At last a really good book on tongue diagnosis has been published in English. Giovanni Maciocia is widely respected as one of the foremost scholars and practitioners of TCM outside China. For a decade and a half now, he has combined a careful study of Chinese medicine, both in China and through his own translations of Chinese texts, with full-time clinical practice. This is quite an unusual combination in a field where the scholars tend to be out of touch with clinical realities, and the practitioners at the sharp end of clinical practice have little time or inclination for lengthy study.

This textbook on tongue diagnosis reflects these dual qualities well. On the one hand it is a scholarly work, meticulously referenced and revealing a thorough knowledge of the history and theory of tongue diagnosis in Chinese medicine. On the other hand, it is rooted in the needs of clinical practice, and the author's own diagnostic skills are well illustrated by his analysis of the 39 colour plates, taken at his own practice. Interestingly, several of the plates show the progression or amelioration of the patient's tongue over various periods of time. The printers have coped fairly well with the difficult task of colour reproduction.

The text develops a methodical analysis of tongue diagnosis, beginning with a general assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of this method. The clinical significance of the various regions of the tongue is followed by a discussion of tongue diagnosis as a part of the Eight Principles Differentiation. The main part of the book then analyses the tongue according to body colour, shape and coating.

Giovanni Maciocia's first book will undoubtedly be the standard textbook on tongue diagnosis for many years to come, and we look forward to seeing the next in what promises to be an invaluable series of works on TCM.

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