Alternative Books

This book is truly an educational tool is written in such a practical and professional manner that you will know you will benefit from its knowledge even if you decide to keep one tiny bit of insight; be patient do as is so pack with info one may get overwhelmed this is grounbreaking info and in general most are new to it and it takes some time to digest. i had an emotional experience in one of the chapters i am sure it will be different for others since we all have different needs and healing want. i highly recommend this book.

Barbara Martin's other book, "Change Your Aura, Change Your Life" is a favorite of mine. In that book, Martin clearly explained the aura and gave a variety of meditations to help draw positive energy to cleanse your aura as well as help you to attract positive spiritual energy.

Here, she expands on her work with a followup book focused on health issues. Martin provides her theory on what causes illness and what we can do to attract healing energy. Pictures of 'sick' auras are featured in the book, giving the reader insight into what Martin is able to see. This is fascinating to me - although I have never been one who sees auras clearly, I certainly am sensitive to what people's energies feel like. Most of us have had an experience at one time or another where someone or something just didn't "feel right". It's the energy field or aura.

There are specific meditations for a variety of health conditions: diabetes, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, cancer and more. The book lays out the routine for preparing for the meditation as well as closing the chakras afterwards. I especially like the exercises to "soothe and strengthen the body" - this is helpful to those of us who are relatively healthy and want to remain that way. None of this is difficult to do - it just requires a little discipline.

Whether you are a meditator or not, this is an easy to use book and I highly recommend it. No matter what your current health condition, this book may give you a tool to aid in healing or prevent future issues.

"The Healing Power of Your Aura: How to Use Spiritual Energy for Physical Health and Well-Being" is a masterful resource and tool to explain the art of self healing through auric visualization with specific meditation exercises. Theory and practice are outlined simply but completely, with over 16 pages of colored illustrations to aid the reader in visualizations and meditation. Perhaps one of the most significant factors evident in "The Healing Power of Your Aura" is the need for each individual's assumption of self responsibility for physical, emotional and astral health. The how to sets of meditations are specifically categorized by the area or disease of concern. Highly recommended as an addition to personal or community library Self-Help and Metaphysical Studies collections, "The Healing Power of Your Aura" is a most viable and valuable tool to assist all who seek to take full responsibility for their own lives and well-being.

Martin uses a healing technique that includes prayer, meditation, and envisioning certain healing colors such as the blue white fire of eternal life, the orange red flame of purification, and the pure white light with the spirit substance. She claims to have had some success with healing people this way as long as the illness is not due to a karmic debt that must be paid. She was raised as a Greek Orthodox, but was a clairvoyant from an early age with the ability to see people's auras. She didn't always like what she saw, such as the black of hatred, the dull green of envy, the dull red of anger, the grey of illness, the mustard yellow of lethargy, and the cocoa brown of stubbornness and cruelty. All these colors and emotions cause illness and must be released from the aura by envisioning the good colors such as the golden light of wisdom, the silver ray of intelligence, the red ray of vitality, the orange of motivation, the lemon yellow of concentration, purple of peace, the rose pink of love, and the emerald green of harmony. A meditator should imagine these rays of color coming down from the higher self point above the head down to the spiritual centers in the head, throat, heart, and belly, to the mental body that surrounds the body, to the astral body, down to the specific body parts that the meditator wants to focus on.

I never liked meditating that much, but my pain has inspired me to do it daily and at least I have a mental task to do while meditating so I won't get bored. I think that the meditation may have helped relieve my pain and has given me a boost of energy sometimes. Sometimes I do the meditation with the tumbled stones in the The Crystal Healing Kit by Judy Hall. The prayer is simply asking out loud for the rays to come down to each part so your mind won't wander. I have yet to memorize the prayers; I just simplify them into a single sentence.

The philosophy behind the healing technique is that disease starts in the spiritual parts of one's being before it reaches the physical part. It is important to get the spiritual parts cleared out before disease reaches the physical parts because it is harder to remove disease once it has reached the physical. The spiritual part protects the physical by taking on disease before it reaches the physical, although if nothing is done, it will eventually reach the physical. One must watch what thoughts and emotions you are having and make sure that they are not negative and destructive to your being. I suppose with the daily news coming out with the latest outrage against truth, peace, justice, common sense, and civilization and the continual bitter disagreements about what those terms mean, it is hard not to think and feel negatively, but this healing technique helps you deal with the feeling that the world is falling apart underneath your feet.

This book has some beautiful illustrations of what the author talks about, some of which are in color. It has quick start guide to help you start immediately using the meditation techniques to attempt to heal yourself. It lists certain conditions and what may be the spiritual root that is causing the disease such as STD's being caused by paying too much attention to the sexual part of yourself or fibromyalgia being linked to destructive thinking. It has other meditation techniques at the end of the book such as the one in which you meditate next to a tree, using the energies of the auras of the earth and the tree. I like to use that one when I go for a walk in nature. It is a good book for those interested in this form of alternative healing which examines the spiritual nature of disease first, rather than the usual way of looking at only the physical.

I highly recommend "The Healing Power of Your Aura" by Barbara Y.Martin, especially for people who are sincere on finding the path back to good health.
I was part of an epidemic in Incline Village in Lake Tahoe, NV. on a skiing trip in 1984 when I was 30. To go from a high energy surfer/ skiier/ female who did 2 hours of aerobics 5 x a week to spending most of 20 years in bed was well, very hard. A very good lesson though. Guess the lead in the Stained Glass windows I built for 15 years in business wasn't good for me? Duh? Well, did I listen? Obviously not. But I kept my head up and struggled horribly, found a great man who I married but was still ill with the forever over diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Immune Disorder.
As a child I was blessed with being able to see spirits. (until I asked not to see because it's hard when your sick) So I always understood that we are not just our body, that there's much more to our true reality. I started to meditate daily and somewhere during that the white light turned into beautiful rays of sparkling colors of light. Then I picked up Barbara's book and it rang so true to me. She explains what the colors mean, and now I know how to use them for healing my aura and body. I always thought I was a healer, but couldn't heal myself. Now I can. Best book ever. Take your time and don't be impatient or you'll lose the lesson. It's truely amazing. And for those who are really very sick, stop talking and thinking about it and ask your family/supporters to do the same. We don't realize how much power we give to our illness. My first time talking the illness in 2 years but worth it if it helps you. This book surely will!

I'm having a problem. I'm in a dilemma and I'd like to know what you think. I hope you'll let me know. Here's the problem. I kinda take it for granted that we have free will. It seems like some kind of defining characteristic of the human soul. Although we may breathe the same air, and although the same Spirit runs through us, it's our free will that defines our individuality. The Biblical tradition seems to point to our free will. The concept of sin sure requires it. In the Edgar Cayce readings there is the idea there is nothing more powerful than our individual will. On TV it says, "The power of one!" There you have it.
On the other hand, I've been reading a book on prayer and healing. It's the almost classic and often referred to book by Larry Dossey, M.D., Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine, (HarperCollins). He writes about how over one hundred experiments, exhibiting good scientific methodology, indicate that "prayer brings about significant changes in a variety of living beings." This includes fungus, bacteria, animals and humans. Moreover, the healing effects did not depend upon whether the person praying was in the presence of the organism being prayed for or at a great distance. Healing occurred whether the healing object was in a lead-lined room or a cage shielded from electromagnetic energy. It didn't seem to matter if the person (if it was a person and not a medical sample) knew about the prayer or believed in prayer.
"The fact that prayer works (at least some of the time) says something important about our nature, and how we may be connected to the Absolute," he says. It also shows that we are connected to each other. It shows that our thoughts matter. Dossey is smart and brave enough to discuss the flip side of this revelation. Call it "toxic prayer," where our negative thoughts have a negative effect on others. I'm not talking just about curses or swearing (as in asking the Absolute to squash you or condemn you to an eternity in the fires), but even those so-called "harmless" black thoughts we have about people from time to time. If we can be helped by prayers, we can be harmed by the mental negativity of others, even when we do not know they are being negative toward us, even when we are safely in our own homes, even when we are minding our own business. Sounds to me like an invasion of free will, a bruise to my autonomy, an assault on my integrity.
Now I have often heard that we are not supposed to pray for people without their permission. If Dossey is right, it is possible to pray for people without their knowledge and they still get well. We can hope that they wanted to heal! Seems like we shouldn't say to someone, "Good morning," but rather, "Good morning, by your leave, unless you have other plans!"
But I'm not joking, I'm serious and seriously confused here. I have read of experiments begun in Russia and duplicated here, where one person can mentally affect the physical functioning of another person, making that person tired, sleepy, even putting the person to sleep. It is possible to telepathically affect a person's heart rate. I guess that means that it is possible to stop a person's heart, especially if some writings on Voodoo are to be believed.
Now if it is true that we can mentally, telepathically, energetically--however you want to envision it--affect another person, even when they are in the privacy and safety of their lead lined home, then what does that mean about free will. Do we have free will if someone else can, from a distance, without our knowledge or consent, make us do their bidding, think the thoughts they want us to think, make the moves they want us to make? It is even possible to hypnotize a person at a distance, telepathically. The Russians called it "mental suggestion." Now we've all heard the soothing reminder, "you can't hypnotize a person to do something against their will." So does that mean you can't telepathically induce a person to think, feel, or do something against their will? If the telepathic influence was effective, then at some level the affected person was willing to allow it to happen? Is that how we get out of the quandry? Or is there really a hole in the protective shield of our free will?
I've met many people who complain that someone is sending them bad energy, invading their thoughts. Do we take the complaint seriously? Is the person "psychotic"? Since mental influence exists, maybe the person is right. If so, then is the real problem is that the person is willing to have it happen? The person objects to the invasion but feels helpless to stop it. Where's the free will, the willingness? Maybe not all of our free will is available for our freedom of choice. Maybe some of it is hidden in the dark depths of the soul. What do you think? Let me know. www.henryreed.com/publications/bookreviews

Dr. Dossey explains in HEALING WORDS how prayer-based healing works. It has been scientifically proven in hundreds of experiments to be a balanced part of health care that can significantly decrease health problems and significantly improve our quality and quantity of life. Dossey shares some of his own real-life stories of caring for patients... including an American Indian shaman, who requested Dr. Dossey's medical help for his aching neck! This book contains a wealth of information about prayer experiments written in Dossey's characteristically down-to-Earth style. I love the way Dossey raises questions about whether some prayer experiments are ethical, and why some scientists continue to resist the mounting body of evidence that so clearly shows how prayer has a powerful effect on healing.

This book reaffirmed my belief in prayer, and helped me to better understand its healing powers.

It's probably tempting to dismiss this book as "New Age" claptrap. That would be a mistake.

In fact Dossey is highly critical of the "New Age" movement. And despite some overblown cover blurbs, he doesn't claim to have "proven" anything about the power of prayer in healing; he's making suggestions and exploring possibilities, not laying down law.

Nor, for the most part, is his speculation wild or unfounded. His suggestions are founded on two things: empirical research that seems to show prayer is effective in promoting the biological growth of certain forms of life under controlled laboratory conditions, and the theological/philosophical view that reality is ultimately a single, universal, "nonlocal" Absolute Mind.

However controversial these foundations might be, he presents his suggestions with proper caution. And he is especially careful to avoid falling into the New Age blame-the-patient trap; he is well aware that prayer doesn't always achieve the results we might like and that this isn't because somebody has done something to "choose" or "deserve" ill health.

On the contrary, he has a healthy sense that prayer is really (though this language isn't quite his) for the purpose of adjusting us to the Divine Will rather than vice-versa. (Anthony de Mello tells a story somewhere about a man who said, "In your country it is regarded as a miracle when God does the will of a human being. In my country it is regarded as a miracle when a human being does the will of God.") On his view, the "power" of prayer is shown as much in our acceptance of our health limitations as in their elimination.

There are a couple of places where Dossey threatens to wander off the deep end (e.g. his suggestion that prayer can change the past), and there's a little bit of language (e.g. "Era I, Era II, and Era III") that recalls bad 1970s self-help books. But I really have only one bone to pick with Dossey: he tends at times to overstate the difference between his views and those of traditional, "classical" theism.

There is a tendency among those (of whom I am one, which is in part how I know this) who left their childhood religions in their early teens to assume, more or less unconsciously, that our understanding of such religion was complete at that time and none of its adherents understood any of the cool things we went on to discover for ourselves. It's hard to shake one's implicit belief that those hidebound "fundamentalists" couldn't _possibly_ have known any of this nifty "spirituality" stuff; "dogmatic" religion is, of course, the arch-enemy of "true" spirituality -- isn't it?

Dossey has a very mild tendency in this direction. In consequence I suspect he will occasionally leave more traditional religious believers with the sense that they are being misunderstood, patronized, or both.

But it doesn't happen very often, and it hardly happens at all in this book. On the whole, Dossey's approach tends to confirm rather than undermine the great theistic religions' view of prayer.

While conducting research on the power of prayer and healing, I was encouraged to get this book and I am so glad I did! I could not but this book down once I began to read it. This is a must read if you are interested in the subject. It is well written and it is based on true experiences in Dr. Dossey's practice.

It was good, but not the best i have read. I did learn a lot so I need to give credit for that.

Weil writes a very comprehensive book that asks the essential question, "What is health if not th absence of sickness?". Very informative and thought provoking!!!

This book is required reading for all students at the Clayton College of Natural Health. It should, in fact, be required reading for anyone entering the field of health, as it convincingly drives home an important point: just because allopathy ("conventional" or "western" medicine) has the most powerful medical lobby in the US, its history is far from flawless, and is often downright embarrassing when compared with that of time-honored systems such as homeopathy or tribal approaches to healing. In an entertaining and lucid manner, Dr Weil introduces the reader to many of the alternative approaches still being practiced the world over, and their advantages and shortcomings. He also points to the need for ALL kinds of medicines, and provides guidelines on which types of dis-eases are best handled by the various specialties. All in all, a thoroughly readable and informative book which will hopefully abolish forever the popular regard of M.D.s as "demigods in white," and the idea that allopathic medicine is the only credible and worthwhile approach to healing our sick.

Pinned on my office wall is an uplifting reminder titled, "Seven Rules Of A Winner". I found it interesting that the author listed health as the first rule. He wrote, "Be proactive and preventative about your health. Your body is your one and only vehicle for your journey to success, so start taking care of your health through exercise and diet." (The Psychology of Winning, by Denis Waitley). I didn't take that statement seriously until after a medical problem sent me to the hospital. Since happiness seems to go hand-in-hand with having a healthy body, I highly recommend this book. If nothing else, it provided me with a positive perspective on illness, and that alone made it worth reading. It also opened my eyes to the down-side of high-tech medicine, or rather, it put American medical practices into perspective and introduced me to alternatives. Herbal remidies are investigated as well as many others. The bottom line: read this book to learn how the body can heal itself and just how much is not known about the process of healing. A must read for anyone wishing to take control of their own health.

Andrew Weil's book was assigned as supplmental reading in a sociology of health and healing systems course at Park College in Southern California. With phrases like, "nothing works all the time and everything works some of the time," Andrew explored health systems worldwide from accupuncture in China to witchdoctors in Latin America. The idea that Western doctors actually gain much of their credibility not because of their own skills, but because they take credit for what the body already does is interesting. Health and medicine previously seemed like a highly scientific study, but viewed from Andrew's perspective, it is, in many ways, philosophically and culturally specific. Andrew brings a whole new world to medicine. Fascinting perspective.

I think that Illustrated Mum is a really good book, but I think that it can be a little intense, so I don't recommend for readers younger than 10, unless you read with a parent. It was very realistic and I really cared about the characters, especially the main character--Dolphin. It is the kind of book that you wan to read over and over, and you most definitely want her life to get better. Jacqueline Wilson is a really great author.
I.P. San Francisco

This book was sad, interesting and emotional without being depressing. Issues handled sensitively. Easy to feel empathy for the characters. I'd recommend this for grades 5 and up. Some senstitive subject matter like mental illness and foster care.

I have not picked up and read a juvenile fiction book in a long time, but this one piqued my interest when I looked through the audio books at our library. I'm very glad I did! This is one of the best juvenile fiction books I have ever read, and I used to read tons of them as a young girl.

Dolphin and Star have a very flambouyant mother named Marigold who is a manic depressive/alcoholic, dies her hair bright red, and sports tons of tattoos; she's man crazy and dresses too young for her age. While Star, who is 13 is sick and tired of not having a normal mother, 11 year-old Dolphin adores her regardless of the torment she endures in school, and the fact that Marigold often leaves the girls unattended to fend for themselves, scaring Dolphin silly a lot of the time. Then one night Marigold brings home Star's father from a concert, and the girl willingly moves in with him, leaving poor Dolphin to deal incapably with her mother's craziness. This is a very good, realistic portrait of what an awful lot of children probably go through, and Dolphin tells the entire story. She is a sweet, smart, funny, and lovable character who truly loves Marigold though she can't always understand her mother's wild behavior, but she is also the one who inevitably must resolve to get Marigold help as her condition worsens.

I am related to someone very much like Marigold, so I could relate to Dolphin's story telling as I watched my relation's daughter go through similar experiences. Actress Josie Lawrence is an amazingly versatile talent who does lots of great voices, and her performance is so intimate, it never seems like she's reading from Wilson's book. A great story anyone remotely connected with a situation like this can relate to, and maybe you even know a few people who possess these very realistic traits. A superiorly well-done job, I would recommend this book to anybody and everybody.

This story deals heavily in the subject of "Manic Depressive illness" - I happen to know something about the illness but I won't go into that- and the dangers of being with someone who happens to have it if you happen to live with them. "The Illustrated Mum" is a gritty story told from the point of view of a young girl named Dolphin who struggles to stand by her mother even when her oldest sister Star doesn't want to. They don't live in the greatest conditions and their mother Marigold's behavior switches on and off when they least expect it, making it hard for them to communicate with her. The worse part of the story happens to be when Star's supposed father comes home with Marigold one night and Star decides to put her sister on the back burner, and leaves with her father (all because she can't take living with her mother any more), which has to be the worse thing to. Dolphin tries several times to get her sister to return but Star won't bend to her little sister's begging and Marigold only gets worse as the weeks go by; So worse in fact, she is admitted to a mental hospital. From there the story seems to fall further into the gritty storyline which it surrounds despite the light moments, however, that is not to say that this book isn't great to read. On the contrary, "The Illustrated Mum" is one of those rare books that actually have you thinking on the subject its writing about and the way it affects its characters. All in all, I enjoyed this book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of truth to their story. [a 5 out of 5]

This book is so wonderful. It's a story of children who have to take responsibility too soon. This book can teach us how to deal with bad situation and accept one another. The writer can catch the emotion of a ten-year-old girl and expressed them in sympathetic,but amusing way.She perfectly created her characters which seem to be alive people to the readers.It's so realistic.And it also make me laugh sometimes. You shouldn't miss this book.

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?(Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, statesman. Orator, 120.)

As humans we not only should look into the future, but into the past. Without considering our past history-how can make appropriate observations, conclusions and judgments? And this is why I find this book of value.

About the Book:
Crow, a student of spiritual healing, left his acupuncture practice in San Francisco to travel to Kathmandu to pursue the path of the healers in Buddhist and Hindu culture. He discusses his experiences with Nepalese traditional doctors and Tibetan healing practices. Crow believes Ayurveda is the medicine of the future and the antidote to disease caused by our increasingly toxic world.

David Crows book is a must read for anyone interested in herbal medicine, Eastern philosophy, and their relevance in todays hectic world--especially for those interested in the ancient yet highly topical teachings of Ayurveda.

This book is urging us to create a new renaissance in healing, but it is not another superficial New Age book. This book is written with care and depth of heart by someone who is not interested in simple answers to complicated questions. I was struck by the authors integrity and ability to make sense out of such diverse yet interrelated topics as herbs, healing, culture, sustainable economics, and ecology. The authors central theme is that we need to both revive and advance herbal medicine and our own sense of sacred environmentalism in order to live in harmony on this troubled earth.

In Search of the Medicine Buddha is not only a book about herbal medicine but also about the need to renew our ageold spiritual connection to plants. Moreover, the book is refreshingly honest, rich, and poetic in its descriptions of Nepali and Indian culture. Highly recommended for anyone interested in creating a richer, more fulfilling and balanced life for themselves and all other living beings!

David delves into the subject of miraculous medicinal plants around the world and explains why botanical medicine is so crucial for the long term health and care of our planet, our healthcare system and our economy. David writes about how you can get involved in creating a grassroots healthcare system in your community by growing your own living pharmacy among many other natural wonders.

The perspective and insight that this books contains is overwhelming. The content was great, but what struck me most was the nature of the author. He has such an incredible respect and love for the Earth, other cultures, and human beings. If the world was full of David Crows, we'd be in good shape. I recommend this book for the fascinating look at Tibetan medicine, but even more for the spiritual development that Mr. Crow inspires.

The text itself is medicinal. The story speaks often of the ancient and rare, but is something everyone struck by the unrelenting madness of the modern world should read. The author's sincerity comes through clearly, and I would be pleased to see more from him. It is difficult to do justice to this book in a short time; it is very rich, even poetic. Do yourself a favor: just trust me on this one.

While the picolinate variety of chromium is the most popular and widely available form in the US, there is still serious, ongoing debate about it's long-term safety.

One thing is certain: chromium polynicotinate is just as, if not more, bioavailable and effective as the picolinate version. And it also does not cause mutations in mice and cell cutures like picolinate has. It just takes a little more searching to buy.

This is the form I sought out before trying chromium for my low energy, mood and carb cravings. So far, it seems to be effective, and I haven't experienced any dizziness that some reported using this form of chromium.

Another very safe, if less well-absorbed, alternative is chromium chloride, which is more availble in Europe. The GTF form may not be as helpful.

From 1984 to 1998 I had a long string of professional and relational stresses, I didn't sleep well, and I took antidepressants. After that, I had 4 years of stable mood (I didn't take a single pill during those years). But after 2000, a new stressor appeared in my life.

I've been taking antidepressants again since 2002, with bad or mediocre results: maprotiline (Ludiomil) caused me unbearable side effects after a few years of use. Over a week ago, after reading Dr. McLeod's book, I started taking chromium picolinate, 400 micrograms 4 times a day, to a total of 1600 mcg a day. The results have been a complete remission of my depression, until now. I think that less than 1600 mcg wouldn't do the trick, and maybe Dr. McLeod could have obtained even better results in his clinical trial using this dose (better than the 70% of positive results he's got, using a maximum of 600 mcg). When I don't take the 400 mcg dose for more than 7 hours (I take one pill every 3 hours), a slight depression starts to return.

I have been taking chromium picolinate for years as an anti-aging supplement (400 mcg at bedtime of a formulation that's no longer available) without any antidepressant effect. The recommended daily dose for this formulation is 400 mcg 4 times a day, which I thought was excessive. (Chromium picolinate greatly increases insulin sensitivity, and high insulin sensitivity - low blood insulin - is one of the main metabolic characteristics of centenarians and animals subjected to calorie restriction, which have a strongly increased lifespan. And rats supplemented with chromium picolinate live 37% more than their normal lifespan).

A warning: the first time I took chromium picolinate as an antidepressant, I took 1000 mcg (of another formulation) at bedtime, and I didn't sleep well. The total dose has to be taken throughout the day. And I almost completely discontinued the not very effective (at least for me) antidepressant amitriptiline, (from 60 mg per day to 25 mg at bedtime).

Thank you Dr. McLeod. Without your keen observations, I think I would have never gotten were I am now: cured of depression!

His patients try psychotherapy, antidepressants, but what really works for the 70% for whom it does work is chromium picolinate. Their diagnosis? Atypical depression with associated symptoms such as tiredness, excessive appetite, weight gain and a heavy feeling in their limbs.

It is wonderful to see a psychiatrist sharing the increasingly respectable, though, for some, still radical view that nutrients can restore "mental" health.

What I like most about the book is reading between the lines. Even while he supports a psychoanalytic approach, most (not all) of his patients say it is the chromium picolinate that made the difference. While the author respectfully defends what I consider to be an overrated ideology, in my view, he also undercuts it with his own research. The influence of his socialization into the field of psychiatry is not lost as the author frames his initial impressions of rapid improvement through his psychopharmaceutical lenses.

Still, Dr Mcleod is supporting an approach to "depression" based on treatable biological risk factors. The implications of this perspective are yet to be seen. If chromium picolinate is so effective perhaps tryptophan, magnesium, amino acids, etc. can also be effective for specific identifiable biological risk factors.

David Moyer, Author Too Good to be True? Nutrients Quiet the Unquiet Brain

In Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection, practicing psychiatrist Malcolm Noell McLeod presents the personal empowerment of overcoming of a familial situation between himself and his parents. As significant and growing numbers of people worldwide struggle with the psychological disadvantage of mental and emotional depression, Malcolm Noell McLeod gives readers a healing aide for dealing with this increasingly common psychological condition. With true potential for revolutionary standards of discovery, Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection offers enlightenment to all and is recommended strongly to those who suffer from depression individually as well as those wishing to find aid for friends and loved ones afflicted with chronic depression.

Four years ago I had a heart attack and by-pass surgery. Soon afterwards I fell in a deep depression with anxiety attacks. Since then I have been seeing a psychiatrist on a monthly, or sometimes weekly basis. I ended up in the hospital and an out care facility for 6 weeks. I had to take a medical retirement because the depression seemed untreatable. I've tried just about every medication and or combination, for depression, but nothing seemed to work. At one time my doctor told me I was one of the hardest cases he had ever treated. He knew from the onset it was not an emotional problem but a chemical imbalance. He used all the new, old, and uncommon drugs. We were at the end of all the drugs and combinations out there so he was pushing me to electric shock thearpy. I did not want to do this, it was frightening. I started to study on my own. I was desparate. One day I went online and found this book. At first I passed over it because it seemed to simplistic or I thought it might be a gimmick. I was so wrong. I read the book. It seem plausible enough, but I did not seem to fit the criteria for chromium deficiency as described in the text. But as I said, I was deparate. I bought a $12 bottle of chromium and started taking it that day. The next day I saw my doctor. I told him about the chromium, he seem a little amused but had no objections to me taking it. I was in the process of starting to take another antidepressant at the same time. Three days later I felt normal for the first time in 4 years. I knew it was too early for the antidepressant to be working and that chromium had to be the explanation. I cried in relief and called my brother because I had to tell somebody and I knew my doctor would think I was crazy. The next day I still felt normal. At that point I called my doctor and told him that I was feeling great. He was afraid I was manic or something. Even though he was very skeptical he was willing to work with me as I took the chromium. I stopped taking the antidepressant and I gave him my book to read. That was two months ago. I am no longer taking drugs for depression. I am feeling better now than I have for years. My doctor is amazed. He has suggested chromium to another patient who has not had success with conventional medicine. What would I say about this book? It has been a life changing a miracle! If you are at your wits end and nothing seems to help with your depression, what have you got to lose...(a meaningful life)? Read this book. Give it to others you care about who cannot find relief from their depression. I know it will not work for everybody, but it did for me. It gave me back my life. Five stars does not seem to give it enough justification!

A well written book that everyone can understand. It is a body of research that compels you to read it. Everyone needs to get this book for their health and wellness. It is imperative information for the prevention of dis-ease in humans and pets. We are now living at a time in history where are bodies are continually bombarded with toxins,parasites, electromagnetic energy fields,acidity of the biological terrain through wrong food choices, all of which lead to dis-eases. If you want to increase your longevity, anti-aging,and quality of life this book is for you.
Northern Indiana Hyperbarics

The book is full of great information. Before reading the book, my husband was told that he had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. his cholesterol was 290 & at its highest, his blood pressure was 148/90. The doctor told him that he should be on medication for both issues. He is a 39 year old, that exercises regularly and eats well. He is not over weight. He's never been one to believe in natural remedies. However, he decided to give living clay a try. We read the book and listened to the supplemental CD. He started using ideas from the book, and drinking living clay. Just 2 months later his cholesterol reading was down to 224. And in just 2 weeks his blood pressure dropped to 125/82. Now 2 months later, his blood pressure is now 115/71. He never once took any of the medication that was prescribed to him by the doctor. We now take a shot glass of living clay every day and both feel great. The book is an easy read full of so much information that you'll want to read it again and again.

If you are interested in a healthy life you must have this book. There is so much valuable information in it. I have tried many of the recommendations and they have all been helpful. My husband always asks, do we have plenty of clay on hand? He knows when some health issues arise we can go to this book for help. When people come to our home and see the clay jar on the counter they ask, what's that for and I tell them all the things you can do with it they look at me like I'm crazy. I just smile and show them the book, they are amazed. Hope this helps.

After having major surgery (colorectal), I had 20 bowel movements a day - it was horrible. I have a tendency toward colitis anyway. Well, I read about the clay and thought why not give it a try. My stools bulked up and I now only have from 3-5 bowel movements which are so much bigger, better, and less painful - in fact they are not painful at all. The clay and the directions that Perry A gave in her book has been a God send to me.

This book is full of information for those seeking alternative treatments. The mud packs are wonderful for detox. Your skin is so smooth and beautiful after treatments. The information could be life changing.

As many reviews of Mary Hammond's book, Living your Soul's Purpose, have justly indicated, this is a book of profound importance. For anyone interested in human change and human healing in general or for anyone who is particularly interested in the field of Energy Medicine, this book is a delightfully, useful primer. It is wonderfully well-written, and filled with viably-related content that leaves no doubt as to the veracity of the author's words; it also draws much wisdom from the responses of many participants whose experiences are presented as examples. As one who has observed Mary at work with volunteers and clients at workshops and teaching seminars, I can vouch for the immediacy of positive change that happens under the direction of her loving healing, the methodology of which is outlined in this most relevant book.

Living Your Soul's Purpose is full of stories, wisdom and guidance for doing your own exploration into removing the blocks in your life: trauma, stuck patterns, addiction, depression, chronic illness, relationship issues, career problems. Mary Hammond is a gentle mentor guiding one through the use of muscle testing, energy medicine, energy psychology, sacred space, prayer and intention to find and clear the origins of energetic disruptions and free your passion and life energy.

Mary Hammond is one of the pioneers in the field of energy psychology who has followed her Souls' Purpose in life that has led in the culmination of this book. She has poured a tremendous amount of heart and soul, time and research into this book. It is not just another self help book of ideas, but rather a step by step tool with pictures and descriptions of the application she uses in her private practice and in her teaching. You will learn to "tap" into your energy and reverse your energy if necessary. If you desire to go down the path of feeling good, having a better sense of well being, relieving stress, anxiety, pain and depression, then this book is for you. You will learn how to use spirit, psychology and energy and the DEH model to follow your Soul's purpose.

Dynamic Energy Healing has changed my life dramatically! Mary Hammond teaches energy techniques in her practice and now they have become accessible to more people through her book. This will change lives! Mary Hammond's book guides individuals on the journey to an improved life by eliminating pain, emotional scars, and clearing the way to their Soul's Purpose. She outlines techniques that are practical and understandable. It has become my "reference guide" both professionally and in personal relationships. This book is a treasure!!
Marlene Boltman
Reading Specialist
Salem-Keizer School District

As Bruce Lipton, author of "Biology of Belief" affirms, energy psychology IS the healing modality of the future. Actually it is the healing modality of the now. And Mary Hammond's book, "Living Your Soul's Purpose" is a must-have in the library of anyone who seeks to understand and use energy psychology for healing, liberation and full self-expression. As an energy healer myself, I have studied and utilize within my practice numerous modalities: EFT, Resonance Repatterning, and The Yuen Method to name a few. Dynamic Energetic Healing integrates and expands upon the best of many modalities into an elegant, effective system.

I liked this book. The illustrations are fantastic. It includes good explanations of the spiritual work that can be involved during the process of drawing mandalas. It focuses primarily on the role and image of light. Everything is done on black paper. The guides for making your own mandalas are good. The instructions for shading and the use of color are very helpful. It helped me understand that not all mandalas rely on a geometric form. If you decide to use colors, do what the book suggests and spend the extra money to get the pencils listed. It's a spectacular difference in the end product.

Last year I used this book as a resource for a special high school art unit that I developed entitled "Sacred Circles." In addition to learning about circular artwork in various cultures and world religions, students used Judith's beautiful illustrations and step by step guides to create mandalas of their own. (...) This is a book that I still have available in my classroom and students continue to refer to it (independently!) to advance their drawing techniques. SO glad I bought this!

The beauty of the mandalas pictured in the book intimidated me because it had been so many years since I'd created any art. I didn't think I could do it. But I did it and I'm extremely grateful to Judith Cornell for writing this book. Working on the exercises at home, alone, is not the same experience as it would be in a group. The group can offer a creative support level that helps each individual surpass previous achievements. However, I'm so happy with the mandalas I created as a result of these exercises that I've put each one up on the wall. And, even more important, I've continued to draw. No more creative blocks for me!

This is a great book on many levels.
The other reviewers have done such a good job that I'll just leave it at that.
I will buy copies for friends. A perfect gift.

Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing, by Judith Cornell, is absolutely the most incredibly beautiful book I've ever held in my hands. Holding and looking at it, even before reading, is like a sacred experience. Is it the beauty of the lay-out and illustrations? The very real spiritual impact of the mandalas presented, both historical and contemporary? A moment of healing even in the first moment's gasp of awe while browsing its pages? One even begins to caress its binding. One of my favorite activities now is to present it to friends and watch their faces--their eyes pop open, their jaws drop in amazement--and hear the quick intake of breath as its color begins to radiate into their awareness. Beyond the first impression, reading took me to awesome depths and insights regarding ultimate reality, syntheses I'd previously long puzzled. Don't miss this dazzling yet holy experience. Look, read, and practice the simple yet brilliant art-as-at-one-ment exercises for the depth of your life.

This book should be compulserary reading for caretakers. It can show how to deal with the stress and "burnout" of peole in all fields. I learned how better deal with my terminal illnes. Whereas, I do not agree with the later stages of the "bardo" ( the dying process of 40+ days) from the Tibetan / Buddhist point of view, all else was quite perffect. For one to impliment the suggestions in this book are , in my experience, guarenteed to ellivate an individuals ability to be compasionate toward life itself. Thank you, Tom J. Sawyer, Rochester, N.Y.

Medicine & Compassion is an important book. It should be required reading for physicians, medical students, nurses, caregivers, and hospice staff. Every family should have it on their bookshelf. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and even non-religious people will benefit from this book because the ideas are about the human condition which transcends all differences of faith. In a word, this book is a treasure.

We all grow old, get sick, and die. Impermanence, uncertainty, and sorrow permeate our very existence. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and David R. Shlim, M.D., answer the important questions of why we get sick and to how to respond with compassion and mercy, when illness or impending death are at hand. One could say that it is a manual to understanding our own nature and mortality.

The narrative tone of the book is intelligent and merciful - never sugary or overdone. I could really feel the subtle, yet vibrant life energy of the book as it conjured forgotten images and feelings. It caused me to reflect on the end of life care that I administered for my parents and brother. I was able to see what was good and what was lacking in my care for them, without feeling a sense of regret. In fact, I gained a sense of optimism for the future.

As a writer on Buddhist healing, I found this to be a perfectly cut gem. Its words and inferences reflected the light of wisdom. I found it an invaluable tool for encouraging the sick and suffering. I was especially impressed with the author's end of life guidance in the chapter "Easing the Process of Dying." As a Buddhist for more than 30 years, I've read many works on death, dying, and the bardos. Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Dr. Shlim explain this subject in a way that can satisfy the average person or the spiritually advanced. Most of all, the reader will be inspired to improve their own life and mind.

I highly recommend this book. Just as an outdoorsman needs a compass, so too can this book guide one in challenging times.

Charles Atkins
Author of "Modern Buddhist Healing"

Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche is a highly-respected Tibetan lama who heads a large monastery in Nepal and has active Dharma centers in a number of Western countries
(see gomdeusa.org). He is a pure-hearted and open-minded teacher who indeed embodies the Buddhist ideal of compassion and wisdom combined. The ongoing "meetings of the minds" (the Mind and Life seminars with H.H the Dalai Lama being probably the best-known example), focussing on Mind and Meditation, are attracting wide interest; the theme of Mind, Meditation and Medecine may resonate even more, given the number of books appearing in that general area, of which this one is surely among the best.

This book is quite brief, and offers the reader a compact and concise overview of Tibetan Buddhism's approach to medicine, caregiving, and death. It is not necessary to be a Buddhist to gain insight from this book, and I wish I had had access to it years ago when I was caring for an ill relative. Should be purchased by libraries.

Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and David Shlim have articulated beautifully an invaluable lesson in learning how to encompass compassion into our encounters with patients. As nurses and physicians we work with great dedication and energy to help our patients move toward a healthier state of being. The process sometimes seems very easy and gratifying however, sometimes we are stuck and not sure why. This book offers practical advice to the reader of how to more effectively approach each patient with kindness, wisdom and care. Since reading the book, I have noticed subtle changes in my own approach to patients and have felt a new energy and insight.