Grasping the Wind (English)

GRASPING THE WIND is a fascinating, scholarly look at the nomenclature of acupuncture points. Acupuncture is a healing system that uses hair-thin pins to penetrate specific points and point groups on the body in order to stimulate Chi or natural energy. These points all have unique and colorful names, such as Crouching Rabbit or Four Whites, which have specific meanings for trained acupuncturists. Contrary to common belief, these names are far from arbitrary and relate directly to the location, function, yin/yang attribute, or some other analogous feature of the acupuncture point. These connections are more than sophisticated mnemonic devices, often possessing subtle instructions as to the use or effectiveness of each point. With GRASPING THE WIND, students of acupuncture can fully understand the importance of point names and appreciate the poetry of this subtle art. Nigel Wiseman is an English author and translator living in Taiwan who has the academic background and the poet's ear for undertaking such a difficult translation project. This book is essential to anyone studying acupuncture or any healing system incorporating meridian theory. minimize