• Log in with Facebook Log in with Twitter Log In with Google      Sign In    
  • Create Account
  LongeCity
              Advocacy & Research for Unlimited Lifespans

Photo
- - - - -

Best book to read on Traditional Chinese Medicine?

traditional chinese medicine

  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 jroseland

  • Guest
  • 1,117 posts
  • 162
  • Location:Europe

Posted 09 October 2015 - 08:03 AM


I'd like to get a well rounded understanding on Chinese medicine, can anyone recommend a book on the subject?
 
Something that takes a balanced approach to recent science and history without being to superstitious and wu-wu...

Especially with content on the adaptogens
  • Ginseng
  • Rhodiola
  • Schisandra
Thanks!

 



#2 Junk Master

  • Guest
  • 1,032 posts
  • 88
  • Location:United States

Posted 14 October 2015 - 03:35 AM

I'm interested as well.  Thanks in advance!



sponsored ad

  • Advert
Click HERE to rent this advertising spot for SUPPLEMENTS (in thread) to support LongeCity (this will replace the google ad above).

#3 sativa

  • Guest
  • 536 posts
  • 46
  • Location:United Kingdom
  • NO

Posted 15 October 2015 - 03:30 AM

Try http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/1570620806

Granted it isn't formatted in such a way as you might expect (like how most western books are) but it still provides insight.

#4 aconita

  • Guest
  • 1,389 posts
  • 290
  • Location:Italy
  • NO

Posted 15 October 2015 - 10:26 PM

I am afraid it doesn't exist such a book.

 

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine is an ancient Chinese classical worth a reading for sure but probably not very useful to get a grasp on Traditional Chinese Medicine for the novice.

 

When speaking about TCM it is very difficult to have "a balanced approach to recent science and history without being to superstitious and wu-wu" because of a few reasons.

 

The main problem is that it is very difficult for us to understand the ancient Chinese approach to science, they were thinking analogically, not logically as we do.

 

Their approach was kind of because we will never be able to understand all the subtle mechanism of life, physic, chemistry, etc... (or at least it will take so long that it is unpractical to attempt) let's try another way: the way of analogies.

 

In this approach for example the kidneys are related to black color, to water element, to winter season, to hears orifices, to hearing sense, house of longevity, etc...

 

Kidneys are son of the lungs, grandson of spleen, grandfather of hearth, father of liver...father nourishes son, grandfather oppresses grandson...

 

This is just to give you an idea of how it will look like part of a scientific explanation of a very simple concept like the description of an organ (that is not only an organ but a function as well) ...leave alone something more complex than that!

 

To us it makes no sense, it has no meaning, it looks like "superstitious and wu-wu", but actually it isn't the case at all, it is just the way science was for ancient Chinese...and it is actually very accurate too!

 

All this nonsense superstitious and wu-wu actually has never been dismissed by modern research, not even once!

 

Considering the whole TCM system was alive and kicking well over 2000 years ago without, of course, all the technology we posses today it is a quite impressive result for just some "superstitious and wu-wu".

 

No, that stuff is not "superstitious and wu-wu", it is another way of looking at science, a very scientific and complex way not inferior to our logical mechanistic way but very very hard for us to grasp, leave alone understand or master, that's why TCM is still regarded by many as "superstitious and wu-wu": it is because we are unable to understand the analogical scientific way behind it!

 

That said there are researchers, both in the west and in China, trying to explain in western science terms how TCM works but it is very complicated and to some extent with our present knowledge not possible yet.

 

If you really like to grasp it you'll have to try to grasp that analogical approach to science first, there are no shortcuts here, I am sorry.

 

Anyway a really nice book will be "The web that has no weaver, understanding Chinese medicine", Congdon & Weed, New York by Ted J. Kaptchuk.

 

But no, you are not going to find Ginseng,Rhodiola and Schisandra use in it, for that examine,com is way simpler and faster. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Agree x 1

#5 invisiblejungle

  • Guest
  • 15 posts
  • 7
  • Location:USA

Posted 07 February 2016 - 04:16 AM

This is what I recommend as an intro to Chinese herbalism:

 

http://www.amazon.co...=michael tierra

 

 

If you want to move onto something meatier:

 

http://www.amazon.co...hinese medicine

 

 

To study individual herbs:

 

http://www.amazon.co...nd pharmacology



#6 invisiblejungle

  • Guest
  • 15 posts
  • 7
  • Location:USA

Posted 07 February 2016 - 04:20 AM

If you just want to read up on adaptogens from a moderm biochemical perspective:

 

http://www.amazon.co...g/dp/1620551004



#7 GoingPrimal

  • Guest
  • 263 posts
  • 31
  • Location:Maryland

Posted 11 February 2016 - 09:31 PM

Easily the best two I've read

 

The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs - by the guy who owns and runs Dragon Herbs. Very informative, includes a good balance of science and the history/lore of the herbs.

 

The Tao of Sex, Health and Longevity - covers quite a bit of ground in an easy to understand manner, also touches nicely upon adaptogenic herbs, and even nootropics as well.



#8 Heisok

  • Guest
  • 611 posts
  • 200
  • Location:U.S.
  • NO

Posted 12 February 2016 - 01:25 AM

Thanks for the links to the books which have been found to be helpful. I will add another by the founder of Dragon Herbs. He published it in 1985. Chinese Tonic Herbs, Teeguarden. I have mixed feelings about his current retail operation. 

 

 I have used adaptogens off and on since the early 80's when I visited an herbalist while trying to stay off caffeine in College. I read the Teeguarden book later. I used the methodology to brew combinations of herbs. A question which is always in my mind, is the issue of extracts or instead witches brew of large amounts of the raw substances.  (The witches brew is a joke) The amounts "prescribed" are sometimes wrapped together in bundles which are many ounces total material to be cooked in water or broth over hours, and drained and cooked again at times. (Second extraction)


Edited by heisoktoday, 12 February 2016 - 01:26 AM.


#9 aconita

  • Guest
  • 1,389 posts
  • 290
  • Location:Italy
  • NO

Posted 12 February 2016 - 01:34 AM

The amounts "prescribed" are sometimes wrapped together in bundles which are many ounces total material to be cooked in water or broth over hours, and drained and cooked again at times. (Second extraction)

 

That is the traditional way of Chinese Medicine.

 

With extracts the risk is to miss some compound that will not be extracted in the process or not in the required amounts to work in synergy, the advantage may be to deal with a known amount of actives.

 

I personally tend to prefer the traditional way. 



#10 invisiblejungle

  • Guest
  • 15 posts
  • 7
  • Location:USA

Posted 12 February 2016 - 03:50 AM

Thanks for the links to the books which have been found to be helpful. I will add another by the founder of Dragon Herbs. He published it in 1985. Chinese Tonic Herbs, Teeguarden. I have mixed feelings about his current retail operation. 

 

Hi Heisoktoday,

 

May I ask why you have mixed feelings about Teeguarden's business? I feel the same way, but I'm not sure why. He's obviously marketed himself successfully because many people have come to view Dragon Herbs as the "top" source for Chinese herbs.

 

I can believe his claims about sourcing high-quality herbs, and he does offer some hard-to-find products like wild cordyceps and male silk moths. But it doesn't seem that actual TCM practitioners use his products.



sponsored ad

  • Advert
Click HERE to rent this advertising spot for SUPPLEMENTS (in thread) to support LongeCity (this will replace the google ad above).

#11 Heisok

  • Guest
  • 611 posts
  • 200
  • Location:U.S.
  • NO

Posted 12 February 2016 - 04:27 AM

I think that they use excellent sources. I do not doubt the quality of ingredients.  I would feel confident that one is getting what they say in each of the products.  My main issue is with their more expensive products, such as the Wild Ginseng extracts. I tried them several times through the last 15 years I guess. They use super premium ingredients, but how much can you really extract into 2 ounces of liquid?  What is being left behind?

 

I would recommend their Deer Antler extract for anybody wanting to try Deer Antler.







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: traditional chinese medicine

1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users