The Web That Has No Weaver, Understanding Chinese Medicine by Ted Jay Kaptchuk OMD was recommended to me by a local practitioner and teacher of Chinese medicine when I asked for ‘something along the lines of Chinese Medicine for Dummies’. I’ve just recently started learning about traditional Chinese medicine, and have found it fascinating, effective, and completely overwhelming since it is SO different than western medicine. The Web That Has No Weaver has been an excellent guide that is perfect for a beginner to the art of Chinese medicine (me!).
Where western medicine, even holistic western medicine, is analytical, Chinese medicine isn’t nearly as much, and it was hard for me to get an understanding of at first. There are so many subtleties that are taken into account in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and it makes each treatment very specific to exactly what is going on with each individual person. The focus on TCM is to maintain health, not heal illness (though that is important too). The whole philosophy is fascinating, even more so when you see it at work (we’ve had just 2 visits and TCM is greatly helping my daughter!)
The Web That Has No Weaver does an excellent job explaining the differences in TCM in a way that westerners can understand and embrace. I particularly liked the style of the book, it wasn’t negative about Western medicine at all, but rather showed how TCM is different and can complement or be used in place of Western medicine for the same maladies. It has real life examples, studies, and charts as well as passion that all make for an informative interesting read.
I’m really glad I read The Web That Has No Weaver, and I’m planning on starting taking classes on Chinese medicine in July, so I’ll have more to share with you then. If you’re open minded and interested in health, I recommend you purchase this book (here!) too.
Thanks for the book recommendation! Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford is another great resource. Paul Pitchford was one of my teachers at IIN.
Thanks for the review! I am delving into the realm of figuring out Chinese Medicine and have had no idea where to start. It is all rather intimidating. This helps!
Thank you for the book review. This was the first book I read on TCM before I decided to become an acupuncturist. TCM is a fascinating medicine. Everyone is treated on their individual needs. So different from the Western Med model of the same drug for all. I am blessed to have a such a rewarding calling. I’m looking forward to your future posts on TCM.
Yes, I love that each person is treated as an individual. We need much more of that in our society.
We, too, are just getting into this. We have a son who has PDD-NOS, Sturge-Weber Syndrome, epilepsy, PITAND w/ a mycoplasma co-infection, etc. & my husband has colon cancer. We have been to MD’s who actually use some TCM, but didn’t have a good grasp of it. We now see a Bioenergetics Practitioner (for only 2 visits so far, too!) & we have seen some good things coming! Our practitioner suggested the book “Never Be Sick Again” by Raymond Francis. Our practitioner made a believer of TCM out of my husband when he saw the results of his screening & some of the things on our son’s screening!! Truly amazing!! I sure hope this is the wave of the future for medicine!! Thanks for sharing this post!! Hopefully it will bring more awareness that TCM really isn’t voodoo, it is a method way ahead of it’s time — always has been! Our practitioner said medicine started out this way & then big pharma saw the chance to make money & the rest is history!
I’m glad you’ve had success! I was looking at Never Be Sick Again, is it Eastern medicine? I couldn’t tell from the description.
Hi Cara,
I’m really interested in this. Or son has some of the same issues as your daughter. Could you explain more about what the treatments with your daughter involve? Thank you so much! Blessings!
Hi Celena, I really don’t know much, I think he did acupressure, but I think the main important thing is finding a really good healer and just letting them do what they do. We’re going again on Monday and I’ll see if I can share more.
Great! Thank you so much, I would love to hear more!
You’re in Az right Cara? where is the practitioner you’re seeing?
My acupuncturist just recommended this book when I told her I was looking to learn more. I noticed this review is from a few years ago, do you have any additional references, resources, or recommendations? Your post said you also we going to start taking courses? Can you tell me more about that as well? Thanks!