In this clear and concise discourse on Chinese Tonic herbalism, Ron Teeguarden identifies over seventy powerful herbs, and explains how they work and how to take them, both alone and in combination. Drawing oncenturies old recipes, he shows you how to use these special formulas to vigorously promote longevity, beauty, mental energy, fertility and sexual drive, and immune efficiency. He discusses in some detail the philosophical principles upon which this great art of radiant health is founded.

Combining traditional health principles with cutting edge scientific knowledge, Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs will help you develop an effective and safe tonic herbal program (regimen. This book contains a number of sections not present in this web site, including an insightful chapter entitled "Six Lessons that Herbs Have Taught Me."

This book is must reading for those who want to take full advantage of the Chinese Tonic herbs.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With his 20 years of herbal expertise, Ron Teeguarden is the man celebrities rely on to improve their energy, put a glow on their skin, even renew their sexual vigor. Here he's written a fine and thorough introduction to the theory and art of tonic herbs. Anyone who's seen Woody Allen's Alice may be a bit leery, but there's more philosophy and science to these herbs than the hocus-pocus that the uninformed may associate them with. As Teeguarden points out, many of these herbs have been in use for more than 5,000 years.

He first covers the principles of Chinese health--yin and yang; the Three Treasures of life—qi (energy or vitality), jing (essence), and Spirit (spirit); the five main organ systems; and the Chinese view of the mind-body connection. These concepts may seem a bit out of this world for those accustomed to Western medicine ("Anger damages the liver"; "The kidneys control the skeleton"), but Teeguarden does an excellent job of explaining it all, even for folks who are complete novices when it comes to these Chinese health principles.

Then, using an organized, easy-to-use format and a handy one- to five-star system, he rates various herbs and classifies them according to their antioxidant qualities, ability to support the organs, and other health promoting properties. Handy bonuses include the pharmaceutical name of each herb, its organ associations, and its taste. There are herbs for helping knee problems and boosting fertility, for improving immunity and reducing stress, even for promoting longevity. The most interesting of the bunch are the ones that you'd assume appeal to Hollywood folk: tonics to promote hair growth, clear the complexion, and prevent jet lag. Teeguarden then reveals the "recipes" or herb combinations for his tonics, some of which have amusing names like "Gecko Rockclimber," "Super Shou Wu Combination" (for fatigue or exhaustion), and "Yanlin's Beauty Formula." There are plenty of mail order resources for those who can't find these herbs locally, along with a super chart with the Chinese symbols of each herb, the part used, and primary functions. Overall, this is a very helpful, user friendly reference for anyone wanting to investigate the benefits that herbs and herbal tonics have to offer. --Erica Jorgensen

From Booklist , July 19, 1998-2012

This entry in the burgeoning field of self-help books on Chinese medicine is essentially a guide for the relatively healthy reader to Chinese Tonic herbs. More specifically, these are herbal formulas that improve overall health and resistance, increase energy, and promote longevity rather than treat specific disease. Teeguarden, an herbalist and manufacturer of Chinese remedies, begins with a 55 page, clearly written though necessarily incomplete and Westernized introduction to Chinese medicine. He outlines the properties of 22 "supertonic" herbs and approximately 50 secondary herbs, then discusses two dozen traditional formulations and 34 of his own products. Though this chapter comes close to being a catalog for the author's herb company, the information is well founded and can be applied to competing formulas. The author gives herbal programs for different needs and life stages, along with principles of formulation and synergism, quality guidelines, and delivery systems. End matter includes a comprehensive chart of 77 single herbs and their actions, a short list of product sources, and an index. For large natural health collections. Penny Spokes Copyright© 1998-2012, American Library Association. All rights reserved

Synopsis

Sure to appeal to the millions who embraced the tenets of Asian medicine in Deepak Chopra's "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind", this book offers road map to total health through the use Chinese Tonic herbs. read more

Customer Reviews

«««««All encompassing - great for someone seeking real knowledge

Reviewer: A reader from North Carolina September 22, 1999

This is the third book by Ron Teeguarden that I've read and he just keeps getting better. It is laid out in a logical categorical order, which makes it very easy to compare different herbs. Ron has rated the herbs with a star rating that indicates how many treasures each herb will affect. Then he goes on to rate actual patent tonic formulas. It is a wonderful reference book, something you will refer to again and again for information and reinforcement, but it is written in very down to earth layman's language. It has an incredible amount of information, even down to some chemical descriptions and cellular activity, but if you aren't interested in going that deep, the descriptions are arranged so that you can skip whatever you don't want to read and go straight to the pertinent parts. Of all the books on Chinese herbology that I have, this one is quickly becoming my favorite. It's one of those rare books that is good to start with, and it is good to finish out a collection with also.

«««««This is my favorite book on herbalism

Reviewer: cegriffin@hotmail.com from Boston, MA September 4, 1999

Whatever your interests in life are, Ron Teeguarden shows how the Tonic Herbs can support you. There is a lot of information in this book and it is delightfully presented. It is also a very practical exposition of the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. But Ron's approach is not about medicine and treating diseases as much as it is about choosing power superfoods to enhance health. I love it!

«««««Very readable and informative presentation of Chinese herbs

Reviewer: monson@fda.net from San Diego, Calif. September 5, 1998-2012

Ron Teeguarden is clearly an expert on Chinese herbal remedies. He presents clearly the philosophy and benefits of using various ancient herbal tonics. It makes you want to begin using them right away. The problem, it seems, is it's not easy to find reputable suppliers with dependable high quality herbs. But that's key as the author points out which makes one suspect that one of the author's purposes in writing the book was to promote his own products. Well even if that's so, it's a blessing from my standpoint to have these magical tonics available from a reputable supplier. I'm stocking up!!!

Other Reader Reviews

Health is everything. Health is all. Health is the most precious treasure everyone could possess. Without health, our life would be dull --- no happiness, no success, a great loss. “Health and longevity!” is the most sincere and pleasing greeting presented by Chinese people. This book, “Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs,” written by Ron Teeguarden, will help you to discover a marvelous field of healthcare. Hopefully, it will help you to use some of the tonics and to achieve radiant health.
The arts of radiant health have been widely practiced for thousands of years by the people of the East. In China, you will find these arts of healthcare have almost permeated into every corner of life. Tonic teas, tonic food and tonic wine are familiar to and appreciated by all the people of the East. But westerners may find them mysterious, inconceivable and somehow ridiculous. Now Ron Teeguarden’s book provides a powerful glass through which you in the West can easily spy into the secrets of the Chinese healthcare arts.

The classical Chinese philosophies and theories on nature and the human body may be the biggest obstacle for westerners in learning and practicing a program for radiant health. With his profound knowledge about Chinese civilization, the author of this book has successfully kicked the big stone away and therefore can lead the readers smoothly into the great palace of Chinese radiant health. Readers will find in Chapters 1 through 3 of this book that the principles of the Chinese art of radiant health have become so simple and understandable due to the author’s clear and accurate interpretation and description. We really appreciate it very much.

The author’s brief introduction to Chinese herbalism and tonic herbs is also just to the point. Through it readers can easily learn and grasp how Chinese Tonic herbs are classified, selected and used. All the listed and introduced tonics and herbal formulations in this book are the classical ones or their derivatives. These herbs have been proven to be safe and efficacious by long histories of practice, as well as by laboratory research work done in China, Japan, Korea and elsewhere. Now herbal tonics and preparations have been commonly accepted and widely used almost everywhere in the world. It is not difficult to find monographs describing Chinese herbal medicines in book stores, but in our opinion, this book may be the best one. Reading this book, you may become interested in the art of radiant health and begin to consume some Chinese Tonic herbs or herbal preparations, which are of no harm to you and will soon benefit you if you select and use the herbs properly, as described in this book.

The art of radiant health was created and developed by the Chinese people. But it belongs to all human beings. We wish these classical Chinese arts will be more and more recognized and performed by all the people of the world, so as to improve both our health and our life.

Xu Guo-Jun, Ph.D.; Wang Zheng-Tao, Ph.D.; and Zhou Zhen-He

Xu Guo-Jun, Ph.D. (Professor emeritus, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing China; Director of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, Peoples Republic of China; member of the Chinese Pharmacopeia Commission; Chinese Academy of Sciences Academician; member of the Advisory Panel on Medicine, Academic Degree Committee, China; member of the Consulting Specialist Committee (Pharmacy), Chinese Ministry of Health)

Wang Zheng-Tao, Ph.D. (Professor, China Pharmaceutical University, Department of Pharmacognosy; Director of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ Commission to Standardize Chinese Herbs; member of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission)

Zhou Zhen-He (President of The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China) . -
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