Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine

by Ilza Veith (translator), Linda L. Barnes (Foreword)

The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine has become a landmark in the history of Chinese civilization. Written in the form of a dialogue in which the emperor seeks information from his minister Ch’I-Po on questions of health and the art of healing, it is the oldest known document in Chinese medicine. Ilza Veith’s extensive introduction and monumental translation, first published in 1949, make available the historical and philosophical foundations of traditional practices that have seen a dynamic revival in China and throughout the West. A new foreword by Linda L. Barnes places the translation in its historic contexts, underlining its significance to the Western world’s understanding of Chinese medical practice.

Genres: Health, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reference, China, Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1966

Reviews

[James]

Everything you wanted to know about yin and yang and more. Heavy reading that may give you a better understanding of the philosophy behind Traditional Chinese Medicine.

[Karen Blanco]

This book was a pain to read. I'm giving it 2 stars because I do believe you can find value in it if you have some background knowledge on the topic. From a Western medicine perspective, I enjoyed the introductions and commentary much more than the book itself. It lost me.

[Heidi]

This book was originally written
between 500 and 300 BC.

[Jim]

My background is in both history and medicine so this book piqued my curiosity, plus Dr. Veith was living near my city so I glad to hear that I won it from the Goodreads giveaway. I can see this may be a dry read for some people but I read non fiction exclusively and I enjoyed it a lot, but for those who read mostly fiction it may not interest you. It was quite an admirable undertaking to translate it from Chinese to English and Dr. Veith intended that others who follow in her footsteps to amend the translation as time goes by as this 2015 edition was updated from the original 1949 work. I recommend this book to those who are interested in alternative medicine but also as a historical work. I found it fascinating that it was written as a dialogue between the physician Ch'i Po and the Yellow Emperor who is more like the student asking the questions to the teacher so he can better understand how one must be in balance with Yin and Yang or otherwise medical problems can occur. It is like two people discussing their philosophy of medicine as they both see it. This is not a book of herbal remedies but more of how and why diseases occur in the natural world between Heaven and Earth.

[David Parker]

It is 98% information that I have already read some where else. But every now and then there is an interesting insight.