Very little has been written on acupuncture and the Oriental medical view of health for the lay person in recent years. Even less has been written on the training requirements which vary enormously. This unique book clarifies this situation. It introduces the Westerner to the key concepts of healthy living, wellbeing and longevity, drawing upon the ancient Chinese philosophy whose universal principles were laid down in the Nei Jing, the oldest extant medical book in the world, written 221 BCE. It brings alive and makes relevant this ancient understanding of wellbeing and health maintenance to us in the 21st century and is presented in a clear, easy to read, interesting and somewhat revolutionary format. It involves the individual in looking at their own health and lifestyle and offers advice as to how these might be optimised for life in the modern world. It covers the historical background to oriental medicine, gives details of the 5 Element and Yin/Yang theories, explains how diagnosis, the consultation process and acupuncture work, and gives detailed advice on preventive health.