Applied Channel Theory in Chinese Medicine

This is by far my favorite and most recommended book about Chinese medicine. I would even go so far as to say that every acupuncturist should have this book -- it will make you a better practitioner.

While most of what we learn in school is centered around zang-fu theory, this book is about channel theory. It covers the six channels, how to palpate them, the secondary channels, points categories, point combinations, and more. Basically, with every chapter I read I found myself saying, "OMG, this is so simple, why has nobody ever explained it to me this way before?"

I can't recommend this book enough.

The Yellow Monkey Emperor’s Classic of Chinese Medicine

This is a cute book. Despite the title, it is not a book about the Huang Di Nei Jing. It's actually a book that goes through all of the zang-fu patterns in comic form.

It might be a bit much to just sit down and read this book all the way through, but I think it can be useful as a study tool or workbook. The book has a short comic for each pattern, and then lists the signs and symptoms for that pattern. You can go through and fill in the point prescriptions and herbal formula for each patter.

When you go to the amazon page, make sure you click the "Look Inside" button above the thumbnail to see what this book actually looks like.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen

This book was written by two of my teachers from school, and it's a great way to start incorporating TCM principles into you daily diet.

This is a very practical recipe book written with a western audience in mind. After a short primer on the basics of Chinese medicine food therapy, each recipe gives the properties and therapeutic effecst of the dish.

If you're a practitioner, this is also a great book to recommend to your patients.

The Spark in the Machine

A Spark in the Machine shows how traditional Chinese medicine can be expained in western medicine terms using fascia. This book won't help you pass your board exams, but it's a fascinating read.

What's really great is, because there is an audiobook version available, you can get the audio version for free when you sign up for a free trial of Audible. If you cancel your trial before the 30 days is up, you still get to keep the book.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica

This is a very common required textbook for single herbs classes. Apparently the hardcover version is no longer available, and they only have the "flexibound" version.

Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology

This is another useful materia medica. It has less commentary than Bensky, but it focuses more on drug-herb interaction. It also has good tables and charts at the end of each chapter for review.

Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion (3rd Edition, 19th Printing, December 2018)

A common required text, usually used for point locations and indications. But it also has other useful information about moxa, e-stim, cupping, and point prescriptions that often show up on nationals.

A Manual of Acupuncture (2nd Edition)

A great book for point location. It's especially worth it for the pictures. You should also look into getting the app.

The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text, 3rd Edition

A commonly required book for Chinese medicine theory. It also has point locations and functions/indications, and point prescriptions for the zang-fu patterns.

Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine

This is a translation of a textbook used by first year students in China. I actually like it better than Maciocia because it's more concise. However, you have to get used to Nigel Wiseman's terminology.