Medicine and Health Books

I had read this book in the 1970s and was glad to get it again. It is so helpful in dealing with life's challenges and circumstances. It is insightful and remarkably accurate. It is wonderful reading but better when its principles are put into practice.

I wish that I'd read this book a year ago when I first bought it. It may have been written over 50 years ago but its contents are probably more useful today then when it was first published, especially with the frantic lifestyles we all lead today.

John Schindler shows us in his book that all of our physical ailments can be attributed to our own mental problems, the way we think etc. This is down to a lack of proper training either from our family or educational system as well as the company we keep. This leads to a mental immaturity & the way we handle our emotions. He helps us cure these by making us aware of what the problems are and how we can go about & easily fix them with a few simple tricks.

I'm not a fast reader, but I was so engrossed in this book that I managed the 210 pages in a single sitting (only one day!!)

This is going to sound like one of the stories in the book, so here goes. Over the last year or more I've had a serious problem with my back; recently I was lucky enough to have an operation to fix it. However, during this time I got so frustrated with my condition, lack of mobility, discomfort and pain that without realising it I got stressed out & developed various conditions such as neck & shoulder ache, headaches & eczema. All of which I managed to cure using Dr Schindler's techniques in a matter of a few days without the need for any medicine.

As ever it's worth its weight in gold if you'll just listen & apply his simple & effective remedies. A great investment if ever there was one.

Dr Schindler claims in this book that most of us are just muddling through life instead of attaining enduring happiness. Because of this muddling through we develop what Dr. Schindler calls "E.I.I" (i.e. emotionally induced illness). Emotion by William James definition is "a state of mind that manifests itself by sensible changes in the body". Because one's has or produces the wrong kind of emotions, sooner or later he will develop physical symptoms. He then goes to his doctor to complain about these symptoms whereas the real cause of his illness is mental - his unhappiness. This book main purpose is to teach people how to change their way of living. The first part of the book is dedicated to describe how one's emotions makes him ill while the second part deals with advices and techniques to cure E.I.I.. In the latter part Dr. Schindler describes, among other things, 12 principles for richer living, and six man's basic needs - six things that deep inside one's must have. The fullillment of those six needs is the program for living that is blue printed for you. An amazing book!, A must read, Highly recommended!

The other reviewer described the book so I will write about what it did for me. I had sprained a tendon in my leg/hip (how, I have no idea; it just came on) and was in some pain. I didn't know it was a tendon, so I began to worry about it. The pain increased, I began limping, and kept worrying--magnifying it into some sort of dreadful cancer eating away at my bones. (Well, you know, sprains should heal up in a few weeks. I'd had this for a couple months! And I still have it three months later.) Anyway, I read through this book and ended up releasing all the emotional involvement in my leg. The pain was reduced about 80 percent and I no longer limped. Now I just refuse to worry about it and instead bought a bicycle so I can strengthen and provide better stability for my muscular system.

We humans are very capable of endowing our minor injuries (or even major illnesses) with such power that they incapacitate us or, at the very least, demand a lot of attention. This book will help you put such things in perspective. Attitude truly is everything for the body/mind/spirit is a trinity, each component affecting the others. If you can improve your attitude you can improve your health. And the more you concentrate on your injuries or illness, the worse they will become. I highly recommend this book for anyone in pain or anyone with a bad attitude. And I recommend it for everyone who likes to read or who breathes on a regular basis. It's a keeper to which you can refer over and over for encouragement and reminders of the important things in life!

This is a book everyone should have a copy of. Having read the book and attempted to apply what it suggests, I can tell you it is excellent advice. The Publisher's Weekly 'review' above could not be more wrong and only prevents people from benefiting from the timeless advice contained in this book: if anything, it is more relevant today than when it was written. What works works and what is right is right - today, yesterday and tomorrow. In an increasingly stressful and emotionally-disturbed world, that's exactly what the doctor ordered. It's simple: read it and try it and see for yourself. Anyone who does that can only improve their mind, their health and their life.

I read this book while waiting to get in to see the MS Specialist to see if I had MS. I had never really paid attention to MS, at least the details of how it effects a person. As a person in recovery from alcohol and drugs, I wanted to see what alternatives exist.

I found the book full of hope. Got a good explaination of the disease and what it is. I like the fact that Dr. Bowling gives both sides of the arguement for a particular treatment and explains the type of studies done on it.

Once I got in to see the specialist, he was aware of this book and open to listening to my questions and discussing different alternatives. The MS Center offered some CAM mentioned in the book.

I had gotten so tired of all the internet information on MS, my brain was burned out. I had stopped reading anything on the subject for quite awhile. But, this book is worth keeping handy with its sensible and knowledgeable information. It also validates in many ways the path I had chosen to manage this horrible disease.

This book was actually recommended to me by my MS Specialist. I'm SO happy he did. Too often, I think people believe everything others tell them about what something might do. This gives actual medical references about studies done with alternatives. It doesn't make bogus claims about what might cure someone. Instead, it offers sound advice about what might help or hurt your body. Not only that, it recommends what amounts of vitamins and other supplements one should take if they are going to use them. I'm a research FREAK and this is by the far the best alternative medicine book I've read. It's also the book I reference back to the most as I'm eager to see what else is possibly out there that can help with my disease.

This updated book is great for someone with MS or even if you are just interested in CAM. He explains the different methods well even if I don't always agree with everything he says.

People diagnosed with an incurable disease are too-often targets of terribly unscrupulous or questionable methods of helping or curing them. When conventional medicine cannot cure us it is, to some degree, understandable. Dr. Bowling has put together a well-researched book that briefly discusses CAMs and various therapies, including yoga, tai chi, dietary supplements, vitamins and so forth. Each is briefly described, treatment method discussed, any known scientific research is summarized, side effects noted, practical information listed, and a conclusion and additional reading sources detailed. Dr. Bowling does note that some therapies, while not proven to help those with MS, may seem to help because of the "placebo effect." If it causes no harm, why not try it? However, some of these therapies can be detrimental to those with MS and it is wise to know what those are. This is a book for those who want objective and documented information. Some will claim it is biased against CAMs or undocumented therapies, but I did not find that to be the case. I found it very helpful.

I've been seriously interested in the spiritual aspects of my life for many years. I've done a great deal of reading and some formal study, to learn about the connection between my mind, body and spirit. This book is loaded with practical and readable information about every aspect of spiritual healing. I've never found such a gold mine of spiritual information in one book. It doesn't try to tell you everything about every subject, but it does make it possible for you to browse through a smorgasbord of techniques and practices from all over the world. You can decide what appeals to you, and follow whatever path you choose. Dr. Gregg provides a roadmap for any spiritual journey you might wish to take.

This is a great primer about spiritual healing and healing modalities.

Don't let the title of this book put you off. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Spiritual Healing by Dr. Susan Gregg has the simplistic layout of the "Idiot's Guide" book so it's easy to navigate. Dr. Gregg was a student of Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide To Personal Freedom, and his Mother, Sister Sarita, before becoming a Toltec Nagual.

The very first page sets the tone and intent of the book: a cheerful orange reference card that spans the entire page. On it are suggestions for creating a daily routine, making a list of nurturing things, and a list of affirmations called Talking to Yourself in the Mirror, which Dr. Gregg encourages you to add to with your own positive statements.

Illustrated "bubble" boxes are sprinkled throughout the book, and include Snake Oil (pitfalls you may encounter on your spiritual quest), Clarity Corner (definitions and more in-depth explanations of key concepts), Sage Advice (quotes and short vignettes to uplift and keep you on track), and Spiritual Shortcuts which includes exercises, meditations, and other bits of information that will help you move more rapidly on your path.

And this isn't even the bulk of the book! There is information on alternative healing modalities, altered states of consciousness, body work, inner guidance, eating mindfully, emotions vs. feelings, exercise, life purpose, surrender (which doesn't mean giving up!), dominion vs. domination, nature as healer, relationships and intimacy (into-me-see, as she cleverly writes), planetary healing, channeling, spiritual traditions of healers (Native American, Mexican, South American, European, African, Voodoo, and Huna) and a whole lot more. The great thing about this book is that it doesn't read like a boring New Age 101 Textbook full of pure theory. Dr. Gregg presents herself as having her feet planted firmly on the ground--yet she brings knowledge from Grandmother (the Divine Feminine) to the table in a blend that is both practical and "beyond the dream".

The subjects covered are broad in scope, but specific enough to get your general questions answered. If it's not, there is an indepth section in the back called "Additional Reading" which lists books in specific sections, and even includes a section on Organizations and relevant contact information.

I just finished reading this book and was amazed at the amount of information it contained. Now I am going to go back and do the exercises!

Having dealt with depression for six years, I found this book to be a very useful eye-opener; I don't think anything I've read has helped me heal as much as Dr. Gregg's. It will enable you to find and deal with the root causes of many of the issues that worry or upset you and to raise your self-esteem. There were a couple ideas in the book I didn't entirely agree with, but then it's also a question of interpretation. Highly recommend.

This book was filled with lots of valuable information and wonderful guidance. This book is a must for anyone wanting to improve the quality of their life!

High PSA lab test scores lead me to schedule a (first-time) biopsy of my prostate, a somewhat frightening prospect. Dr. Jones' section on biopsies clearly explained what to expect, and helped to put my mind at ease. His book contains a wealth of additional information on prostate difficulties, clearly written in a style readable to those who are not a medical professionals.

Leading urologist Dr. J. Stephen Jones has been nationally recognized as an authority on prostate problems and their treatment, and here writes the perfect consumer guide on how to understand conditions, therapies, and alternatives. The latest developments on detection and screening of conditions is included in a guide which is much more accessible than competitors. THE COMPLETE PROSTATE BOOK: WHAT EVERY MAN NEEDS TO KNOW is a recommended pick, especially for general lending collections specializing in consumer health.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I had received an early warning sign. The possibilty existed that I had prostate cancer, a disease that killed my father. In my doctor's office was a book he had written entitled "The Complete Prostate Book". I obtained a copy of the book from Amazon.com so as to study the options available to me. Some months later my cancer was confirmed and I was well prepared to make a decision on my behalf.

The book. while technical in nature, is written with an understanding of the anxiety and emotions that a man will encounter as he decides the treament that is best for him. This is done with facts and actual experiences of men who walked the path of Prostate examination and treatment.

This is one of the best dealing with the prostate. Check out the one published by the Mayo Clinic and the one published by the Johns Hopkins Unversity Press. Be careful of the copyright date. Theories and methods are changing rapidly. I found out that I am ahead of my urologist who, in my opinion should do one of three things: (1) Buy some new books, (2) Go back to medical school or (3) retire because his knowledge is obsolete. BE PREPARED! DOCTORS ARE NOT GOD (some may think they are). This is a serious situations. Do your own homework and don't rely on your doctor to know everything and not screw up. Don't overlook the book about a "headache in the pelvis". If you do not get good results from your urologist, your internist may know more practical solutions and don't hesitate to get a second opinion from a different urologist. I am disgusted with urologists. I go to two, at present, who do not even agree with their own partner. It's scary!

When Dr. Jones titled this book... he meant it! It IS complete.

This book is a fantastic resource. All facets of prostate problems are discussed, from the very simple to the very complex, in a manner that is easily understood. Whenever medical terms are utilized they are defined and when possible, examples are given to improve understanding. The section of the book on prostate cancer is phenomenal. If you, or someone you love has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are overwhelmed with information and treatment options, I would highly recommend reading this book.

There are very few absolutes in medicine, especially regarding individualized medical treatment. Dr. Jones allows the reader to arm himself with information so that he (along with his urologist) can make the best decisions about his care.

Don't let the compact size of this guide fool you. It is well-written, comprehensive, up-to-date, and strikes the right balance between text and illustration to help in most wilderness emergencies. It does not replace a course in first aid, but is a very useful reference for those who have taken the time to prepare before leaving on their trip. I especially enjoy the suggested improvisations for various treatments when traditional first aid materials are unavailable, and the common sense guidance given by the author.

I'm a WFR working towards WEMT and a geography student. I've worked in a number of remote wildernesses and disaster areas in a variety of situations and I've found this book to be practical, insightful and a good companion to the professional. I hope they continue to come out with new editions.

Anyone who does any backpacking, remote travel, or other wilderness activities will find this book very useful.

The advice is excellent and the improvised techniques are important in wilderness situations when equipment is very limited.

The size is small enough to fit in a first aid kit, backpack, etc.

The book is well worth the cost and could the most valuable item in your first aid kit.

It is also a recommended book for several local hiking groups.

I am a field medic with the Michigan Army National Guard. I was so impressed with this book that I took it in to the armory, passed it around, and got seven of my fellow medics interested enough to buy the book. I keep a copy of the book in my medical bag for both reference and training purposes. When I am out in the field with the grunts (ifantry troops )I try to give a class or two on first aid. Some day I might be the patient. The book is easily worth three times its retail price.

I am a search and rescue volunteer and I have learned a lot from this book, with the help of Survival Instructor Fred Coring with the CHP. Anyone who likes the wilderness and/or travels a lot should get this book and keep it with them all the time.

In The Confidence Code Christel Nani and Rebecca Grace lead you on an informative and fun journey to greater self esteem, discovery, and creating the life you truly want. A joy to listen to, the CD is easy to follow. Christel is a true healer and pioneer and uses her tremendous gifts to help each and everyone of us reach our highest joy. It will put a bounce in your step, a smile on your face and much, much more!

Yet another amazing tool from Christel to help promote the best you, you can be. It is simple to use for your every day life experiences. Just start it and you can not help but to see a new energized you! It really is that easy.

I love Christel's new CD. It is simple,elegant and effective. It has
brought my energy up, my spirit up, the brightness back into my eyes -
and in just days. I know that I sound like an advertisement you'd hear
at 2am on some obscure cable channel. But, I'm not; I'm a petite, slim
young woman living with her family outside of Boulder, CO, in awe of what Christel can teach us. I highly recommend this CD.

Christel has done it again!Healing Your First Three Chakras Another life changing inspirational teaching that works.

......Drum Roll Please......."Christel Nani and Rebecca Grace....do it again!!! This CD is a "must own" for anyone working to lock and load their self esteem. The CD is crisp, funny, smart, remarkably incisive, and to the point. Christel's positivity guides make it very clear how to move forward very fast with your dreams, desires, goals and "high vibration" living. It is alternatively poignant, instructive, and most importantly effective. Whether one is new to the principals of spiritual responsibility (meaning only that we have CHOICES as to how we live our lives - and we must accept responsibility for those choices), or whether this CD is one's first exposure, I think it highly unlikely that one can hear this CD and not come away with at least one powerful nugget (really tons of nuggets!) that one can use to change the direction of one's life.

Though I am very familiar with Christel's other books and CDs (check out my review for "Guidance 24/7 where I give my opinion on "24/7" as well as "Sacred Choices," I found CONFIDENCE CODE a very special addition to my CD library. I use it most evenings while falling asleep - (it can be used that way) - and I saw stark changes in how I handled personal and professional situations in just a few days after using the CD -- they are the result of a direct increase in confidence and self esteem. I am a successful professional in my '40s, and I have seen changes in myself in the short time I have used this CD that have surprised even me!

This CD is not only very pleasant to listen to - with humor, and lots of straight talk, the bottom line is that it really worked for me. Definitely worth a try! P.S I was excited to see a large '1" on the CD. I am looking forward to the "2!!!" What else do you have in store for us, Christel?!" Thank You!

If you're in the military, work for an NGO, or are about to do a medical school rotation in a developing country, this is a great resource to throw into your bags. I bought this book without knowing there was a more recent edition (and paid a lot more than some of the current used prices). The newest edition has pictures and has some of the most up to date information on leishmaniasis and malaria, but for a few bucks you can get a used edition of this and still have more than 95% of the information remain relevant and useful.

This is one of the most useful books I have seen. Each chapter of this book summarizes each infectious disease briefly, and comprehensively, including its ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. The main focus is on public health response to the event of one case, for uncommon diseases, or the event of a cluster of cases for those more common infections. It is particularly useful for people working in the public health field such as health departments or researchers. However, it is also very handy for clinicians that want to know how to react in front of diseases that may not be common anymore. Specially useful is the chapter on surveillance and reporting. If you want to have one good and simple consulting book on infectious diseases, "Control of Communicable Diseases Manual" is the book you should own.

This book is an absolute necessity for anyone involved in infection control or infectious diseases. It is perfect for
a quick reference - I keep nearby when I am working and refer to
it often.

I bought this book to study for a sanitarian examination. This book was excellent. It covers mode of transmission, vectors, clinical symptoms and classification. I strongly suggest this book to individuals in the field of environmental and consumer safety.

i've read the previous edition and this one cover to cover. you just open a page and read whatever disease is there. i love this book! for anyone in the field & students of, it's a must have!

i'm waiting for a new edition because i heard the Guinea Worm was eradicated since the last publication.

In a world of instability where one of the only constants has become that of stress, the need to take control rises to the top of a daily "to do" list. Whereas geopolitical strategy is often left to the better judgement of our elected officials, the education and deployment of healthy lifestyle ones is up to the individual. In his book, CORONARY HEART DISEASE: A GUIDE TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, Dr. Cohen redefines an inherently complex area of medicine into a simple one which suggests small steps to follow on a daily basis for long term success. It is true that medicine and treatment options will evolve at a rapid pace leaving some specific procedures behind in the process. However, the text of CORONARY HEART DISEASE appears timeless in its ability to last as a resource in every household,to be referenced over the years with regard to family issues and in order to share it with anyone close to heart in an effort to strengthen their lives. Dr. Cohen should be applauded for having felt the committment to his field to find time away from surgical schedules and office visits in order to prescribe measures which, if and when followed, might lead to our paths never crossing.

The information in this book will decrease your odds of contracting coronary heart disease (CHD), thereby increasing your odds of living a longer and healthier life. This book does an excellent job simplifying a complex subject so that a non-medical person like myself can comprehend and benefit from it. I have purchased extra copies to give to my family members and am recommending that my friends read it.

My introduction to Barry Cohen was the Friday after I was diagnosed with CHD. As a woman who has taken good care of herself - eating right and exercising - I was shocked when a high score on a cononary calcium scoring test deposited me into the heart of a disease that only others had. I was in the 75th percentile - that's bad! The calcium burden was in my LAD. I needed infomation - more than offered on the internet and more than my present doctor had time to offer me. Dr. Cohen was recommended to me by a cardiologist who is a family friend. After consulting with him, I bought his book.

In this book, Dr. Cohen and Bobbie Hasselbring have presented a concise, readable, and informative block of information a newly diagnosed patient needs. Step by step they take you through the understanding, risk factors, symptoms (in my case, none) of heart disease. There is a chapter on WOMEN! written with an understanding not often experienced. The chapter covers how we present differently from men, our higher death rates than men, hormone replacement and many risk factors. There is a glossary so that we can better understand our doctor during consultations. This is a book I will read and reread. For those of us who want information - this is the ticket! The information in Coronary Heart Disease empowers us. Dr. Cohen was named one of the best cardiologists in New Jersey, 2007. After you read his book, you will know why. The information about medications, medical procedures, treatment and lifestyle changes gives both the patient and the family the tools needed to be more pro-active and powerful when facing CHD. Thank you for writing this book for humanity.

I have a shelf of books on cardiac care but when I realized that I would be taken to a hospital with angina, I took this book, and only this book, along for the ride. Hospitalized and awaiting treatment, I digested the 186 page book cover to cover.

"Coronary Heart Disease" provides a lucid explanation of diagnosis and treatment aimed at a lay audience. While I might use a big book for coverage of a specific topic, for a coherent, readable, up to date synopsis, this compact book is the companion I bring along.

Web authors use the term "information architecture" to convey the sense of the big picture hidden within complex structures and "chunking" to indicate the intelligible presentation of the information. So it is here. The design of this book gives the reader the orientation and the content needed to grasp coronary heart disease quickly and accurately. The handy glossary and appended list of resources provide supplemental tools for the reader.

Thus, the authors have achieved their goal: This clearly written and well organized book by Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring empowers the patient to partner with the cardiologist in the delivery of care. This is a book that you can, and should, use.

I promised Dr. Cohen that I would put his book to use. After he operated on me twice within the span of a year, we both know that there must be a better way. Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring have charted the course. The rest is in my hands, which is the point of "Coronary Heart Disease."

This book is great!! It is written to be read -- not full of jargon or complicated medical terms -- and the suggestions for prevention and heart care are really helpful and can actually be incorporated into every day life. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has or has had a family member with heart issues (and who hasn't???)

As the daughter of a semi-country doctor, I grew up with the experience of having a father who always seemed to be on call. Dr. Macdonald's anthology of cases was an excellent read, and after the first story I immediately called my mom to share it with her. We both had a laugh over it, and I am going to recommend that she buy it, along with my 2 older sisters. I enjoyed reading the stories, and they are set up such that you can read for as long or as short a time as you want. A must-buy for any child or spouse of a physician!

I thought this book was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed this book... you'll laugh out loud and you'll cry as you see everything through the eyes of one rural Minnesota doctor. I'm couldn't wait until his second one came out! Read it!!

A Country Doctor's Casebook: Tales From The North Woods is an anthology of autobiographical stories by Dr. Roger A. MacDonald, a physician who has served the people living in a remote region of northern Minnesota during the years after World War II. Vignettes of sickness, compassion, feuds, dangers, births and deaths make A Country Doctor's Casebook unforgettable and very highly recommended reading.

Dr. MacDonald's book is a welcome remembrance to those who lived in Northern Minnesota in the 40's & 50's. His stories of survival (and sometimes not surviving) are very descriptive and detailed. When he tells of a trip through a swamp he carried his wife through to help a patient, you almost feel as though you are sloshing through the mud with him. His stories are NOT about heroics that he performed on helpless rural Minnesota residents, although he certainly could do that as well. They are about the heroics of those people he cared for. This story has it's humorous parts as well as parts that make you cry for the brave and futile attempts at life of his patients. I am grateful to Dr. MacDonald for this book, and I hope to see more from him in the future.

I got this book because I too come from Minnesota and work in health care, but once started on Dr. MacDonald's A Country Doctor's Casebook Tales from the North Woods, I was hooked. The author was what we would now refer to as a family practitioner who worked in a small rural community near Duluth from 1947 to 1980. His charming collection of stories is a delight to read, and I literally read the book from cover to cover over about three hours without putting it down. The tales of the doctor and his patients pull the reader through the pages without tricks of style, just the author's natural talent for telling a simple story: the life and death struggles of members of his community, the happiness of new lives begun, the suddenness of unexpected death, incredible courage in the face of adversity, acceptance of the setbacks of life, amusing vignettes of simple people living life among their neighbors.

FOR THOSE WRITING PAPERS in English, creative writing, journaling, journalism, history, and sociology, this would make a nice format to follow or a good bibliography entry. The author has used his own life experiences to create a history of his practice, community, and time.

Great book if this is the first book of this author that you read. However, it is an extraordinary book if read after reading Coyote Medicine. As a follow-up read, the reader has a greater understand of the "whys". If you are a Native American or have worked in the field of mental health/ psychiatry -- or better yet both, you find yourself going, "Yes, you are so right!" often times as you read. Such a moving book. It touched not only my mind, but also my heart and soul. I could not put it down until I finished it.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona reveals insights into traditional and non-traditional medicine. He is an interesting multi-faceted medical practioner. It is impossible to sum up his contributions in a sentence or two. He breaks the bonds of traditional medicine by incorporating ancient medical practices into his healing work.

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D. has written one of the best books on healing ever to be published. This book should be required reading for all cancer patients and survivors, for anyone suffering from chronic physical or emotional disease, and for therapists in all disciplines. Dr. Madrona's stories are poignant and will linger with you long after you've finished the last page. This book offers hope. It teaches that health truly is a mind-body-spirit phenomenon.

Dr. Mehl-Madrona's magnificent first book, COYOTE MEDICINE, was seen through wide-eyes: a young doctor discovering his own roots and shedding illusions about the omnipotence of science. By contrast, COYOTE HEALING reveals a sure sense of purpose and conviction in his approach.

One senses a mission- that this book is more than an account, but an active attempt to spread the word. No longer exploring, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has become the guru; here he is at the height of his powers and conviction and acts as advocate.

Operating from the perspective of a shaman, Dr. Mehl-Madrona respects the patient's ability to cure himself, but also "straddle(s) cultures," drawing on his varied expertise. As he explains, "Activating the inner healer is the most important aspect of what I do... I use herbs, diet, vitamins, exercise, drugs and a myriad of other techniques, but I recognize that the inner healer makes all these approaches work."

Because of the success of his first book, many people seek him out, and we hear their stories. They have usually been told their cases were beyond hope. Working with the author, some patients do recover, others sadly, do not. But Dr. Mehl-Madrona refuses to speak of "failures," nor does he use cases to argue for or against shamanic or complementary approaches. Rather, he sees the healing process itself as the miracle. As he says:

I build hope. I don't help everyone [in terms of cures]...I help them to show their true humanity, their true spirit, despite adversity...Each of my patients told me what a difference I had made in their lives. All I did was to recognize their true selves and coax those to the surface, despite everything else that was happening... Hope- not despair, not denial, not giving up, not demanding success...It comes from knowing that the Universe cares about us, even when our desires are not possible... The peacefulness of integrating these apparent contradictions is truly a miracle.

Much of his work involves Native American storytelling, using characters in stories to shed light on the patients' struggles. So, a woman who helps many people but is now undergoing chemotherapy is told a story of the "Gatherer," a Native American woman who collected healing plants, and was kidnapped and tortured, but made it through. Another woman who has been ill for decades is told a story about a young woman who was kidnapped, who had to throw away some prized items in order to escape. Here the doctor was showing his patient how to discard illness as an identity.

Some major themes emerge. A loss of community is said to cause disease, and one violently schizophrenic man finds his way back to sanity by being made an "honorary Indian" on a reservation. Another theme is illness as sublimated negativity in one's life.

But the doctor does not "blame the victim." Instead, he defines "disease" as literally that, dis-ease. In the eyes of a shaman, cause of illness is everywhere, and awareness of imbalance will lead us to finding "ease." In the author's words, "I can no longer imagine a physical problem that is not simultaneously psychological, spiritual and social..."

But we are not being punished by our illness, only being told that something is wrong. Gary Null echoes this when he talks about the fires burning in our (physiological) houses, and how often we ignore these fires, whether stress, abuse, self-hatred, etc.

Whether you believe in complimentary healing approaches or not, COYOTE HEALING helps define what it means to fight for wellness with dignity and peace. Having met Dr. Mehl-Madrona at his healing circle, I know his real voice: soft, thoughtful, nonjudgemental, and mischievous. In these pages this voice comes through, and brings comfort. Thank you again, Doctor.

COYOTE HEALING is an interesting book which describes an approach to healing which is based on the experiences of the author who is a practicing physician and a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine. The main thrust of the book is to reveal the characteristics of exceptional patients who beat the odds against killer diseases such as cancer. Many inspirational stories are included.

The healing strategies used throughout reflect Dr. Mehl-Madrona's own childhood exposure to a mixture of Christianity and Cherokee spirituality. A strong emphasis is placed on the need for the patient to think positively. Any feelings of personal blame for having the illness are eliminated and replaced with a sense of hope. This step leads to peacefulness which in turn sets the stage for a potential miracle. The patient next tries to locate the inner healer before starting on a healing journey. The latter emphasizes a radical transformation of oneself and one's relationships. The journey itself ultimately becomes more important than the destination.