Complementary-Therapy Books

This is an excellent book to understand the theoretical basis of Ayurvedic medicine. The complexity of Ayurveda's theory is often overlooked for its knowledge of herbs and diet. Vasant Lad's "The Science of Self-Healing: A Practical Guide..." is very useful for such practical information; anyone wanting a quick perusal of what Ayurveda can offer should consult his book.
For those already familiar with Ayurveda or medicine, however, this book opens your mind. His writing style is excellent (certainly a higher level than Vasant Lad's books), but very engaging and easy to read. I do not know how to describe his style (you should look at excepts), but he takes you through every aspect of Ayurvedic medicine, starting with the fundamentals. Almost like a narrative, he tells the story of the Ayurvedic view of the human being and the universe, thus illustrating what the Ayurvedic philosophy means.
One criticism I have is that he does not cite his references. This is particularly problematic when he refers to "recent discoveries" or what "modern science" says; he has a bibliography, but that mostly contains books pertinent to Ayurveda. Also, some of the comparisons he makes to allopathic medicine and anatomy are questionable, such as the existence of a deposit of magnetic metal in the frontal bone of the skull. As a student at a US medical school, I would advise to take some of these comparisons with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, he is familiar with the ideas and theory behind allopathic medicine, and he makes thought-provoking comparisons to the Ayurvedic system.

I highly recommend this book to those who want a further understanding of the philosophy that is Ayurveda.

Excellent introduction to the subject by one of the foremost practitioners and teachers of Ayurveda in the western world. highly recommended

This is indispensable for serious students.

If you want to understand the history of Ayurveda and the basic concepts of this science of life, read this book. I'm presently reading several ayurveda books and this one has impress me very much with its clarity and Dr. Svoboda way of writing. There are other great books on this subject by Dr. Vasant Lad.

This book has a wonderful concise introduction to Ayurveda. The information on the Ayurvedic herbs and blends is the best I have seen so far. I have only been studying Ayurveda for a little over a year, however I found this easy to follow and extremely well written.

This book has finally filled the space between Dravyaguna and Yoga of Herbs. It is totally comprehensive with color pictures, superb detail of each herb, and very well organized. We are already referring to it every single day. This book is a must-have for anyone using herbs in the practice of Ayurveda.

Essential reference material for everyone interested in ayurvedic health practices. Pole integrates the latest information and presents it in a format perfect for westerners. THANK YOU SO MUCH Sebastian Pole.

Sebastian Pole is a British practitioner of ayurveda, traditional Chinese and Western herbal medicine as well as a professional teacher of yoga and is a pioneer in the cultivation of organic ayurvedic herbs in the UK, and has had extensive clinical training in ayurvedic clinics and hospitals in India. He has presented the health care community and the ayurvedic profession with what surely will become the definitive textbook of ayurvedic herbal medicine for aspiring practitioners and manual for clinicians in the Western and English-speaking world.

This book has filled a desperate and long-felt need for an English-language work that is at a sufficient level of clinical detail for working and student practitioners of ayurveda. It is replete with color photographs, superbly well-organized details on each herb catalogued, and very well written. I refer to it daily in both my practice and my teaching.

"Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice" provides a deep and broad understanding of the theory underlying ayurvedic pharmacology and therapeutics along with a practical materia medica of over 80 ayurvedic plant remedies, each carefully denoted by its common Indian name, Sanskrit and Latin name, description, color photographs of the herb in both its prepared and fresh forms, energetics, phytoconstitutents, ayurvedic and biomedical actions, indications, contraindications, safety issues, formulations and dosage, along with additional notes.

The work is divided into three main sections. Part 1 presents a history of ayurveda and the development of its materia medica; basic principles (the panch mahabhutas, the three doshas, the saptadhatus, the srota, ayurvedic anatomy, disease etiology and pathology); principles of ayurvedic herbal pharmacology and pharmacy; ayurvedic diagnosis and therapeutics, treatment protocols and the scientific basis for ayurveda's claims. Part 2 presents the plant profiles, herb sourcing, and traditional formulas, and Part 3 contains useful tabular appendices, a glossary, herbal sources, plant name indices, and transliteration and pronunciation notes.

Everyone involved in ayurveda, and in a larger sense everyone involved in or interested in health care, complimentary medicine or herbalism, owes Mr. Pole a huge debt of gratitude for this excellent and very much needed work.

While listening to this CD program, I felt an opening of both heart and mind. The wisdom, and the specific instructions in these presentations, can be life changing to the person who is ready to receive them. This is packaged as a professional development course for health practitioners. I am a lay person in that area, not a health care professional. Notwithstanding that, Dr. Orloff's program has added immeasurably to my awareness of how true healing works in the human mind, body and spirt.

Ted Hilliard

This CD set is fantastic. Dr Judith Orloff is an genuine healer and teacher. Attending this conference, learning the techniques, and then having them eloquently transposed into this program is a gift for everyone. We can all learn from Judith's messages of listening from the heart how to be healers in our life, regardless of what our profession is. The teaching is clear, concise, and informative. I recommend this for everyone. If you are not in a healing profession, after listening to this CD set you will be more in tune with what your medical care could be and should be.
Judith's teachings have changed the way I practice Pharmacy and Holistic Health Counseling!

Even if you are just a lay person, you'll find this "Professional Development Course" well within your area of interest and understanding. I have heard all of Dr. Orloff's tapes and this one is the best! Maybe it's because she is more experienced at lecturing or maybe it's because she is among her peers, but her delivery is more relaxed and funloving, even though she is dealing with the most profound and serious encounters in our lives and answering very difficult questions. She is clear, informative, humorous, and supremely heartfelt.

Dr. Judith Orloff is one of my favorite doctors on the subject of intuitive healing. This is a great book even for non-medical professionals on the how and why of being an intuitive in a healing practice. I just loved this. Keep in mind that Dr. Orloff is still a licensed doctor as is Dr. Mona Lisa Schultz ... and this speaks volumnes for their personal credibility and integrity. A wonderful complement to the Positive Energy book. Dr. Orloff is teacher who is true to the Hippocratic Oath - Do no harm.

Fool's Crow is one of the great holy men of the Lakota tradition. As a while man, I have been fortunate to take part in ceremony, chiefly in the Ute and Lakota traditions. In these days when wantabee teachers are charging for ceremony, true teachers do not charge for ceremony. There is controversy whether whites should be in ceremony. Those that allow this say that the creator looks at the heart. Walking the red road is both hard and joyful. Even though I been in ceremony for many years, I never understood the inner workings, until I read this book. It sheds light on both the teachings of Christ, and the Red Road. This book is a must read.
Randy Kemp
www.randykempcopywriting.com

This is a very enlightening book. Finally, it seems someone has had the courage to divulge some of the more esoteric teachings of Native American spirituality. I have studied esoteric teachings for many years, and there is far between books like these that really gives you many and deep insights. Definitely a book that can be read many times, and each time you will get something more out of it. A far cry from the books of "plastic medicine men". T. ex you can buy books out there that tells you how to make your own medicine wheel, even coming from a non-native background. This book will tell you that you are not reallly ready for any such thing before AT LEAST 30 years of study and practice. No quick-fixes here! As non-natives we need to have an very deep respect for Native American spirituality. First we took their land, then we prohibited their religion and language, forcing their children to go to boarding schools in order to brainwash them into Churchianity and capitalism (this first ended in 1970!!), and THEN well-meaning, if ignorant, people come and demand to be initiated into their spirituality, taking Indian names, charging money for teachings, etc. I do believe we can learn from them, if we will listen with an attitude of respect.It is wonderful that Chokecherry Call Eagle had the mission and the courage to publish the teachings in this book. An extremely honest and higly recommendable book..!

This book was a delightful surprise! The author's words and opinions spoke loudly to me and I appreciate his candor and willingness to present the story and information in a way that is more easily understood by people who are not steeped in the traditions and concepts of Native American Spirituality. While the book was very interesting and entertaining, the most important impact this book had on me was triggering a lot of introspection and thought on my own beliefs, particularly in regard to Native American spirituality. The author's sincerity and seriousness about the subject matter were refreshing, and the depth of his committment is obvious. There is one thing about this subject, book, and author that I was left with to chew on that I have thought of many times before and still have not found much resolution on. For people who are sincerely trying to learn from this Red Road in order to make themselves a better human being, the author's personal experiences are enviable. There is so much "stuff" out there and so few people who truly have the traditional knowledge and the sincere commitment, that experiencing the "real" thing when it comes to interaction with people tends to be the exception rather than the rule. I guess we all have to do as best we can, stay sincere and committed, and trust that the Creator will provide us with the appropriate guidance and direction. In closing, I would like to thank Mr. Gall Eagle for his willingness to share his life experiences, his knowledge, and his wisdom; but mostly I would like to thank him for simply being who he is and living the life he is living. There is much in this book for people to learn from, if you take the time to look within and examine yourself honestly. Take time to sit and "Cogitate" (as my grandfather used to say), to let the messages and wisdom that are there for you individually, manifest themselves. There is much here below the surface for those who ernestly seek.

I read a lot of books on Native American spirituality, Christianity and other spiritual paths, and I don't think I have ever encountered one this good. Chokecherry Gall Eagle has led a truly amazing and unparalleled life. The wisdom he has gained and the fact that he is willing to share this knowledge with everyone is still amazing me. There are so many lessons to be learned from what he has to say. I have read it twice and I am sure will read it many more times, just to soak in as much as I can. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in any aspect of spirituality, or to anyone who wants to read an amazing story.

I don't know too many physicians who pick up a textbook and consider themselves qualified for an entire branch or subspecialty of medicine. Those who seek to add acupuncture to their practices almost universally do it out of frustration with drugs and surgery, and the quest to help their patients in ways that western medicine cannot. I fall into this category, as do several of my colleagues.

I was not issued this book through my training, but I have purchased a copy and have found it to be very valuable as a reference in many ways. I would highly encourage anyone who is undergoing, or considering undergoing, acupuncture education to get a copy of this book and add it to their library, and if you're already in practice it's critical. Since MANY patients who are seeking acupuncture do so for some complaint related to pain, having a larger armamentarium with which to treat them is beneficial to everyone. Get this book.

Finally there is a biomedical explanation of practical acupuncture system which anyone practicing acupuncture can immediately use. It is easy to read and easy to understand. Explanation of basic neuroanatomy and dynamics of acupoints immediately answers a lot of my practical questions. The best part is their unique easy to follow system which I start to use for pain problems. This book definitely will be the desk reference for many practitioners.
Katrine Levin, London

This book bridges the gap between the old and new acupuncture. What was previously seen as an exotic, traditional and obscure art is now simplified and quantified by these authors in a way that fits it directly into modern scientific thinking, and by extension, into the work of any contemporary health practitioner who has to treat pain. This book is all that a currently-practicing MD, osteopath, chiropractor, or other practitioner needs to incorporate acupuncture into their work, and in doing so to thoroughly transform and improve their ability to relieve most pain symptoms, and by amplifying the body's own natural healing capability, to cure many common causes of chronic and acute pain. I recommend it wholeheartedly, and anticipate that it will have a far-reaching effect.

I am a western trained Osteopathic Family Physician with a strong interest in integrating acupuncture into my clinical practice. I have studied numerous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts and find myself lost and confused. My western trained mind has a difficult time grasping Qi, Essence, Channels, the Four Examinations, the Eight-Principle Pattern Identification. . . What I can grasp are the concepts of Biomedical and Neuroanatomic acupuncture as presented in "Biomedical Acupuncture for Pain Management". If you are a western trained health professional and are interested in learning more about acupunture or are interested in a practical book that can help you integrate acupuncture into your clinical practice, then this book is for you. I strongly recommend that you also look at "Acupuncture, An Anatomic Approach" by Houchi Dung. I carry both of these books back and forth to work every day. I use them and refer to them that often.

This book explains all things about aromatherapy: from its history, to how essential oils are distilled, to good aromatherapy "recipes" for many common problems. It also contains many ideas about how to help the treatments, or adminster them. Ms. Wildwood is incredibly thorough, and respectable in her suggestions about integrating this with traditional and alternative medicine.

A great resource for studying the basic principles of Aromatherapy. This book covers the body systems and body-mind-soul. Wonderful photos on massage using Aromatherapy; and beauty care, home and gardening are covered. Excellent diagrams, draws and graphs and a very useful glossary of medical terms. Needed book for serious study and use of essential oils.

The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood is one of the most complete guides to Aromatherapy. If you can only buy one book on the subject this would be the one. It includes many easy-to-follow guides and pictures. A beautiful book for the beginner and advanced Aromatherapy student.

This book contains brief descriptions of about 50 - 60 essential oils and while it does contain aromatherapy recipes for different conditions, they are not the focus of the book as the author believes that ultimately, you should follow your intuition when putting together aromatherapy blends. This is something that gets much easier with experience.

The book does have some interesting information like "Believe it or not, no two people can blend an identical-smelling fragrance, even though they may use exactly the same blend of oils in exactly the same quantities from the same bottles. Amazingly, the oil will always take on an spect of the blender's personality - their aromatic signature."

The book is divided in chapters, each dedicated to a different system in the body: circulatory, endocrine, nervous, muscular, etc. - each chapter beginning with a description of the funcitoning of a particular system, following by recommended oils that may be effective in optimizing that system.

One section of the book is dedicated to massage techniques and contains lots of color photographs to make the points clearer.

There is a chapter on proper nutrition, on yoga exercises (surya namaskar is illustrated as an example), meditation and even cleansing and strengthening your aura, as the author notes that aromatherapy can provide the best results as a part of holistic nurturing and care of your mind, body and spirit.

If "God" had to equip us with an owner's manual for our bodies, this would be the book. This book is full of usefull information from cover to cover. I highley recommend it!

I own a lot of books on optimum brain performance as part of relentless seach for better understanding - & application - of peak performance technologies. I know very well that peak performance depends very much on the brain working in perfect harmony & close integration with the body. I therefore also own quite a lot of books about enhancing body performance.

This is one of them, which is also one of the few I always keep on my immediate shelf for quick reference.

Although it has been written essentially as an introduction to Hellerwork, I find the authors' intellectual work in creating the connection between life issues & natural bodily alignment very illuminating. Additionally, he shows how to restore the body's natural balance from the inside out.

Obviously both authors have profound understanding of the human body & its possibilities for maximum health & efficiency.

I did not realise that one of the authors (Joseph Heller) was an aerospace engineer by training until I read this book. This probably explains the logical structure & systematic layout of the various chapters as follows:

PART I: KNOWLEDGE OF BODY
The Body in Everyday Life
The Body's Role in the Strcutures of Consciousness
The Plasticity of the Human Body
Bodywork

PART II: BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Introduction to Hellerwork
The Thoracic Cavity
Understanding or Standing on Your Own Two Feet
Reaching Out
Control & Surrender
Gut feelings or Let It All Hang Out
Holding Back
Losing Your Head
The Balancing Act
Integration & Coming Out

I only wish that there were more visual/graphic illustrations to go with the various chapters.

To me, the authors sum up the book very beautifully. Let me recap their exact words in the last chapter: "...Enlightenment is not something that ony happen when you meditate, chant your mantra, listen to your favourite piece of music: It is something that happens every day, in the way you move, relate to others, work, cook supper, brush your teeth. The challenge or purpose of life is to experience it as fully as possible at every moment. Your body is both vehicle & metaphor for your process: When the hologram is integrated with the being, the result is enlightenment." [The authors use the hologram, in an abstract sense, to represent the exact physical expression of a person's mind & spirit; in a concrete sense, any part of the body may be seen to reflect & contain everything there is to know about the whole body, just like a hologram.]

On the whole, the many ideas in this book are definitely worth exploring from the standpoint of becoming a full-time owner of your own body!

I learned a lot about my body from reading this book, especially why I get stuck. The connection between what I think or believe and how it manifests in my body couldn't be better explained. It was a real eye opener. I also enjoyed the practical suggestions for getting aligned and balanced, particularly undulation, one of my favorite exercises.

Anita Boser, author of Relieve Stiffness and Feel Young Again with Undulation

All I can say is "Wow". I did not expect to get this kind of a workout from this book, it's really heavy.

I think one of the best things about this book is that it is very encouraging to the patient. Not only is there hope for surviving cancer, but there are also reassuring words for those who face death after alternative therapies have failed. The author also discusses the impact of the patient's emotional life on getting & healing cancer.

This book is a current, objective, and informative source of information on conventional and alternative cancer treatment. I came across this book as my sister and I desperatly tried to find helpful information about treating cancer. This book impressed me as being the perfect book for anyone who is suddenly confronted with the disease for the first time and needs to get informed. They couldn't have picked a more fitting title.

In my opinion, a combo approach is the best bet at increasing your survival if you have been diagnosed with cancer. The information given here gives you a number of ways you can go about getting that combination therapy. When family members were researching alternative treatments for my grandmother's cancer, we explored this book along with a number of others. This one gave some good information that wasn't presented in other books. We also found a site, iHerb, that offered a variety of cancer fighting supplements along with additional documentation of their abilities. iHerb is a good source if you are seeking the alternatives Bognar mentions in this book.

David Bogner (and Walter Cronkite in the accompanying 4 hr. PBS videotape special) present a balanced introduction that allows someone recently diagnosed with cancer to get an overview of their treatment options. Without favoring a single approach, Bogner covers conventioal treatments, alternative treatments, psychoimmunity and spiritual approaches. Each of these sections presents a wealth of references where additional information can be obtained. Bogner points out that cancer and its course is a very individual matter and that those who do best are often those most informed about their options. Rather than advocating a particular approach, Bogner suggests that different approaches work best together. The book contains all the information presented in the video tape and then some, but the video tapes done by Walter Cronkite are very warm and reassuring. When Bogner's wife got cancer it took him some time to learn about the options. He wrote this book and produced the PBS special so that others faced with cancer could obtain this information more quickly and easily. He has succeeded in providing an excellent generic overview of treatment options. I can't think of a better, non-partisan basic source of information on cancer treatment than this very inexpensive book. It will not give you all the details about your type of cancer, but it will show you in broad outline the various approaches that are available and where to get more information on them.

In my six years of research on alternative cancer treatment, this book gave me more information than any other. It is artfully arranged with helpful sidebars (key points, definitions, etc.) and anecdotal stories to reinforce the subject. It is wonderfully documented with a great index and 27 pages of endnotes (references for each chapter).

From treating your teeth to detoxifying to herbs to effective tests to immune system rebuilding, I found nothing in this book to disagree with. This is unusual, because many of the topics they discuss are quite controversial. This is simply a tribute to Dr. Diamond, Dr. Cowden and Burton Goldberg and their comprehensive research and writing skill.

Use this book to give you a comprehensive overview of your cancer and your options. Then, update it with some research on the Internet. I learn something new about cancer treatment every day, so no book can be complete. This one comes closest to being the "bedside reader" that every cancer patient needs.

W. John Diamond, M.D., a board-certified pathologist and alternative medicine expert, and W. Lee Cowden, M.D., who is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and clinical nutrition, joined forces with Burton Goldberg, author of numerous books on alternative medicine, to write Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next.

Many people don't know where to turn for information when diagnosed with cancer. And the answers they often get from medical professionals include few options. Lack of knowledge causes many people to undergo treatments they don't want.
Goldberg says that "there is no single magic bullet cure for cancer. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer and many modalities and substances must be used to reverse it."

The authors emphasize that never giving up hope is a critical first step in cancer treatment, no matter what therapy is chosen. They then outline some positive steps that patients can take that will help them chose the therapy that's best for them. Included in this section is a simple test that reveals whether a tumor will respond to chemotherapy, and if so, what the smallest effective dosage is.

They also discuss the causes of cancer, and offer suggestions for prevention and early detection. They provide complete information about testing methods used by alternative practitioners that aid in developing effective treatment plans.

Nutrition plays a big role both in prevention and treatment of cancer, and the authors explain how to choose the best diet for you. They also explain the role of supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, in strengthening the body.

Herbs and other nontoxic therapies can be very helpful for many people. All the details are included, as well as complete information on techniques for stimulating the immune system. Detoxification and energy therapies are also explained.
Detoxification is especially important because of all the pollutants in our air, water, and food. According to the authors, "most conventional doctors do not take these factors into consideration when treating cancer."

Each chapter includes "Quick Definitions," which are explanations of medical terms, in the margins, making it easy to understand the text. Whenever a special test or procedure is discussed, contact information is provided.

"Alternative medicine has established the causes of cancer--from radiation and dietary factors and pesticide residues to stress and dental factors and free radicals--and has safe, nontoxic, and effective therapies that can address each one." Cancer Diagnosis gathers all this information into one easy-to-use book. It's an essential reference for anyone desiring full information on treatment options.

Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next is an indispensable guide to alternative medical approaches to treating cancer, choosing a physician and a course of treatment, the role of sophisticated diagnostic equipment in mapping out a treatment plan, the role of energy in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, non-toxic alternatives to chemotherapy, innovative techniques that fight cancer by boosting the immune system, the role of diet and nutritional supplements in fighting cancer, and the importance of maintaining a hopeful attitude during treatment and recovery from cancer. Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next is essential, life-saving, quality-of-life enhancing reading for anyone with the diagnosis of any type of cancer.

This book tells the truth on what is available in the fight against cancer. After speaking to doctors who gave my loved one NO HOPE and said "there is nothing to be done", when they should have said WE DONT know what to do. This book is the American way. Bravo! Shame on the medical industry.

What a find! I had read Upledger's other books a while back and found them all good. I read The Heart Of Listening. This book brings you up to date with Upledger's understanding now.

I am a Continuing Education provider and author for massage therapists and in my practice I am gaining excitement about treating the brain. I have found the Upledger system of education to be sort of exclusive and expensive--it will take me years of Lymph prerequisites at $800 each, jumping all over the globe to find them, to get into Bruno Chikly's Brain curriculum, for example. This book is completely the opposite. The language is approachable for every person. Short personal stories give you a sense of humor and humility required for doing healing work with the body's permission and guidance. You'll learn that there is not one "inner physician" within a body/mind but many intelligences, all with different aims. Some brain parts are funny and down to earth. Some are serious and competitive. Some are lofty while others are practical. The parts of the brain may disagree and argue. You can learn the personality of each part and learn to talk with it, by reading this book.

After reading "Head Cases," by Michael Paul Mason,Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath and all the talk of suicide in later chapters, I was about ready to kill myself. Upledger's Cell Talk is completely the opposite, bringing stories of many people at the ends of their ropes to amazing recoveries.

Plus you'll get some great short stories about being on coast guard ships, opening a jazz club, having a talk with AIDS cells, past life stories, telepathy ... never boring.

Like "If I Only Had A Brain Injury" by Laura Bruno,If I Only Had a Brain Injury this book promotes the optimistic thinking that, diseases are not something to reverse, but to embrace, to leap with, to see the gift that is intended.

This is John's best work to date. I believe he is tapping into the 95% or so of the brain's wisdom that we don't yet have an understanding of. His intelligence, curiosity and receptivness to new ideas has led us into an exciting new era of healthcare.

This is an excellent textbook-style discussion of intimate cell biology fused with Upledger's own deep insights into the nature of our own inner consciousness. A must for anyone looking to understand the deeper links between physiology, energy, health and healing.

This book is wonderful. I couldn't put it down!!! Everyone must read it!