Recommended Reading

I'm become more and more interested in TCM and Herbs, so I was wondering if anyone had any books or websites they could recommend I check out or study.

My current Wish list is:
1.) Materia Medica Third Edition
2.) Yellow Emporer's Classic of Internal Medicine
3.) The Warrior as Healer by Thomas Richard Joiner

Well I can't wait to hear from you guys!

Semper Fi.

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The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war. Therefore make your exercises bloodless battles, so that your battles are bloody exercises.

"A Tooth From the Tiger's Mouth" by Tom Bisio

Down-to-earth, very informative TCM guide geared for martial artists, by a martial artist and TCM practitioner.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

For herbs, Tierra's 2-volume "Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine". Eventually, with enough work, youll outgrow much of it...but these 2 books hold a special place in my heart.

For Materia Medica, my personal preference is Chen&Chen "Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology".

For something less textbook oriented and gearted towards an understanding of TCM (ie, you wont get any real herbal info in this one) but a real important book to read, Captchuks "The Web That Has No Weaver" is a really common one. Its a bit dense at first but worth understanding.

For a TCM textbook, Maciocia's "Foundations of Chinese Medicine" is pretty standard.

There are lots of other ones but that should keep you busy for the next few years. =)

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl "A Tooth From the Tiger's Mouth" by Tom Bisio Down-to-earth, very informative TCM guide geared for martial artists, by a martial artist and TCM practitioner.	”

A great book, one that should be on every martial artist's bookshelf, but it wont teach you a lick about specific herbs or detailed TCM theory, just gives a few basic recipes and treatment of injuries.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

“	Originally Posted By: PlumDragon A great book, one that should be on every martial artist's bookshelf, but it wont teach you a lick about specific herbs or detailed TCM theory, just gives a few basic recipes and treatment of injuries.	”

Oh, I agree, but it does pull MA'ists out of the realm of myth and folklore and puts them on the right path. I'm not much into TCM other than being "the patient," so most other texts will just confuse me.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

Hey PD I picked up the the web that has no weaver as I have seen you recommend it several times, and I have to admit you are right. It is a bit dense, but it offers the reader a great deal of knowledge and a solid venue in which they can understand the theories behind chinese medicine.

Glad to hear! A really great book. Captchuk is so poetic...its a lesson in both Medicine and poetry at the same time.

The Web is a good book to really take your time with, especially when he discusses the 5 textures, the organs, the common patterns of disharmony, etc. Every time he refers to any specific thing later in the text, its a good idea to go back and reread the entire section again. ie, if he mentions summer heat in a clinical study, go back and read the section again on the pattern of summer heat. Because as much of a cover-to-cover read you make it into, it ultimately morphs into a reference.

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PlumDragon Herbs: Dit Da Jow and Iron Palm Liniments

"When a handshake passes the elbow, it becomes Judo."

I purchased many of the books listed on the attached link while in China and refer to them often. They are absolutely top notch. So, you can't go wrong buying any of them.
http://www.cibtc.com.cn/gtweb/upload...5655889646.pdf

With dignity and honor,
Robert

Yep, 'The Web' and Giovanni Maciocia for sure. If you're referring to the Bensky Materia Medica, you'll need the Formulas and Strategies book too, and i really like the Manual of Acupuncture (Deadman) as well, but those three are pretty expensive and not really targeted towards the lay-person.

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

The Manual of Acupuncture is quite expensive. So, to see if it is worth buying, you can download it "free" along with lots of other TCM books here:
http://search.gigapedia.org/

Remember, though, if you like a book--always buy it.