Customer Reviews

Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine : A Textbook and Clinical Manual

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From Acupuncture Today, Sept. 2003
By Robert C. Dichiera, AP, ATC/L

Blue Poppy Press has published yet another brilliant text from co-authors Bob Flaws and Philippe Sionneau. The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine: A Textbook and Clinical Manual conveys the authors' collective 30 years of experience. Bob Flaws and Philippe Sionneau have taken 72 modern Western diseases not seen in most English-Chinese medical texts and illustrated the disease patterns and treatment protocols for each.

Like most texts in this field, the first section is devoted to basic to advanced theories of diagnosis patterns in Chinese medicine. However, unlike most texts, this initial section includes an explanation of renowned practitioners and their specific diagnosis theories not taught in most Western Chinese medical schools. These include Li Dong-Yuan's theory of yin fire, Liu Wan-Su's theory of similar transformations, and Zhu Dan-Xi's theory of the Six Depressions.

The second section of the text is the treatment formulary. The 72 subsequent chapters are arranged in alphabetical order according to the medical disease discussed. Each chapter begins with the allopathic etiology of the disease and concludes with several important remarks from a TCM perspective. The diseases are broken down into their various TCM patterns, and a treatment formulary is prescribed for each, including herbal medicines, patent remedies and acupuncture points. I found the "additions" and "subtractions" an extremely valuable reference tool to help individualize the treatments.

There is no way to "cookbook" a treatment plan that involves the use of acupuncture and herbal medicines. What this text attempts to do is present the basis for use of each different type of acupoint and herbal formulary for each diseased pattern, and allow students and practitioners alike to make their own decisions as to which will be most effective in a given clinical situation. I believe this text is an essential manual to own. The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine: A Textbook and Clinical Manual will benefit students and practitioners of both Eastern and Western medicine. I look forward to similar volumes in the near future.

Dr. Dichiera's rating: 10 out of 10

Bob cited each western disease and diagnosed by TCM theory (Yin-Yang, Heat-Cold, Excess-Deficiency...) then refered to TCM treatment (acupuncture points and herb formulars) for such disease. I just wish
that there should be more diseases in the book because we have many complications in real practice and couldn't find in this text. In conclusion this is a good one and if your practice is so challenging you
may find some other books that have more western diseases.