Now in its second revised edition, this text is a thorough examination of a concept not only central to Chinese medicine’s theoretical foundations but also critical to its clinical practice. It presents the theoretical and clinical detail on which rests the more general discussions of beginner’s texts. This work is intimately linked to Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies<\i>, not only by many references but also by Clavey’s adoption of that work’s term selections. Documented at a level typical of scholarly works, the material is direct from Chinese sources with contributions by the author’s Chinese teachers. It is supplemented by the author’s notes, explanations, and opinions.

The text begins with a review of TCM theory relative to fluids and follows with detailed chapters on the physiology, pathology, symptomatology, and differentiation and treatment of patterns. The formulas used are described by name and constitutent medicinals with references to Formulas and Strategies<\i>. There are "classical comments," quotations from relevant classical sources, cases, and translations of clinical essays that complete the discussions. The chapter notes offer explanations of terms; Pinyin transcriptions and inter-lineal characters offer a direct link to the Chinese language.

These chapters are followed by treatises on the major organizing concepts: phlegm and damp. Etiology, symptoms, relation to the viscera and bowels, symptoms and treatments are detailed. Illustrative case histories, discussions of combined pathologies, and both root and branch approaches to treatment have internal medicine as the principal focus. The principal medicinals and their associated treatment principles are described. A new chapter on "Acupuncture Methods in Fluid Pathology" details acupuncture treatments for specific disorders of fluid metabolism. There are also summaries of phlegm and damp clinical manifestations in table form, an index of formulas, and appendices.