This reference book provides both professionals and laypersons with the ancient wisdom and insight of traditional Chinese medicine, including dietary therapy, the properties and health benefits of various foods and green tea, and recipes for soybean foods, tofu dishes, therapeutic congee, and soups. The authors make this information relevant and accessible to readers in the new millennium.

The book also describes alternative therapies for cancer and many common ailments, and provides practical information on how to eat well, how to maintain a physiological balance, and how to lose weight sensibly. In addition, the authors provide a novel approach for integrating East-West medicine for treating cancer patients to win the anticancer war and save lives.

The book emphasizes that alternative therapies using Chinese natural remedies, balanced diet, green tea, and acupuncture can possibly prevent and cure many diseases, relieve pain and suffering, and improve one’s general health and quality of life – all without drugs or surgery and at an affordable price.

Joseph P. Hou, Ph.D., AP holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry, from the University of Wisconsin. He is the author of The Myth and Truth about Ginseng (A.S. Barnes, 1978), has published numerous scientific papers and holds several U.S. patents. He is president of the J.P. Hou Institute for Pain Care and Family Health in Orlando, Florida, a nationally accredited pain clinic, President of Florida Holistic Health Center and Research Foundation.

Dr. Hou is former president of the Florida State Acupuncture Association, and a former member and vice chair of the Florida State Acupuncture Board.

He lectures on Complementary/Alternative Medicine, Acupuncture/Acupressure, and Herbal Medicine.

Youyu Jin, M.D., is professor and chairman of the Department of Pharmacology of Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing, China, a position he has held since 1960. He is the author of many scientific books and papers.

He is the member of Commission of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, the New Drug Approval Committed of Beijing, the Commission of Teaching Material for Medical University, Ministry of Public Health, and the Approval Committee of the National Natural Scientific Foundation.

Alternative Therapies for Cancer and Common Ailments is a practical guide to the healing properties of Chinese herbal remedies and health food. The book describes alternative therapies for cancer and common ailments, and provides practical information on how to eat well, how to maintain a physiological balance, and how to lose weight sensibly. In addition, the author provides a novel approach for integrating East-West medicine for treating cancer patients to win the anti-cancer war and save lives.

This book provides both professionals and lay persons with the ancient wisdom and insight of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including dietary therapy, the benefits of various foods, herbs, and green tea, and recipes for preparing soybean foods, soy milk, tofu dishes, therapeutic congee, soups and casseroles.

In our modern times in the United States as well as elsewhere, the frequent use of high-tech diagnostic tools and the trend to over- prescribe potent drugs not only contribute to skyrocketing costs, but in many cases, offer little benefit to the patients. Illness and disease, particularly cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, obesity, depression, and AIDS, are widespread, that the relief of suffering and pain should be the first concern, not whether the care is provided by a mainstream (orthodox) physician or by an alternative healthcare provider. After all, what does it matter who provides the treatment or whether the treatment is conventional or alternative as long as it is safe and beneficial. Chinese herbal medicine and other alternative complementary therapies do not invade the territory of conventional medicine, and therefore, do not threaten it. The key is integration. By recognizing and accepting alternative medicine as legitimate, people will find it possible to cure many of their illnesses, relieve their pains, and improve their health at an affordable price.

The great patriarch and extraordinarily successful modern China economic reformer, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, who recently passed away at the age of 93, once said, "I do not care if the cat is black or white. As long as she can catch the rat, she is a good cat."