Notes From South Mountain : A Guide to Concentrated Herb Granules [Hardcover]

Andrew Ellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 24, 2003

This book is a reflection of the author's belief that the modern practitioner of Chinese medicine in the West needs educational material that not only includes indications and functions of the formulas but that also ties this information to the roots of Chinese medicine and the real world of the clinic. To that end, its purpose is to help students and practitioners see classical formulas not as archaic and static fossils of intellectual dogma but as living, changeable expressions of a natural philosophy. It is the author's hope that the deeper understanding of Chinese medicine gained from appreciation of the formulas' origins and evolution will help practitioners successfully treat the complex and varied patterns that present in their practices.

The introduction includes both a section on how to prescribe and dose herb concentrates, and a section that describes the production of herb concentrates. The main formula section of the text presents functions, indications, and ingredients for almost 300 formulas (arranged alphabetically according to pinyin name), and includes textbook-style discussion and modification sections. Each formula discussion focuses on how the formula is used in the clinic, based on the evolution of its use from the time of its source text to the present. The discussion and modifications sections include both classical and modern uses, and seek to show the relationship between the two. Where relevant, the formula under discussion is compared with similar formulas, and guidelines for determining the correct formula for a given situation are provided. The material in the discussion and modifications sections is drawn from the author's experience, the experience of the practitioners with whom he has studied, the source texts (when available to the author), and commentaries by modern authors.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Andrew Ellis first studied Chinese medicine with Dr. James Tin Yau So at the New England School of Acupuncture. He left New England in 1983 to study Chinese language in Taiwan and apprenticed with Chinese herbalist Xu Fu-Su there for several years. Later he studied internal medicine and gynecology at the Xiamen Hospital of Chinese medicine. While there he also specialized in the study of acupuncture with Dr. Shi Neng-Yun and dermatology with Dr. Zhang Guang-Cai.

Andy is the founder and owner of Spring Wind Herbs in Berkeley, California, has taught at several Colleges of Oriental Medicine and has authored, translated or co-translated a number of books on Chinese medicine including Grasping the Wind, The Clinical Experience of Dr. Shi Neng-Yun, Formulas & Strategies and Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 517 pages
• Publisher: Thin Moon Publishing; First edition (April 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965659410
• ISBN-13: 978-0965659413
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Necessary Reference Text, June 11, 2009

By 

sharon weizenbaum (Amherst, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes From South Mountain : A Guide to Concentrated Herb Granules (Hardcover)

I use this book every day in the clinic. In spite of the encyclopedical formula texts available, this book is often the first text I read when I want to understand an herbal formula I am considering or researching. There are several reasons for this. One reason is the ease of use. This book is organized alphabetically by Pin Yin. When I already know the name of the formula I want to look up, this fact save me a step the other texts require. During a busy clinic day this can make a difference. Of course, this would not be enough if the information I found in the text was not useful. So, the main reason I use this book is because the information Mr. Ellis has written in this text, most often represents the real essence of a formula's action. He writes in a very accessible language. Many times, when I have been doing research on a particular formula, I find that my understanding really clicks into place when I read the commentary here. It is very clear and concise with a good balance between classical and modern Chinese medical usages as well as modern medical considerations. In addition, for each formula, there are suggested modifications which are all very useful.

There are also formulas and information about formulas in this book that are not included in the most popular formula text, Formulas and Strategies (another must have for the clinic). Some of these formulas are important formulas for my own practice. An example of a formula I use frequently that is not in Formulas and Strategies is Dao Shui Fu Ling Tang. This formula is so useful for water swelling with Qi stagnation for which I know no other formula. The other day I was doing research on Gui Zhi Ma Huang Ge Ban Tang. The information in Formulas and Strategies was very minimal, including just what the clause in the Shang Han Lun said. In Notes From South Mountain, there was a much deeper description of the actual clinical use of this formula. The modifications listed were the same modifications the doctor whose work I was translating used.

One of the most useful parts of Notes From South Mountain is the introduction. Mr. Ellis has written a very concise manual here for, not only the use of granules but the use of formulas. He emphasizes the treatment of the root of a disharmony and teaches us how to adjust a root formula to treat the branch. This is a treatise I have my students read as a basic guide to the use of formulas. In addition, for those who are using concentrated granules, this guide answers so many questions as to dosages and proportions of herbs.

If you are a Sino-medical-phile as I am, you will enjoy reading this book cover to cover. It will become one of those well thumbed books on your herbal pharmacies counter.

Sharon Weizenbaum

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The deeper levels of Chinese Herbal medicine, December 19, 2009

By 

K. Albertson "reader1" (Irvine , CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Notes From South Mountain : A Guide to Concentrated Herb Granules (Hardcover)

This is a book that you dont have time to read when you are an acupuncture student!!... but one that you come back to time and time again for the deep levels, functions, and uses of herbs and formulas.
The modifications are clinically very helpful!! The discussions of the fomulas give you ideas and uses on many more levels than what other books may reveal.