A Barefoot Doctor's Manual

by Hu-Nan Chung I Yao Yen Chiu So, V.W. Sidel (Foreword)

'A Barefoot Doctor's Manual' is an excellent general health manual, divided into sections such as 'Understanding the Human Body, 'Hygiene' Therapeutic Techniques, 'Birth Control and Diagnosis' and 'Treatment of Common Diseases.'

It is holistic in approach, stressing the relationship of environment and emotions to the disease while offering a variety of treatment modalities. The practitioner is given a choice of treating each disease with acupuncture. Chinese herbs, or Western medicine.

For those unfamiliar with Chinese herbs, this manual contains over 400 pages on their preparation and uses with illustrations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine

960 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[else fine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contained less first aid than I was expecting from a 'field manual', and I must admit, the diagnostic techniques were a bit difficult to follow with my very minimal grasp of traditional chinese medicine. It did, however, give some pretty detailed instructions on how to perform a vasectomy in the field, which may or may not ever come in handy. It also informed me that the revolutionary optimism of the proletariat is the best medicine, which I'm sure is very reassuring to the guy who has just received an emergency field vasectomy.

[Manzoid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 3 chapters are very brief -- organ systems, hygiene, and diagnostic techniques, all in 70 pages.

Then there are 70 pages on general massage and acupuncture therapy, (a grand total of) 3 pages on birth control, 300+ pages on herbal and Western treatments for specific ailments, and a 400-page reference on identifying and using Chinese herbs.

The most interesting thing about the book from a Westerner's perspective, perhaps, is the complete integration of the Eastern and Western diagnostic and treatment modalities. Diseases are classified as "hot" or "cold", the tongue is examined minutely (a chief clue in Chinese-medicine diagnoses), the meridian-system is described alongside the overview of standard Western physiology.

The didactic emphasis is on disease as merely an initial factor in upsetting the body's natural balance, or perhaps more accurately, an opportunistic intruder upon an already out-of-balance system. Treatment might entail a frontal attack on the factor but more often it seems to entail encouraging the body to regain its balance. The Western notion of balanced systems -- homeostasis -- is only a part of the balance in question. Homeostasis is understood as a purely physical process, but in Chinese medicine the mysterious flow of qi energy is even more important than the flow of physical fluids. The completely matter-of-fact presentation of such concepts which most Western doctors would consider mysticism is the main charm of this tome.

[Steve Ettlinger · Rating 1 out of 5]

WOW -- this is credited to me, Steve Ettlinger, for no reason whatsoever. I have nothing to do with this book. I hope it is simply a computer error (I do have a few books published by Running Press, so perhaps that's the problem. But they are not on a related subject. Check out my author page if you want.

[Sally]

Can be found online. The whole concept of village preventative- and common-illness-care, sanctioned by the government is fascinating. Wish we could be lisenced to be "barefoot herbalists," or at least left alone. Plus, no shoes! jk

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

In China in the early part of the 20th century medical facilities were scare and doctors practiced basic medicine using many home and herbal remedies. This is a translation of a Chinese book on practicing field medicine.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A general health manual translated from Chinese for holistic healing.