Customer Reviews

The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Second Edition

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The index of this book is inaccurate, starting at page 417 or some point in that previous section. From page 417 to the end of the book the actual page numbers are four less than the ones listed in the index. For example, if you look at the index listing "Transporting (Shu) Points 787-802", the section on Shu points is actually 783-798. Before page 417, the page numbers are accurate.

So if you look something up in the index and it doesn't seem to be on the indicated page, don't despair. Flip two pages back and you'll probably find it.

As a matter of presentation, description, and explanation, this book is near unmatched. When the revision of this edition comes out, if you have any desire to explore and develop your understanding of TCM, you will have to get it. But wait until they repair the index. It is the lousiest, most absurd index I've ever seen. I work as a Teacher's Assistant for an Asian Bodywork Therapy class, so I get a lot of questions from students, and this text has everything you would ever want to look up, if only you happen to be so lucky that the index and the actual material you're looking for match up. So, like I said, everything about this book but the index is fantastic. The index is so bad, though, the book deserves a recall. Wait until that happens, or pour through the pages with unmatched patience, and make your own index.

The sheer depth and breadth of the clarity and insight about Traditional Chinese Medicine that comes through this book with such ease for a reader is a wonder. Strong praise, yes; but all too often these subjects are obscure...and even good books usually only *start* to give people new to the subject insight as well as good, foundational knowledge.

Don't be put off by the size of the book or it's price - in this case, it's well worth it.

This book makes it easy to understand paradigms that are new and unusual to most westerners, with greater depth than is usually found -- in addition to providing LOTS of foundation and background knowledge.

I highly recommend this book.

I found this book to be very beneficial to me in my studies to become an acupuncturist and oriental medcine practioner. Giovanni MacIocias' book has long been considered THE standard text book for anyone involved in the modality of Oriental Theory and Medicine.

This book is definately not for the beginner, it is a very in depth well detailed study of a Centuries old art.

I gave it 5 out of 5 stars becuase it has become invaluable to me in my studies...you will not be dissapointed with this book. If you want the BEST, this is it.This book is meant to be read over a lifetime and referred to again and again, it is not a leisurely read.

Chris

The reason why I gave it three stars is mainly due to two factors: The over saturation of required Chinese medical texts with Giovanni's books, and two, this book seems like at times, it could use some condensing and editing. With that said, though, I have found this book to be helpful to me when learning symptoms and organ patterns, and it is pretty user friendly.

I have to admit that I read many textbooks about foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine both written by foreigners and translated from the Chinese Text but this book of Giovanni is far better. Firstly, it is COMPLETE in content of TCM principle, whatever in the TCM knowledge you will see it here. It also explains in detail of the certain aspect that other text doesn't offer.

Secondly, in this book of Giovanni has pictures illustrate the type of the patient with different pathogenic evil which I love this feature because it visualizes those who study.

Thirdly, there are Tips for each diagnosis type so it helps and makes diagnosis easier for practicing.

Fourthly, what I found in the other text particularly in the Chinese or from the Chinese version they are more narrative and ambiguous, you may feel like you are reading a novel or something so philosophical, ending up with nothing in the head but confusion. This text, instead, is written in the way of standard western textbook, there are charts, tables, pictures and illustrations. The content therefore are written in better explanation and concise, this is what people like you and me are familiar with.

Lastly, you will learn something else in the book from Giovanni's practice experience. There is no perfect textbook in the world that makes you know Everything, practice makes you perfect. How grateful we are that he shares his knowledge and experience from his clinical practice in China to the readers. It gives us a shortcut. I feel we are like his student and he is our teacher.

In a nutshell this book includes TCM foundation, theory, the discussion of meridians, pathogenic evil, pulse and tongue diagnosis, herb formula, acupoint for treatment. What I found about acupoint chapter is that it doesn't tell the point location, it tells only the function. However this is not a big deal since TCM practitioner needs to have special exclusive textbook of acupuncture, we also need exclusive diagnosis and herb formular textbook, other than this, this book is comprehensive and perfectly suite with the TCM practitioner and those who are interested in TCM. I have to say again that I have to leave all those foundation books I bought before on the shelf and just stick with this book. I'd rather give 5 stars but the lack of point location I rate it 4, ..a big.. big.. 4

I grew up with Eastern medicine, and have studied Taoist classics in depth for over a decade. Maciocia tries to substantiate his understanding with excerpts from various classics that had radically different perspectives and paradigms, making this book inconsistent and incoherent. His repetition of the same ideas over and over does not make his incorrect and shallow understanding of TCM correct or deep; it's just mind numbing. The material of the whole book could have been covered within a hundred pages or so without losing any information that is of any value instead of spreading it out over a thousand pages. This is a bad textbook for TCM students who want to seriously study Eastern medicine.

If you intend to use this text as a reference, beware that the index is 90% incorrect and that although the text is beautiful, it is laid out in a very confusing manner. For instance, the summary box for Lung dryness, instead of being situated in the Lung Dryness section, is laid out under the text for Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Cold. This is the case throughout the book.

Great book however not an easy format for beginners to understand. It uses difficult terminology and scenarios for beginners to comprehend, and doesn't give clear examples for the early stages and theories of TCM. If you can get a 1st ed copy of his book then that is much clearer. Or a copy of chinese medicine study guide: fundamentals, I learnt with this book and it is a great resource.
Other than that if you are advanced in TCM then you can't go wrong with maciocca.

This text is both well-written and comprehensive in its detail of modern TCM, and also sorely lacking in the nuance and subtlety that is the heart of Chinese medicine from which modern TCM is derived. It is a useful text with which to prepare for board exams, but of very limited benefit in its contribution to a sensitive exploration of the classical approaches to health and illness that Chinese medicine offers. If this book is optional for you, I would encourage you to go hear Mr. MacIocia speak in person, and then decide if he is the scholar whose text you want at this price.