Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally With Chinese Medicine [Paperback]

Bob Flaws (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1891845098 | ISBN-13: 978-1891845093 | Publication Date: February 2000 | Edition: First Edition

Millions of Americans suffer from the debilitating symptoms of fibromyalgia, which may include sleep disturbances, fatigue,depression, and digestive complaints, as well as generalized body pain and stiffness. This book is the first to discuss this common disorder from the point of view of Chinese medicine. In addition to the Chinese medical viewpoint on fibromyalgia, this book gives a host of safe, simple, low-or-no-cost home therapies to help prevent or heal this all-too-common problem.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book is the 11th in our popular "Curing Naturally with Chinese Medicine" series. We chose to create a book on this subject because there are so many people who suffer from this painful condition and Western medicine has few options for its treatment.

Chinese medicine has many helpful treatments which can be received from professional practitioners. But more importantly, there are many easy, inexpensive home remedies and self-care options from Chinese medicine that sufferers can do for themselves. These home remedy options are the heart of this book, for they give the patient the power to make a significant improvement in their own health without great expense and within a short period of time. If you or anyone you know suffers from this debilitating ailment, this book is for you.

From the Inside Flap

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic debilitating condition comprised of generalized body pain and stiffness, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and digestive complaints. Although this is a relatively recent Western medical disease diagnosis, Chinese medical practitioners have been treating body pain, fatigue, insomnia, depression, and digestive complaints for more than 2,000 years. In this book you will learn the Chinese medical theory of the cause of this condition. More than that, you will also learn a host of safe, simple, low or no cost home home therapies to prevent and heal this all too common problem, including: Chinese dietary therapy, Exercise, Deep Relaxation, Chinese herbs and teas, Magnet therapy, Aroma therapy, Chinese foot reflexology, and how to find a professional practitioner of Chinese medicine.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: Blue Poppy Pr; First Edition edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891845098
• ISBN-13: 978-1891845093
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #856,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bob Flaws is the most prolific writer on Chinese medicine in the English language. He is author, translator, or editor of over 80 books on Chinese medicine and scores of articles published in both professional journals and the popular press. Among his other credits, Bob is a past president and lifetime fellow of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado, a fellow and director of the National Academy of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine as well as a past editor of that association's quarterly journal, a founder of the Council of Oriental Medical Publishers, and the founder of Blue Poppy Enterprises. Bob is also the co-author and co-director of an NIH-funded research project working with AIDS-related peripheral neuropathy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for students, not so much for patients, December 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally With Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

As an acupuncture and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) student, I find that this book gives an absolutely wonderful overview of fibromyalgia in its various forms. It goes over the patterns very clearly, and because the patterns come with such a concrete example (ie, fibromialgia), it really helps learn the patterns.

While I think this is a wonderful book to keep on hand for TCM students & practitioners, I don't know how useful it would be to someone suffering FM without TCM training. The sections on diet, exercise & teas would probably be useful, but the patent medicines would likely be confusing. Flaws' attempt to summarize chinese medical theory in the first 60 pages of the book would probably be more so. I think this is what the first reviewer unhappily referred to. On the other hand, it does spell out the symptoms fairly clearly, so I think that some people could pick out their own pattern(s) and attempt to self-medicate. I'm just not sure it's a good idea.

The section on self-massage is a great idea -- but the pictures aren't enough for an untrained person to find the acupoints. HOWEVER, they would make a good reference guide for an acupuncturist to photocopy & give to patients to use, AFTER the practitioner has taught the patient how to locate the points & how to do self-massage.

Overall, the book is wonderful for a student, and probably quite useful for someone fully trained. (I've only been in school for a year and a half). But I don't know how much a lay person would get out of it.

41 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book, not only for patients., January 30, 2000

By 

Markus Granzow (Germany, region of Black Forest.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally With Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

Bob Flaws focuses the view on fibromyalgia patients. It's very interesting not only for patients, but also for practitioners. He gives detailed information for (self-)curing fibromyalgia, treating with herbs, acupuncture and dietery management. He gives information about the underlying processes in the view of chinese medicine.

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Long-Time Fribromyalgic, May 11, 2001

By 

T. Rimel (Pasadena, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Curing Fibromyalgia Naturally With Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

Though this book offers an array of alternatives to treat fibromyalgia, sufferers must beware. Fibromyalgia is an incurable disorder. First of all, unless you are familiar with Chinese medicine, you may feel like your reading Chinese. The remedies offered by this book are difficult to do alone, you will need the knowledge of someone trained in Chinese medicinal practices. For the sake of toxicity, you will at least need an herbologist of Vita-Nutritionist. The greatest flaw with this book is the writer's presumption that all those who have fibromyalgia have suffer in the same way. He offers therapies for few symptoms, but ignores the vast number of other problems that are associated with fibromyalgia. The author also ignores the group of people who suffer with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, or chronic fatigue syndrome, all at once. I should know, I'm 29 and have suffered with fibromyalgia for 14 years already. I also suffer from the chronic pain of myofascial pain syndrome and chronic fatigue. For example, for someone like me, acupuncture doesn't work, it only amplifies the pain; but acupressure or Shiatsu works wonders. I recommend for those of you out there interested in learning about fibromyalgia, look for the The Fibromyalgia Network online, or books by Devin J. Starlanyl, M.D., she is a doctor with fibromyalgia/myofascial pain complex; she offers wonderful insight into these incurable condition. Another physician to look into is Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and offers more insight into all three disorders and their co-existing symptoms. Knowledge is your greatest ally. You must educate yourself, and sometimes even your doctors.