Customer Reviews

Acupuncture: A Viable Medical Alternative

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While I was a student of the New England School of Acupuncture I had the great pleasure of being a student in Marie's clinic for 3 years. She is a practitioner of the highest quality. She was trained by Dr. James Tin Yau So, also at the New England School of Acupunture and is one of America's most senior practitioners. Her book is a great introduction for laypeople and a resouce for students. I highly reccomend it!

I'm a student working on my master's degree in Oriental Medicine. This is so far the best book I've read that I could lend to friends who know nothing about TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and want to understand better what it is capable of.

Some books tend to delve much more into the historical philosophy of the medicine and this may turn people with a materialistic viewpoint off from it. I've lent these books (such as "The Web That Has No Weaver") and they were too esoteric (not materialistic enough) for some people. It won't delve into the "how" of the workings of TCM (ie: it won't try to make biochemical or physical translations of TCM principles). Instead, the author uses many examples in her practice of how she was able to treat many different problems in various areas of medicine (orthopedics, neurology, etc.) and she goes into detail how the patients responded.

It will not be enough for someone looking for a nuts-n-bolts, or philosophical understanding of TCM, but rather it's great for someone who wants to know more about the root-cause centered philosophy of treatment, and the capabilities of the medicine.

The only part that might be "out of date" is where Marie references how little respect and understanding that acupuncturists get from the established medical industry and from a legal perspective. Although that is likely true still, it has improved some since she wrote the book.

As an acupuncturist, I receive questions about the medicine I've chosen to practice all the time. Sometimes the people asking the questions want a book. This is the one I give them. It's easy to read, insightful and gives a clear picture of how acupuncture is a truly profound and competent medicine for the world right now.