The Spirit of the Organs : Twelve Stories for Practitioners and Patients

In the Chinese medicine tradition, understanding and resonating with the spirit of the organs leads to better diagnosis and more effective, powerful treatment. Behind most symptoms lies a disturbance of spirit, and the more alert a practitioner to the nature of such a disturbance the more effective the treatment is likely to be.

John Hamwee explores the spirit of each organ not in analytical, rational, summarising language but through life stories that express the nature and tendencies of the organ at a deep level. Through the stories of 12 people that embody the unique spirit of each organ, he shows the physical, emotional and spiritual nature of each, and their related tendencies and possibilities for improved wellbeing. Written to give Chinese medicine practitioners new ways to reflect on each organ in the most complete way, this book is also a lighthearted yet profound introduction to the heart of the Chinese medical tradition.

"This unique book explores the ineffable essence of the spirits through an amazing and varied set of stories which stimulate the reader to a deeper understanding of this aspect of the heritage of Chinese medicine. As always, John Hamwee writes with fluidity and skill making the book a joy to read." - Alison Gould, BA, Msc, MBAcC, Acupuncturist

"As a practitioner of Chinese Medicine, I found that reviewing this book was not just a matter of overviewing the text, but also a learning experience, in which things I already knew were presented in such a way as to provide a different level of understanding." - The Herbalist