Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica - New Third Edition

The new 3rd edition of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica is designed to give practitioners the information they need to practice Chinese herbal medicine with greater understanding and confidence. It provides a wealth of new information - more than twice the content of the previous edition -- and practical insight into more than 530 of the most commonly used herbs in the Chinese pharmacopoeia.

Drawing from a wide range of sources, both classical and modern, this edition provides unparalleled perspective and detail that goes far beyond what is available elsewhere to the Western practitioner. Among its many features:

Herbs are grouped in chapters by function, with expanded summaries and tables for contrast and comparison. Each herb is identified by its pharmaceutical, pinyin, botanical, and family names, as well as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English common names.

Key characteristics are provided at the beginning of each entry, along with dosage, properties, channels entered, and relevant cautions and contraindications. This provides a quick overview of essential information.

Actions and indications are integrated with important combinations that illustrate the range of an herbs functions, with references to appropriate formulas. This presents a more three-dimensional picture of how each herb is actually used.

Expanded commentary offers in-depth analysis and places each herb in its clinical context through rich historical references. The mechanisms of action underlying important combinations, and comparisons with similar herbs, provide a broader context for understanding how the herb can be used with optimal effect.

A section devoted to nomenclature and preparation describes the most important methods of processing and preparing each herb, and the advantages of each method. It also provides information about other commonly-used names and historical background.

Safety is an important focus of this edition, with an emphasis on proper herb identification. Issues concerning standardized products, desirable qualities, variants, and adulterants are explained for each herb. There is also extensive information on toxicity, as well as chemical constituents.

The utility of this book is enhanced by its wide range of appendices, among which are colour photographs comparing the standard and adulterant forms of over 20 common herbs; tables of herbs that are indicated for specific pathologies of the five yin organs; and extensive cross references of the herbs by taxonomy, pinyin, pharmaceutical name, and other East Asian languages. There are also comprehensive indices of both herbs and formulas, as well as a general index.
REVIEWS
"The new 3rd edition of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica raises the bar on the practice of herbal medicine in the West. Its commentaries on individual herbs and their combinations provide a wealth of practical information previously unavailable in English. The book is not just informative, it's fun to read."
Charles Chace, L.Ac.
"[The 3rd edition] sets a new standard of excellence for Chinese herbals. The level of scholarship in this book is a reminder of what is possible through a combination of intellect, integrity, and hard work. A 'must' for the clinic and the classroom."
Craig Mitchell, L.Ac.

Preface

Introduction

Herbs that Release the Exterior

Herbs that Clear Heat

Downward-Draining Herbs

Herbs that Drain Dampness

Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness

Herbs that Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing

Aromatic Herbs that Transform Dampness

Herbs that Relieve Food Stagnation

Herbs that Regulate the Qi

Herbs that Regulate the Blood

Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

Tonifying Herbs

Herbs that Stabilize and Bind

Substances that Calm the Spirit

Aromatic Substances that Open the Orifices

Substances that Extinguish Wind and Stop Tremors

Herbs that Expel Parasites

Substances for Topical Application

Obsolete Substances

Table 1 Herbs Associated with Pathologies of the Five Yin Organs

Table 2 Summary Table of Herb Actions and Indications

Appendix 1 Guide to Pronunciation
Appendix 2 Table of Chinese Dynasties

Appendix 3 Glossary

Appendix 4 Sample Photographs: Adulterants & Quality Issues

Appendix 5 Table of Authors

Appendix 6 Historical and Source Text Bibliography

Appendix 7 Translators Bibliography

Appendix 8 Cross Reference of Pharmaceutical Names with Previous Edition

Herb and formula index

Pinyin-pharmaceutical cross reference

English-pharmaceutical cross reference

Japanese-pharmaceutical cross reference

Korean-pharmaceutical cross reference

Botanical, zoological, and mineral index

General index