Grasping the Wind (Paradigm title) (Paperback)

by Andrew Ellis (Author), Nigel Wiseman (Author), Ken Boss (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Grasping the Wind provides students a unique opportunity to study an application of Chinese medical language in a clear, appropriately documented and culturally valid context. -- American Journal of Acupuncture

Here is a foundation on which it is safe to build. -- Sara Hicks, Traditional Acupuncture Journal

It is thought-provoking and crosses into areas that are rarely touched upon by both modern Chinese researchers and the more innovative of our Western acupuncture educators. It tackles many difficult concepts such as the spiritual, mental, and emotional; aspects of Chinese medicine, source theory, and classical energetic anatomy and physiology. It is a book you can dip into at any time and come out with gems of insight that can only reinforce your belief in a paradigm that is just starting to be explored by our culture and our scientific community. -- Australian Journal of TCM

Product Description
Point names, the traditional means for identifying acupoints, have meanings that are, like the wind, hard to grasp. Yet enfolded in these often poetic words is a utility that involves the complex associations derived from the evolution of the Chinese language and the vast array of therapeutic nalogies found in traditional medical works.

In discussing the point names, the authors examine the meaning, context, and significance of each acupuncture point to promote understanding of the point's use in acupuncture practice. Guidelines for understanding the nature and structure of the Chinese language are offered, along with discussions of the Chinese rationale for naming points and point groupings. The reasoning for selecting the English names is offered so that readers may adapt the names for their own use. Each of the 363 points covered is listed according to the system currently used in China. Descriptions include the name in Chinese characters, in Pinyin, and in English. The classical location according to major Chinese texts, the associated point groupings, an explanation of point functions, and classical energetic associations are also noted. Further detail is provided by inclusion of channel relationships, five-phase relationships, and qi functions. Additional notes detail linguistic and practical considerations that have accrued to the point over time. Alternate names for the point are given, again in Chinese, Pinyin, and English. Indexes provide stroke order listings, point group names, and point lists for each character. A glossary of all the characters used in point names provides a definition for each Chinese character. This book provides much valuable theoretical and therapeutic information.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publications (MA) (June 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912111194
• ISBN-13: 978-0912111193
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #212,349 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Text for TCM & Acupuncture Students, November 27, 2004

By	Andrea A. (Florida) - See all my reviews

While there may be differing opinions on the etiological accuracy of the linguistic terminology in this text, it is important to note that it was co-written by Nigel Wiseman, whose Chinese medical terminology is commonly accepted as the standard in Traditional Chinese Medicine in the West. If you practice TCM in the West, this really should not present a problem.

That said, this is a very useful text for any student of TCM and/or Acupuncture who needs to learn acu points. It breaks down the Chinese name of each point, and gives a memorable English name for each (based on the Chinese name), that makes recollection of point location MUCH easier.

For example, ST-39 is "xia ju xu." The author breaks down these Chinese words as: xia (lower), ju (great, large), and xu (hollow, deficiency or vacancy). The English name for this point is given as "Lower Great Hollow," and its location is given as: "One inch below the Ribbon Opening (ST-38) in the depression (hollow) below the sinew and bone."

Along with Deadman's "A Manual of Acupuncture," which is now a required text for the California acupuncture licensing exam (and the best text on the subject, in my opinion), "Grasping the Wind" is a very useful text for learning a somewhat illusive subject (acupuncture points) and should be in every TCM student's library.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A window on the Chinese understanding of the Acupoints, November 1, 2003

By	"indigocoatl" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

First of all, if you want to know the location, indications, contraindications and prescriptions for all the 400+ acupoints, please see _A Manual of Acupuncture_ by Peter Deadman, Mazin Al-Khafaji with Kevin Baker. But if you want more than a two or three word translation of the point's Chinese name, turn to _Grasping the Wind_.

After the introduction, You have several essays: Influences on the Development of Point Names, Point Name Taxonomy, A Brief Discussion of Chinese Characters, Radicals, And Character Categories; these are followed by the entries on each point.

They are listed in meridan order, with the meridians in horary order, and the first thing that you see is the name of the point in Chinese - in a font size that a Westerner can easily see and appreciate. Then comes the translation, followed by the alphanumeric point designation, and the pinyin with tone marks. Each word is then translated, and alternate names for the point are given. A classical description of the location is then given, which I find quite picturesque, and a paragraph or two explaining the point name. Points listed are on all 14 of the regular meridians (the 12 Zangfu plus the Du and Ren meridians).

Now, it could be that this book isn't as accurate as someone with a complete background in Chinese would like it to be - but for someone with an abiding love for TCM, it is a gift to be digested.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for what it is... but I've found some errors., February 5, 2008

By	Acu Ty "ONE MEDICINE." (No-where) - See all my reviews

Nigel Wiseman's "Grasping the Wind" is an alright book for understanding how some of the names came to be; however, there are a lot of typos and a lot of the phases of the Shu Antiques are incorrect.

Besides that, it is what it is...