Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine to the End cover

Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine to the End

Rating 3.7
Word count
86K words
Chapters
8
ISBN
9787807026020

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Summary

This book is a summation of decades of medical practice by Professor Hu Weiqin, a health-care physician who long served China's central leadership. The work of such a physician is to eliminate illness before it takes shape—what TCM calls treating disease before it occurs—and this is precisely the book's distinctive feature. Over his decades of health-care work, the author has developed a deep understanding of the TCM principle of perceiving the internal from the external and accumulated rich experience in self-diagnosis, which can help readers detect the warning signs of the body and better prevent and treat illness. He also generously passes on his unique approaches to treating disease, together with guiding experience for the daily care of many chronic conditions. By combining the knowledge and methods of healing with vivid medical cases, the book allows you to learn TCM health care with ease while enjoying the pleasure of reading. It is the author's highest hope that the knowledge herein will be transformed into health for everyone.

Editor's review

Written by Hu Weiqin, former chief physician at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is a popular science book on TCM for general readers. Drawing on over forty years of clinical experience, it aims to dispel public misconceptions and mystique surrounding TCM and to systematically explain its core theories and practical value. Unlike some abstruse professional classics, Dr. Hu adopts plain, accessible language, starting from basic concepts such as yin-yang and the five elements, zang-fu organs and meridians, then gradually moving into etiology and pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and health-preserving therapeutic principles, building a clear and easy-to-understand framework of TCM knowledge.

The book's core value lies in its attempt to "set the record straight." The market abounds with books that either mystify TCM or oversimplify it, whereas Dr. Hu firmly grounds his discussion in classics such as the Huangdi Neijing and Shanghan Lun, integrating modern life scenarios to explain how TCM, as a complete view of life and medical system, understands health and disease. The book's emphasis on the idea of "treating disease before it arises," its analysis of the relationship between emotions and health, and its correction of common misconceptions (such as indiscriminate tonic use) all reflect deep clinical grounding and humanistic care.

Readers should, however, clearly understand the book's positioning: it is an excellent introductory guide and conceptual primer, not a prescription manual that cures all ills. Its focus is on imparting TCM's way of thinking and health-preserving philosophy, helping readers establish sound health management concepts and learn to observe their own physical condition from a TCM perspective. For readers who wish to systematically understand the cultural foundations of TCM and seek a holistic wisdom of life rather than quick access to specific remedies, this book offers a solid and reliable starting point. Dr. Hu's steady, unadorned style also strips this traditional wisdom of hype, making it seem especially approachable and trustworthy.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Beginners interested in traditional Chinese culture and TCM philosophy who wish to understand its basic logic
  • People troubled by long-term suboptimal health who hope to improve their constitution through holistic regulation rather than addressing isolated symptoms
  • General readers concerned with health and wellness topics but unable to distinguish reliable information from the many claims on the market
  • Non-TCM professionals in health-related industries who need to broaden their perspective and understand basic TCM concepts

Not a good fit for

  • Readers expecting detailed prescriptions or rapid treatment plans for specific diseases
  • Pure science adherents seeking cutting-edge medical research reports or rigorous experimental data validation

Reading tips

  1. Read the first two chapters on core TCM ideas first to build a basic framework, then delve into chapters of interest
  2. While reading, reflect on your own lifestyle and physical condition, but do not hastily match symptoms to illnesses or self-medicate
  3. Read alongside one or two recognized TCM classics (such as a selected reader of the Huangdi Neijing) to deepen understanding

About the publisher

Jilin Literature and History Publishing House is a professional publisher specializing in literature, history, and social science titles, with publishing areas covering culture, theory, historical reading, military affairs, classical poetry, and medicine. Its list includes historical and military works such as National History 001: The Tragedy of the Southern Ming and Naval Battles 006: The Russian Navy before and after the Russo-Japanese War, as well as the "Chinese Culture Knowledge Reader" series, which covers Sun Tzu and military thought, ancient tea ware and Zisha art, Song Huizong Zhao Ji's contributions to painting, the Book of Songs, and Hai Rui. Medical works such as How a Famous Doctor Diagnoses Patients are also represented. Authors include Jin Kaicheng, Yang Liang, Zha Youyin, Luo Dalun, Zhiwen Fenghuo Studio, and Theodore Dodge. The press combines the popularization of literary and historical knowledge with focused research, forming a publishing profile centered on traditional culture readers and balancing academic and general reading.

Contents

  1. 第一章 西医很强大,中医很伟大
  2. 第二章 经络是中医的灵魂(1)
  3. 第二章 经络是中医的灵魂(2)
  4. 第三章 身体的警讯(1)
  5. 第三章 身体的警讯(2)
  6. 第四章 中医看病的秘诀(1)
  7. 第四章 中医看病的秘诀(2)
  8. 第五章 养生其实很简单

FAQ

Can this book teach me to diagnose and prescribe for myself?
Absolutely not. The book aims to spread basic TCM theory and health-preserving concepts, not to cultivate diagnostic or prescribing skills. Self-diagnosis and self-medication carry great risks; all medical actions should be undertaken under the guidance of a professional physician.
How should I view the book's views when they conflict with modern medicine?
It is best to take an open, complementary perspective. TCM and modern medicine are two different systems of understanding and practice. This book aims to explain TCM's own internal logic; understanding it helps us form a more three-dimensional view of health rather than simply judging right or wrong. Consult professionals for specific health issues.
Is the author Hu Weiqin's clinical background reliable?
The author, Hu Weiqin, is a former chief physician at Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine with decades of clinical and teaching experience. His discussion is based mainly on TCM classics and personal practice, and carries considerable authority and representativeness within the traditional TCM field.

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About the author

胡惟勤 Author

Hu Weiqin is a Chinese author who writes on medicine and health. Public information about him is limited, and his biography, nationality, and dates of birth and death are not clearly recorded. Two of his works are currently included in the collection: Carrying Traditional Chinese Medicine Through to the End and Replenishing Qi If Overweight, Replenishing Blood If Underweight (Updated Edition), both classified under medicine and health. Judging from these works, Hu writes for general readers, focusing on traditional Chinese medicine health preservation and constitutional care. He explains TCM concepts and everyday health practices in accessible language, combining popular knowledge with practical guidance. The first book has a tone of defending TCM and explaining its value, while the second discusses the relationship between body shape and health from the perspective of replenishing qi and blood. Because background information on the author is insufficient, his specific experiences and academic lineage cannot be confirmed, and readers can chiefly rely on the above works to understand his writing direction and concerns.

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