Chinese Medicine for Beginners: Use the Power of the Five Elements to Heal Body and Soul [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Written by a medical doctor who has studied both conventional and alternative practices, this easy-to-understand guide to the benefits of Eastern medicine explains the ancient Chinese approach to health and healing-an approach that integrates mind, body, and spirit.

From the Inside Flap

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — the Chinese have known for centuries how to tap into these five elemental forces of nature and use them to strengthen and heal their minds and bodies. In Chinese Medicine for Beginners author Achim Eckert, M.D., explains the mystery and brings to the Western world an understanding of the Chinese approach to health and healing.

Eckert explores the many facets of Chinese medicine, including the attributes of Yin and Yang, Qi(the life force), meridians of the body, and the Chinese view of the organs. He explains in detail the relationships between organs, energy flows within the body, emotional behavior, mental attitudes, and physical well-being.

Along with practical applications, Eckert explains how each of the five elements works in the human body. Some examples include:
• A disorder of Wood can cause depression and resignation.
• A disturbance in Fire is expressed in nervousness and insomnia.
• An overabundance of Earth leads to exaggeration and emotional outbursts.
• An imbalance of Metal is often revealed by an intense worry about the future.
• A solid balance of Water promotes strong bones and healthy teeth.

Eckert also provides instructions for numerous mental and physical exercises that will strengthen and restore the balance of elements.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles; illustrated edition edition (October 2, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761506136
• ISBN-13: 978-0761506133
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #596,080 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear presentation of 5 element theory, December 28, 2004

By	Mark Mills (Glen Rose, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is a lucid presentation of 5 element theory. The author's style is direct and conversational. He starts with a few comments on his early years in Vienna, and travels around the world learning holistic medicine. He specializes in acupuncture.

With this brief introduction complete, the author presents each of the 5 elements in chapter long essays. Each chapter describes the elemental 'personality', signs of balance or lack of same, then related organs and meridians. He concludes with some exercises for strengthening the organs nurturing transformations related to that element. There are some black and white photos of a model demonstrating exercise positions.

He concludes with a brief discussion of the 4 linkage cycles:
1. Mother-nurtures-child: Wood-Fire-Earth-Metal-Water
2. Grandmother-guides-child: Wood-Earth-Water-Fire-Metal
3. Rebellious-child-overwhelms-grandmother: Metal-Fire-Water-Earth-Wood
4. Mother-killing-child: Water-Metal-Earth-Fire-Wood
(I've paraphrased for the cycle names)

Five-element theory can be a very complex subject. This book does a good job of making it understandable to the western reader.

5.0 out of 5 stars Journey, January 29, 2009

By	M.C. Paul (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This was a birthday present given to me by my mother in 2003. I am only just getting around to saying how helpful it has been because I am recommending it to someone else. I have actually been doing the exercises in the book off and on for years.