Any person interested in both western and Traditional Chinese Medicine will find this book very helpful. The action and indication of each herb are explained in simple medical terms. the arrangement of the herbs in this book is according to the Chinese Pin-yin system. Working from Chinese sources and following the style of modern Chinese pharmacopoeia, the author has compiled basic information for over 400 substances from the Chinese materia medica. Entries are organized alphabetically by Pinyin name. Each description includes common, Chinese, botanical and pharmaceutical name; botanical family and medicinal part; taste, properties, therapeutic meridian and TCM functions; and pharmacological action or specific effect. Contraindications are listed as are the chemical constituents of the substances and recommended dosages. The appendix on application of herbs allows for categorization by Western disease condition. Four indexes allow cross-referencing by pharmaceutical name, latin name, common name and Chinese name.