Acupuncture: How it Works, How it Cures gives a solid overview of the theories behind the science, illustrating all the main concepts clearly and colorfully. The book explains how acupuncture can work in conjunction with Western medicine, and it maps the different meridians, energy zones of the body that determine needle placement. It also delineates the traditional Chinese medical concepts of dampness, dryness, wind, cold, and heat, which acupuncturists use to diagnose patients. For example, a person whose pain spreads throughout the body would be said to have "an excess of wind"; and a person who is "too cold" will be lethargic and experience sharp, rather than aching, pain. Hill and Firebrace list dozens of ailments that acupuncture can treat, but they admit its limits as well. The book also delves briefly into herbalism and lists resources for finding a practitioner.