Studying Chinese herbal medicine is an arduous task that is similar to learning a language. The first step, familiarizing yourself with the medicinal substances, corresponds to accumulating a sufficient vocabulary. But words alone are not enough. Before you can speak a language, you must understand the rules of syntax and grammar. And before you can “talk” to the body with Chinese herbal medicine, you must understand the formulas and the strategies that underlie them. This is the syntax and grammar of Chinese herbal medicine.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies is the companion volume to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, which provides basic information about the medicinal substances of “vocabulary” of traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

Included in this volume are descriptions of nearly 600 medicinal formulas arrange in 18 chapters by function. For each of the 250-plus principal formulas there is a discussion of its therapeutic actions and indications, an analysis of the functions of the ingredients and how they interact, method of preparation, and a list of modifications to customize the formula to the specific needs of the patient.

Commentary provides different interpretations of the formulas, compares them with related formulas, and explains their application in the treatment of biomedically-defined disorders. Almost 350 variations and associated formulas offer additional options for the practitioner in the clinic. Summary tables at the end of each chapter compare and contrast the principal formulas.

The introduction traces the historical evolution of the formulas and provides the practical pointers for their preparations and use. Among the appendices are a glossary of technical terms, a pinyin-to English guide to the actions of the formulas, a summary formulary correlated to major symptoms and disorders, and a cross reference to the Chinese and Japanese names of the formulas keyed to the pages on which they appear. Extensive bibliographies and indices round out the contents.

My 'big book of spells'.

One day I shall upgrade to a current edition, which I hope will come with a link to some kind of constantly updated website which notes recent clinical research into Chinese herbal medicines.

But for now, the richness and usefulness of our empirical use of these medicines is sufficient, and well-covered in this big book. ( )