Book Description
Welcome to the world of traditional Chinese medicine—for cats and dogs! For the growing number of animal lovers seeking an alternative to Western medicine, this thoughtful and comprehensive approach to home animal care is a virtual godsend. FOUR PAWS, FIVE DIRECTIONS - A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs, includes descriptions of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments, with special emphasis placed on clear, uncomplicated approaches to acupressure and diet that you can do at home. And just wait till you see the photographs!
The vivid color portraits in FOUR PAWS FIVE DIRECTIONS - A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs, accurately chart the meridians and acupressure points of thirty-two gorgeous, furry models. Pet owners and students of veterinary medicine alike will appreciate this unique and upbeat guide to interacting more holistically with our beloved feline and canine friends.
Reviews
"As a student of TCM and am 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!" - Sasha
"I have very little knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine and have appreciated Dr. Schwatz's ability to help me better grasp this approach to acupressure, acupuncture, herbs, diet and other TCM treatment for animals. I borrowed this book from a friend & find it so valuable that I want a copy for myself. Each time I read a chapter or refer to a graphic showing acupressure points or meridians I feel more familiar with this ancient & venerable art & science. I am a practicing licensed veterinary technician and work in a clinic that will soon offer traditional Chinese veterinary medicine as well as Western veterinary medicine. This book is an excellent tool to help me as a veterinary professional peel open my mind, senses and vision and expand my ability to assist vets in this new dimension. It's well worth every penny. Any ainmal lover will use it for years. Thanks for letting me share my opinion." - Reader
"Good book both for people looking to understand alternative treatments and also for students studying TCM/acupressure for companion animals. Four Paws Five Directions clearly explains both the theory and practical application of TCM tailored to animal care. It lays out the fundamentals of TCM and provides many examples to help illustrate the key points. The second part of the book goes into the specifics for common ailments from a TCM perspective and guides you through herbal/acupressure/nutritional treatments. I've successfully tried a couple of the recommended acupressure treatments and found them effective." - Lisa
About the Author
Cheryl Schwartz, D.V.M., has been a natural and holistic veterinarian for more than 20 years; extremely well known and respected in her field, she is on the Board of Advisors for Healthy Living magazine and is the regular columnist for holistic pet advice. She is also the author of Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats A-Z.
