These books are recommended reading for alternative medicine practitioners and patients who come to our alternative medicine clinic looking for holistic health care resources to understand how the body heals naturally. Enjoy, and be sure to let us know about some of your favorites, too!)
Are You the One For Me?
by Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.
Billed as “the ultimate guide to choosing the right partner and making love last,” this book can go a long way to help us correct patterns that lead to bad choices. Great for all ages, the advice in this book can help us avoid the biggest mistakes in love. So good, you will want to highlight half the book! Her other books are wonderful also: Secrets About Men Every Woman Should Know; How to Make Love All the Time; and What Women Want Men to Know. Tastfully written, some are available in audible form.
Art of Happiness, the
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Guaranteed to make you smile! Whether you are feeling negative about the future of the world or have a personal situation that is painful, this book can help. It can give you a new perspective and tools to look at things differently. An easy read—amusing, deep and right for the times. And did I mention it will make you smile…
Awakening the Buddha Within
by Lama Surya Das
I love this book. It brings Tibetan wisdom to the Western World. Takes you through a personal journey and helps you awaken the Buddha within. His writing style is phenomenal. Easy to read, rewarding in all aspects of life, a practical explanation of Buddhism.
Breast Cancer? Breast Health!
by Susun S. Weed
Whether you are interested in keeping your breasts healthy or what to do if you have breast cancer, this is a great book. All females, of any age, should read it.
“The perfect antidote to fear.” —Carolyn DeMarco, M.D.
Learn how to maintain breast health with great-tasting foods, nourishing herbs, and self-massage, and—if you find a lump what to do before you call the doctor. Includes information on complementary medicines that offset side-effects of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and tamoxifen. An indispensable guide from a voice women trust.
Amazon.com review:
Designed to be a resource for both women who want to maintain breast health and those who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way draws on “women’s wisdom,” or the inner knowledge often ignored by modern medicine, as a powerful tool for healing. Author Susun Weed proposes an anticancer lifestyle, and, if cancer does enter the picture, a six-step plan for healing (sleep is at zero, or “Do Nothing”; surgery is number six, which she terms “Break and Enter”), with various complementary healing techniques included throughout.
Weed is careful to point out that supplements and herbs can hurt as much as they can help, and she lists several alternative-medicine techniques that should be avoided no matter what. The steps she does recommend—from herbal oils for breast massage to help detect lumps early to the herbs milk thistle, dandelion, and burdock for women with liver damage from tamoxifen—are explained clearly, sometimes with fascinating quotes from centuries-old books on healing.
Weed will draw ire from some readers for recommending that mammograms be avoided. She says they tend to squeeze cancer cells into the bloodstream and can’t detect cancer until it’s metastatic, which are reasons enough to not have them, and adds that women would be better off by making her suggested anticancer lifestyle changes, paying more attention to their breasts, and performing regular self-exams.
The warnings about the dangers of electromagnetic fields, exposure to estrogen, and organochlorides from plastics may frighten some, but Weed means to enlighten and empower. She dedicates the book to environmentalist and Silent Spring author Rachel Carson and poet Audre Lorde, who both died of breast cancer. Extensive herbal resources, a solid glossary, and a thorough index are included.
Book Description:
Foods, exercises, and attitudes to keep your breasts healthy. Supportive complimentary medicines to ease side-effects of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or tamoxifen. Foreword by Christiane Northrup, M.D.
Get it here: Breast Cancer? Breast Health!
Doctor-Patient Handbook
by Bernard Jensen, D.C., N.D., Ph.D.
“Dealing with the reversal process and the healing crisis through eliminating diets and detoxification”
This is the classic text, by the renowned Dr. Bernard Jensen. History of naturopathy, detoxification diets, the cleansing process, all covered in depth. Dr. Jensen wrote this book for all his patients to read before their first office visit. Dr. Olarsch highly recommends everyone read this book.
By giving key characteristics and a few actual examples of healing crises, Dr. Jensen enables the reader to gain an intuitive feel for this positive phenomenon, which could otherwise be discouraging or even alarming. As one of the pioneers in the field, Dr. Jensen also includes a brief historical summary of other doctors who have advocated internal cleansing. He explains the basics of autointoxication and offers his insights on elimination diets and exercises, with brief instructions on how to proceed. Dr. Jensen also touches upon iridology as a reflection of one’s bodily condition, and includes a chart of Bowel Reflex Points which shows neural reflex points in the bowel and indicates the other organs to which they relate.
Topics include:
Death begins in the colon
The digestive organs
Auto-intoxication
Reducing diets
Slanting board exercises and skin brushing
Physical change creates a mental change
The reversal process and the healing crisis
Get it here: Doctor-Patient Handbook
Electrolytes, the Spark of Life
by Gillian Martlew, N.D.
There is much more to this book than just the best discussion of electrolytes ever written. Dr. Martlew, who is a colleague of Dr. Olarsch, is an articulate writer on health and this book makes a fine addition to anyone’s health library. It is a great overall health book and her sense of humor makes the reading all the more interesting!
Get it here: Electrolytes, the Spark of Life
Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
by Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
This book shows you how to improve your health through a positive mental attitude, healthy lifestyle, health-promoting diet, and supplements, with plenty of practical tips. Learn disease prevention through enhancing key body systems. The bulk of the book details natural remedies for treating more than 70 ailments. Each includes symptoms, description, therapeutic considerations (with discussion of studies), and a treatment summary, including nutritional supplements and botanical (herbal) medicines. If you have a disease, this book will give you a valuable perspective on natural treatments. If you’re well, it will give you many pointers for maintaining and enhancing your health.
Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill
by Udo Erasmus, Ph.D.
A breakthrough book on the controversial subject of fats. This should be mandatory reading for all doctors. Makes this complicated subject easy and fun, and by the time you are finished, you will know more about fats than just about anyone, including most doctors! A balanced presentation that will take the fear out of fats.
Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
by Don Miguel Ruiz
One of those little books in life that can have a large impact! Full of grace and simple truth, deep reading for anyone making an elementary change in life. Turns your life for the better in many aspects, teaching you simple yet useful lessons that we can all use in our life. Great for any age to read. Rooted in traditional Toltec beliefs, these four agreements are essential steps on the path to personal freedom: 1) Be impeccable with your word; Say only what you mean; The word is the most powerful tool humans have; 2) Don’t take anything personally; Self-importance leads people to think they are the center of the universe, causing pain and injustice; 3) Don’t make assumptions. To avoid frustration and blame, ask what is meant; 4) Always do your best. This is the surest way to avoid self-condemnation, though it is important to realize one’s best is always changing.
Fresh Vegetable & Fruit Juices–What’s Missing in Your Body?
by Norman W. Walker, D.Sc.
Dr. Olarsch considers this mandatory reading if you are using a juicer and excellent reading on health in general. If you want to learn the healing properties of each fruit and vegetable, and what to increase in your diet for specific health conditions, this book will not let you down! The deficiency of certain minerals, salts and vitamins can cause symptoms of illness. In this book, vegetable juices are listed according to categories and an explanation is provided of their elements. In cooperation with R. D. Pope, M.D., a formula guide is provided with suggestions for treating specific ailments.
Get it here: Fresh Vegetable & Fruit Juices–What’s Missing in Your Body? We recommend the Omega 8002 Juicer.
Iridology Simplified
by Bernard Jensen, D.C., N.D., Ph.D.
Iridology is the science and practice that reveals inflammation, where located and in what stage it is manifesting. The iris reveals body constitution, inherent weaknesses, levels of health, and the transitions that take place in a person’s body according to the way they live.
Iridology Simplified is a basic outline of the science of Iridology as taught by Dr. Bernard Jensen. Learn how Iridology was discovered, and what it can tell you about the human body. Dr. Olarsch utilizes Iridology as a part of his practice. It is a great tool for helping to determine the strength and weakness of organs and systems.
Get it here: Iridology Simplified
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day
by the Moosewood Collective
The Moosewood Collective has had big vegetarian cookbook success with other collections. The main aim of this addition to their list is to offer much-needed help to those who need recipes for speedy preparation. Most take less than 30 minutes preparation. Recipes include stir-fries, salads, sandwiches, bean dips, soups, scones, pancakes and desserts. Almost all are vegan, with dairy products offered only as optional extras, though there is a separate section on fish and eggs. Winner of the 1995 James Beard Award for vegetarian cookbooks.
Road to Immunity: How to Survive and Thrive in a Toxic World
by Kenneth Bock, M.D.
When I first read this book, I couldn’t put it down. It is clearly written, medically sound and specific in it’s information. A must read if you want a great book on restoring and maintaining your health using supplements, diet and mental control. Shows you how to evaluate your individual needs, boost your immune system and deal with environmental and food sensitivities. Has many details often left out of other books. Written with the whole body, holistic perspective.
Soil and Your Health
by Beatrice Trum Hunter
This well researched book is 111 pages of must reading. The author shows how the quality of food has a direct relationship with the quality of the soil in which it is grown. Is organically food superior? How do earthworms and trace minerals benefit the soil and ultimately the crops we eat? How do pesticides and fertilizers affect us? Learn the answers to these and other important questions. A great little book that shows how important the soil is to our overall health. Fascinating, great for all ages!
Get it here: Soil and Your Health
Tao of Health, Sex & Longevity, the
by Daniel P. Reid
Is there a book on life that covers it all, including ancient ways? This one comes as close as I have found. My more advanced, experienced patients find it delightful and all-encompassing. Written by a “Westerner” for the “Western mind,” it is a practical guide to the ancient ways, helping one to create a balanced, holistic life. It covers diet & nutrition, exercises, breathing and sexual health. As my patients know, I consider our sexual vitality to be of utmost significance in our quality of life and joy. Love is among the most complicated of human experiences and Western men have much to learn about pleasing their partner. That section alone makes this book a must read. It changed my life and should be mandatory reading in our school system!
Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management
by Bernard Jensen, D.C., N.D., Ph.D.
The classic colon health book that started it all. Did you know that 80% of the water your body ingests is absorbed through your colon…and that if your bowel is full of harmful toxin-producing bacteria breeding in compacted fecal debris and solidified mucus…then those toxins are absorbed into the water then into your blood stream then into the other tissues of your body? Eeeeeewwwwwwww.
Dr. Bernard Jensen explains how to remove the harmful bacteria’s breeding environment, and replace it with one that supports beneficial bacteria. This colonic enema, or “colema” process significantly reduces the probability that toxins from harmful bacteria will affect the health of your internal organs and tissues. This book is recognized as the definitive work on the relationship of intestinal flora to tissue health, and has sold over 1 million copies. It has been credited with helping multitudes of people obtain relief from dozens of bowel and tissue-related diseases.
Get it here: Tissue Cleansing Through Bowel Management
Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay
by Mira Kirshenbaum
A step-by-step guide to help you decide whether to stay in or get out of your relationship. Also great help to improve relationships and yourself. Many books tell you how to fix your relationships; this one helps you choose whether you should try—or if you need to let go. This book is worth years of therapy! It is clearly written and full of common sense.