Between Heaven and Earth : A Guide to Chinese Medicine

“Comprehensive, encyclopedic, and lucid, this book is a must for all practitioners of the healing arts who want to broaden their understanding. Readers interested in the role of herbs and foods in healing will also find much to learn here, as I have. . . . A fine work.”—Annemarie Colbin, author of Food and Healing The promise and mystery of Chinese medicine has intrigued and fascinated Westerners ever since the “Bamboo Curtain” was lifted in the early 1970s. Now, in Between Heaven and Earth, two of the foremost American educators and healers in the Chinese medical profession demystify this centuries-old approach to health. Harriet Beinfeld and Efrem Korngold, pioneers in the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States for over eighteen years, explain the philosophy behind Chinese medicine, how it works and what it can do. Combining Eastern traditions with Western sensibilities in a unique blend that is relevant today, Between Heaven and Earth addresses three vital areas of Chinese medicine—theory, therapy, and types—to present a comprehensive, yet understandable guide to this ancient system. Whether you are a patient with an aggravating complaint or a curious intellectual seeker, Between Heaven and Earth opens the door to a vast storehouse of knowledge that bridges the gap between mind and body, theory and practice, professional and self-care, East and West. “Groundbreaking . . . Here at last is a complete and readable guide to Chinese medicine.”— San Francisco Chronicle

two Of The Foremost American Educators And Healers In The Chinese Medical Profession Demystify Chinese Medicine's Centuries-odl Approach To Health. Combining Eastern Traditions With Western Sensibilities In A Unique Blend That Is Relevant Today, Between Heaven And Earth Opens The Door To A Vast Storehouse Of Knowledge That Bridges The Gap Between Mind And Body, Theory And Practice, Professional And Self-care, East And West.

publishers Weekly

for Anyone Seriously Interested In Learning About Chinese Medicine, Beinfield And Korngold Provide A Comprehensive, Though Technical, Look At It. The Book Is Divided Into Three Parts: Theory; The Psychology Of Chinese Medicine And Therapy; And Such Treatment Methods As Acupuncture, Herbs And Diet. Licensed Acupunturists, Beinfield And Korngold Stress That The Models Of Eastern And Western Medicine Are Significantly Different. Consequently, So Are Methods, Emphases And Outcomes. Chinese Medicine, They Claim, Readjusts The Body's Balance And Enhances Self-healing--while Western Medicine, In Contrast, Stresses Suppressing And Eliminating Pathological Phenomena, And Crisis-intervention. The Authors Don't Discount The Need, In Some Instances, For Western Medicine. In Fact, They Bring This Issue Up Poignantly With An Event Close To Home: Their Son Was Born With A Heart Deformity That Required Specialized Surgery. To Help Maintain His Health, His Parents Incorporated Herbal Remedies In His Diet. A Particularly Interesting Concept Is ``culinary Alchemy'' Or Kitchen Medicine, Based On The Chinese Tenet ``who We Are Determines What Is Most Beneficial For Us To Eat.'' The Authors Provide An Extensive, Cross-referenced Compendium Of Herb Names, As Well As Information On Using Chinese Patent Medicines And Formulas For General Health Problems. (june)

Two of the foremost American educators and healers in the Chinese medical profession demystify Chinese medicine's centuries-old approach to health. Combining Eastern traditions with Western sensibilities in a unique blend that is relevant today, Between Heaven and Earth opens the door to a vast storehouse of knowledge that bridges the gap between mind and body, theory and practice, professional and self-care, East and West. Two leading American educators and healers in the Chinese medical profession demystify Chinese medicine's centuries-old approach to health. Combining Eastern traditions with Western sensibilities in a unique blend that is relevant today, this book opens the door to a storehouse of knowledge that bridges the gap between mind and body, theory and practice, professional and self-care, East and West.--From publisher description