Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica [Hardcover]

Dan Bensky (Author), Andrew Gamble (Compiler)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0939616157 | ISBN-13: 978-0939616152 | Publication Date: January 1993 | Edition: Revised

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Revised Edition) is an extensive sourcebook of information about the most commonly used substances in Chinese herbal medicine. Compiled from leading textbooks in China, this edition presents an in-depth study of 473 medicinal substances. Meticulously illustrated, each herb is identified by its pharmaceutical, botanical and family names, together with its Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English common names.

Each entry details the traditional properties, actions and indications, principal combinations, dosage and contraindications of the herb, and contains summaries of abstracts regarding modern pharmacological & clinical research. The book also details the qualities to look for in the appearance of each herb, where it is grown, and when it is harvested.

The herbs are conveniently grouped in chapters by function, with chapter summaries that compare and contrast those with similar properties. An introduction describes how to prepare and dispense the herbs. Extensive indices provide easy access and cross references to information throughout the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly recommended, handsome and practical publication." -- The Pacific Journal of Oriental Medicine

"The standard reference on Chinese materia medica." -- Steven Foster, HerbalGram

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 581 pages
• Publisher: Eastland Pr; Revised edition (January 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939616157
• ISBN-13: 978-0939616152
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Materia Medica (Chinese Herbal Medicine) Dan Bensky, April 5, 2000

By 

sean stephens (San Diego California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Hardcover)

This is a well written and authoritive text that is very precise, yet easily readable. The book is categorized by the functions of herbs, and makes an extremely conveinant reference. The index is complete with Pin-yin translations as well as english, korean and japanese. A must have book for those interested in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Illurstrations are included for all herbs, and medicinals. Rational explanations are included for the functions of the herbs, as well as information about common combinations with other herbs. Truly a great text!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Professionals and Students Only, August 25, 2003

By 

Brian B. Carter (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Hardcover)

This is still the authorative book on single Chinese herbs. However, Chinese herbs are nearly always combined into formulas, and Bensky has another equally huge book on that topic. These two books are medical references for licensed acupuncturists (who are Chinese herbalists), and NOT for the casual reader or layperson to medicate themselves. You won't be able to properly apply the information in these two books without first learning Chinese medical diagnosis - the right medicine must follow from an accurate diagnosis.

The tragedies and legislation concerning ephedra illustrate that laypeople will not neccesarily use herbs traditionally, or safely.

Most traditional acupuncturists in the West attend 4 year schools, and more than 900 hours of herbal medicine are included in their training. I would suggest, if you want to avail yourself of the power of Chinese herbal medicine, that you see one of them.

If you're looking for a more practical layperson's introduction to Chinese herbs, check out David Molony's, or Jake Fratkin's books. Another good one is Henry Lu's book on combining Chinese herbs with foods to balance your patterns of imbalance.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Review on Materia Medica, September 25, 2004

By 

S. Shueh "Book Warm" (LAX, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (Hardcover)

This is one of the oldest English title books on TCM Herbs and have been revised. It offers compilation of herbs and contraindictions and sketches of them. There is almost nothing of original research nature. The book has been used for those chose to take English language exam in the US for sometime. As China is opening to many foreign students and practitioners, many can read Chinese text. The book is becoming outdated for many reasons: 1. Translation is choppy at best, 2. Sketches need to be less artistic and requiring more details. 3. Modern pharmacology terms are needed. 4. No interactions with other herbs are described in modern scientific terms. 5. No current reference or clinical data are to support the claims. 6. There are numerous PinYin, Latin and Korean terms typo flaws throughout the entire book(This is most unfortunate as students depend on them for survival- a sign that proof reading with foreign language processors was not attempted or applied). The caligraphical terms for each section are problematic and can be fixed with something easier to read. I was also informed more herbs are included in the forth coming edition for $120.00 a book. Many US registered LAcs return from China claim they can obtain Chinese pharmacology/herb books for ~US $5.00 with essentially the same information. The expectation for this and any new editions for supposed a high quality scholarly text is now higher or one can go back to $5.00 version with a Chinese-English dictionary for a total of $10.00 not $120 dollars.

This is a useful reference book which can be more scientific and modern (e.g., lists more recent sources, and clinical data to substantiate claims)to remain as authoritative source. The book seems to suggest the authors compiled the text from classical sources and referenced to the text.