Written for students, practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine, and laypersons, this guide presents 400 of the most important plants, minerals, and animal substances used as treatments by Chinese medical practitioners. In a two-page format, each remedy is described and illustrated, with its characteristic features, effects, indications, medicinal and toxic effects, dosage and cooking time, pregnancy use, and possible combinations with other substances explained. Mempen and Fischer, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, also review general principles of Chinese pharmacology, treatment guidelines according to the main patterns of disharmony, and how to prepare herbs. Toxic herbs and those associated with endangered species are excluded. Indexes list Latin herb names, Pinyin herb names, plant parts, and Chinese herb names, in addition to the general index. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)