In the West we are increasingly seeking safer and gentler approaches to medicine and are learning about the success of traditional Chinese medicine. Chinese herbal medicine is becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people discovering it through therapies such as acupuncture and acupressure. This book serves as an introduction to the subject in a simple yet comprehensive way. Contents include: what it is and how it works; how a herbalist diagnoses and prescribes; the collection and preparation of herbs; herbs and their properties; common ailments (such as diabetes, colds, asthma, whooping cough) and their remedies; individual prescriptions and medicinal foods, including recipes for Chinese medicinal soups. There is a glossary of terms and throughout there are case histories from Stephen Tang's clinic.