A Manual of Acupuncture

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Once in a great while an extraordinary book is published that sets an entirely new standard in its field. A Manual of Acupuncture, published by Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, is just such a book. Painstakingly researched over many years by Peter Deadman, editor-in-chief of The Journal of Chinese Medicine, and colleagues Mazin Al-Khafaji and Kevin Baker, this book is certain to become the primary reference in the West for the study of acupuncture points and channels.

Introductory chapters describe and illustrate the channels and collaterals, the various categories of points, and methods of selection, location, and needling. Ensuing chapters present each of the points of the 14 channels as well as the extra (miscellaneous) points, identified by their English and pinyin names, and Chinese characters. Each point is located in accordance with the most exacting anatomical standards to be found in any Western textbook.

For each point there is a dedicated drawing, followed by regional body drawings. The quality of the 500 drawings is far superior to those in any other TCM text. There are also practical pointers for finding and needling the points, and cautionary information about what to avoid. In addition to point indexes by their English and pinyin names, there is an index identifying every part of the body reached by each of the channels, and separate indexes of point indications listed according to both TCM and biomedical symptoms.

Reader Reviews:

First and foremost, one cannot emphasize enough that this book is NOT for the absolute beginner. It helps a lot to actually have some background in Chinese medicine before attempting to probe the mysteries in this tome. The sheer volume of information available was admittedly overwhelming to me, at first.

That set aside, I cannot help but wonder at the effort put into this book. Not only does it provide clear and concise location "blueprints" for the points, meridians, cutaneous regions and muscular regions, but it also provides practical locating tips.

In addition, it provides the Chinese characters for the point names alongside explanations for the names that actually enabled me, personally, to understand and memorize the points better. Included with each point is a list of indications from various classical sources such as the Thousand Ducat Formulas and Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

If that isn't enough, the appendices are also quite useful. The book has charts of significant acupuncture points (with corresponding location directions) arranged by body region. There is also a separate index listing all the indications quoted in the main text.

While I still have much to explore in this wonderful text, I believe I have used it enough in my personal journey through Chinese Medicine to be able to say: Bravo!This tome is huge and full of great info for the practicing acupunturist and layman alike. Being the latter its size is a bit intimidating but well worth the money and time to read through. I also purchased the excellent flash cards by the same publisher.Really a phenomenal book- the best, most complete, and authoritative book on acupuncture for students and practitioners.

If you're a regular person, though, don't expect to be able to use this info - it's for professionals.

My favorite things about it are the anatomical point location drawings, and the references to Chinese classic acupuncture texts. Since not all of these texts have been translated into English, this is a treasure.

Besides that, it has other uses:

My desk from IKEA isn't too sturdy. The place you put the keyboard has a pad for the butt of your palms (ergonomic, but not really), but that part is attached by hinges (because it's so important to hide the keyboard when you're not using it) and I put a lot of weight there, and today the second of its three hinges broke. It just hung there looking stupid. It seemed to be saying, "See, wasn't it worth it to spend three hours lost in IKEA wandering around looking for the checkout, grunting me into the car, putting me together, then dissembling me and moving me across town to your new house, and reassembling me?"

My wife and I determined that screwing door jam deadbolt lock hole covers across the space would be the ideal engineering solution. But to drill into it, I needed a solid surface beneath it. I placed atop my chair seat a hefty trinity of Harrison's, A Manual of Acupuncture, and A Practical Dictionary of Chinese Medicine, plus the more slim Dao of Chinese Medicine to create a firm work table. With the help of those books and their authors, I was able to fix my desk, and now I obviously am able to work again. In fact, I spent more time writing this review than fixing my desk.

Thanks guys!

P.S. One more use you might consider for huge books like this: if you get papers wet, they tend to dry in a rippled shape. However, if you dry them off mostly, blow dry them a bit, and then stick them under a pile of huge heavy books, they'll dry mostly flat. Happy drying!Deadman and colleagues should be commended for this major contribution to the English-language literature of Chinese medicine. It does what it does exceedingly well. It does so, in part, because of what it is not.

It should be understood that the Manual is chiefly an atlas and desk reference of acupuncture points and channels, not a classroom textbook or a clinic handbook or a self-study guide per se, though it does list some illustrative combinations with each point. Other books are available that fill the role of textbook better than this one does. This one's audience is the person who already knows something of the foundations and clinical applications of acupuncture.

The manual is not encyclopedic when compared with the larger Chinese-language works of acupuncture, but it does draw on them in a concise and informative way that conveys the character, historic application and contemporary application of each point, using carefully selected information from a wide range of primary sources. Accordingly, it could be viewed more as a work of editorship than of creativity, and in a reference work of this sort, that is exactly what is desired.

It often goes unmentioned, but Deadman is zealous in his ongoing support of his publications. Errata and updates are available, for free, from his web site. The Manual is also available in CD-ROM format, and Deadman has even produced flashcards based on the substance of the Manual.

The illustrations are in fact of excellent quality, some of the best ever in a book of this sort. Pair the illustrations with the detailed treatment of point location and application, great typography, durable construction, and well-chosen excerpts from primary sources ranging from ancient to modern, and you have an acupuncture reference you can use to deepen your knowledge for years to come.The Manual of Acupuncture by Deadman is the ULTIMATE Acupuncture Book that is a necessity for every acupuncture student and practitioner. With 670 illustrated pages, this book is worth every penny. The newest version of this book is also tabbed by channels - so it is much easier to find information.

While I was a student, I didn't always carry this book with me because it was so big. However, I did photocopy the anatomical point charts and indications lists from the back of the book to aid my clinical point selections.

Now as a practitioner (this booked definitely helped me pass NCCAOM exams), I refer to this book often to take my acupoint knowledge to the next level and to provide more comprehensive treatment plans.

Buy this book now! If you are a TCM student, I also highly recommend the companion FLASH CARDS by Deadman. They make it easy to study acupuncture points with a location/illustration on one side of the card and actions/indications on the other.
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