Acupuncture: How It Works, How It Cures
Acupuncture: How it Works, How it Curesgives a solid  overview of the theories behind the science, illustrating all the main  concepts clearly and colorfully. The book explains how acupuncture can  work in conjunction with Western medicine, and it maps the different  meridians, energy zones of the body that determine needle  placement. It also delineates the traditional Chinese medical concepts  of dampness, dryness, wind, cold, and heat, which acupuncturists use  to diagnose patients. For example, a person whose pain spreads  throughout the body would be said to have "an excess of  wind,&qout; and a person who is "too cold" will be lethargic  and experience sharp, rather than aching, pain. Hill and Firebrace  list dozens of ailments that acupuncture can treat, but they admit its  limits as well. The book also delves briefly into herbalism and lists  resources for finding a practitioner.