Want to Learn More About Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine? Here are 4 Books to Get You Started.
I began receiving regular acupuncture treatments in my early 20s. At first the medicine felt mystifying, almost magical. As I continued to receive treatments I began to recognize a pattern between what I would tell my acupuncturist and where the needles would be placed. I started asking questions and yearned to learn more.
For me, “learning more” meant enrolling in a 4-year acupuncture program in Colorado. During school, most of the information we received about organs, channels, points, and everything included under the large umbrella of traditional Chinese medicine came in the form of thick textbooks and required an experienced teacher to help us make sense of the material.
Occasionally, we were introduced to a book designed to be read by any individual, student or otherwise, with a curiosity for the medicine. I gained insight from both styles of text, but in terms of actually communicating the why, what, and how of acupuncture to my patients I found the books in the latter category to be the most useful. Four of these books are listed below along with a brief explanation of their content and why I found the work valuable:
The Web That Has No Weaver by Ted Kaptchuk
Typically a required text before entering or soon after arriving in an acupuncture program, this book offers a deeper dive into the history and workings of TCM. While it does not read like a textbook, you will come away with knowledge comparable to that taught in the “Chinese Medical Theory 101” lectures in school.
The Spark in the Machine by Daniel Keown
I am often drawn to books that make connections between our Western understanding of bioscience and the way ancient cultures understood the human form. This book focuses mainly on the concept of “Qi” in the body and shines a western lens on some of the more “woo woo” concepts we attribute to alternative medical theory.
Energy Medicine by Jill Blakeway
Energy Medicine combines Dr. Blakeway's personal journey as an acupuncturist with compelling modern research around how acupuncture and energy works from a Western perspective. It is an easy read and breaks down some of the more complex concepts surrounding the body’s energetic field and how it can be manipulated. To research this project, Dr. Blakeway travelled around the world meeting healers and scientists from all walks of life. Her perspective provides an unique and inspired view on the possibilities for our body’s ability to heal.
The Urban Monk by Pedram Shojai
Dr. Shojai is an OMD (Oriental Medicine Doctor) based out of Irvine, CA. While this book is not acupuncture-specific, it does offer a primer for Eastern holistic theory alongside real-life case studies and practical modern solutions. This book is a staple on my bedside table. I refer to it often for a “pick-me-up” when life seems stressful or I can feel unhealthy habits creeping in.
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