Complementary-Therapy Books

Expertly compiled and edited by nutritionist and immunologist Ronald R. Watson, Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals In Cancer Prevention is an impressive and scholarly collection of learned and informative essays by established nutritionists concerning the role of nutrition, supplements, herbs, vitamins, and other assorted foodstuffs in preventing cancer. A highly technical presentation intended for advanced nutrition science scholars and practitioners, Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals In Cancer Prevention is also recommended for non-specialist general readers with a dedicated interest in cancer research as it offers thought-provoking information on everything dietary fiber's role in colon cancer prevention to the benefits of vitamin E.

This book is excellent for helping with sleep difficulties. Some of the massage techniques will knock you out almost as soon as you're done with them. Highly recommended.

I am continually amazed at how truly simple this book is and how it works. I have referenced more than I ever thought...

this is a great book on gestalt. It is easy to read encourages treating human beings from a whole person perspective. The author is quite engaging.

I don't think I had a full understanding of the power of our beliefs and personal responsibility for healing our bodies until I read Sandy's deeply personal story. The story is an inspiration from start to finish; she chooses to be a thriver, a survivor, and a winner rather than fall victim to the curve balls life sometimes throws our way. I will never again feel the same about my body or the choices I make in staying healthy or combating health issues that impact my lifestyle.

Thank you, Sandy for sharing your story!

Anna Weber
4-Dimensional Success
[...]

This is an amazing book. It is a shame that Andrew Jackson Davis' books have been hard to find. He was quite a seer and a profound writer on these subjects.

"Canadian Garden" magazine writer Linda Gray presents Grow Your Own Pharmacy, a well-rounded guide to growing one's own vegetables, herbs, berries, and fruit trees, along with the basics of essential nutrition in many home-grown plants, recipes, information on edible flowers, and how to use certain medicinal herbs to treat common ailments. Written in plain terms, Grow Your Own Pharmacy is a welcome means to create organic and healthy food within the grounds of one's own home. An easy-to-use "how-to" resource, highly recommended for first-time gardeners and advanced gardening buffs alike.

Gua Sha is a technique that uses a skin lubricant, such as massage oil and a simple chinese ceramic soup spoon (no sharp edges now!). It's a life saver for the tired figers of those who have to give massages to those with tight, fibrous, ropy or crunchy muscles. I first came across this book at an acupuncture conference in 1996. It was one of my best purchases of the year. The book covers in depth, a topic only glanced upon in most acupuncture schools. It's technique is not just for acupuncturists. I believe it's a must read for massage professionals, especially if your hands are starting to wear out from years of giving massage.

The beauty of the book is the pictures of the skin discoloration that may occur if you are very vigorous in your technique. They can be shown to clients as a form of informed consent. If you are more moderate in your technique, this extreme reaction will rarely occur past the first hour. However, a forewarned patient is one that will not sue you. Worth the price of the book right there!

Secondly, in most acupuncture schools, gua sha is largely taught as a technique for wind-cold invasion or stiff necks. My practice has included alot of chronic musculo-skeletal pain due to old sport injuries and the such. Before reading this book, I limited the technique to scapular and upper back pain, but after reading it, have confidentally expanded gua sha to every sort of muscular injury with great results. I have saved a number of people from exploratory surgery by removing pains of unknown etiology, thru the use of this technique and proper muscle knowledge. This is why I recommend it for massage therapists, physical therapists as well as Oriental and TCM practitioners.

This book includes a resource area that gives you ideas for what areas of the body to address for various ailments, if you are afraid to experiment on your own, or on yourself. I believe, if you add a recently published companion book by the same publishers concerning cupping (Cupping Therapy by Chirall), you will have a compementary set of low cost therapies for muscular aches (not to mention some other internal medicine applications), that are a very effective addition for any TCM or massage practice.

This is a great compendium. It's the best book in English I have found on the Afro-Latin tradition of the healing and magical uses of the plants. It lists all of its plants under their names as used in such countries as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Jamaica, the US, etc, and lists their Lukumi and Kongo names as well. This makes it very easy to idenify and find the plants. It also describes the medicinal and magical uses of the plants and names the different Orishas to whom they are sacred. This book is really good to have.

This book covers familiar topics, but also topics that I have not found else where, such as Tautopathy, intutive prescribing and polypharmacy. I have not read the whole book, but find it to be a good additional reference book.