Amazon.com

Yoga for Dummies proves that this 5,000-year-old Indian discipline can be all things to all people--the athlete striving for more-limber limbs, the stressed-out professional needing mental calm, peace, and clarity; the pregnant mom-to-be looking to keep herself toned and her emotions balanced, the spiritual seeker wanting to access the higher planes of consciousness.

Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., and Larry Payne, Ph.D., are internationally recognized yoga experts. After explaining how to prepare your body and mind for yoga--including warnings about how to practice safely--they jump straight into the postures (asanas), instructions for which make up the meat of book (relaxation, breathing, movement, sequencing, compensation, sitting). Feuerstein and Payne carefully and in great detail lead the reader through every step, although they do advise first-timers to supplement the book with actual classes until they have the basics down. Throughout the book, clear explanations accompany black-and-white photos and drawings. (Unfortunately, following the written instructions is hard enough when your feet are in the air or your head's down by your ankles, and the book would have been improved if the pictures always appeared on the same page as their instructions.)

Readers then learn about tailoring a yoga program to their needs; using props; practicing "Yoga Throughout the Day"; incorporating yoga into sex, meditation, menopause, and pregnancy; using yoga to treat back problems and PMS; and practicing yoga with kids. The book also covers yogic ethics, philosophy, and resources. It's not all asanas and pranas, though--Yoga for Dummies is sprinkled with the humor characteristic of the For Dummies series (a section explaining that the ego is the ultimate source of stress is titled "Wherever ego, I go") and practical advice (the Forgiving Limbs maneuver allows you to bend your legs and arms a bit rather than try to fully extend them, so that you can perform postures you're not yet quite limber enough for). This is both an excellent beginner's guide and a good reference for more advanced yoginis who want a brush-up course. --Stefanie Durbin ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Wonderful, Simple, Instructional and Inspirational
I have never used any of the ___For Dummies series and felt silly buying this one, but lost all regret once I cracked it open. The most approachable and useful book on yoga yet. I drag it with me on all my travels and am secure it merits the additional weight in the carry on. Most definitely worth the investment in money and time, an instructional book that actually instructs!

Covers all with wit and style; ageless wisdom with a smile.
This "dummies" format demystifies the mystical and accentuates the practical. In short, for this unlikely topic, it succeeds brilliantly. (What's next, Buddhism for Blondes? But seriously...)

In one panoramic survey the authors deliver sleek, functional tools with upbeat and motivating energy, so you can "just do it" & learn Yoga. This is an encyclopedic yet highly entertaining version of the millenial science of Yoga. It sheds new and ultra-direct light on the old life-enhancing discipline.

Taking the often pretentious territory of Yoga and rendering it with simplicity and a sense of humor, the authors convey the essentials in easy text and pictures, without sacrificing authenticity. This book speaks directly to "dummies" (positivist translation: people who prefer books to spare the boredom and superfluous nonsense). In kindergarten we learned "Books are our friends". This book invokes the spirit of a charming while challenging, philosophical but sensible, personal trainer.

minature version is waste of money
Be sure when you order this book you are getting the version you wish to purchase. The full size paperback is a gem. The minature edition is a waste of money. Be aware that the postage on the minature edition costs more than buying a second volume of the book on line used!

Ideal book for getting started with yoga.
I have bought many "for dummies" books in subjects which I know very little about, and which I want to learn more (i.e. I am a "dummy" in that subject).

"Yoga for Dummies" is one of the best of the series. If you are just curious about yoga, this book is full of background information to serve as an introduction to the subject. If you are
interested in trying yoga out on your own, this book contains very good illustrations and detailed routines to get you started.

An extra point: It seems that 90% of the yoga books on the market are geared for women readers. This is very much a
unisex book that will be useful to both men and women who want to get started in yoga.

A great starting point
This book is a great place to start a yoga exercise regimen. By no means is the book comprehensive, but you will get an excellent primer in the concepts of physical fitness behind yoga and make a reasoned judgment as to whether or not it is for you. If you choose to pursue yoga further, the book will give you enough theory, both physical and philosophical, to avoid feeling uncomfortable when you walk into your first class. If not, the book gives a sufficient variety of exercises, as well as two full routines and ideas on how to create your own- plenty to keep you in shape and occupied without any further instruction.

I think it's safe to say that an actual live demonstration of yoga, along with instructions tailored to you personally will always be preferable to an 'instruction manual', but as far as books go, I've yet to see a better guide. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine weighs three pounds and nine ounces, has 946 pages, and is as informative as it is hefty. The authors are naturopathic doctors--they focus on promoting health and treating disease with nontoxic, natural therapies. Naturopathic medicine follows these seven principles:

1. Do no harm: use safe, effective, natural therapies.
2. Nature has healing powers: the physician's job is to enhance the body's natural power to heal itself.
3. Identify and treat the cause: find the cause, rather than just suppress the symptoms.
4. Treat the whole person: administer to the patient's physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, and social sides.
5. The physician is a teacher: educate and motivate patients to take more responsibility for their health.
6. Prevention is the best cure: health-supporting life habits prevent disease.
7. Establish health and wellness: increase the patient's positive physical and mental state.

This book shows you how to improve your health through a positive mental attitude, healthy lifestyle, health-promoting diet, and supplements, with plenty of practical tips. Learn disease prevention through enhancing key body systems. The bulk of the book details natural remedies for treating more than 70 ailments. Each includes symptoms, description, therapeutic considerations (with discussion of studies), and a treatment summary, including nutritional supplements and botanical (herbal) medicines. If you have a disease, this book will give you a valuable perspective on natural treatments. If you're well, it will give you many pointers for maintaining and enhancing your health. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Awesome! Directly Applicable, Informative, Relevant Info!
When I bought this book, I had no idea how powerful an effect it would have in my life. As a science afficianado (and probable borderline hypochondriac), I have taken vitamin supplements for years "just in case" I might not be receiving proper nutrition from my modern microwave and fast food regimen. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine is an eye-opening discovery of the side of medicine that is too often missing in the world of the M.D.: treating the cause of an illness, not just it's symptoms.
The writing is comprehensive yet precise, including evidence of the therapeutic effect of a given supplement, it's method of action (pharmacology), and even caveats about any weaknesses in supporting studies, including whether evidence comes from statistically meaningful double-blind controlled studies or from clinical or cultural experiences.
If you are the type of person to take supplements, exercise, or eat healthy and natural foods out of a desire to protect your health, I highly recommend you BUY AND READ THIS BOOK! And if, on the other hand, you don't do any of the above, and you have a medical condition or take any presription or over-the-counter medication, or just generally feel yucky, I would definitely urge you to BUY AND READ THIS BOOK!
And Finally, if you are currently in the medical field, or typically prescribe or endorse only synthetic drugs manufactured by American Pharmaceutical companies licensed by the FDA, please BUY AND READ THIS BOOK!
Then again, I'm probably biased; after acting on the information in this book, I feel better than I have in a long time. And as any scientist will tell you, such results are not statistically significant ; )

Why so few stars for such a great book?
No, I do not think this book deserves 5 stars, although it is the best book in this area. So, why only 3 stars? - because of the missed potential. I think I have read every word in every one of Dr. Murray's books. With minor changes and adaptations, this encyclopedia brings together the texts of 3 of his major books: the one on herbs, the one on nutritional supp., and the previous encyclopedia. What's wrong in that? - the fact that we got a very heavy book of over 900 pages with not much more new info. I was surprised to find out that none of the other reviewers mentioned the fact that this book still does not have a chapter on Cancer!! My feeling is that Drs. Murray & Pizzorno did not forget the second leading ailment of this era - at this moment, they are probably finalizing their next book, this time a whole book on cancer. As a professor of Medicine and a cancer researcher I feel that an encyclopedia of natural medicine that has not even one chapter on cancer prevention and natural medication is a "bug 2000" bearing item. Another aspect - this days, such an encyclopedia would be better "printed" on a CD, with an advanced search engine, rather then on paper. One last word, the book suffers from some faults and "deletions" of very important info, but unfortunately there is no way one can contact Drs. Murray or Pizzorno and discuss these faults directly with them. No e-mail address, nor fax number is provided. I would recommend them to contact me before they issue the 3rd edition of this encyclopedia. So, should you buy this book? - the answer is definitely yes. Just as I said: this is the best book available, though not the perfect one these two authors could write...

Very good
This is an easy readable and very complete book. You get more then the average advice you find in books, it is so complete! I first bought it as a present for a friend, but I had trouble giving it away, so I ordered another one to keep.

Wonderful Book
This book has taught me so much. It is informative and expects you to understand the actual process of illness as well as healing. I can't wait for them to update it with a 3rd edition.

Excellent medical resource
If you are to own one basic medical reference book, this is it.
Contains the basics of medical ills/diseases, as well as the latest medical research for both standard therapies and alternative ones. I refer to it frequently. I just wish more doctors used it as a reference. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Not for the novice
This is an awesome reference for the well trained, experienced massage therapist. There are techniques demonstrated in this book that are advanced. As for the graphic presentation, there is no other book that I am aware of that shows the human body from the outside in quite as precisely as this one does. I purchased this book, before it was actually published, as a student of massage therapy and will use it in my future practice. It has become a hit with the students and staff of my school.

Exactly what I wanted!
I know nothing of massage and I couldn't figure out heads or tails from the many massage books I had purchased until I received Basic Clinical Massage Therapy by Clay and Pounds.

Will I read the book in it's entirety and use every method, absolutely not, but now I can literally see the muscles and the anatomy and understand what it is that I'm working on in each and every part of the body and do some good, it's a bargain at $45!

I'd say this is the bible of massage!

RN's viewpoint
The best of many, many books I have used for physical therapy approach to major medical problems. This is the most workable book with, by far, the best medical illustrations for the professional and the amateur alike. I have used Dr. Janet Travell's books, which are the benchmark for all musculo-skeletal manuals, but this is the book I use to put massage, trigger point, and any other therapies to use. It is the best anatomy book I have ever used, in school or on the job. It is a very safe book. In summary, the incredible artwork defining the location of muscles is the most helpful aspect of this book. Also, it is a super value for a manual of this quality.
Jackie Whitebread, RN

Perfect to visualize anatomy
This book is worth every penny I paid for it.
I enjoy detailed anatomy and this book shows it.
All anatomy instructors should use this book to teach with.
Could be larger in text print but illistrations are great!

Useful for the serious student.
A serious and thorough treatment of massage for the academic or student. Professionals will appreciate the anatomical charts and references. A bit long winded at times. Good cross referencing. ... Read more

Book Description

New, Expanded, Improved, Comprehensive

Building on its best-selling predecessors, the new PDR for Herbal Medicines, Third Edition has left no resource unturned to bring together the latest scientific data in the most comprehensive herbal reference compiled.

The third edition goes far beyond the original source, adding a new section on Nutritional Supplements and new information aimed at greatly enhancing patient management by medical practitioners. All monographs have been updated to include recent scientific findings on efficacy, safety and potential interactions; clinical trials (including abstracts); case reports; and meta-analysis results. This new information has resulted in greatly expanded Effects, Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions, and Dosage sections of each monograph.

>Indexed by common name
>Asian, Indian and Homeopathic Herbs Index
>Safety Guide
>Daily dosage information for unprocessed herbs and commercially available brand name products >Manufacturers' Index, including name, address, contact information and product list
>Trade names of available products added to each monograph
>Expanded Drug/Herb Interaction Guide
>Therapeutic Category Index
>Clinical Management of Interactions ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Practical Guide to Natural Medicines is better!
I'm a former practicing pharmacist, now a health promotion educator who must, for my lectures, keep up to date on the rapidly emerging information (peer reviewed research & commercial publications, internet, etc.) about medicinals, vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbs, natural remedies, etc. available to public with and without a prescription. My goal is to ferret out fact from fiction. I believe THE AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION PRACTICAL GUIDE TO NATURAL MEDICINES is a MUCH BETTER (a FIVE star) resource--especially since it's a 1999 publication that cites sources including German monographs that are basis of PDR. The description of APA Guide, on Amazon.com, does not do this book justice. Once I got PRACTICAL GUIDE TO NATURAL MEDICINES I no longer used PDR.

PDR for Herbal Medicines
I just received this book. I'm a family physician and I get lot of questions about herbal products. This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference source on herbal medicines. I found infromation on new interactions between St. John Wort and cyclosporine, AIDS drugs, and others. I would strongly recommend other physicians to get this book.

Buyers beware on this one.
This was published by Medical Economics and no author is listed. If you're a true herbalist, expect this book to be slanted to the drug cartel's viewpoint.

Andrew Bentley (Alfalfa and Buckwheat) aptly pointed out that info is left out and it says some data is not available, but it is.

Jerry Cott in his review points out their report on St. John's Wort. Do you really think this was not done on purpose? Imagine the dollars lost if people stopped taking the drugs that this herb will sometimes help.

Be sure to read what the pharmacist said. I applaud you as your lively hood depends on this type of manipulation of the truth.

Buyers beware on this one if you want the truth.

Best Herbal Reference
This is the most complete reference for herbal medicines that I have seen.It contains many common names as well as Latin names. Being a Certified Pharmacy Technician for 15 years this is a must have. There are probably 100 questions a month on what the side effects and interactions are of various herbal medicines. It is an invaluable reference guide for all pharmacies!

Pdr has produced a benchmark!
Haven previosuly used herbal medicines, and being an inqusitive person by nature, I simply had to examine this reference work, i.e., PDR for Herbal Medicines (1st Ed). What Pdr has accomplished is no small feat. They have taken the most used and common herbal medecines and put them all in one vollume. Want to find out about St. Johns Wort and its effects and side effects. Then this source is the right answer and it will supply the answer. The picture section all the herbs is a nice addition and the latin names for these herbs is a bonus. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Examination of the tongue, like the pulse, is one of the principal diagnostic methods in traditional Chinese medicine. This book--newly revised in 1995--systematically describes each of the primary characteristics of the tongue (body color, shape and coating) and their significance in the clinic. It traces the historical development of tongue diagnosis and its relationship to externally- contracted disorders and the eight principals.

Featured in this revised edition are 59 color plates and accompanying case histories from the author's own practice. Other aspects of tongue diagnosis newly described in this edition include the integration of tongue and pulse diagnosis; the use of the tongue in diagnosing emotional problems; tongue diagnosis and herbal treatment; the tongue in prognosis; and special considerations regarding tongue diagnosis in children. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

For Students Studying for the Boards...
Another Giovanni book. He's like the Chinese Medicine Mafia - he's italian, he's everywhere, and he's never wrong. Yeah, right.

I didn't read the whole thing, but I did look through the case studies and look at their tongues. Particularly of note is his "rootless" tongue coat, also known as "patchy," which he says indicates Stomach yin xu. I hadn't seen this from any other author, so it was news to me... and key info to have in your brain for the test.

Not bad for OM students in general... no other book out there like it.

Top Notch
This is one of the most useful, attractive, and interesting books on TCM that I have in my library. The writing is good and well organized, the illustrations are excellent and the photographs are worth ... well ... a thousand words.

IMHO, this is one of the most important books a student of TCM can have. I think it should be the 2nd book a TCM student buys. The first would be a good fundamentals book (such as Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine by Wiseman and Ellis).

Highly recommended.

For serious tongue diagnosis
This is the best text on tongue diagnosis I know of. It is clear and to the point and leads you through the many difficulties in tongue Diagnosis. The study of this book will help and serious student of TCM with his/her diagnostics. This is a must have, in my opinion, for all TCM students.

simply the best!
tongue diagnosis in this book gave me a lot and in the best easy way that can be explained in such a complex way of diagnosis.it began with a history of the tongue diagnosis, that followed by a short explanations of the diffrent ways of diagnosis through all the chinese dynasties,but the method that represent here in this book is the most practical comprehansive yet simply and gives you the reader a more deep understanding and diagnosing of this art of diagnosing,for instance:while some tongue diagnostics used (in the past mainly)to observe only by the color,and some others by the shape,some on marks on the tongue, this book explains what are the meanings of each one of them, and how they can be worked together in the diagnosis.the method that are used in this outstanding book is the one that can be detected and aproved by clinical tests,and i as a orthomoleculr-nutritionist that use the basic of the knoledge of this book in order to have a wide veriety of diagnostic tools can say in a very confident way:it is simply true and the best book on the subjecy!

All you ever wanted to know about tongue diagnosis
This is a very comprehensive book on tongue diagnosis in TCM for evaluating health. It not only goes into the usual information on tongue color, color & thickness of coating, size & shape of the tongue, features (such as fissures), etc., it gives information on the exceptions to the general rules.

The book also goes into some detail on why and how tongue characteristics develop. Tongue swollen, teeth marks visible along the edges? Suspect Spleen problems because the Spleen is not performing its function of transporting fluids in the body.

No photograph adequately can capture all the subtleties of tongue diagnosis. But the extensive collection of photos in this book do a good job of indicating what is meant by a pale tongue, a red tongue, a swollen tongue, a thick or thin coating, etc.

I recommend this book for serious TCM students and for people who want to learn how health problems can be revealed by the tongue. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

The Natural Way to Good Health
Although it is not as definitive as the editors would have you believe, "Nature's Medicines" quite thoroughly covers a number of herbs, vitamins and other supplements. The book is divided into 3 sections for easy reference: What You Need to Know About Supplements; The Powerhouse of Nature's Medicines; and Fighting Disease with Supplements. The first chapter discusses the role that vitamins, minerals and other supplements play in your health. The second chapter discusses the efficacy of numerous supplements, to include side effects and interaction precautions. The third chapter is a very thorough discussion of numerous diseases/ailments (such as AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, headaches, cancer, Alzheimers, etc.)and what supplements are most beneficial to those suffering from them. If I could only have one book on natural supplements, this is the one I would choose: it's a very useful reference. ... Read more

Book Description

From the simple and common to the complex and rare, this book contains subtleties, distinctions and nuances of Chinese medicine never found in beginners texts. Whether for translational or clinical application, it presents the concepts of Chinese medicine exactly as they would come to the mind of a Chinese physician speaking or writing in their native language.

Arranged as a classical dictionary, definitions are provided in English alphabetic order, and include the english term, the source Chinese term, its Pinyin transliteration (including spoken tone), pronunciation, etymology, and one or more definitions as applied in Chinese medicine. Terms used within definitions are cross-referenced and disease and symptom descriptions include the standard therapies applied in the People's Republic of China. Each definition is referenced to one or more Chinese source. In all, it lists the characters, Pinyin, translations, and definitions for more than 10,000 medical concepts, including treatments for the patterns catalogued, 2,000 formulas, 1,700 natural drugs, and 1,500 acupoints.

The definitions and treatments are drawn from clinically authoritative Chinese medical sources, all of which are cited. The many useful features include a full set of English common and commercial names for medicinal substances, as well as standard Latin scientific names. Western medical correspondences are noted, as is nomenclature put forward by the World Health Organization. The index is comprehensive and fully cross referenced; it also includes lesser-used terms and nomenclature so it may be used as a translators' glossary. There is one foreword by Chen Keji, the pioneer of integrated Chinese medicine, and another by Paul Unschuld, the renowned sinologist.

This is a valuable work that will provide rapid access to an enormous amount of information for the student, researcher, or clinician, and is sure to become the new reference source for academic studies, international exchange, and training in Chinese medicine. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fabulous Precision
The issue with all texts on Chinese medicine in English is translation. Given his penchant for ridiculously arcane terminology, Wiseman is no different. The outstanding feature of this dictionary and other Wiseman works, however, is the marriage of translation to Chinese, meaning one can examine his interpretation against the actual text. Pinyin is an obviously helpful bridge to understanding Chinese, but seeing the actual characters adds much to the understanding of TCM theory and application.

Such careful scholarship is worthy of acclaim.

Essential for Serious TCM Students and Practitioners
It'll take you forever to get through it- it's big, and it's a dictionary. Wiseman is the only scholar out there who has advanced a standard for Chinese medical translation. Until someone comes up with something better, it's the language we'll use. This dictionary is also packed with loads of useful clinical info you won't find anywhere else. It's pricey, but if you want the real Chinese Medicine, I'd suggest you keep it on your list.

A colossal effort
The dictionary is a labor of love on the part of Nigel Wiseman and Feng Ye. As others have often observed, writing a dictionary is a thankless job and indeed, the authors have received little credit and much blame for their efforts. The price of admission is steep, the subject is still exotic in the English-speaking world, and many of the term choices are gratingly neological; such a work goes underappreciated for these and other reasons.

There is no question that many of the language decisions made in this work fly in the face of conventional approaches to translation. A translator by training before taking up the study of Chinese medicine, I can say without hesitation that this was not how translation was presented to us as students. The idea of a mechanically consistent, bidirectional set of terminological equivalents would have been frowned upon by my mentors. The goal of the method, however, is both laudable and clearly stated: to create English language Chinese medical terms than can be directly traced back to their Chinese origins by means of a dictionary. This approach is rife with difficulties, but in this early stage of importing Chinese medicine, it seems to be the road we must inevitably travel. I've been known to openly express frustration with some of the work at hand (which is, notably, very much a work in progress), but I must admit that it is an enormous contribution to the field and that it is infinitely preferable to no such work at all.

The Dictionary is organized alphabetically by English language terms, with Chinese characters and Pinyin romanization with tone marks, as well as an English-language definition, for each entry. The quality and length of each entry varies considerably, and one must often read several entries scattered throughout the dictionary in order to understand the meaning of a single term, but then, that is the nature of Chinese medicine. The Dictionary definitions, despite their inconsistency, comprise a wealth of information previously not available in English about a wide range of Chinese medical topics.

The index includes both English and Pinyin terms. There is no way to look up terms by their Chinese characters, so one must use additional works, such as Wiseman's English-Chinese Chinese-English Dictionary of Chinese Medicine, when trying to read a Chinese text. This is disappointing, but such an index would have added another 150-200 pages or so to the already massive size of the book, which would simultaneously have further increased the cost.

Those who wish to read English-language publications using Wiseman and Ye's terminology will find they cannot do without this dictionary. Students and practitioners who wish to experience more of the world view of Chinese medicine will find many rewards between its covers. Would-be translators (myself included) will discover a valuable resource in the Dictionary, despite the persistent need for several others. It is only by use that the true value of this book may be revealed, and only by use that its shortcomings may be addressed.

A New Cornerstone for Chinese Medicine in the West
Every so often a book comes into existence that exerts a powerful influence on the zone of life for which it was intended. This new dictionary falls into this category. Since its arrival it has already become a lightning rod for discussion and debate concerning the whole conduct of the translation and therefore the transmission of traditional Chinese medicine into English and English-speaking areas. The authoring of dictionaries is a thankless task. Samuel Johnson, no stranger to this work, noted that mankind tends to consider the writers of dictionaries as the slaves of science. The work of Nigel Wiseman and Feng Ye reflects a deep sense of service to their chosen discipline, but far from being slaves they stand in the vanguard of a liberating force that is developing in Chinese medical studies. We all owe them our thanks for having put so much information between the covers of a single volume that can be used to forward the development of deeper understanding of this complex subject. To illustrate the utility of the book, I just came from a visit to the office of a friend, an MD who practices acupuncture to whom I recommended the dictionary when it was first publised. "Thanks for turning me on to this book," he said, pointing to the Practical Dictionary beside his desk. "I use it every day." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Real Diagnosis
Deng's fame as a doctor and teacher is widespread in China, and this book should serve to make him as renowned in the West.

Practical Diagnosis is the most thorough exposition of TCM diagnosis in English to date, and it is the only work on TCM diagnosis in English that is based on a rigorously denotative translation of a complete Chinese textbook using Wiseman and Ye's standard terminology. It is therefore possible to trace the meanings of individual words and phrases in the book back to the original Chinese language terms. The only reason this book doesn't receive all five stars is because it is often necessary to make that effort, though in fairness, it is extremely difficult to make a denotative translation from Chinese that sounds anything like good English. To the translators' credit, Practical Diagnosis succeeds more often than it fails in this aspect.

Amazon's description suggests that this book is advanced in its presentation, but it would be more accurate to say that it is an exceptionally thorough treatise of the ground matter of TCM diagnosis. I require this book in my classes on diagnosis and it seems that first year students have no real difficulty with it, aside from a few places in the text which lack clarity due to the methodological strictness mentioned above. In general, there is nothing about the book that excludes beginners, so long as there has been some introduction to the basic concepts and terms of Chinese medicine.

The book's content is of the first quality. Not only does it thoroughly discuss the principles and methods of the Four Examinations and the diagnostic models of Chinese medicine, it does so with great clarity for the most part and in a systematic, organized fashion. It is almost unique among the works available in English on the subject of TCM diagnosis in that it discusses the reasons signs and symptoms appear and change as they do in terms of TCM theory. Prior to Practical Diagnosis, "The Secret of Chinese Pulse Diagnosis" was the only English-language work on diagnosis that made any serious attempt at this type of discussion. Practical Diagnosis provides theoretical background for inquiry, listening and smelling, and inspection as well as for palpation diagnosis, with an emphasis tracking the changes of disease conditions to deepen one's diagnosis and prognosis. This explanatory material makes the topic much more accessible. Practical Diagnosis is the only English-language work other than the Practical Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine to present a meaningful discussion of the ten methods of complexion analysis.

Practical Diagnosis includes chapters on writing medical records and on the theory and clinical significance of many commonly-seen symptoms.

Practical Diagnosis is a complete textbook solution for teachers of Chinese medical diagnosis and an excellent resource for students and practitioners of all levels. If you get just one book on the subject of Chinese medical diagnosis, let it be this one.

A TCM Diagnostic Dream -come -true!
As a practicing acupuncturist of 12 years and teacher of this artful medicine, I found this book invaluable for both practioners and students of TCM. The wealth of information on examination methods(i.e.: tongue,pulse,abdomen,almost every aspect of facial diagnosis), 10 questions, and more was impressive! The author gives more than enough information to discern what pattern(s)are present and how to differentiate your diagnosis as well as how to write a report(listing helpful examples for the student or beginning practioner.) It was written in a very readable format and very interesting. Thanks to the author for compiling such a helpful text. I'm recommending it to all my students! ... Read more

Book Description

The companion volume to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, this book of Chinese medicinal formulas in English serves as both a textbook for students and a major reference source for practitioners. Included are nearly 600 Chinese medicinal formulas arranged in 18 functional categories.

For each of the 250-plus principal formulas there is a discussion of its therapeutic actions and indications, analysis of the functions and interactions of the ingredients, method of preparation, and a list of modifications to customize the formula in the clinic. Commentary explains different interpretations of the formulas, compares them with related formulas, and discusses their application in treating biomedically-defined disorders. Almost 350 variations and associated formulas offer additional options for the practitioner in the clinic. An informative introduction traces the historical evolution of the formulas, and provides practical pointers for their preparation and use. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

No contenders
The fact that no real contenders have emerged in more than 13 years since this book's publication is sufficient testimony to its quality.

Formulas and Strategies is used in virtually every formal program in Chinese herbal medicine in the English-speaking world. It is by no means exhaustive, but it is more than sufficient as basic classroom text, and the quality of the content, while inconsistent, is on balance very high indeed. The book has not been updated in a while, so some information about herb-drug interactions is not reflected here, but there is not enough new information of that sort that its absence detracts in any major way from the book's value as a textbook. Any good teacher will be able to fill in those few blanks, and numerous journal articles have been written about the errors and omissions in Formulas and Strategies. To summarize, there are few errors and omissions for a work of its size, and the ones that are present are minor.

Some disagree with Bensky over translational matters, but it should be pointed out that he did provide a glossary of terms as an appendix. It is possible, with some effort, to get back to most of the Chinese terms he has translated.

A strength and a weakness of Formulas and Strategies is that Bensky chose, whenever possible, to go back to the original source where each formula first appears in history. This is actually very interesting in some ways and difficult in others, because many formulas have been used in different ways over the course of their history. It would have been nice to see more of that type of information, but the book is already quite large, and it is clear that some editorial decision had to be made. A much larger work would have been too expensive too produce and would not have sold well.

Formulas and Strategies has so far stood the test of time admirably. While it would be nice to see more competition in this area, Formulas and Strategies is just the sort of book you like to see in a market that is dominated by just one book. It is much better than it has to be to be the only one out there.

Still the Standard
Regardless of its very few flaws, this is still the standard reference for basic chinese herbal formulas. Many books have formulas with herbs and dosages, but none speak so extensively of how each herb within the formula works. This is an indispensable tome for the OM student. As for whether the general public will appreciate it, I doubt it. This is the kind of book needed by those who aspire to writing personalized modifications of classical formulas... but no one else except the extremely curious patient will find it worth the price.

Strategy and Formulas, Dan Bensking
Is excellente book very usefull for practitionars and for any herbalist one to know about CHM. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fitness guru Denise Austin helps you "zero in on your personal trouble spots" while increasing metabolism with this 6-week exercise and eating program. Her formula includes toning workouts that target the waist, thighs, abs, buttocks, hip, lower back, and upper arms; regular walking and stretching; and eating strategies (not dieting). Her tips are refreshingly sensible: Avoid chronic dieting (it hurts your health and makes you fatter), stretch to decrease stress, fill up on high-fiber foods, eat a balanced diet, build muscle to increase calorie-burning, and walk almost every day. Austin's clearly illustrated and varied exercises use body weight, dumbbells, resistance bands, or a stability ball. A sample exercise schedule takes 15 to 60 minutes a day. For especially busy days, she offers a series of exercises that work two or more muscle groups at once.Austin's "Shrink-Fat Eating Plan" emphasizes portion control, 1,400 to 1,800 calories, and a nutritional breakdown of 24 percent "good" fat, 20 percent protein, and 56 percent high-quality carbs. Whether you just want a foundation to get started or you need a structured, daily program (including menu plans, shopping lists, and daily logs), you can find it here. Profiles of happy and successful followers of the program add interest. Highly recommended. --Joan Price

... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great Book for New Moms
I'm 5'4" and have always weighed 115-120 lbs. After giving birth to my daughter, I weighed 147 pounds. I didn't exercise during my pregnancy, and I didn't start trying to re-gain my pre-pregnancy figure until after my 6-week postpartum check-up. The first time I went to the gym, I came home crying, because I was very much out of shape, and unable to accomplish anything on familiar weight machines. Instead of heading back to the gym, I ordered this book, and now I'm back down to 115 lbs. My friends and family keep telling me how great I look for someone who just had a baby three months ago.
This program has been great for me, as a new mother. 1) The exercise program includes a lot of walking, which my baby loves!
2) The recipes are quick and easy to prepare. 3) Denise has written out grocery lists which save me tons of time.
This book is great for busy new moms who want to shed pounds from pregnancy.

finally losing weight after two babies
I read the book in a couple of days while nursing my second baby. I can do the workout with my baby and toddler. It is four days of walking and four days of toning muscles using wieghts. I finished week 1 : portion control on the diet plan. I can finally fit into my jeans while doing the strength toning (not recommended). I loved the DVD. The eating plan in the book is just as wonderful. And I can do it while nursing a seventeen pound baby. I love it!

It Works
My sister used this book to lose weight she had put on after having a baby-and she was never exactly skinny to begin with. Without too much strain, she has managed to put on 80 lbs. by sitting around, eating bon-bons, and reading this book!Just Kidding!

Alright, I know this is serious stuff to some people. The truth is she now looks great, and the attention she gets from guys has increased dramatically-usually it decreases after having a baby, so that's saying something. I think women everywhere should give this a try, but my sister should trade her copy for a box of chocolate bars so I don't have to worry about her so much!

If you know a fat woman, get her this. Sorry, I'm just having a hard time taking this seriously.

A realistic way to lose weight!!
She gives it to you honestly, and like any diet plan, you will lose weight. But with her diet she doesn't eliminate certain food groups like breads and fruits. She gets you moving with her motivational words and years of expereince. The DVD is a great complement to the diet plan, and don't forget her FREE morning workouts on the Lifetime Channel! She has not been a thin personal all her life, she has had two kids, so her encouragement and determination to stay fit and healthy into her 40's is real and refreshing. Like any diet plan, your determination and stick-to-it-ness is the only way you will see success!

Good book, easy to follow and understand
This is an easy to follow and understand. Great book! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (23)

Packed full of useful medicinal plant information & stories.
This book is an excellent reference for anyone interested in herbal healing. It's easy to read and difficult to put down. The book is organized by disease states, instead of herbs and their uses like most herbal books. You can find multiple areas pertaining to each herb listed in the index. Dr. Duke, with his vast experience and botanical knowledge, created a fascinating book that includes many stories about various herbs and people that he has meet during his many travels and his work for the USDA. While some herbs have numerous studies about their ingredients and effects, Dr. Duke informs the reader about potentially useful herbs for conditions from Allergies to Yeast Infections. And if that wasn't enough, it includes a recap of Dr.Duke's life and how he came to learn and love plants. His knowledge of plants and their constituents is almost endless. Even well read herbalist can learn something from Dr.Duke.

The one I turn to again and again...!
This book is VERY useful for looking up which herbs to use for a given health condition (it's organized alphabetically by condition). If you have a cold, for example, and you want to know what to use to treat it, you can just look it up under "Colds and Flu", and bingo, there's all the info you need. (Many of the other herb books I have, while lovely to look at, require you to use the index and then peruse each individual plant listing that mentions a condition. This can be a pain!) Dr. Duke's folksy style of writing and his anecdotes interspersed in the text make it a pleasure to read.

This is the book I recommend to friends who want to know which herbs to use-- it's a great read & a great reference!

Outstanding!
This is a gotta-have if your working with herbal remedies. I just can't say more than, its well worth the price, just buy it.

Excellent!!!
What a rare treat to find this book such a pleasureable read! I try to read most of the alternative health books that are popular, and I was most pleased with this little gem.

Lots of detail, doses, and extra info that enable the reader to make informed decisions about their medical choices. I will definately be purchasing the authors other books.

Wow!
I never knew how many over the counter medicines could be replaced by safer, herbal alternatives. This book is easy to read and has a great index where you can look up various ailments. The index takes you right to the page where it lists the herbs that can help you. The book also provides many different herbs that can be used for one ailment so you can have more options available to you. It also says how the herb is used and prepared. Excellent book for someone that wants to have well-rounded health-care. I can attest to some of those remedies in the book, they do work! ... Read more

Book Description

Tongue diagnosis is a vital instrument used in Chinese medicine both for assessing the current health of a patient and providing a basis for prognosis. It also informs the practitioner about the underlying strength or weakness of the patient’s constitution.

This atlas contains over 320 color photographs of tongues seen in a Western clinic. The photographs provide a graphic representation of a wide variety of common disorders. Each photograph is accompanied by a description of the significant features of the tongue, the corresponding Chinese diagnosis for each such feature, accompanying symptoms, Western diagnosis, and pertinent background information.

The presentation of the tongues is organized according to the nature of the underlying disharmony: Lung, Spleen-Stomach, Kidney, Heart, Liver. Other chapters focus on particular aspects of the tongue, such as pale tongues, cracked tongues, special coating, as well as those associated with heat disorders and blood stasis. The text is interspersed with many full case histories that describe aspects that are not visible on the tongue alone.

A final chapter surveys several cases which reflect how the tongue changed over the course of treatment, with before and after photographs. This systematic presentation provides the student and practitioner of Chinese medicine with a much deeper appreciation for the methodology of tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine.

An extensive and detailed index provides access to virtually every aspect of the hundreds of tongues presented in this atlas, and their interrelationships. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent atlas of tongue diagnosis
This is an excellent book for anyone interested in Chinese tongue diagnosis. The book is divided into sections according to pattern (Kidney disharmonies, Stomach and Spleen disharmonies, etc). Each section contains approximately 30 full-color, well-photographed tongues representing the pattern. This makes it easy to see the range of tongue signs for each pattern. Also, the description of the tongue, the patient's symptoms, Western diagnosis and Chinese diagnosis are printed next to the photo of the tongue for easy reference. (You don't have to flip back and forth between the text pages and the color plates, as in Maciocia's Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine.) This book isn't cheap, but the quality of the photographs and the clear description of the tongues makes it a very worthwile investment. ... Read more

Book Description

Focusing on the wealth of information emerging in the area of energy medicine, this unique resource explores mechanisms by which mind and body processes influence the body's healing and performance potential. Content draws on an extraordinary range of sources to explore theories of human energy - from physiology and biophysics, to examples drawn from the realms of "spontaneous healing," cutting-edge athletic and artistic performance, the martial arts, and various contemplative and spiritual practices. Providing new insights and theoretical models, it offers ways to apply these concepts directly, practically, and clinically. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Mind-Boggling New Scientific Understanding
James Oschman has done it, he's presenting us with the rare gift of a breakthrough understanding of the human condition that includes a profound new theory of the mechanisms of life, one with critically important clinical implications. In prose that reads like a good adventure story he presents with great clarity, comprehensiveness, and extensive endnotes a mind-boggling story from the frontiers of biophysics. Reading merely the introduction to this immensely important book will open your mind to a radically different paradigm of human functioning, one that is laying the foundation for more fully understanding all kinds of phenomena of living processes that heretofore have remained insoluble mysteries.

He discusses the nature of scientific revolution and how once shunned and ignored ideas move into the mainstream of orthodoxy only to be replaced in turn. It is time for some of the most fundamental assumptions of medical and life sciences to be examined, time for these new ideas to be tested.

Dr. Oschman cites voluminous evidence from scientific journals demonstrating that along with the communication systems we are most familiar with, the nervous and endocrine systems, there are other communication and regulatory systems that can only be understood when we look deeper into ourselves than the realms of organs and cells and even molecules with all of their complex iterations and interactions. We must go into the quantum realm of subatomic particles if we would understand the nature of life.

Biophysicists have been doing this in their labs and specialized journals but their discoveries have had little effect outside their field. What Jim has so ably accomplished that no one else has done and which is so vitally important is to carefully scrutinize this burgeoning material with the eyes of a comprehensivist and synthesize it into a new paradigm that sheds light on so many mysteries from the everyday questions of how living organisms regulate disparate functions, generate energy, et cetera. In doing so a number of fascinating questions arise in the mind of the scientifically literate that scream for investigation. So many questions that have resisted our best minds' efforts at understanding appear now ready to be answered, and give rise to the next layer of questions.

Life functions cannot be understood so long as the investigation holds to the familiar realms. We now have the tools and with Jim's contribution the theoretical framework to carry our investigation of life and especially human life into the next domain of quantum realities. The practical results, if this work is given the resources it needs, will surely be immensely important. Questions about the extraordinary and well-documented events that sometimes occur in activities like sports, the martial arts, and various healing modalities can now be investigated rationally - and perhaps someday if we do the work these now rare and inexplicable phenomena will be harnessed and reliably produced for the well-being of us all.

The evidence for this "second" nervous system, one that functions much more rapidly, is near infinitely more complex, and magnitudes of order more sensitive than the nervous system we are so familiar with is conclusive. And this system has been right in front of our eyes and under our hands all along, we just didn't have scientific tools with sufficient sensitivity to perceive and investigate it until recently. I urge everyone interested in these vital issues to get this book and spread the word.

Randy Mack ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Book is better than cd
The book itself is far more helpful than the cd rom that comes with it.
Study your meridians to be able to pass this exam because it is tough.

the best review book ive seen
this was the best book that i have purchased for reviewing for the National Massage and Bodywork exam. ive purchased 4 books to help me, and i have used the cd-rom in this book almost exclusively. it is useful if you already are familiar with your stuff, but if you need a complete review i would suggest the review for massage and bodywork by joseph ashton. as for this book, the cd-rom practice tests in this book are a great resource. 5 stars!

Very good book
This is a good book for a general review for the NCETMB. It's well-written and quite organized. My study group and I used this book and the following, which is also sold on Amazon.com:
The Ultimate Study for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: Key Review Questions and Answers
Volume 1 (ISBN: 0971999643)
Volume 2 (ISBN: 0971999651)
Volume 3 (ISBN: 097199966X)
We all passed with flying colors. Make your life easier, definitely buy these 4 books.

NOT BLIND COMPATIBLE
The Mosby software is a Shockwave presentation. WindowEyes (current version) speech program will only recite the program name, NOTHING else.

Only useless beeps can be heard.

The QUESTIONS are all in italics. Some page scanners for the blind will not convert italics well or at all.

The text is written on a high level, difficult reading for the average therapist or student with GED level English.
...However a lot of work was required to transcribe this book for a blind person. ...

A Great Massage Therapy Review!
This is a great way to prepare yourself for the National Certification Exam or even just to test yourself and the knowledge you have about massage therapy. I love the format- you know exactly where your strengths and weaknesses are. I found the CD-ROM to be especially helpful. ... Read more

Book Description

This collection of essays on integral medicine, consciousness, and healing integrates mainstream medical knowledge with recent developments in the emerging areas of frontier sciences and insights from alternative healing perspectives. It promotes a model of healing in which personal relationships, emotions, meaning, and belief systems are viewed as fundamental points of connection between body, mind, spirit, society, and nature. Integral medicine embraces the recognition that human beings possess emotional, spiritual, and relational dimensions that are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the cultivation of wellness. Readers learn from the leaders in the emerging field of integral medicine and consciousness research, from the most well known (Deepak Chopra), to the frontline policy makers (James Gordon-one of the heads of the White House Commission on Conventional and Complementary and Alternative Medicine). Readers also gain insights from health professionals who * The most comprehensive and authoritative collection of work on the subject of healing. * Joins subjective mind-body experiences with evidence-based research. * Comprehensive view of healing as a complex system - something few texts do from such an interdisciplinary, multidimensional, and scientific perspective. * The editors build on over 30 years of research in the area of mind-body medicine and consciousness * The DVD packaged with this product contains 50 minutes of video interviews with many of the high-profile leaders who contribute to this book, as well as practitioners in the medical field who do not contribute to this book, but who do subscribe to its philosophy. It also contains 9 essays (read aloud) that are not in the book. References and the book's table of contents are on the DVD in Microsoft Word format. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're a woman who's serious about strengthening and sculpting your physique, expert trainer Brad Schoenfeld provides a progressive program with a variety of resistance exercises for each muscle group. This second edition of Sculpting Her Body Perfect updates the 1999 book and adds new exercises, notably many that can be done at home rather than at a gym. The exercises, using free weights, machines, bands, and cables, are well illustrated with clear photographs. Personal stories and photos of female fitness competitors and body builders make it seem as though this book is aimed at women aspiring to the competitive level, although it does start with a beginner's program and progresses through the advanced level. The abdominal section still focuses on creating visually appealing abs with no mention of core conditioning (also known as functional training or stabilization), which trains the abdominals for daily life. (For that approach, see Athletic Abs by Scott Cole and Tom Seabourne.)

This book is a fine addition to your training library, whether you want a progressive program or simply an assortment of exercises to choose from. It's recommended for serious exercisers who want a varied strength program. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Not what I had in mind
I was so excited to read a book especially designed for women, however once I opened it up it didn't take long before I was disappointed. This book gives many techniques that can only be done in a gym, on many different machines. If you enjoy training at home, on you own equipment, you will find that many of the exercises cannot be done without specific machines. The author shows a photo of a woman doing the exercise and then gives a VERY BRIEF description of what she is doing. He never addresses proper form of the exercises or what to be sure not to do in order to achieve maximum results and prevent injury. This book also seems to be focused towards women body builders or health competitors. Aproximately every chapter has a short story on a female weight trainer and they are all competitors. This told me alot about the author's goal of the book, because he seems to think that "perfect" is more bulky than I think the average woman pictures herself. In the cardio chapter the author tends to take off with his vast knowlege of training, and begins to lose the reader with his terms and points that he is trying to make, without giving you some background to what he is talking about. He also is ever sure to point out all of women's short comings and why she will never be able to train at the same level as a man wether it be weights, or cardio exercise (as if that was our goal). Bottom line, this book is aimed at satisfying the more Golds Gym, die-hard iron pumping, G-I Jane type, not a woman who wants to have a sleeker, sexier, but very feminine physique.

A must have for any woman looking to shape up
Great book that covers everything you want to know about exercise for women. It is jam packed with info and does an excellent job explaining the strategies for toning up all areas of the body. The exercise descriptions are clear and concise and the photos make it easy to follow. The author has a motivational writing style and organizes the chapters in a logical fashion. And the home based exercise finder in the beginning makes it easy to develop a home workout (I do my workout in basement gym with a set of dumbbells and strength bands). I've gotten more out of this book than years of subscriptions to all the fitness mags combined.

Excellent book for the intermediate exerciser!
For over a year, I had been working out at the gym on my own. I did not have a lot of previous knowledge on different exercises, or the machines or weights that should be used. So, I searched for a book at the library to use as a guide in my training. I have had this one in my possession for about three weeks, and just ordered my own copy.

I think this is a great book for someone who is not really new to strength training, but not for a pro either. The book really gives you good ideas on what you can do at the gym, without feeling intimidated because you are unsure of what you're doing. The descriptions of each exercise are helpful because the words are easy to understand...after all, this shouldn't be made more complicated with fancy words.

What I've doing now is incorporating a new exercise for a muscle group each week, just to familiarize myself with them. My old program was getting stale, and doing this spices it up!

Great Reference Book
This book is great. I found it at the bookstore and it is very helpful. I developed a great program for myself after reading it and have seen excellent results. It is also a great book to use as a reference, I constantly find myself going back and looking up information out of it.

I love it!!!
This book is great!!! I used it before my wedding and followed the workout exactly as described. Final result was I lost 22 pounds in three months and fit into my size six! And everyone at the wedding was complimenting me on how good my arms and back looked. I couldn't be happier!!! ... Read more