Bastyr University Library Letter, Fall 1997, p.6: "Chinese Medicinal Teas describes a variety of herbal teas for treating various conditions. This book is designed for anyone with a knowledge of TCM patterns analysis. For lay readers the authors suggest to match up not only the disease indications, such as headache or vomiting, but also the other symptoms which go along with the TCM pattern for which each tea is suggested.

The reader, after finding which tea fits his/her symptoms, simply follows the directions for making the herbal tea. The authors list the ingredients to use and give directions on how the tea should be made and administered. After each recipe, the authors indicate the function of the tea with relation to the organ [it treats].

For readers interested in buying the ingredients, there are addresses of herbal companies in the last section of the book. There is also a small discussion on how to tell whether the tea is working well or not. Finally, the bibliography contains references to books in Chinese and English."

This is one of our most popular layperson's books.

BACKCOVER: In Chinese Medicinal Teas, Zong Xiao-fan and Gary Liscum have created a compendium of simple, easy to make and take Chinese herbal remedies. Unlike Chinese medicinal decoctions with their dozens of exotic ingredients, long cooking time, and notoriously bitter taste, the folk recipes contained in this book mostly use only two, three, or four ingredients which only need to steep in boiling water. Many of these teas contain Camellia Thea or tea leaves, and many are sweetened with white or brown sugar or honey. The majority of ingredients in these teas are common foods or common herbs, while the remainder are easily ordered by mail.

These teas can be used as simple home remedies or as daily beverages extending and adding to the effectiveness of other medical therapies. There are teas for both remedial treatment of already occurring disease as well as teas for the prevention of disease and the promotion of health and long life. In addition, there are teas for beautification and to retard the effects of aging.

Chinese Medicinal Teas is meant for laypersons interested in experiencing the healing benefits of Chinese herbs and for professional acupuncturists and practitioners of Chinese medicine. It is a useful addition to anyone's library who is interested in Oriental methods of health and healing.

This book is a compendium of simple one-, two-, or three-ingredient Chinese medicinal teas. While multi-ingredient decoctions are infamous for their bitter taste, the teas in this book are mostly mild, pleasantly or neutrally flavored and are quick and simple to prepare. Most of them contain either green or black tea, white or brown sugar, and one or two Chinese medicinal herbs. These ingredients are steeped in boiling water and then drunk as a healing beverage throughout the day. These medicinal teas are a great complement to acupuncture and a simple, effective introduction to Chinese herbal medicine.