Complementary-Therapy Books

I think this book gives good insight and instruction on the pratice of reflexology. I was curious about the concepts that are used in its practice. I found the book to be informative and comprehensive,and do recomment it to others who are interested in the subject.

I read almost every reflexology book available during my reflexology certification process. If you were to only buy one book on reflexology, I would recommend it be The Reflexology Atlas. It is the most comprehensive text on the subject, and has superior illustrations of the reflex points.

Especially impressive and valuable to the reader or practitioner are the illustrations. Drawings of the bones of the feet as well as the reflex points are superimposed over photographs of the feet and/or hands. The photographs in the book are extraordinarily helpful. These are probably the most helpful reflexology maps that I have seen or used. The body's organs are also represented as color illustrations superimposed over photographs of the body which is quite helpful for readers learning about human anatomy. Reflex points are highlighted on photographs of the feet from many different perspectives, helping students to learn where reflex points are to be found on the sides of the feet and ankles, as well as on the dorsal (top) side of the foot.

The text is easy to understand, and does a good job explaining the background of reflexology as a healing modality. By following the text and photographs readers will learn how to perform a full reflexology session. A detailed discussion (with illustrations) of reflex points on the hands and ears are also included. Massage, acupuncture, and shiatsu are also touched upon.

This step-by-step manual is easy to use. The pictures enhance the directions, which are concise and easy to follow. This is a perfect book for those who wish to learn Reflexology on their own, as well as for those who wish to refresh their knowledge of the skill. I would recommend use of this book to both current and new healers.

I'm a professional Massage Therapist and Reflexologist and this is an excellent resource to use for my students. This book also covers the meridians, although I wish that aspect was a bit more exact in showing it on the anatomy. Very comprehensive. Packed with lots of good info including some ear. Big book size wise. Kind of quirky as I think the authors are European and some wording is not congruent, but all the info is very accurate. Excellent resource especially if you want more than just the basics.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend. He is a massage therapist. I was very impressed by the book. It is very complete, and easy to understand. The illustrations and pictures are awesome. He loved the book as much as I did. It's an excellent reference. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic, or involved in massage therapy.

I am utilizing the exercises to achieve discharge easily and effectively both personally and with my clients. Since I am an experienced therapist and core energetics international instructor, we are also using the method with large groups of students with wonderful results. I believe your are correct that trauma can provide a necessary shock that serves our evolving consciousness if there is understanding and support for the body processes as well as the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of recovery. You have written a concise book helping to define the meaning of trauma, a compassionate look at it's impact and a way for everyone to make meaning from their experience and to begin the process of restoring balance.

From working with the Special Forces in places like Afghanistan, Kosovo etcetera, I suffered from PTSD, sleep deprivation and internal anxiety. After using TRE I could start sleeping an entire night for the first time in many years. I was about to give up on really being able to sleep again. Thanks to TRE I'm now full of energy, happy and can enjoy life to its fullest again. Unbelievable and supprisingly, TRE made a transformation within me. David Berceli, thank you!!!

David Bercelli is one of the pioneers in developing a mode of healing that works with the body's natural and ancient healing abilities. As a trauma therapist myself, I have found David's exercises essential in getting the body back to a state of homeostasis that it hasn't know since childhood. The ancient wisdom of the body is accessed through these exercises, allowing the person to discharge excess energy related to stress and trauma. This discharge allows the nervous system a greater ability to return to homeostasis. The simplicity and ease of the exercises themselves makes healing available to a larger community of people as it is easily done in large groups or in many cases in the privacy of one's own home. David's exercises helps to bring the world a giant leap forward towards healing and wholeness.

As a clinical psychologist, I have been trained to believe that if we assist the client with changing the way that they think, they will change the way that they feel. In essence, the mind can be taught to control the stress and tension of the body. Dr. Berceli provides convincing theory to support the contention that this is not a viable first line intervention for those who have experienced significant stress or trauma. In these circumstances, the body freezes and the resulting physical tension prevents the emotional tension from being released, which maintains the negative thought patterns. Consequently, to attempt the release of physical tension by talking about it, is likely to be a very slow process. I was struck by the truth of this from my own experience with my clients who have suffered from chronic stress and/or trauma.

Dr. Berceli's book offers a simple self-help solution. He has developed a set of physical exercises which release deep chronic tension from the body by creating a vibration in the body. I have been teaching the exercises to my clients and they are consistently reporting an increase in the relaxation response, deeper breathing, increased energy, better sleep, and significantly fewer negative thoughts. In essence, as they are thawing the physical tension, their thoughts are also thawing, thereby permitting easier access to rational thinking. They are healing their minds by first releasing the tension from their body. By using this intervention as the starting point with chronically stressed clients, I am noticing a significant decrease in the number of reported symptoms and an increase in feelings of well-being. It is a therapeutic short-cut to healing!

Don't be fooled by the title of this book. You do not need to have experienced trauma to benefit from the technique. In fact, if you are stressed and no matter how many times you talk about it, the tension continues to be felt, these exercises are for you. In my experience, the sooner we take the time to learn and practice them, the more alive and healthier we will feel. Joan Wright, PhD Psych.

I am using these exercises to relieve my own stress and "soft trauma" of adopting a child from Russia. I also am adapting these exercises for my son who is 6 years old.

I have done the TREs about 10 times for myself now and wow, can't believe the relief I feel. It's like an after massage "glow" that last for a couple of days until I do the next exercise. This is helping me be a better person and calmer parent.

I believe that my son also carries within his body the trauma of his early beginnings of being separated from his birthmother and being in an orphanage for 6 months. I am adapting the exercises to keep my son's
attention. I am trying some creative ways to do this:
- naming the exercises "swaying tree", "flamingo" "waterfall"
- adding tempo by counting by the days of the week/months, singing twinkle,twinkle, little star, reciting a bible verse;
-using 6 beads and a bowl to count down the exercises.
-using a visual timer on the last two (longest) exercises so he knows how much longer the exercise will be.

The first time I did these with my son, it was a bit chaotic because he didn't know what to expect. The second time, he did start to tremor (we call it wiggling) a bit and said "wow, that feels really good."

It wasn't until the 3rd time that it all came together for him. His
tremors were very slight, but after about 10 minutes, he said "Mom, I
feel really tired." That night he fell asleep in 10 minutes---usually takes him 45 minutes because of overarousal, and he slept through the whole night! He told me in the morning that he had a really happy dream during the night.

The fourth time I did the exercises, at the very end when he put his feet forward to finish the tremors, he fell asleep for 5 minutes. He was totally relaxed. We have done many therapies, but I have never seen that kind of result.

For about 24-36 hours after the exercises I can tell that he is much calmer and not as anxious or angry. We are doing the exercises every other day and I am hopefull that they will systematically heal the past and the affects will be long lasting. I am sure it will take some time and we will be doing tune ups after the more intense beginning phase.

When you think about trauma, it comes in so many forms that I believe these exercises have great potential of being adapted for adoptive parents and children.

Rene Campagna
Portland, Oregon

Came in a timely manner and condition was as stated. Thanks for doing a great job. Myra

Bottom Line: Buy It
This is an empowering resource for anyone new to kinesiology or touch for health, and also to those interested in delving more into the fields.
Though there are classes to become certified in Touch for Health, you do not need a medical degree or any kind of certification to make use of this book in your own health.
It explains the basics, and breaks each organ meridian down to what muscle groups are impacted, how to test for that particular muscle, what nutrition supports or hinders that muscle, clearing the neurolymphatics, as well as how to trace, strengthen or sedate that meridian, numerous other things, and it's filled with great diagrams for reference.
I would also highly recommend Energy Medicine by Donna Eden as a great companion book.
My only complaint, is the size of the book (it's rectangle in shape) and its binding (spiral bound) is not very compatible for constant referencing.

If you like to track your energy to promote your health and/or vitality, this is an excellent reference book.

If you are interested in Applied Kinnesiology, Energy Meridians, Muscle Testing, or health and healing, this is THE BOOK. This covers it all with a major wealth of information and is very deatailed and very elaborate.

Touch for Health can help anyone, from physical to emotional. A must-have resource for anyone who wants an alternative to, or compliment Western medicine. This book is for the novice to the experienced, and a great reminder of how our emotions regulate our physical health.

This book is a must for all people who suffer with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. I read it slowly, trying to absorb each and every suggestion that was written.

Anyone person suffering these illness, and has struggled with the lack of medical help, NEEDS HOPE. I felt this was truly provided in this book along with the information of Healing. Just reading this book, helped my depression of long term illness that no Dr. could see, touch or give me a Rx for. Getting older or gaining weight, being female did not cause these health problems. Seeing other accounts of similar problems has given me a place to start investigating just what is wrong with my health and so armed with this information, I think can be the first step on the path to wellness.

If you have or know someone who suffers from fibromyalgia (chronic muscle pain) or chronic fatigue, you absolutely must get this book. Don't waste one more minute, order it now. IT could save your life. Don't believe the naysayers who tell you that nothing can be done. There is plenty that can be done. Not all of it will work, but at least you now have a good place to get started, and techniques that have proven successful for others. Plus the book gives you excellent resources for finding the best doctors out there to get you well. Any questions feel free to contact me at srowe@nbn.net

After many hours of searching and reading, this book combines documented clinical facts and case studies. I too suffered with these conditions and have found this book and its treatments to produce positive results! I have been in the medical profession for 20 years and had to leave the field because of my condition, but until recently, have I put these practices to the test, and have found those that work for me. If you really suffer from this, trust me, YOU NEED this book. For those interested, please feel free to write me and I'll discuss with you my own treatment plan and results..

My boss bought this book for me, and I thought it was going to be just another, "yeah, you have fibromyalgia and it's a real shame, this is how you cope with it", but instead, this book CHANGED MY LIFE! (Sorry for the run-on sentence). I had so much pain that some days I couldn't get out of bed. I would find a position that was minimally pain free and not move until I was better. It got so bad that I had to use a cane so I could get to work. But I read the book and I couldn't believe the case histories. But when the pain got so bad that I thought I would lose my job, I changed my diet (hey, what did I have to lose? ) and low and behold, within a week the pain was gone (I stopped taking pain medicine everyday), the "fog" lifted and I felt better than I had in YEARS! Another side benefit, is that I have lost weight! But I recommend this book very highly. I will also say that my doctors have pooh-poohed these results, but I firmly believe that what we eat, really effects how we feel. I just never knew how much!

The book arrived in great condition and in a timely manner. The service was very professional!

Amazing reference book, especially nice with the workbook. It is well-referenced, laid-out, and very complete. Wonderfully valuable for those working with essential oils.

The book is very detailed and specific. There is actual research behind it.

Although I haven't finished this book, what I have read so far is easy to understand and thorough. I purchased it in order to study for standardized exams after completing my certification as an Aromatherapist, and the book is not only detailed and informative, but interesting and engaging to read.

This book is one of a kind! Its an absolut must have for health professionals that wishes to use aromatherapy as well for the aromatherapy/aromatology student!!
It is well referenced and contains everything you want to know, plus much much more. This is much science based as well as traditional aromatherapy. It contains really interesting case studies, the chemistry of essential oils, plant families, comprehensive essential oil directory and much much more. This book has it all! Really once you have this book, its the only one you need for all your aromatherapy library. A purchase you won't regret!

Wondeful kit and healing book however, I think that more advanced books on crystal healing need to be used to supplement this kit.

This book and crystal pack is the absolute BEST that I've seen and worked with in the 5+ years that I've been avidly exploring crystals and crystal-healing (and I've done A LOT of exploring)!

The 12 crystals alone (included in the pack) are worth more than the cost of the entire pack and are a generous size.

The book includes descriptions of each crystal, as well as general and very specific placement instructions that are very easy-to-read and follow -- and covers so many needs I still cannot think of one for which it doesn't provide!

The book is enjoyable to read as well!

This pack has ALL one needs for any-and-all types of healing -- physical, psychological/mental, metaphysical, and environmental -- as well as the crystals and instructions for protection of all kinds...and more.

The potential this pack has for great goodness is limitless!!!

I only wish I'd ordered it sooner -- this is a definite MUST-have!!!!

So -- don't wait -- order yours NOW!!!!!!!

As an absolute green beginner in crystals, this book is full of easy to read information as well as being very well organized. Great reference for each crystal and its healing to the parts of the body and the chakra system. As a start it covers enough to keep you busy for quite a while in your learning path of crystals. The tumbled samples are very smooth and seemingly big enough.

This kit is perfect for anyone just starting out. I remember always being attracted by the crystals in those nature stores in the mall, and since I've been having a host of personel problems lately, I decided that I was going to give them a try. I expressed an interest in crystals to my friend who got this kit for me and I have been nothing but impressed by how well they actually work. The book itself is a must have for anyone who works with crystals and you can't beat the price.

this is the kit to start with if you are a beginner : book and stones for a great price !

i am still reading the book as i write but i can tell you this is a definite
book for your personal library ! the pictures are breath taking ,the info on each crystal is superb covering emotional,physical,healt and methaphysical aspects and applications. excellent book!

If you've ever wonder why crystals and rocks effect you the way they do or if you are confused by all of the books out there that don't tell you how they arrived at what sometimes seems like arbitrary attributes...buy this book. This is a must have for any crystal healing reference library. Not your usual fare. "Crystal Power, Crystal Healing" supplies the missing pieces for working with rocks and crystals effectively. It explores why crystals have the effect they do..from their mineral classification and crystal structure to the actual chemical make-up....and how that effects their spiritual and healing properties.

This is an excellent reference for crystal collectors, particularly those who are interested in the metaphysical properties of minerals and gemstones.

What makes this book unique is that it incorporates several elements into one volume. Many books that I have encountered describe crystals with the assumption that you know what they look like or they have pictures and geological data but do not describe the use of crystals. This book does all of these things.

There are colored photos and, when possible, more than one version of a crystal is depicted so that you can see what the different forms look like. If you are new to the study of crystals, this is an invaluable resource because it helps you to identify crystals through pictures and through its mineral properties, so if you are a "rock hound" you can still get a lot of benefit from this book.

The only detriment to this book is that it doesn't include more crystals! It covers many of the popular gemstones like amethyst, quartz, hematite, and agate, so you will still get great use out of this book. I only wish it was twice as long so that more minerals could be represented.

I also am also glad that this book is readily available on the internet as it took me a long time to find this book in the bookstore. Though it is spectacular, I haven't seen it in many mainstream bookstores, so when you see it, get it, in case you don't see it again!

I bought a lot of books about crystals and minerals and all of them seemed copy-cat to each other, and a bit out of touch or sometimes too far from where we stand in THIS WORLD. Many of them sound like as if they were "guru" or masters of some kind without case study or their own experience. It is very frustrating the way many authors use certain words such as "psychic" and spiritualism in every page! Michel Gienger's crystal power, healing book is so different from all other authors. His approach to crystal healing is logically explained, easy to understand chemical components of minerals and how and why it works, practical and down to earth, even spiritual part is more based on how the change of our minds can change our lives by the aid of crystals, and not that crystals change our lives automatically. And photos are so beautiful that because of his book and its photos I bought so many crystals and minerals. Thank you Michael!!! I recommend his book to everybody who is interested in crystal power!

This appeared along my path for research for a book of my own because it scratched the surface of some topics that no other book even begins to contemplate. This book is thoroughly well researched, full of experiential knowledge, and elevates crystal healing to a new level. It is concise and simple enough for anyone to explore, but it is a great resource especially for the newer breed of crystal co creators that are emerging.

I cannot strongly reccomend this book enough to everyone!

Author Dennis Lewis has created a masterpiece with "Free Your Breath, Free Your Life". In the society in which we function, everyone seems to forget about the mind, body and spirit, which truly begin with the breath. We could all live a higher quality of life, be healthier and happier if only we'd find a way to relieve the main cause of our negativity. That cause is stress. The best alternative in my mind is to learn how to breathe again, breathing free like when we were babies. Breathing freely allows us to release mental and physical stress. But the key is to find a way to reconnect to that type of breathing.

Luckily for us, Dennis has created a simple roadmap that leads us back to free breathing. What separates this book from the tons of others I've read on breathing is that it doesn't take the same approach for each individual. It presents seven different methods of breathing specifically tailored to the individuals needs and presented in highly detailed and descriptive terms so that there is no confusion to exactly how to apply this process. And the great part is they are simple to perform so they won't feel like you `have' to do them. Once you've mastered these exercises, this method of breathing will become second nature...just like breathing;)

Through these methods, you can easily reconnect to effortless breathing in order to heal the mind and body. Dennis allows us to free our breath so as to infuse our bodies with oxygen to improve overall health and allow us to release stagnant air from the lungs to relieve physical and mental stress (as well as release old emotions I believe) while helping us to open up breathing spaces in our body we were never aware of using a multitude of methods including postures, sounds and physical touch. This is such a simple way to improve the quality of your life. Who wouldn't want such an simple, easy way to have a better quality life?

Free Your Breath, Free Your Life also includes three appendixes giving us further detailed information of important breathing methods such as inhaling through the nose, standing postures and exercises for alleviating pain. If you want to improve your quality of life, begin with the breath and begin with Dennis Lewis.

I am an author of a breathing book myself, which is an exercise system for singers and speakers to improve vocal power. I feel that this book works well with my singing methods because Dennis' books fills in all the gaps I've left out in mine. While I am showing people how to sing better through breathing, he is showing people how to live better through breathing. I am making this book a requisite for all of my students!

One of the greatest aspects of Lewis's book is the fact that the author used the word awareness as a key element to improve your breathing. Most techniques used in breathing advise people to learn how to deep breathily without being conscious of what is happening during the process.

Therefore, one can optimize ones breathing by simply paying attention to it. Becoming aware of your breathing and body movement will teach you deep breathing efficiently and naturally.

This book has taught me how to handle stressful situation. Instead of trying to rapidly change my breathing I started to calm down by simply being aware of my breathing, analyzing it. So in a couple of minutes I end up feeling completely changed.

Therefore, throughout the day the more you pay attention to your breathing the more you improve your life quality. However, in order to obtain optimum results it is essential to do the exercises shown in the book.

Speaking of breathing exercises (known by the experts as breathing experiments) I would also recommend Ways to Better Breathing by Carola Speads. Speads`book is my favorite.

Our breath is the only thing that is with us from beginning to end...the breath is who and what we are...the breath is interconnected with Spirit and every time we breathe in and every time we breathe out, we are breathing in and out the One Creative Power that creates all of life out of Itself...

The breath does not judge. The breath does not condemn. It is the breath's job to sustain us at all times. I dare you to sit and breathe deeply for one hour. I betcha can't do it. If all of us decided to just spend one hour breathing deeply in and breathing deeply out, this world would be transformed in a day...it really would...because deep breathing calms us, centers us, awakens those parts of us that we have stuffed, repressed, or have just wanted to forget.

I've gotten to about 26 minutes of deep breathing and I cried like a baby. I had such stirring memories - future as well as past - as to what life could truly be about. Just like the book says, when we free our breath, we free our life.

That shallow little nose and mouth breath we do is not breathing, just like those Chicken McNuggets and that extra large coke is not sustenance. We need to spend time nourishing our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our souls in ways that replenish us and awaken us to the beauty that just sits and waits for us to finally notice...

Breathe!

I mean, really, really breathe...it is a gift...it is the gift.

Peace & Blessings.

Ive gotten about half way through this book and really doubt if I can finish it. I learned way more just reading articles off the internet about the CO2 to O2 ratio and the importence of keeping CO2 in your system. To me this is a non-sensical book good for anyone that has no real breathing issues...I strongly recommend finding something else to read.

We all know that we cease to be alive when we can no longer breathe. Dennis Lewis, however, understands that we cease to truly live when we are not consciously choosing to connect with our breath. Living the fullest expression of ourselves requires expanding our self knowledge, along with the expansion of our breathing. Mystics through the ages have understood this concept, and Lewis illustrates it beautifully in his book. You will learn ways to support your spirit, mind, body and heart through conscious breathing, and thus be much better prepared for change and challenges in your life.
Marcia Breitenbach, Transformation Specialist, speaker, author and songwriter [...]

a little difficult to use but once you get used to it it has a wealth of info. a must have.

I have had this book for the last 10 years, and I find it indispensable for diagnosis and treatment. My daughter has diabetes, and has improved greatly when she has followed Dr. Christopher's diet and herbal formulae. You will not be disappointed.

One caveat is that the index can be a little confusing. Sometimes browsing is the best way to glean information.

I have had this book for years and it has a lot of information in it that is useful for people needing healing and wanting health. It is not organized in a way that I would like it to be (I'd like it to be organized by herbs and by health problems - it is organized by types of herbs), but it has useful info in it.

Top notch information.
Yes, it could stand better indexing, but ,worth the while.

Head and shoulders above the rest. Time wouldn't allow how highly I prize this book. Gives definitions of therapeutic terms(which is a life saver for a person new to herbs and herbal medicine) also gives information on combining herbs for best results. The 25th edition would be the only one I would by as it is updated for measurements, as well as having complete formulations for every one of Christophers' remedies. As someone new to Herbs, I was able to pick up information useable to me right away and apply it.The book includes excellent cross references for Latin and common names for herbs, as well as copious names used for each herb in case your vernacular calls the plant by a different name (also includes international names). Contains Recipes for a mucusless diet, three day cleansing program and lots of real case scenarios.
BEWARE!!! This book can get addictive! You will start looking up remedies for everyone around you and spouting solutions to ailments of those you talk with!

This must be one of the most influential books I've ever read- but quietly so. A friend lent me a copy- then I bought mine. I found it difficult for the 1st 20 pages, maybe the different cultural approach, BUT THEN IT CLICKED, and I understood what Wolf Moodance was teaching me, how she led me through to self discovery, explaining the trials and hurdles- and how to overcome them,to feel comfortable about a spiritual side long denied. A copy of this book will always be treasured, and read many times. I've now bought another by her.

I will keep it sweet nd short-YOU WILL LOVE THE BOOK. There is a requirement-You have to have a open mind and understand Wolf Moondance is real. REAL spiritual and Creative. She has gifted us with words from her family, not a natin or a fad or an movememt, from her heart and from her vision! GOOD WORK. I love Wolf Medicine also! Carry Strong Heart

I have always been looking. Spirit Medicine and the whole works of Wolf Moondance helped me home! I know my spirit and it is a great joy. You will like this book if you want to change your lif and apply good native teaching of NOW, it is not bill it is meat and truth! Oloe

I have read it and done the exersizes in the book and you feel worked over first and then you work on it and the doors staryt to open and the spirit changes and you grow. I know from reading all the books wolf has written that you will grow when you study Spirit Medicine. You have to know and want to know your spirit to find your spirit. No witch craft her. It is clear and clean that Wolf Moondance works from her vision, which is Native American. I know cause I am Native-Blackfoot. Thanks Wolf Like the work. Ronda Hunting Bear- Montana.

I think as we humans look we are also full of fear. We always listen to each other and not the true spirit. I have learned from my full blood granny that we have to listen to our spirit and not people. As an author Wolf Moondance shows she listens to the spirit. We as humans want some one to show us the way and give us the answers. We have to be open to your spirit and hear the voice of our vision. In the spirit Medicine book I had to work to get passed my human ways but after reading one chapter I relized I had found a true teacher. I could not get away with my old ways but was open to the spirit. YOU will love it after you get to the real spirit self, Great Book...Grand Teacher!