Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies

The  new 2nd edition of Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies,  the companion volume to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, is  designed to serve as both a textbook for students and an authoritative  reference for practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. Included in  the new edition are over 800 medicinal formulas drawn from both  classical and modern sources, which provide more than twice the  information in the earlier edition. For each of the 340-plus principal  formulas there is a discussion of its therapeutic actions and  indications, analysis of the functions and interactions of the  ingredients, method of preparation, and a list of modifications to  customize the formula in the clinic. Over 460 variations and associated  formulas offer additional options for the practitioner. The commentary  to each formula has been considerably expanded. This section deepens the  readers understanding of a formulas genealogy, presents an overview of  controversies regarding composition, usage, and other issues, describes  the extension of a formulas application to a wider range of disorders,  and provides key clinical pointers to facilitate use of the formula in  the modern clinic. A new section on comparisons has been added to this  edition. This is intended to help students and practitioners focus on  the distinguishing characteristics of each formula by contrasting it  with other formulas that are similar in terms of composition or  indication. Tables at the end of each chapter reinforce these  distinctions by comparing and contrasting formulas across a wider range.  The introduction to the book traces the historical evolution of the  formulas, and provides practical pointers for their preparation and use.  Detailed timelines depict the key events, authors, and texts in the  2,000-year history of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, placing the  contents of this book in historical context. Among the appendices are a  pinyin-to-English cross reference to the formulas, a basic summary  formulary correlated to symptoms and disorders, a full listing of all  books cited in the text, and a bibliography of all modern sources used  in the preparation of the book. A comprehensive index to the formulas,  and a general index, round out the contents.