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The Web That Has No Weaver : Understanding Chinese Medicine
by
Ted Kaptchuk
See the connection between Western and Eastern medicine, and take charge of your health
"The Web That Has No Weaver" is the classic, comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of Chinese medicine. This accessible and invaluable resource has earned its place as the foremost authority in synthesizing Wester and Eastern healing practices.
This revised edition is
Paperback, 464 pages
Published
April 11th 2000
by McGraw-Hill
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Community Reviews
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Katherine
rated it
Recommends it for:
people interested in Chinese medicine
Shelves:
finished-awhile-ago,
all-star-favorites
This is hands down the best book for an English speaking person who is interested in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It is very well written and highly informative. Many concepts of Chinese medicine are difficult to express in English and the true meanings become lost in translation. Futhermore, the concepts are far beyond a Western person's mindframe capacity. Dr. Kaptchuk does an incredible job of opening up the concepts to a Western person (such as myself), therefore allowing us to understa...more
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As a dyed in the wool WASPy westerner, I once struggled with the whole eastern medicine concept. And then I had my gall bladder out, in a modern American hospital, with all the amenities and twice the pain, at which point, I started struggling with the whole western medicine concept.
In order to contain the waves of nausea and continued right upper quadrant pain that followed my surgery (I can still see the surgeon smiling and shrugging as I described my misery), I went in desperat...more
In order to contain the waves of nausea and continued right upper quadrant pain that followed my surgery (I can still see the surgeon smiling and shrugging as I described my misery), I went in desperat...more
This is a good book for non-practitioners of "the Way", which is how i'm going to refer to so-called Oriental medicine from now on. :) Meaning that it holds a nice introduction to some of the core ideas behind how your body works from the standpoint of pre-modern Chinese medical theory.
It's important to say that it does leave certain important things out, though. Either that or I did not read it carefully enough. I don't know if this was the intention of the author, b...more
It's important to say that it does leave certain important things out, though. Either that or I did not read it carefully enough. I don't know if this was the intention of the author, b...more
I read this thoughtfuly written book while I was soul searching, for I had considered becoming an Oriental Medical practitioner and had given up on Western Medical practices. To me, the fall of medicine in the west was as a result of having lost its way from the compassion centered healing that has been the root of its art, to what now has become a techno-pharmaceutical monstrosity, incestuously merged with managed care and insurance. As a result, sadly, modern physicians no longer touch patient...more
Nicole
is currently reading it
I've been currently reading this book for many a year now. I feel like I need to get through it to consider myself a real student of chinese medicine, but damn! is it dry. If you can make it through, it's a very clear and concise description. though I find CM impossible to understand without discussion and guidance from a more experienced practitioner, many have found Web to be enough to learn the basic tenets of TCM.
Pretty much the book on Chinese Medicine. Not a book to read if you just want to know herbs and folk remedies. This is a book for someone wanting to understand Chinese Medicine, whether to know how to use it, or if you are planning on studying it. It does an excellent job of explaining why Chinese Medicine not some mystical idea, but an actual art and science just like Western medicine.
I love this book - not because its easy to read or even understand, just because it exists. I read it once before I became an acupuncturist and once while I was a student. The first reading inspired me - I was immersed in ideas that were completely new and largely mysterious, while the second reading brought the satisfaction of 'ah-ha! I get it now!'.
This book was recommended to me by one of my Acupuncturists. Who I can't remember unfortunately. It's really good, gives a good overview of Chinese Medicine, and allows you to understand a bit better the possibilities of what a diagnosis means.
A diagnosis in Chinese Medicine is not the same as in western medicine. For example six people who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia could quite easily have six different diagnoses. The diagnosis is one of what is "causing" the ...more
A diagnosis in Chinese Medicine is not the same as in western medicine. For example six people who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia could quite easily have six different diagnoses. The diagnosis is one of what is "causing" the ...more
This is an excellent book. It is an in depth look at Chinese Medicine from the view of the practitioner. I know that is has been used as a required text in Acupuncture training. After I gave up thinking I was going to remember every detail, I was able to read this a get a good sense of the subject, its artistry, and the contrast with Western medicine. I recommend this book.
Pam
rated it
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Recommended to Pam by:
Greg Shim
My accupuncturist recommended this to me when I kept asking questions. Very good explanation of the overall theories. It will also put you to sleep REAL fast if you have insomnia. I'm taking it in small bites.
This book are great in explaining the basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The book has founded the basis of my understanding of TCM and helped in knowing when to rely on it and when not to.
This is a deep book which is considered one of the essentials for understanding the medicine taught at Bastyr University. It also has alot of appeal to the study of medical anthropology.
Great introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Explains the philosophy and main concepts and theories without getting into a lot of detail about meridians and points.
This gets an extra star for being my introduction to Chinese medicine. In truth this is many people's introduction to the medicine, and deserves a lot of credit for that. Certainly worth reading as a first book, especially for those of a very western/scientific mindset. I think if I had read Lonny Jarrett or J.R. Worsley first I would have been thrown off by their language. This book allowed me to move into the idea of the medicine before I needed to understand the origins. For someone with a ne...more
Good intro to acupuncture philosophy, but gets way too deep for the layperson in the last chapters.
I'm really interested in learning about Traditional Chinese Medicine, and this book was recommended to me by my acupuncturist. But, I have to say, I'm getting annoyed by the repetitive style of the author. I think he's so convinced that Westerners won't "get" it that he says things a million times. And maybe I won't "get" it, but the repetition isn't helping.
Ok, I finished it, relatively speaking. I got impatient and started skipping to parts that seemed like ...more
Ok, I finished it, relatively speaking. I got impatient and started skipping to parts that seemed like ...more
Bought at The Bookmill on our Temenos vacation, 4/18/10. For my massage school.
Lisa
added it
This is a great read if you what to understand the foundations of Chinese Medicine.
This book is exactly what it says it is: an explication of the concepts and practices within traditional Chinese medicine. It is a bit too comprehensive and exhaustive for anyone who doesn't actually plan to study the medicine; as someone who sees an acupuncturist, it helped clarify and expand my appreciation for and understanding of how it has helped me. It's also practical, but not as "self-help" as HEALING WITH WHOLE FOODS. Also, the introductory chapter explaining the concept of...more
I found this book particularly interesting because I've been to acupunture. It's a little too much like a textbook for casual reading, but it covers the differences between western and eastern medicine well.
some great insights on understanding the chasm between east and west
An excellent primer to the world of Chinese Medicine
great introduction into Traditional Chinese medicine.
Greg A. Minton MD found this book to be helpful.
This book is good, but there is not enough information about magnetic bracelets. This form of alternative medicine has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine. It is theorized that magnets are able to break up stagnation by rearranging energy (Qi) in to an organized manner so that it can flow freely. Magnetic bracelets and magnetic bangles are made in China, which is the biggest producer of magnetic therapy products. magnetic bracelets from the UK
Had read it in the past?
Rereading it now :)
Was told once an order to read it in
but i don't remember that :(
So i am reading Kidney description!
Just that?
Again & Again & Again
For a week or so?
Watching how, though my mind is rebelling against receptiveness,
Its interesting to see how my thoughts & views & ideas
are changing & evolving.
Not sure which one but will do the same thing next week with another organ!
Why?
Must yo...more
Rereading it now :)
Was told once an order to read it in
but i don't remember that :(
So i am reading Kidney description!
Just that?
Again & Again & Again
For a week or so?
Watching how, though my mind is rebelling against receptiveness,
Its interesting to see how my thoughts & views & ideas
are changing & evolving.
Not sure which one but will do the same thing next week with another organ!
Why?
Must yo...more
This is one of the best introductions to Chinese Medicine and acupuncture I have come across. When I say this book changed my life there is no hyperbole. I read this book and changed my focus from chiropractic care to Chinese Medicine. The author is a Western trained M.D. and an acupuncturist and he writes uses language that welcomes you into the subject. If you want to get some insight into what I am learning in school or you are just curious about how acupuncture works I highly recommend this ...more
Confusing... I'm a little too much of a western thinker for this!
I wish I had more time with this one, but holds at the library and a limited number of copies compels me to give it up. This book contains the basic knowledge of chinese medicine and is a good place to start if you are interested in expanding your concept of health and wellness beyond traditional "western" medicine. The book can be skimmed as a basic overview or studied in depth as a starting point to further education in the art of "eastern" medicine.
maybe this was a good book, i was too bored to get thru the first chapter. i even tried to read the last but it was boring too.
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