[.ca] Four Paws Five Directions (ISBN 0890877904)

brilliant!:
As a long time practioner of TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine I believe this to be one of the three must-haves. Schwartz introduces and elaborates on TCM thoroughly and concisely. It is a wonderfully informatve book for someone new to TCM or a practioner. When owned, one will find themselves referencing it again and again. The text and charts are easily navigated. It will open ones eyes about the roots and practical applications of TCM. Readers will wish they owned a guide just like it for humans. Schwartz has compiled all of the information it would take the average person months to research, all the while painting a clear picture of the procedures and their benefits. Well written, pleasant read. Once again, a must own.

informative read:
I first checked this book out at the library, then checked it out again, then realized that I really needed to buy it because there was an awful lot of useful information packed into it. And as the guardian of nine dogs and cats, I predict this book will be nearby for a long time to come. For those of you who look askance at so-called "alternative" or "holistic" veterinary medicine, you will get a new slant on Chinese medicine as applied to dogs and cats through this book. Written by a DVM, it's the kind of medical book that is interesting enough to be read from cover to cover (and then returned to again and again for specific help on various conditions). It's not just a how-to book; it also explains the philosophy behind Chinese medicine so that you understand why specific herbs, or diets, or acupressure points are used to treat particular conditions. This book serves as a great introduction to the complex world of Chinese medicine. I recommend it for anyone with dogs and cats who has an open mind.

Excellent Intro to TCM for Cats & Dogs:
As a student of TCM and animal nutrition consultant I can't recommend Dr. Schwartz' book highly enough. You simply couldn't ask for a better introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine for cats and dogs. In the first section, Dr. Schwartz introduces us to the theory behind TCM. She explains the basics of the Five Element Theory, the Meridians, the Eight Principles, and the Vital Essences in a way that is easy to understand even without prior knowledge of TCM. Section two begins with a chapter on diagnosis using the Traditional Chinese physical exam. In the following chapters, Dr. Schwartz introduces the primary holistic therapies used in TCM: Herbology, Food Therapy, and Acupressure/Acupuncture (emphasis is on acupressure and this chapter is illustrated with color photos of dogs and cats depicting the meridians as well as acupressure points). In section three the information from sections one and two is applied to correct a variety of health imbalances. Dr. Schwartz recommends herbs (Chinese & Western), dietary modifications, nutritional supplements, and acupressure points for health conditions/imbalances involving the eyes, ears, nose and upper respiratory system, teeth and gums, lungs, heart, liver and gall bladder, spleen/pancreas and stomach, kidneys and urinary bladder, large intestine, bones and muscle, skin, and the immune system and glands. It's wonderful to see a book on natural remedies that focuses on correcting the underlying imbalance instead of simply using herbs and supplements to eliminate symptoms. Highly recommended!

Not very practical:
This is one of the most impractical books on holistic care for animals that I have ever read.

A great book to always have:
If you believe in herbs, chinese medicine, acupuncture, and acupressure you will love this book. It has lots of information on helping your pet with the correct foods, too. Knowledge of chinese medicine is helpful in interpreting how to relate the information for practical use.