Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine

Rating:
Summary: An important reference for Chinese women's medicine
Review: While it necessarily falls short of its encyclopedic vision, Maciocia's latest will become an important reference, not only for those emphasizing women's medicine, but for anyone studying Chinese medicine theory. Since one cannot expect to present more than an overview of the breadth and depth of this speciality, the book's few shortcomings can easily be forgiven.

On the upside, this book contains the most lucid and thorough discussion of eight extraordinary vessels theory in English, as it pertains to women's medicine, although the information on eight extraordinary vessels is not limited thereto.

The chapter on Chinese medicine and midwifery may clear much confusion around obstetrics and Chinese medicine and is, again, perhaps the clearest presentation of the subject in English.

Some common syndromes are not discussed with the same degree of thoroughness that theory receives, but it is better to expound theory at the expense of a few pattern differentiations than vice versa, since pattern differentiation ultimately stems from theory.

This book can definitely enhance the practice of Chinese women's medicine, and the eight extraordinary vessels discussion is sufficient to be useful outside of the specialty as well.