Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine

This text is a comprehensive review of the Chinese clinical literature on women’s problems informed by the clinical experience and understanding of Giovanni Maciocia.
As the author of the field’s two most used instructional manuals Foundations and Practice of Chinese Medicine Maciocia has, in the present text, accomplished a mature expression of his approach to TCM.
In the first section, he elucidates the theoretical foundations of the specialty, speaking to his readers with the assured voice and collegial manner that have made his prior books so accessible. Using innovative diagrams and illustrations the text describes female physiology–menstruation, conception, pregnancy and menopause–providing both Western and Chinese views. This is followed by a description of the commonly encountered syndromes and an explanation of the role of the extraordinary vessels.

In the second section he provides instruction as regards the development of female conditions and their diagnosis. Looking at each of the major etiological issues through both the Chinese literature and the concerns of his patients, Maciocia provides not only insights valuable to the development of clinicians’ diagnostic inquiries but also a set of hygienic and lifestyle principles designed to foster reproductive and sexual health. The diagnosis section is similarly practical. It proceeds through the four examinations, establishing a checklist of seminal diagnostic criteria. The section on tongue examination is enhanced by a frontispiece of 16 high-quality color photographs of representative tongue conditions.
The third and largest section is a clinical manual. Each chapter of each section is devoted to an examination of a specific clinical domain.
Each begins with the author’s commentary on the condition, its clinical definition and the relevant Chinese physiological and pathological concepts. This is followed by subsections specifically detailing the relevant etiology, pathology, and diagnosis. Taken as a whole these discussions teach readers the conceptual foundation and practical clinical observations of the conditions. These are then summed as principles of treatment. Clinicians are thus prepared to utilize the information on differentiation and treatment that is then presented.

The therapeutic information is organized by syndromes, a list of the relevant ones begins each sections. For each syndrome there is a treatment principle, an acupuncture treatment, and one or more herbal prescriptions. There is an explanation of the application of each acupoint and each the medicinal substance. The treatments are further supplemented by case historiesfrom the author’s practice, a commentary on prognosis and prevention, and, where appropriate, discussions of related Western diseases. There are also clinical insights, hints and translations of acupoint prescriptions from ancient sources. Acupoints are listed in alphanumerics and Pinyin, herbs appear in Pinyin and pharmaceutical Latin with dose in grams. Formulas are presented in Pinyin and English translation.
Although those who trained with the author’s Practice of Chinese Medicine will more greatly appreciate the continuity of presentation, any clinician will find these discussions accessible and immediately applicable.

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Notes on the translation of Chinese medical terms
SECTION 1 PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY
1. History of gynecology in Chinese medicine.
2. Women’s physiology
3. Women’s pathology
SECTION 2 AETIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSIS
4. Aetiology
5. Diagnosis
SECTION 3 METHODS TREATMENT
6. Principles and methods of treatment
7. Treatment of the Extraordinary Vessels
SECTION 4 MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES
8. Early Periods
9. Late Periods
10. Irregular Periods.
11. Heavy Periods
12. Scanty Periods.
13. Long Periods
14. Painful Periods
15. Bleeding between Periods
16. No Periods
17. Flooding and Trickling
18. Pre-menstrual Syndrome
SECTION 5 PROBLEMS AT PERIOD TIME
19. Pre-menstrual breast distension
20. Headaches
21. Oedema at period time
22. Diarrhoea
23. Body aches
24. Fever at period time
25. Epistaxis or haemoptysis
26. Mouth ulcers
27. Skin eruptions
28. Dizziness at Period Time
SECTION 6 DISEASES OF PREGNANCY
29. Morning Sickness
30. Abdominal Pain during pregnancy
31. Threatened Miscarriage
32. Fetus not Growing
33. Oedema in pregnancy
34. Anxiety
35. Dizziness in pregnancy
36. Convulsions in pregnancy
37. Feelinig of suffocation
38. Aphonia
39. Cough
40. Painful-Urination Syndrome
41. Retention of Urine
42. Constipation during pregnancy
43. Habitual miscarriage
44. Acupuncture and herbal treatment in midwifery
SECTION 7 DISEASES AFTER CHILDBIRTH
45. Post-natal depression
46. Abdominal Pain after Childbirth
47. Persistent Lochial Discharge (retention of lochia)
48. Urinary Difficulty
49. Sweating
50. Constipation and Haemorrhoids after Childbirth
51. Fever after Childbirth
52. Joint Pain
53. Breast Milk not Flowing (including acute mastitis)
54. Spontaneous Flow of Milk
55. Collapse
56. Convulsions after Childbirth
SECTION 8 MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES
57. Infertility
58. Menopausal syndrome
59. Breast Lumps
60. Abdominal Masses: Ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease, cervical dysplasia
61. Endometriosis
62. Excessive Vaginal discharge
63. Vaginal Itching: Tricomonas and Candida infections, genital eczema
64. Prolapse of the uterus
65. Vulvar Sores
Appendix I Prescriptions
Appendix II Patent Remedies
Appendix III Three Treasures Remedy
Glossary of Chinese terms
Bibliography
Cross-reference of Chinese disease-symptoms and Western Diseases
Cross-reference of Western diseases and Chinese disease-symptoms
Index