that acupuncture and TCM are alternatives to medicating and surgery. Dating back to 5,000 B.C. she explains that TCM It is one of the oldest most commonly used medical procedures in the world.

Dr. Albertson has done a thorough job of including articles and studies in support of acupuncture and TCM, quotes from patients who have been successfully treated, a glossary of terms, an interesting history of TCM, and most importantly, an explanation of what to expect when you visit an acupuncturist.

A piece of excellent advice that I will take away from this book is “to become my own health advocate, take responsibility, research options and ask questions. Seek alternatives.”

Thank you to Dr. Albertson and Vervante publishing for an opportunity to review this book.

Sherton
The Eclectic Review

Fascinating subject, woman, author, and book! I'm very much into wholistic and natural meds and foods, also have had extensive acupuncture treatments for my back in the past - so this book sounds like one I'd derive a great deal of beneficial info from.

Marvin Wilson

Wonderful interview. It's always interesting to learn more about an author. I can appreciate her work that much more knowing where she's coming from and her outlook on things.

BTW, love the cover of the book. It looks so peaceful.

Mason Canyon

What an absolute pleasure to "meet" Kathleen in another of your wonderful interviews, CC!

Being very proactive with and about my own health, and a firm believer in what is referred to as 'alternative' medicine, I enjoyed Chris' review of your book a few weeks ago and shared my own experience with acupuncture (on my sinuses). I found the information about fertility interesting, since the chiropractor I see (who is also trained in acupuncture and other Chinese methods of treatment) has treated several women who were told they would never have children. Of course you know that they are now very proud parents!

Unfortunately it's all too common to be more of a "number" to physicians rather than a person. I've had numerous doctors get offended by my questions! Hello? This is MY health, MY body, and I want and expect to be talked to and have things explained to me. It's frustrating when you have to "interview" different doctors to find one that respects that you're interested and involved in your own health!

Not only are too many people closed-minded about 'alternative medicine,' but so many people are not even aware of what's going on with their own bodies. To me this is baffling. I want to know what's going on, why, what my options are and what I can expect from whatever form of treatment, medication, etc. is suggested.

I can also relate to your "story." It's never too late to further your education, begin a new carer, etc! I too spent many years in the corporate world, and although I was doing work I enjoyed, for the most part I spent years having what I refer to as "just a job." I decided to begin my own editing business and it's the greatest and most rewarding things I've ever done!

Thank you for this wonderful insight into "the person behind the book!" I have not ordered your book yet, but was wondering if it would be possible to get a signed copy? If it's not too much bother, you can email me at crystalclearproofing(at)charter(dot)net.

Thank you so much, and again, a great interview! You're doing the world a wonderful service, not only with your practice, but in writing this book!

Crystal Clear Proofing

I’ve known quite a few people who have benefited from acupuncture, but other parts of Eastern medicine have always baffled me. Dr. Kathleen Albertson explains the components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and, in particular, how it relates to women’s health issues in her book, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women’s Health: Bridging the Gap Between Western and Eastern Medicine.

Dr. Albertson clarifies how TCM differs from Western practice, in that it focuses on the root causes and tries to detect problems early, before they become fully-formed. TCM regards each individual’s condition as unique, and therefore one treatment does not fit all. However, she does show general guidelines for treating many ailments, such as fibromyalgia, endometriosis, infertility, menstrual and pregnancy related issues, menopausal symptoms, and headaches.



She explains thoroughly how the body functions properly when Qi (life force) and blood flow freely throughout the body, as well as detailing the twelve organ systems and how each organ interconnects with other organs and possible patterns that could cause a deficiency or disease.

Though common sense tells us that acupuncture needs to be performed by a highly qualified professional, I never realized how complex TCM is and how you should never diagnose or treat yourself. Of course, health store clerks are not qualified to provide recommendations, either. Practitioners will more than likely mix various herbs together and know the correct combinations and dosages.

That said, I found most of the book too dry and complex for anyone, like me, who is convinced of the benefits of TCM and alternatives to Western care but just wants general knowledge on the subject. In fact, I found it difficult to stay focused on all of the detail and case studies. However, this book would be of benefit to someone seeking in-depth knowledge and possibly considering the professional practice of TCM.

I would also almost recommend this book for someone who is planning to consult a TCM practitioner. The problem is that one major component is missing. Though Dr. Albertson informs readers of what to expect from an acupuncturist, she doesn’t tell us how we should actually choose one. She also doesn’t mention how to choose a TCM practitioner. So how can we be sure that this person is qualified and working in our best interest?

Dr. Albertson persuades women not to give up on themselves when Western medicine has, and she provides scientific research to back up her position. She also convinces the reader that TCM is quite complex and should be left to a professional for diagnosis and treatment. Though knowledge is power, the book’s complexity leaves me wondering who, exactly, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women’s Health is geared toward.

Jacqueline Jung

Acupuncture, as described by Albertson is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment. It “is the process of inserting tiny needles into one or more of the body’s 400 acupuncture points to release the blocked flow of natural energy.”

I am a strong proponent of TCM. I have been seeing an amazingly gifted licensed acupuncturist and herbalist for over three years now. I have seen through my own experience and that of others this acupuncturist has treated that TCM works.

Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women’s Health, provides a great deal of information on TCM in general including its viewpoint and uses for a wide range of women’s health issues, including menstrual irregularities, endometriosis, female infertility, pregnancy, birth, perimenopause, and menopause. And, it is divided into six distinctive parts.

Part 1 of the book is a generalized section providing detailed explanations of acupuncture and TCM: patterns of disease; concept of vital substances, Qi, blood, essence, and body fluids; what to expect when visiting an acupuncturist; and the concept of food flavors and thermal qualities (temperature). In regard to Qi, Albertson explains, “Activating Qi or Blood by inserting an acupuncture needle is analogous to activating a light switch, permitting the flow of electricity through a circuit.” It also explains the Yin and Yang concept as well as the concept of each organ system and their function. Some sections in this part of the book are easily understood while others are somewhat complicated and might be a bit confusing for the average individual.

This section also delves briefly into Fibromyalgia to shed light on how certain disorders or illnesses have multiple symptoms and often are not properly diagnosed by Western medicine. Western medicine treats the symptoms and not the underlying cause. Their “treatment generally follows compartmentalized medical recipes for all patients with the same symptoms or diagnosis – ignoring an individual patient’s uniqueness and sensitivities.” According to the author, “TCM has been treating this constellation of fibromyalgia symptoms successfully for thousands of years, long before it had a name! It addresses the subtleties of the symptoms while focusing on the root.”

Parts 2-5 are broken into chapters that dissect each health issue focused on in the book with the Western viewpoint and treatment, along with the corresponding Eastern viewpoint and treatment. Each topic (health issue), offers detailed explanations of the causes, characteristics, sources and more. It also includes testimonials, self-help advice, research, studies and a summary. But, again, as I mentioned above some of the information is a bit technical.

In Part 6, Albertson provides the history of TCM and compares it to Western medicine’s early history. This section is only six pages, but offers a lot of information.

I found Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women’s Health interesting and informative. I’m not sure if I would recommend it as a self-help book, but I would certainly recommend it as a useful tool to learn about acupuncture and TCM and its benefits to women’s health issues.

Karen Coiffi-Ventrice

This is a well-written and well thought out addition to the growing body of literature on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Dr. Albertson has taken great care to incorporate scientific research and personal narratives to create a book which contains insights and a wealth of useful knowledge. It is not to be considered a casual read, but will be a valuable reference book for individuals, practitioners and libraries where interest and respect for holistic and alternative medicine is extant. Most sections will deserve a re-read every so often to allow for a complete understanding. I have only one minor quibble with this book. The author falls into the trap of using far too many exclamation marks to emphasize her writing. They aren't necessary. The material holds its own quite well.

I will be happy to add this to our library collection as well as suggest its acquisition by other Maine libraries interested in good additions to consumer health collections.

John Clark

What a wonderful book. comprehensive and beautifully illustrated. Dr Albertson gave answers to my personal questions and intrigued me with so much more regarding Chinese medicine and women's health. I can't recommend this read highly enough.

Brenda Russell

A good read for women interested in learning about alternative medicine. Explains various maladies affecting women and the difference between the western and chinese methods of diagnosing and treating. Interesting. Descibes acupuncture and gives examples of women who have tried alternative therapies

Chris227
The Library Thing

There is an incredible amount of information in this book. Clearly, it was very well researched. The author brought to it a career built on understanding TCM and acupuncture, and also went out of her way to uncover all the latest research on how TCM treats women's health issues. The nutritional information was, in particular, new and enlightening.