The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica: A Translation of the Shen Nong Ben Cao

by Shou-Zhong Yang (Editor)

A translation of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. One of three foundation books of Chinese medicine, no translation of it has been available - until now. The Nei Jing (Inner Classic) established the theoretical foundations of TCM, especially acupuncture and moxibustion. The Shen Nong Ben Cao jing laid the foundation for the study of Chinese medicinals. And the Shang Han Lun/Jin Gui Yao Lue (Treatise on Damage [Due to] Cold/Essentials of the Golden Cabinet) is the locus classicus for Chinese formulas and prescriptions and treatment based on pattern discrimination. Translations of the Nei Jing and Shang Han Lun/Jin Gui Yao Lue have long exsisted in English. Now, with this book, all serious students and practitioners of Chinese medicine can have access to all of the three pillars of Chinese medicine.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[John Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, this is great if you're just looking for an glossary of Chinese herbs, a rough approximation of their value in TCM and a general description of which ailments they target. But it's not very detailed at all. Every entry, in terms of description, is essentially a madlib of 5-6 clauses. However, it turned me on to The Worms and Gu which is important but I will not elaborate. There's a better book but I do not speak mandarin and it has not been translated.