Chinese Medicine Notes

7 Must Have Books in Chinese Medicine

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Yael

Sometimes it feels as though there’s a sea of books in Chinese Medicine.
So many interesting books, how can one choose what to buy?
I will try in this post to write the must have books I feel are essential for practitioners and/or students in Chinese Medicine. This list also contains some books that are still on my wish-list, due to lack of funds they are still on the list and not on my book shelf…
This is of course just what I think, there are many wonderful books out there that can help you grow in your career.

The I Ching- Richard Wilhelm
I just started reading it, but this book talks about a field in it’s own right.
Not to mention one of the most interesting books I have ever read.
Essentially, this is the book that talks about the change between Yin and Yang. And this is one of the more important ideas in Chinese philosophy. Understanding it will give us a better grasp on Chinese Medicine.

A Manual of Acupuncture- Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji, Kevin Baker
This is such a basic book, and yet there is so much to read that you can totally look at it as much more than basic!
I saw many other books about point location but none contained so much information as this manual.
Peter Deadman says this book took 8 years to write, and I believe him. The work they must have put into this book!
I feel that it was worth all the work.
If you’re looking for a book about point location- this is the one.

Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies- Dr. Leon HammerDragon Rises, Red Bird Flies: Psychology & Chinese Medicine
One of the most interesting books in Chinese Medicine, written by Dr. Hammer, a psychiatrist turned practitioner of Chinese Medicine and never looked back.
The indepth look on the Spirit, along with the fascinating theory of Dr. Shen, makes this book a must-read book when one wants a deeper understanding of Chinese psychology (if one can call it that).

The Seven Emotions- Claude Larre and Elizabeth Rochat de la ValleeThe Seven Emotions: Psychology and Health in Ancient China
I simply can’t praise this book enough.
True, there’s more to be said about the seven emotions than what is written in the book, but what *is* written is so beautiful, so inspiring!
There aren’t enough books that talk about the seven emotions. Remembering we are always looking at the emotional state of our patients, and remembering that many of our problems stem from emotional disharmony- this turns out to be a must have book.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians- Claude Larre and Elizabeth Rochat de la Vallee
I simply can’t praise this book enough- part 2.
Honestly, this is the most important book to read about the eight extraordinary meridians.
Such an in-depth subject that so few know much about it, the authors introduce us to such important knowledge about these amazing meridians, and they do so with such beauty.

Note: All the books by Claude Larre and Elizabeth rochat de la Valle are worth buying and reading. The series about the organs are truly wonderful and very important as they give us so much more than just a list to memorize.
Yes, they make one wonder about questions for a long time, but the only way to learn is by asking.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy- Ilkay Chirali
The first time I saw something to do with cupping was on Zorba the Greek, when Zorba applies them on Bubolina’s back.
Cupping is a part of Chinese Medicine, as it is a part of other traditional medicines around the world.
It is an effective tool that can be used for various conditions, not just the invasion of cold or a spasm in a muscle or two. You can apply it on the stomach as well!
The author shows us wonderful new ways to use cupping and make the most of this amazingly simple yet effective tool, which is always a good thing.

Gua Sha- Arya Nielsen
Gua Sha is another effective tool that suffers from very poor public relations. In Israel, schools hardly ever mention it.
The effect of this very easy-to-use tool are wide and priceless.
The one and only book I saw about the subject was written by Arya Nielsen, who travels the world and teaches Gua Sha in various seminars.
If you’re lucky enough to attend- do so! This tool has wonderful results in clinic.
In the meantime, buying the book and learning from it can give a good basic knowledge of how and when to apply Gua Sha.

Another note: yes, the Yellow Emperor started it all, and it is a fundamental book. But honestly, you already know that, right?
So why mention the obvious?

Over to you
Did I miss books that you can’t live without? Would you like to recommend different books?
Leave your comments, I’d love to read them.