The author says in the introduction: It is a ‘how to do it’ book rather than a ‘how does it work’ book, or one could say a book for clinicians not researchers. For me as a practitioner it is down to earth and practical and, like Peter Deadman mentions on the back page, solidly based on hard-worn clinical experience.

The book briefly explains the electricity involved and the various theories of how it affects the body, like moving qi and Blood and invigorating the circulation in chronically contracted muscles. It talks about what to look out for when buying a machine, the different types on the market, what frequencies to use, as well as precautions and contraindications for their use. It gives the pitfalls and the important things not to do without going into too much detail and boring the reader.

Over thirteen chapters the book discusses the following musculoskeletal conditions: neck, shoulder, tennis and golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, fingers and thumbs, lower back, hip, groin strain, knee, Achilles tendon, plantar fasciitis, scar tissue, and difficult and unusual cases. This is done in a very practical manner, discussing causes, looking at stages where appropriate, giving helpful illustrations of the muscles and bones in relation to the acupuncture points and TCM channels used.

Each chapter approaches the problem like a thorough clinician should, describing the condition and underlying structures, such as muscles, bones, ligaments and joints. This is followed by giving reasons for point selection and talking the reader through basic as well as advanced treatment strategies when the basic treatment has failed. The points connected with electroacupuncture are clearly marked in helpful drawings. There is often additional advice, such as doing appropriate exercises or self-massage. At the end of each chapter the author gives case histories, which illustrate what has been said in the text put into practice. All suggestions are, to my mind, step by step, practical and safe. Practitioners are encouraged to read up on the problem and to familiarise themselves with the anatomical structures involved, to read through the sequence as described above, to remind themselves of how to treat the condition and to pick up useful suggestions they hadn’t thought about.

As a practitioner using electroacupuncture I very much recognise the process and agree with most of the descriptions. I have only two slight queries: The book doesn’t explain the use of the red and the black leads, which in the end is probably not that relevant. And, though the book mentions on page 22 not to cross the chest and the upper back with an electric current, I couldn’t find a specific warning or pointing out to the reader not to cross the spinal cord above Bl 24 qi hai shu or thereabouts.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful clinical handbook, which I would find very useful in my clinic, even if I didn’t use electroacupuncture.

Friedrich Staebler is a medical doctor who worked as a surgeon in Germany, then came to London to study acupuncture and TCM, followed by postgraduate studies in China and a degree in Chinese herbal medicine. Since 1983 he has been practising as an acupuncturist and integrated medical practitioner in London, using acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, reiki style healing and counselling. The aim is to help patients to help themselves, and to help the body to heal itself.

(Reviewed by Dr Friedrich Staebler, EJOM Vol.9 No.3)

Friedrich Staebler is a medical doctor who worked as a surgeon in Germany, then came to London to study acupuncture and TCM, followed by postgraduate studies in China and a degree in Chinese herbal medicine. Since 1983 he has been practising as an acupuncturist and integrated medical practitioner in London, using acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, reiki style healing and counselling. The aim is to help patients to help themselves, and to help the body to heal itself.