In 1983, Ted Kaptchuk, the senior author of the recent “albuterol vs. placebo” article, and soon to become the long-time Second-in-Command of the Harvard Medical School “CAM” program, published The Web that Has No Weaver:
The book received rave reviews:
A major advance toward the synthesis of Western and Eastern theory. It will stimulate all practitioners to expand their understanding of the causes and treatment of disease.
–Paul Epstein, MD, Harvard Medical School
A lucid and penetrating exposition of the theory and practice of Chinese medicine. While the book’s rich detail makes it of great use to practicing healers, it is in its entirety very simply written, enjoyable reading for the layman…it brings a demystifying balance…Instructive, profound, and important!
Professor Martin Schwartz, University of California, Berkeley
…demystifies Oriental medicine in a remarkably rational analysis…
—Science Digest, Nov. 1982
…an encyclopedia of how to tell from the Eastern perspective ‘what is wrong.’
Dr. Kaptchuk has become a lyricist for the art of healing…
Although the book is explicitly detailed, it is readable and does not require previous knowledge of Chinese thought…
The 2nd edition was published in 2000, to more acclaim:
…opens the great door of understanding to the profoundness of Chinese medicine.
—People’s Daily, Beijing, China
…weaves a picture…that is eminently understandable from a Westerner’s point of view…adds a valuable analysis of the current scientific understanding of how the therapies work and their effectiveness.
Ted Kaptchuk’s book was inspirational in the development of my acupuncture practice and gave me a deep understanding of traditional Chinese medicine…
Dr. George T. Lewith
…a gift for all who share an interest in deep understanding of healing. This new edition is essential reading…
—Michael Lerner, President, Commonweal
Even Edzard Ernst, still in his foggy period, called the 2nd edition “a brilliant synthesis of traditional and scientific knowledge…compulsory reading…”