Reddit reviews Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine: Zhong Yi Xue Ji Chu (Paradigm Title)

Most people and schools would probably recommend you start with Ted Kaptchuk's The web that has no weaver. Instead I prefer to breakdown my recommendation depending on whom is asking, and why. For patients who want to learn more about CM for diy health purposes, I recommend Legget's book which is 40% TCM theory explanation, and 60% application of those theories to everyday diet. For potential students, I recommend this translation of a first-year textbook for CM students in China, by the excellent Nigel Wiseman. For those interested in the more esoteric theoreticals of CM, I recommend anything by Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee.

And, for anyone really interested in reading "oldest and most enduring book" in Chinese Medicine - which should be every student and practitioner of CM - I would suggest a good translation of the Huangdi neijing. Note my emphasis on a good translation, which sadly excludes the Veith and Ni editions, both of which are quite terrible. If you can get past the dubious biomedical equivalencies he likes to make,Y.C. Kong's translation is composed of important textual excerpts neatly arranged by topic, making it both cheaper and more beginner-friendly than the Unschuld translation.

I am a beginner as well, but I will share the books I'm working my way through. They are not necessarily all beginner books as they range from general overviews to very thorough reference manuals. I hope you find something on the list that helps.

Most have Kindle samples you can download if you use Amazon.



Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F8FA6ZG/


The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XAZ625E/


The New Chinese Medicine Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0179ZS8R0/


The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ICS8MIE/


The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine Movement Massage Meditation Breathing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D184QVW/


Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/0979948495/





Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1556434308/


Recipes for Self Healing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0952464020/


The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446675067/


The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345421094/


Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine: Zhong Yi Xue Ji Chu (Paradigm title) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0912111445/


Secrets of Self-Healing: Harness Nature's Power to Heal Common Ailments, Boost Your Vitality,and Achieve Optimum Wellness https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZJY5X4/


The Acupuncture Handbook: How Acupuncture Works and How it Can Help You https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GW4MG3W/


The Chinese Way to Healing: Many Paths to Wholeness https://www.amazon.com/dp/0595399509/


Acupuncture Points Handbook: A Patient's Guide to the Locations and Functions of over 400 Acupuncture Points https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D35N6SJ/


The Root of Chinese Qigong: Secrets of Health, Longevity, & Enlightenment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FIICLXC/


Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology https://www.amazon.com/dp/0974063509/


Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0939616424/





Finally, here's a few books by Mantak Chia that are profound, enlightening, vulgar, dangerous, or just aweful, depending on who you ask. I haven't read any of them but they made my list for some reason just to check out. I have a feeling he's an author people very much either like or dislike:

Chi Self-Massage: The Taoist Way of Rejuvenation https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594771103/


Awaken Healing Through the Tao: The Taoist Secret of Circulating Internal Power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NGTUSV4/


Awaken Healing Light of the Tao https://www.amazon.com/dp/0935621466/


Healing Light of the Tao: Foundational Practices to Awaken Chi Energy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004J4WM6S/

Maybe try this one https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Chinese-Medicine-Zhong-Paradigm/dp/0912111445

Chinese Medicine requires a huge paradigm shift to what we grew up with in the West. You need to start looking at the body in yin and yang.

One of my favourite quotes by Zhang Jiebin

凡诊病施治，必须先审阴阳，乃为医道之纲领。阴阳无谬，治焉有差？

In all diagnosis and treatment of disease, you must first distinguish yin and yang, that is the guiding principle of the Dao of Medicine (道医). When there is no error [in differentiating] Yin and Yang [in diagnosis], how can there be any mistake in treatment