J R Worsley and J B Worsley
Published by Worsley Inc., England, 2004
Hardback, 210 pages, £84
Available from: The Worsley Institute Of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture: www.worsleyinstitute.org
UK Tel No: 020 8623 9009

(Reviewed by Liz Pinder-Ayres, EJOM Vol. 5 No. 2)

J R Worsley’s directed the revision of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture through to its completion from his hospital bed shortly before he died. It is a beautiful book of exquisite quality that has been updated throughout.

As he writes in the Preface:

‘...this book is intended as a guide to the acupuncture points
and the meridians of Ch’i energy ...I have selected information concerning meridians and points to aid students in their studies and to serve as a reference for qualified practitioners ...each of
the meridians is accompanied by appropriate illustrations’.

This is precisely what the book achieves. As a qualified practitioner I use this book as a reference in my treatment room and find it an invaluable resource. The new edition is lighter in every sense of the word. Its new shape, size and print are very user-friendly. Particularly useful are the colours printed on the outside edges of the pages which denote the section allocated to each meridian.

It is well designed with exceptionally clear location descriptions and diagrams. The content has been revised and condensed. The anatomical descriptions have been carefully revised so they are clear and direct to the point. All previous print errors have been corrected and only relevant material is included; for example, each meridian appears once instead of twice as in previous editions.

In addition, this memorial edition has an explanation of why the title has been changed from ‘Traditional’ to ‘Classical’ and why non Classical Five-Element Acupuncture point descriptions are included.

Memorial statements honouring J R Worsley’s mastery, cover several pages. The jacket carries a photograph and short biography of J R Worsley and also his wife, Judy Becker Worsley, the master elected by him to carry on the lineage of CF-EA.

I cannot recommend this edition highly enough to all students and practitioners of acupuncture. Not a book to be kept on the shelf, but used and treasured.

Liz Pinder-Ayres
Liz Pinder-Ayres graduated from the School of Five Element Acupuncture (SOFEA), in 1998 having previously had a successful career in education as a Headteacher of an inner London primary school, Senior Lecturer in Education and Education Consultant. For several years after graduation she was a tutor and year co-ordinator at SOFEA and also an acupuncture member of the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board’s Accreditation Committee. She currently runs a successful London acupuncture practice and, since qualifying, studied extensively with J R Worsley. She is a member of the Worsley Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.