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Foreword

by David Price

Over the course of several generations, the Pacific currents that have conveyed the Asian martial arts to the West have also carried with them bits and pieces of the Chinese medical tradition used in the treatment of traumatic injuries. Occasionally, the martial artist is fortunate enough to meet a master who has firsthand knowledge of the correct application of special liniments or training formulas. A friend of mine recounts a story of just such a master who would prepare a rare elixir, an efficacious formulation with the immediate effect of loosening stiff and painful joints to allow for continued training. The same individual, however, also impressed me by casually mentioning how he had sipped White Flower Oil, a toxic external-use therapeutic rub, to eradicate colds. Obviously, in between indecipherable characters and miraculous cures, lies a chasm fraught with pitfalls for the overzealous martial arts enthusiast who yearns to explore both the combative and medicinal wisdom of the East without adequate resources and schooling.

My study and practice of Chinese herbal medicine over the past 15 years has been both arduous and humbling. Building upon a lifelong interest in herbal medicine, I began in earnest with a distance learning program followed by four years of formal training in Chinese acupuncture and herbology. A few years after receiving my diploma, I took a position teaching Chinese medical theory to graduate students. With every course in Chinese herbal medicine I teach and every formulation I craft in my private practice, I gain a little more expertise and even more appreciation for both the brilliant minds of ancient physicians and the complexity and difficulties inherent in the practice of medicine. As Ms. Peterson remarks, the skillful and safe use of Chinese herbs demands much more than passing interest and access to popular literature—Chinese medicine is a refined and erudite blend of science and art.

The present text offers one solution for the intrepid martial artist with an interest in herbal therapies. Recognizing the challenges of procuring quality Chinese materials, grasping the essence of classical Eastern diagnosis, identifying appropriate traditional formulations and modifying them, and preparing and administering treatments, the author explores instead the myriad possibilities in our own native Western traditions of herbology. The result is a delightful and scholarly addition to both the herbal and martial arts literature. Pragmatically organized, the prose is, nonetheless, lively and enjoyable, avoiding the dry language found in many older herbals and making this a wonderful read.

It is crucial to spend some time reading through the introduction and the first chapter, “Using Herbs Safely,” a mandatory primer for smart herbal usage. Distilling good herbal practices into nine basic principles, Ms. Peterson has addressed many of the mistakes that lead to problems using herbs. Chapter Two, “The Herbal,” introduces a wide range of common herbs with meticulously researched information. One particularly noteworthy feature is a grading scale for the properties ascribed to the herbs, allowing readers to evaluate the credibility of actions and indications associated with each substance. In the subsequent chapter, “Preparing the Herbs,” detailed information is given regarding the various, and sometimes complex, preparation methods and their benefits and disadvantages. This section takes you a bit closer to considering actually working with herbs. In “Applications and Uses,” we are introduced to more sophisticated uses of herbs in synergistic mixtures. The book concludes with “Herbal Contraindications,” “Further Resources,” and the “Glossary,” rounding out the text with clear lists featuring details on key terminology and the general properties of the herbs, as well as the best places to continue educating yourself regarding effective and appropriate herbal therapeutics.

Motivated by a sincere interest to assist other martial artists in making wise choices about how and when to use or not to use herbal treatments to augment their martial arts practices, the author has utilized her considerable expertise in research and her natural flair for writing to create a book destined to become an instant classic both for herbalists and martial artists. In fact, you need not fall into either category in order to enjoy and value this informative book. I have no doubt that you are holding in your hands a text that will quickly become a favorite for anyone fascinated by medicinal herbs, representing a step forward toward better understanding of the power, both for serious harm and for profound health and well-being, of our planet’s immense and rich apothecary.

David Price, B.A., M.O.M., L. Ac. is a graduate of Pomona College with a concentration in Asian Studies. He received a Master’s degree from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine and trained at the Chengdu University of TCM. He is currently Clinical Dean at the Asian Institute of Medical Studies in Tucson, Arizona, and operates White Pine Clinic of Classical Chinese Therapeutics (www.whitepineclinic.com).