Guide to Adaptogens details the benefits of twenty-four adaptogenic herbs, and includes more than seventy-five recipes that target specific wellness categories such as sleep, mental focus, beauty-and more! Adaptogens are a unique class of herbs that greatly improve your body's reaction to emotional and physical stress, while also increasing your energy, stamina, endurance, and mental clarity. Recent studies support what practitioners of Indian Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine have known for centuries-these herbs such as Rhodiola, ginseng, licorice, and more, have many heath and wellness benefits and are safe for long-term use. Whether you're interested in honing your mental abilities to a razor-sharp level, want to boost your athleticism, or are looking for ways to elevate your healthy lifestyle, adaptogens have so much to offer for everyday well-being. In The Complete Guide to Adaptagens, you'll learn about the numerous benefits of twenty-four popular adaptogenic herbs, including Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Maca, He Shou Wu, and Holy Basil. You'll also find more than seventy-five easy recipes for potions and remedies to improve sleep, mood, mental focus, immune function, stamina, as well as general wellness and beauty. These all-natural, safe remedies fight the effects of chronic stress, while restoring your body's balance, health, and vitality.

Did you know that gin was first created as an anti-malarial? Or that Buckfast Tonic Wine was created by Benedictine monks as a cure-all? Whilst alcohol is today best known for its intoxicating properties, in the past it was prized for its ability to extract and preserve the active elements from herbs. In fact, many of our favourite drinks were originally created for medicinal purposes. Herbal Elixirs is a detailed guide to the process of creating your own herb-based alcoholic drinks and an exploration of the rich history of similar drinks across Europe. Topics covered include: the history of herbal drinks in Europe; how to make your own tinctures, infusions and decoctions; the art of distillation: how to make alcohol and use a still; botanical information for identifying and using plants; recipes for restorative herbal drinks, and finally, a seasonal guide to foraging in the UK. Drawing on both natural and scientific research, this fascinating book will reacquaint you with this tradition, offering detailed explanations of the processes involved and sharing the skills to design and make your own herbal elixirs.

Food is our most powerful medicine. This outstanding book introduces and teaches us how to apply the ancient wisdom and traditions of the healing that comes through food according to Chinese medicine. You'll be introduced to a new way of not only thinking about yourself but what you need to eat to achieve balance and ultimately improve your health. Ellen provides a keen and comprehensive understanding behind the basic principles of Chinese medicine so they can be easily applied to our day-to-day lives. She then takes these same concepts, expands on them and applies to the food we should be eating in order to maximize the tenets of Chinese dietary therapy. Eating well is essential to good health and Chinese medicine believes that food truly is medicine. In an easy-to-understand and straightforward manner, Ellen explains how and which combination of foods and flavours act upon the body to move qi (which is energy) and how they act on the body to warm or cool. Many of the modern day chronic health problems caused by lifestyle, genetics and stress can be helped by distinctive and long lasting changes in the way we eat. 150 enticing recipes organized by season help you easily put the theory of Chinese medicine into practice. You'll be able to put together meals that are appropriate for each season from breakfast to dinner and including beverages and desserts. All the recipes are super straightforward, easy to assemble and easily adapted to met your needs, desires and tastes. You'll soon be on your way to utilizing the principles you've learned and applying where they count most - in your kitchen.

A cultural history of the concept of pharmacy, both the material nature of drugs and the trade in medicine, in early modern China Know Your Remedies presents a panoramic inquiry into China's early modern cultural transformation through the lens of pharmacy. In the history of science and civilization in China, pharmacy-as a commercial enterprise and as a branch of classical medicine-resists easy characterization. While China's long tradition of documenting the natural world through state-commissioned pharmacopeias, known as bencao, dwindled after the sixteenth century, the ubiquitous presence of Chinese pharmacy shops around the world today testifies to the vitality of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Rejecting narratives of intellectual stagnation or an unchanging folk culture, He Bian argues that pharmacy's history in early modern China can best be understood as a dynamic interplay between elite and popular culture. Beginning with decentralizing trends in book culture and fiscal policy in the sixteenth century, Bian reveals pharmacy's central role in late Ming public discourse. Fueled by factional politics in the early 1600s, amateur investigation into pharmacology reached peak popularity among the literati on the eve of the Qing conquest in the mid-seventeenth century. The eighteenth century witnessed a systematic reclassification of knowledge, as the Qing court turned away from pharmacopeia in favor of a demedicalized natural history. Throughout this time, growth in long-distance trade enabled the rise of urban pharmacy shops, generating new knowledge about the natural world. Bringing together a wealth of primary sources, Know Your Remedies makes an essential contribution to the study of Chinese history and the history of medicine.