Review of Integrative Oncology (Weil Integrative Medicine Library) (Hardcover)

Donald Abrams, MD and Andrew Weil, MD have produced a volume that is desperately needed. From acupuncture to botanicals to cannabis to etc.,cancer patients, their caregivers, their physcians and nurses now have a valuable resource to help understand and use integrative medicine (IM). Those interested in inhibiting cancer should also find "Integrative Oncology" of value.
Most oncologists don't have a background in IM.Some are intimidated by their patients who know more about IM than they do.A few have the MDiety complex.
The prominent researchers in this book discuss the potential benefits of many therapies and dismiss others that appear to be of no value or worse.
Do I have a bias--yes indeed.For over thirty years I have counseled cancer patients on the therapeutic and prophylatic use of nutrients. "Integrative Oncolgy" has expanded my vision, knowledge and insight into other modalities in a very important and useful way.
My wife is a patient of Donald Abrams at the University of California Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.She has benefitted significantly from his expertise and his empathy.

Product Description
People facing a new diagnosis of cancer are unsettled by their prognosis and treatment options, and they often seek to integrate complementary modalities into their conventional care plan, hoping to improve their chances of cure and decrease side effects. Many do so without informing their oncologist, for fear of alienating them or not convinced that their physician would be informed about complementary therapies. Integrative Oncology, the first volume in the Weil Integrative Medicine Library, provides a wealth of information for both practitioners and consumers on the emerging field of integrative oncology. Noted oncologist Donald Abrams and integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil and their international panel of experts present up-to-date and extensively referenced chapters on a wide spectrum of issues and challenges, bound in one comprehensive, reader-friendly text in a format featuring key points, sidebars, tables, and a two-color design for ease of use.It is destined to emerge as the definitive resource in this emerging field.

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Review of 8 Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power (Paperback)

In an age when so many Americans rely upon pharmaceutical drugs to cure their ailments, Dr. Weil has suggested a sensible, proactive approach to healing yourself and maintaining excellent health.
I will admit that I'venot been totally successful in incorporating all his suggestions, buteverything here is at least worth a read.Especially notable to most areDr. Weil's recommendations regarding supplements and his dietaryadmonitions.
Initially, I was drawn to this book after seeing Dr. Weilon TV.At first, my critical mind wanted to cast his ideas as folksymumbo-jumbo, with just enough medical rationality to make it seemlegitimate.But the more I listened, the more I became intrigued.Thenext day, I picked up this book, wondering if it could do more for myrecurring stomach problems than what doctors had done for me.
I had beenin pain daily, and had even (wrongly) thought I was having a heart attack(several times).I was saddled with a bevy of drugs and antacids to giverelief of this gastro-intestinal reflux disorder, which is VERY common, andis OFTEN mistaken for heart attack.
Within 2 weeks of ceasing ibuprofenand caffeine intake, and taking a few recommended herbal supplements, I waspain- (and drug-) free:I was even able to eat a spicy Thai dinner with norepurcussions!
Today, I rarely suffer any stomach discomfort, and feelmuch stronger and healthier in general, thanks in large part to this book. It makes so much sense.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to takean active role in their overall health, rather than just let healthproblems happen to them.



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Review of Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being [DECKLE EDGE] (Hardcover)

This review is written by a former hospital administrator of just under 2 decades. I have been studying health and nutrition for more than decade. I became very interested in alternative medicine when a family member was diagnosed with kidney cancer and the allopathic doctors (traditional MD's) could give no reason for the tumor.

If you have not read one of Dr. Weil's books before, I think you will enjoy his writing style.His tone is very conversational, you feel as though you are talking to a friend while you are reading his books, this one included.Dr. Weil has a gift for taking a dry and complicated subject and explaining it in a manner that anyone can understand.The purpose of this book is NOT to stop aging, but rather to prevent or minimize the impact of age-related disease, to learn how to live long and well, and to age gracefully.

He subdivides his book as follows:

PART ONE:The Science and Philosophy of Healthy Aging
1.Immortality
2.Shangri-Las and Fountains of Youth
3.Antiaging Medicine
4.Why We Age
5.The Denial of Aging
6.The Value of Aging
7.Interlude:Jenny

PART TWO:How to Age Gracefully
8. Body I:The Ounce of Prevention
9. Body II:The Anti-inflammatory Diet
10. Body III:Supplements
11.Body IV:Physical Activity
12.Body V:Rest and Sleep
13.Body VI:Touch and Sex
14.Mind I:Stress
15.Mind II:Thoughts, Emotions, and Attitudes
16.Mind III:Memory
17.Spirit I:Unchanging Essence
18.Spirit II:Legacy

A TWELEVE PROGRAM FOR HEALTHY AGING
Appendix A:The Anti-inflammatory Diet
Appendix B:Suggested Readings, Resources and Supplies

The doctor does a wonderful job of explaining why and how we age.Even without an educational background in the sciences I was able to comprehend advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and how they cross link (form abnormal bonds) to adjacent protein strands leading to inflammatory and autoimmune responses.If you have been reading much about nutrition or health lately you know that inflammation is the new "hot topic" in medicine linked to almost everything.According to Cardiologists inflammation is more important in determining heart health than cholesterol.After reading Dr. Weil's explanation of inflammatory response this concept now makes much more sense to me.

Dr. Weil explains in great detail which nutrients the body requires to function properly and how to incorporate them into your life.He also goes into much detail about dietary suggestions.These are pretty much what you would expect, but he does a thorough job of explaining why he is making these recommendations, which I personally find very helpful.

The doctor also goes into great detail regarding his recommendations for physical activity and how this should change as we age.The concept of a pool disinfected without chlorine was new to me, and one that I was very happy to know is an option.

If you want to age gracefully, but feel as though you need more information, this is a wonderful book on the subject.I highly recommend this book to baby boomers looking for information on how to minimize or eliminate the impact of disease in our lives as we grow older.



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Review of Eating Well For Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Bringing Health and Pleasure Back to Eating (Paperback)

I usually have to force myself to read nutritional type books, but I foundthis book to be quite different. The approach taken by the author is a veryrational one, and it makes a lot of sense over the course of a lifetime.There are no short term diet or health solutions presented, but rather thefocus is on healthy, enjoyable eating as a way of life. The author stronglyemphasizes that healthy eating does not need to be a miserable experience;but that it can and should be pleasurable. A wealth of information aboutfood is provided in the book, including the best and worst diets in theworld. In several chapters the components of food and nutrition are brokendown and explained. There is a section of the book that contains 85recipes, and another section that answers specific questions about food andnutrition. Much of the information given is scientific in nature, but Ifound all of the chapters to be very informative and interesting. I greatlyappreciated the sense of compassion and humor that Dr. Weil brings to hisbook. This is a very well written book, and I recommend it to everyone.



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Review of Natural Health, Natural Medicine: The Complete Guide to Wellness and Self-Care for Optimum Health (Paperback)

This review is written by a former hospital administrator of just under 2 decades. I have been studying health and nutrition for more than decade. I became very interested in alternative medicine when a family member was diagnosed with kidney cancer and the allopathic doctors (traditional MD's) could give no reason for the tumor.

The purpose of this book is to present a complete guide to preventative health maintenance.With preventative health maintenance described as a timely and appropriate investment of energy in your well being that will save you trouble down the road.

He subdivides his book as follows:

PART ONE: PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE (The basic information about designing a healthy lifestyle)
1. What Should I Eat?
2. Answers to Common Questions About Diet and Health
3. What Will You Have to Drink?
4. Air and Breath
5. A Guide to Exercise for People Who Hate the Whole Idea of It
6. Relaxation, Rest, and Sleep
7. Habits
8. Connections

PART TWO: SPECIFIC PREVENTION:OUTWITTING THE KILLERS (Specific advice about reducing your risks of getting the diseases that kill most people prematurely in our society)
9.How Not to Get a Heart Attack
10. How Not to Get a Stroke
11. How Not to Get Cancer
12. How to Protect Your Immune System

PART THREE:BASIC NATURAL TREATMENTS (the tools in the forms or natural treatments that we can use ourselves)
13. Simple Measures
14. Vitamins and Supplements
15. The Herbal Medicine Chest

PART FOUR:A TREASURE OF HOME REMEDIES FOR COMMON AILMENTS (this section deals with common ailments that respond well to gentle, natural therapies and lifestyle modification)
APPENDIX A:Finding Practitioners
APPENDIX B:Finding Supplies
APPENDIX C:Sample Recipes

In part one of the book the doctor does a wonderful job of explaining what we should and more importantly should not eat.The first chapter of the book is worth the price of the book alone.The doctor outlines 9 principles for a healthy diet that he explains in great detail without losing those of us that are not trained physicians or nutritionists.These principles are simplistic but very powerful.If you are a follower of a low carbohydrate diet you will not agree with what you will read in this section.

The doctor also goes into great detail regarding his recommendations for physical activity.He discusses all the common forms of exercise and the pros and cons of each form of exercise.How much exercise do we need?Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise at least 5 days a week.Not much of a surprise, but after you read the section on exercise you will understand why you need that much aerobic exercise, and hopefully that will get all of us off the couch, or away from our computers with a little more frequently.The doctor also discusses stretching and strength training and how much of these we need and why.

Part two of the book, on how to avoid specific diseases, is very well written, easy to understand, and easy to follow for those individuals that are highly motivated.The suggestions will not be palatable to everyone.But, if health is your primary motivation, there are wonderful ideas and suggestions contained in these chapters.

In Part three of the book the doctor has a brief chapter on simple measures that is very informative.In this chapter the doctor discusses simple techniques that we can all use at home to improve the overall quality of our health.I use the techniques in this chapter to feel better when I get a cold, or just don't feel like myself.The techniques really are simple and easy to use, but have a power effect on my overall well being.

Part four of the book covers the resources that any of us would need to follow the practices brought forth in the other portions of the book.

In Summation, I feel that this book is very well written and easy to understand.Once you have read this book I believe it will become your bible for how to maintain optimum health and treat common ailments.I highly recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in health.




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