Product Description

This book is an exceptionally well-illustrated guide to the location and properties of channels and acupoints. Whereas most good books on the subject give needle depth and other useful information for the acupuncturist, this book uniquely provides additional information for bodyworkers such as Shiatsu and Tuina therapists. For example, in keeping with normal practice, the location of a point is given as a precise anatomical location and illustrated with a dot, along with alternative locations where relevant. However, this book goes further by delineating the larger area where the point can be activated by pressure, gua sha and other means. In addition, the optimum position for treatment via acupuncture, acupressure and other treatment strategies is given, as treatment positions can vary according to the method of point stimulation. The distribution of sensation resulting from point stimulation is also documented, and differentiated between pressure and needle application where appropriate. This book is produced with the student and conscientious practitioner in mind, with a great deal of care and research into accuracy being achieved. Hence, we expect it to become a landmark text. The price has been kept to a minimum without compromising on any aspect of its quality and production, to ensure its accessibility to students.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32350 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Features

• New
• Mint Condition
• Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
• Guaranteed packaging
• No quibbles returns

About the Author
Amanda Williams (Illustrator) graduated from Middlesex University with a first-class honours degree in Graphic Design (Scientific Illustration). Since then she has worked as a freelance illustrator for various publishers, including Harcourt Brace, Elsevier Science, and The Royal College of Surgeons. Chris Jarmey, M.C.S.P., D.S., M.R.S.S., qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 1979 after working for several years as a Shiatsu Therapist. Shortly after that he studied acupuncture and osteopathy, and founded The European Shiatsu School in 1985. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Concise Book of Muscles, The Atlas of Musculo-skeletal Anatomy and The Theory and Practice of Taiji Qigong, all published by Lotus Publishing and North Atlantic Books. He is also the author of Shiatsu: The Complete Guide, the main reference book for Shiatsu students and therapists. Chris teaches Shiatsu, Qigong, bodywork therapy, and anatomy extensively throughout Europe. He also runs a bodywork-therapy practice in Marlborough, Wiltshire, U. K.

Customer Reviews

A Practical Guide to Acupoints
There are some excellent books on Acupuncture point location and function available however no Acupuncturist or Shiatsu practitioner should be without this book. It is a fantastic contribution to the profession and it is destined to be a classic.
Aesthetically, this is a beautiful book, each Channel section is colour coded according to the 5-Elements allowing for quick and easy location of the relevant section and the illustrations are particularly outstanding. The illustrations are similar to those in the author's anatomy books and clearly show the point location in relation to the underlying structures. Each point is not only shown as a dot, which is the usual format within such books, but quite uniquely by an additional broader area (marked with grey shading) that shows the area where the point can be activated by pressure.

The book consists of 354 pages of text and full colour illustrations covering all the Meridian points and the common Extraordinary points. There is a large amount of information about the most commonly used points, or one could say the more important points.

A Practical Guide to Acupoints unlike most other point books, which seem aimed more at acupuncturists, not only gives advice about needle technique but also describes how to apply manual techniques and Shiatsu to each major point. This alone will be so useful for Shiatsu practitioners and particularly students, and for other bodywork therapists who use the points in their treatments.

As an Acupuncturist and Shiatsu practitioner I would thoroughly recommend this book to Shiatsu practitioners and teachers, Acupuncturists, Kinesiologists, Physiotherapists and anyone interested in acupoint location.

Reviewed by Andrew Parfitt MBAcC. MRSS(T)

A Practical Guide to Acupoints
A Practical Guide to Acupoints
By Chris Jarmey & Ilaira Bouratinos

Anyone involved in studying, using or teaching anything concerning acu-points should have this book. It is particularly clear and easy to reference, with aesthetically beautiful illustrations throughout. In fact the book is a piece of art in its own right, which is arguably unimportant, as it is the information that counts. However, as it has the most comprehensive information on points that I have come across, its attractiveness as an item is just an added bonus.

I must confess that I usually skim through the introductory sections of such books, but I immediately found myself engrossed in the lucid three pages on `How to Use This Book'. The next four pages concern `Needling Considerations', which is so clear and colourful that I found myself going through that word for word; which as a practicing acupuncturist, is something I would normally take for granted and therefore skip over. The other introductory chapters cover, manual technique considerations, moxibustion, cupping and deqi, followed by a comprehensive classification of points and their principles of application, concluding with excellent drawings to clarify Cun measurements, and useful information on general cautions and contraindications.

The main body of the book deals with acu-points on the twelve primary channels plus those on the Ren Mai, Du Mai and Extra Points. There are many books around that do that, but this book has an edge insofar as it gives a greater amount of useful practical information about what to do with any given acu-point. Most of the other such books are aimed squarely at the acupuncture practitioner's need to know where and how to needle and moxa each point. This book does all of that to at least the level of any other text I have read, but goes further by mentioning stimulation sensation, relevant manual techniques such as shiatsu, magnets, cupping, and even guasha (scraping) where relevant. Furthermore, the illustrations for each point not only highlight the location of the point for the purpose of needling it, but include an extended area of shading which denotes the area that acupressure can influence that point. Note also that in both the text and the illustrations, anatomical detail is far superior to that so far published.

Even though this book is packed with useable information, it manages to fit itself into around 350 friendly pages. It keeps itself concise by not going into detailed academic commentaries on the point functions. If you want more of that, I would steer you towards the excellent Manual of Acupuncture, by Deadman, Al-Khafaji & Baker. If you get that book and this book, you will have the subject very well covered.

Finally, out of the three most graphic and user friendly comprehensive books on this subject (A Manual of Acupuncture, The Seirin Pictorial Atlas of Acupuncture, and A Practical Guide to Acu-points), this book is arguably the most useful, yet sells at one-third of the price!

Reviewed by George Dellar MBRCP Lic. Ac. MRSS(T) DS

A Practical Guide to Acupoints
This is one of the best books about acupoints that I have ever come across, and a must for all students and experienced practitioners in the fields of acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, Tuina etc. It is well laid out, very informative, and contains clear, detailed illustrations of each point.

The illustrations are excellent, as are the precise anatomical descriptions of each point location. The points are noted by Chinese name, English name and international nomenclature, which will be recognisable to all those working within the framework of Chinese medicine or other oriental therapies. Equally helpful is the information on what the best treatment positions are, as well as guidance on needling, manual techniques, and moxibustion etc.

Each point is considered in relation to its actions and indications, as well as the main area and functions it covers.

`A Practical Guide to Acu-points' is precisely that. A fully illustrated and comprehensive reference guide to acupoints, and an invaluable reference source for all those involved in using acupoints and meridians as part of their therapy.