The Best Acupuncture Books for Beginners

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 has become the primary reference in the West for the study of acupuncture points and channels.

With the subtle use of color to illustrate the acupuncture points and anatomical features, the new second edition of A Manual of Acupuncture is even more attractive and user-friendly than the first. 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.

The Pictorial Atlas of Acupuncture not only provides beginners with an overview of the most important acupuncture points, but experienced practitioners can also extend their knowledge. The combination of Chinese sources and the authors' therapeutic experiences provides a sensible balance between the most important indications and practical needs.

Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Ear Acupuncture provides a comprehensive guide to the practice of Chinese and Western systems of ear acupuncture. This impressive new edition utilizes 3-D models of the external ear, as well as 3-D anatomical images, to demonstrate the somatotopic relationship between particular parts of the body and specific regions of the auricle. This is the first ear acupuncture text that has incorporated 3-D technology in order to present amazing images of the auricle which precisely indicate ear acupoint positions.

The book offers in-depth evaluation of the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of auriculotherapy, describing and illustrating over 200 ear acupuncture points and more than 200 auriculotherapy treatment protocols for clinical discorders ranging from chronic pain to substance abuse to visceral and neurological disorders. There are an expanded number of auricular landmarks that are utilized to guide the practitioner in accurately determining the precise location of hidden ear points on the 3-D model. These landmarks further reveal the varied depth perspectives of the external ear. The ear reflex points presented in this manual are based upon systematic research conducted at the UCLA Pain Management Center and upon the extensive clinical findings of medical doctors and acupuncturists in China and Europe over the past 50 years. Scientific and clinical information from the most recent international symposia of auricular acupuncture have been used to update the scientific and clinical knowledge presented in this fourth edition. Each chapter is organized in same basic order, beginning with an introductory overview, progressing to the main topics in the chapter, and ending with a section listing a definition of terms and a set of preparatory sample questions. The book is concise and clear enough for students yet provides provides sophisticated clinical approaches to allow the experienced practitioner to enhance and complement their existing treatment strategies.