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4 Responses

1. 

   1

   Billy Goat Ranch 
   

   The content of this book was disappointing to me. The beginning tells about different alternative therapies in general (aromatherapy, massage, reiki, etc.), but for the illnesses I read about, only conventional treatments were given. The book could have been really helpful- for example, I wanted to know if people who had surgery for cancer and then used herbal and holistic medicines instead of chemo or radiation did about as well as those who went with chemo and radiation…..but cancer is not even listed. In fact, only a few illnesses were covered. There are many natural herbs and homeopathic remedies for some of the illnesses that are included in the book. The book is quite good at telling you symptoms of the things covered and what the disease is, but if you already know you have something you tend to skip that bit.

   I have had a very dense cataract that the Drs. did not want to operate on due to severe retina problems. I used to see light and dark and some shapes from that eye however, but could only see darkness and a bit out of the side for the last few years (the Dr. could not even see through the dilated eye). I started taking supplements- one called Quantum Eye Complex, a botantical supplement, and one from Central Market, Ocu Complex, a vitamin and Antioxidant supplement…the results have been nothing short of a miracle for me since I can now see light and shapes again- about as well as I recall ever seeing from that eye. I was only trying to strengthen the retina in my ‘good’ eye by taking the supplements and was stunned upon further research to learn that cataracts can be greatly helped by supplements. This book tells you all about the cataract surgery, and it sounds like that is the only real option. It mentions several specific nutritional supplements and foods (such as vitamin C and Spinach) that can help the health of the eye- but the general way the section reads, it sounds like the basic things you should eat and take for overall good health…I suppose reading it I did not get the feeling that it would actually HELP reverse or even really slow down the damage once you have a cataract.

   I bought this book wanting to know what else I might be able to improve my health in by taking supplements, exercise, and such, vs. what is best left to the conventional doctors. A much more useful book to me is a book called ‘Alternative Cures’ by Bill Gottlieb.

   The kindle version is a disappointment in particular- I could not search for a topic since it said the book had not been indexed.
   Rating: 2 / 5

2. 

   2

   Pop Corn 
   

   Everyone in my family has high cholesterol. My father died at a young age from a heart attack, my brother had one before he was 50 and my uncle died from one in his 50′s. I went to the doctor and found out I have high cholesterol, and I learned my adult son and daughter also have the same problem.
   
   I was very upset and desperate to find help to lower the cholesterol. After reading about “Your Best Medicine” in the Chicago Tribune, I purchased a copy and went immediately to the chapter on high cholesterol. The chapter talks about the types of cholesterol that are good and bad and reviewed the diets to help lower the cholesterol. They then reviewed all of the types of medicines; my doctor had talked about statin medicines for me for the rest of my life.
   
   I learned that certain foods such as pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, beans, legumes and others can help to lower cholesterol. And it talks about supplements, herbal medicines and exercise as lifestyle changes that could help to lower the cholesterol
   
   So I tried these foods and exercise for a month, and had the cholesterol tested again. Now the doctor says my good cholesterol is up, and the bad cholesterol is down and I don’t need to start medication yet. I would rather try changing what I eat and exercising more than going on the medicine, at least for now. I can thank the authors for this great advice. Everyone should get a copy of this book.
   
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. 

   3

   BoSox 
   

   This is an amazingly comprehensive book. I purchased it when it was only available by direct-mail from the publisher, Rodale. I think I paid more than $30. It was well worth the price. Now that the price is so low, I plan to buy several copies to give as gifts. If I could rate this book more than five stars, I would.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. 

   4

   Medical Book Maven 
   

   This is a very well written, comprehensive and unique book. It is written by a conventional physician, a complementary clinician and an expert in food and dietary treatments. More than 80 medical problems are reviewed with each one having conventional and complementary remedies. For example, the authors write extensively about high blood pressure. The conventional treatments such as medications are reviewed; next to that section, they present the complementary treatments including acupuncture, aquatic therapy, herbal medicine (garlic, ginkgo biloba, grape seed extract, green tea, hawthorn). They also review nutritional supplements, lifestyle recommendations and preventive measures: avoid loneliness,exercise, lose weight, reduce stress.

   This is a really important book, and I very highly recommend it for those who want to work with both traditional and complementary medicine.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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