The Mechanics of Spirit is an examination of the treatment of mental illness with the techniques of East Aian Medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicines. The author is faced with the difficulties of finding an effective treatment strategy for this severely ill patient, who has not responded well to Western allopathic medical treatment. His quest for answers takes him on an exploration of the history of East Asian Medicine, an examination of the issues surrounding its transmission to the Western world, and the impact of the modern political changes of East Asia on the interpretation...