The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine [Paperback]

Ted J. Kaptchuk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1983

"Demystifies Oriental medicine in a remarkably rational analysis of both its strengths and weaknesses". -- Science Digest

Editorial Reviews

Review

While Western doctors look for disease mechanisms which are the same from person to person, Chinese doctors look for overall patterns of disharmony which are unique to each individual. Ted Kaptchuk, who studied medicine in China, originally intended to translate Chinese medical texts into English, but quickly realized that it would take more than simple translation to convey the meaning of a diagnosis like "damp heat affecting the spleen." Instead, in The Web That Has No Weaver, he explains the theory and philosophy of Chinese medicine, as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment in terms that can be understood by a Western reader. For anyone interested in studying this ancient system of medicine, this book should be at the top of your list. -- From The WomanSource Catalog & Review: Tools for Connecting the Community for Women; review by FGP

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Chinese emphasis on interconnectedness and change takes on a very specific character in the context of medicine. When the Chinese physician examines a patient, he or she plans to look at many signs and symptoms and to make of them a diagnosis, to see in them a pattern. Each sign means nothing by itself and acquires meaning only in its relationship to the patient's other signs. What it means in one context is not necessarily what it means in another context.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Congdon & Weed; 1st edition (March 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809229331
• ISBN-13: 978-0809229338
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, February 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

I found the book to be very easy to understand yet very enlightening. I would recomend the book to anyone who would like to know about basic chinese medicine.

5.0 out of 5 stars essential instructional, January 4, 2012

By 

Carrie Eckermann (IOWA CITY, IA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

I have gone through this book before in aid to my shiatsu training (and diagnosing) the meridians are vague, but everything else has been super helpful.

I had not owned my own copy and I am now glad that i have my very own!

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, May 11, 2011

By 

itinerantwoo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine (Paperback)

This is the most comprehensive book I've ever seen! They tackle each element of Chinese medicine in-depth, including diagrams and full descriptions of the meridians individually! I haven't been able to find that anywhere else. Very impressive; I would recommend this to anybody who wants to know anything about the topic.