Classical Chinese Medical Texts Vol III is now available for pre-order exclusively through Barnes and Noble online. They currently have a nice discount for pre-orders, which will last only until the book becomes available on June 15.
This volume focuses heavily on herbal theory, including monographs of single herbs, theories of qi, flavors and herb combining, and the modification of formulas. There is also an entire unit dedicated to acupuncture, channel, and acupoint theory and practice.
My goal in doing this series was to lay a strong foundation with the most basic and essential characters and grammar particles to better grasp not just the language, but to increase readers’ understanding of Chinese medicine in general. While working on this series, my editor left a comment in one of the chapters that said “You know, this makes so much more sense in Chinese.” That was the best editorial comment I could have received because this is the most important thing people can get from this series: the medicine just makes more sense in the original language. People’s questions get answered and ideas that once seemed so foreign suddenly make sense.
Here are some highlights of what is in Vol. III:
- 針灸大成 (Great Compendium of Acupuncture): Instructions on needle depth insertion and retention organized by a discussion of the channels according the the six levels.
- 靈樞一 (Ling Shu One): A discussion of the Shu points and their importance regarding the twelve regular and fifteen network vessels.
- 難經二十九 (Classical of Difficulties 29): A discussion of the Eight Extra (or Extraordinary) vessels and their related illnesses.
- 靈樞五十六 (Ling Shu 56): Questions and answers on the flavors, their relationship to channel entry, and how Qi is assimilated and circulated throughout the body.
- 湯液本草 (Tang-ye Materia Medica): A discussion on the interactions and combinations of qi and flavors.
- 醫學津梁 (A Guide to Medical Studies): Specific single herb choices for supplementing and draining qi for each of the five zang organs and incorporating five phase theory for mother-son treatments.
- 神農本草經 (Shen Nong’s Materia Medica): Numerous herb descriptions from the different classes of herbs in this early classic.
- 儒門事親 (How a Confucian Adept Serves His Parents): Combines ideas from Shen Nong’s Materia Medica and theories of ruler, deputy, assistant, and envoy herbs.
- Plus texts from the 石室秘錄, 萬病回春, and 瘟疫明辦, all discussing various aspects of herbal medicine and treatment of disease with herbs and more.
Dear Richard
I am trying to contact you to make an invitation.
But I am not sure if I have the right e-mail address.
So please, reply this post or send me an e-mail so that I can contact you.
Best regards
Reginaldo (from Brazil)
Hi Reginaldo,
I contacted you through the email address you left. I deleted it from here so you wouldn’t get spam
R
Mr. Goodman,
Thank you very much for this fine contribution to the field. Is volume III meant to be the final volume of “Classical Chinese Medical Texts,” or should we be expecting others in the future? Thanks once again.
Thanks for your comment. Volume III will be all for this specific series. Right now we are focusing on getting some academic level books on Chinese intellectual history and science in print. For my own writing, I will be focusing on translations. This seems like the next logical step-give people some of the basics and then present the classics in a way that focuses on the language. I’m not ready to announce yet which classics I’m translating, but the first should be out this fall. Stay tuned for details