Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition (Hardcover)

by Dan Bensky (Author), Steven Clavey (Author), Erich Stoger (Author), Andrew Gamble (Compiler), Lilian Lai Bensky (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The new 3rd edition of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica is designed to give practitioners the information they need to practice Chinese herbal medicine with greater understanding and confidence. It provides a wealth of new information -– more than twice the content of the previous edition -- and practical insight into more than 530 of the most commonly used herbs in the Chinese pharmacopoeia.

Drawing from a wide range of sources, both classical and modern, this edition provides unparalleled perspective and detail that goes far beyond what is available elsewhere to the Western practitioner.

Herbs are grouped in chapters by function, with expanded summaries and tables for contrast and comparison. Each herb is identified by its pharmaceutical, pinyin, botanical, and family names, as well as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English common names.

Key characteristics are provided at the beginning of each entry, along with dosage, properties, channels entered, and relevant cautions and contraindications. This provides a quick overview of essential information.

Actions and indications are integrated with important combinations that illustrate the range of an herb’s functions, with references to appropriate formulas. This presents a more three-dimensional picture of how each herb is actually used.

Expanded commentary offers in-depth analysis and places each herb in its clinical context through rich historical references. The mechanisms of action underlying important combinations, and comparisons with similar herbs, provide a broader context for understanding how the herb can be used with optimal effect.

A section devoted to nomenclature and preparation describes the most important methods of processing and preparing each herb, and the advantages of each method. It also provides information about other commonly-used names and historical background.

Safety is an important focus of this edition, with an emphasis on proper herb identification. Issues concerning standardized products, desirable qualities, variants, and adulterants are explained for each herb. There is also extensive information on toxicity, as well as chemical constituents.

The utility of this book is enhanced by its wide range of appendices, among which are color photographs comparing the standard and adulterant forms of over 20 common herbs; tables of herbs that are indicated for specific pathologies of the five yin organs; and extensive cross references of the herbs by taxonomy, pinyin, pharmaceutical name, and other East Asian languages. There are also comprehensive indices of both herbs and formulas, as well as a general index.

About the Author
Dan Bensky is a graduate of the Macau Institute of Chinese Medicine (Oriental Medicine Diploma, 1975), University of Michigan (B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature, 1978), Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Doctor of Osteopathy, 1982), and the University of Washington (M.A. in Classical Chinese, 1996). He is co-author of the companion volumes Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica and Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, and co-translated and edited Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. Dr. Bensky is in private medical practice in Seattle, and is a director of the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine.

Steve Clavey is a registered Chinese herbalist and has practiced Chinese medicine in Melbourne, Australia since 1986. He studied modern and classical Chinese at the Mandarin Center of Taiwan Normal University, and received his training in Chinese medicine in Taiwan and at the Zhejiang College of TCM in China. He is the author of Fluid Physiology and Pathology in Chinese Medicine, and editor of The Lantern, a new journal of traditional Chinese medicine in Australia.

Erich Stöger is a pharmacist and holds Master’s degrees in pharmacy (1981) and Chinese studies and anthropology (1990) from the University of Vienna. He studied Chinese at Taiwan Normal University, and since 1989 has translated and published numerous monographs from the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Since 1990 he has been involved in the identification and analysis of Chinese herbs and extracts for a pharmaceutical laboratory in Germany. He also operates a wholesale Chinese herb business in Austria.

Andrew Gamble studied Chinese literature at Taiwan National University (1965-69) and in the Department of East Asian Culture and Linguistics at the University of Munich, where he also taught Chinese linguistics (1969-72). He is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture (1977) and studied Chinese medicine at the China Medical College in Taichong, Taiwan (1977-81). He is currently in private practice in Massachusetts and has lectured widely in the United States and Europe on Chinese herbal medicine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1311 pages
• Publisher: Eastland Press; 3 edition (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939616424
• ISBN-13: 978-0939616428
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,784 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #11 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Chinese Medicine
  #25 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Herbal Remedies
  #44 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Basic Sciences > General & Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chinese medicinal products bible - required reading, March 22, 2005

By	Attilio D'Alberto (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At last, Bensky et al. third edition is finally out and what a vast source of knowledge it is. For anyone using Chinese medicinal products, this really is your bible. Massively expanded from the 2nd edition, there are hundreds more many medicinal products included.

Wonderfully categorised, excellently explained, beautifully illustrated and well indexed, this text allows all readers to easily source detailed information on hundred of medicinal products used in Chinese medicine.

Required reading for all Chinese medicine doctors and those wanting to learn more about Chinese medicinal products. Can't wait for Bensky et al. `Formulas and Strategies' 2nd edition!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning update of a classic, October 13, 2006

By	Karen Vaughan "Herblady" (Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I went to update this with my handwritten notes made on the second edition I found that the material had already been added. Much improved over the older edition with more information on alternate species, constituents, pao zhi and modern uses. It still has the annoying multiple indexes but at least they are thumb indexed. Well worth the investment for owners of earlier editions who actively use herbal medicine.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daunting at first, but then easier to come to terms with later, May 28, 2007

By	satire28 (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Well, what can you say about this book? This is a hefty, giant book, and could certainly induce some kind of cerbral damage if dropped out of a third story window. :) No, in all seriousness, this is a great, concise book, and as the title of this review implies, it becomes more manageable after you get used to it. Used solely by itself, it will probably not help the student of Chinese herbology to ace any exams, but used in accordance with other study techniques, it will furter deepen and reinforce the studying of the herbs.