Rating: 
Summary: A great book
Review: A very usefull book for students of TCM. Should be read by any serious student who starts his journey to discover the TCM.
Rating:
Summary: The Standard
Review: All the basics right here. Wonderful discussion of the basis of acupuncture/traditional chinese medicine. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: The Standard
Review: All the basics right here. Wonderful discussion of the basis of acupuncture/traditional chinese medicine. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Get This Book
Review: For the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Students:
Before writing a review I want to say that the Acupuncture Boards require this book as their main diagnostic book, but also; they require, "The Web that Has No Weaver," by Kapchuk and Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustiion (Rev. Ed.)(CAM) by Cheng Xinnong. I would also like to recommend - but not required - Foundations in Chinese Acupuncture (Rev. Ed.) by Ellis, Wiseman and Boss. This book is great for channel theory and has excellent detail throughout. For Everyone else:
The above also applies to everyone else but mostly to TCM students. In review of Giovanni's book I must say that from a Western Medical science point of view it was easier to understand than "The Web" and I found that it presented the material in a logical systematic fashion with better and more complete explanations. It is better to start with this book, than with some of the others because once you have a good background with this one, you can understand the different wording in the other books (CAM, Web, etc.). Overall written well and highly recommended. Five Stars!
Rating: 
Summary: Adequate
Review: Gives an adequate overview of the basic concepts in chinese medicine, but is sorely lacking in many, many others. What it lacks, as does much of the information originating from communist China, are the Taoist roots of the medicine which have a very tangible impact on its practice (especially the psychospiritual elements) - something that is sorely lacking from the modern TCM iteration of Chinese medicine. Its understanding of the production of Qi and Xue is incomplete, which limits its usefulness clinically as well. Much more information from the classics should be included in this text to warrent its name as a 'foundational' text.
Rating: 
Summary: Dicey CA State Board Book
Review: Maciocia's work has been quite influential in the U.S. despite the fact that some of his information is from the classics, while other parts are his own creation. He does not always differentiate between the two, nor does he always cite his sources. For example, the idea that the outer back shu points are effective for the treatment of emotions... not from the Classic sources, according to Philippe Sionneau. So where did it come from? Who made it up? However, we still have to know everything in his books for the CA state board. His zang-fu herbalized-style point functions, 5 phase type, three jiao patterns, etc. are unique to this book. In its defense, it does have a lot of important basic info, and it's written by a native English speaker... but it's a vastly different look at Chinese Medicine from say The Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine by Nigel Wiseman. Good start for the new student... but neither the last word, nor infallible.
Rating:
Summary: Dicey CA State Board Book
Review: Maciocia's work has been quite influential in the U.S. despite the fact that some of his information is from the classics, while other parts are his own creation. He does not always differentiate between the two, nor does he always cite his sources. For example, the idea that the outer back shu points are effective for the treatment of emotions... not from the Classic sources, according to Philippe Sionneau. So where did it come from? Who made it up? However, we still have to know everything in his books for the CA state board. His zang-fu herbalized-style point functions, 5 phase type, three jiao patterns, etc. are unique to this book. In its defense, it does have a lot of important basic info, and it's written by a native English speaker... but it's a vastly different look at Chinese Medicine from say The Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine by Nigel Wiseman. Good start for the new student... but neither the last word, nor infallible.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Work
Review: This book can explain to the martial artist *why* pressure points work and how to utilize them most effectively. It is not a cookbook in the sense of an instructional video. It is an exposition of the underlying principles of all martial arts in general and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in particular. Recommended for martial artists who have already obtained their first black belt.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Knowledgeable book for learning Eastern Medicide
Review: This book is great, It talks about all the organs/ meridains and the history of Acupuncture, The five elements, generation and control cycle, the Toa, the Associated Elements, shiatsu points, kyo and jitsu, organ associations, and much much more. This was one of the main reading that was assigned to me through all of my shiatsu classes at the Swedish Institue in New York City. I am sure I will refer to this book thoughout my career as a massage therapist. On a scale of one to ten I rate this book A ten! I recommend this book to any massage therapist, If your a massage therapist this book should be on your shelf! [...]
Rating:
Summary: Top Book for Chinese Medicine!
Review: This is a wonderful book for anyone that takes their studies seriously. It is the text we use as our basis in our school. Save a ton of money buying many books on the subject and just get this one first
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