Today’s Book Of The Day is Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine written by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold and published by Ballantine Books in 1992.
In this book, two of the most known American TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) teachers and healers successfully describe Chinese medicine’s approach to health and illnesses, by mixing together the essential point of Eastern philosophy and science with Western knowledge and research.
Between Heaven and Earth, in this way, represents a huge container of extremely valuable knowledge that lets the reader understand concepts like body, mind, and spirit, life energy, the difference between Eastern theory and Western practice, and between professional and self-care.
Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold, the authors, are pioneers in the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States. Beinfield is a licensed acupuncturist, author, and educator who has practiced Chinese medicine for more than 40 years. Korngold, a licensed acupuncturist himself, has an Oriental Medicine Doctorate and has almost 50 years of practice in TCM.
The two authors share their encyclopedic knowledge and their practical excellent skills in this book, and they do it in an easy, clear, comprehensible way that allows even non-experts to understand the main concepts of Chinese Medicine.
The main idea behind the book is that the human body is a complex system whose health depends on a holistic approach that encompasses proper care of the body, the mind, and the spirit.
It introduces the concepts of Yin and Yang, and of the Five Elements in a context where they have sense also for a Western reader or medical practitioner. The approach used for allergies (being myself highly allergic to most medicines) is amazingly simple and effective.
So, I found this book comprehensive, detailed, and clear. I think it represents a must-read for all TCM practitioners and students, but also for those who simply want to broaden their understanding of the matter while getting valuable knowledge and practical pieces of information.
I definitely recommend it!
Raffaello Palandri's Blog 