SUGGESTED READING FOR MARCH: HEALTH & HEALING ARTS

Book lists are compiled with input from:

Village Books, 1210 11th Ave., Bellingham www.villagebooks.com
Michael's Books, 109 Grand Ave., Bellingham www.michaelsbooks.com

March: Health & Healing Arts

All Women are Healers: A Comprehensive Guide to Natural Healing. Diane Stein
The author surveys the role of women in alternative medicine, emphasizing the personal one-on-one approaches of women to the healing process.

Essential Reiki: A Complete Guide to an Ancient Healing Art. Diane Stein
The author, a Reiki master, examines this ancient system of laying on of hands derived from Tibetan Buddhism, demystifying Reiki techniques.

Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats. Diane Stein
The author extends holistic healing methods to the whole family, showing how to use nutrition, vitamins, minerals, massage, herbs, and homeopathy to promote pet health.

You Can Heal Your Life. Meditations to Heal Your Life. Louise Hay
The author stresses that we are each responsible for our own reality and "dis-ease." Hay believes we make ourselves ill by having thoughts of self-hatred.

Energy Anatomy. Anatomy of the Spirit. The Creation of Health. Caroline Myss.
The author offers a picture of the human body's hidden energetic structures and its connection to seven truths found in Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism. Her approach to studying the anatomy of the human energy system equates with the anatomy of the spirit.

Vibrational Medicine. Richard Gerber MD
The author, an internist, has become the definitive authority of energetic medicine. This book is a culmination of twenty years of research into alternative medical diagnosis and treatment combining scientific evidence with traditional methods of the East and West.

Job’s Body. Deane Juhan
A widely used single resource in the field of bodywork (required for national certification in massage therapy). It surveys "bodywork," showing how its practices alter deep-seated patterns of body and mind. Reader-friendly yet scientifically reliable detailed introduction to the human body is ideal for use by massage therapists, body workers, and the general public.

The Heart of Listening. Hugh Milne
The author details the anatomy, physiology and energetics of the craniosacral system, offering an approach to the practice of craniosacral therapy, drawing from a diverse collection of energy work. Craniosacral therapy involves the cranial bones, meningeal membranes, cerebrospinal fluids, and whole-body connective tissues.

Hands of Light. Light Emerging. Barbara Brennan.
The author, a former NASA scientist and atmospheric physicist, looks at the field of bioenergetic healing, offering specific techniques towards expanding perceptual tools of healing, seeing auras, understanding psychodynamics and the human energy field, and spiritual healing.

Women’s Bodies Women’s Wisdom. The Wisdom of Menopause. Christiane Northrup.
With more than 1.25 million copies in print, Northrup, a gynecologist, acknowledges the power of natural therapies and herbs, but also maintains that allopathic treatments, including surgery, are sometimes best. She supports the viewpoint that when women change the basic conditions of their lives, they heal faster and more completely.

In a book destined to be a classic, Dr. Northrup shows women how they can make menopause a time of personal empowerment and positive energy–emerging wiser, healthier, and stronger in both mind and body than ever before.

Freedom from Fear Forever. Dr James Durlacher
The author, a licensed chiropractic physician and applied kinesiologist, believes that fear, real or imagined, produces pain. This book is not about covering up pain with natural internal pain killers, but rather balancing the subtle energies of the acupuncture system so the individual can deal with his/her phobias.

Acupressure Way of Health. Iona Teguarden
The book begins with conception and introduction of theoretical basis of Chinese Medicine and acupressure, providing a practical approach to emotional health through acupressure.

Creative Visualization. Return to the Garden. Shakti Gawain
The author presents a primer on creative visualization practical techniques using mental imagery and affirmation as a way to produce positive change in one's life, change negative habits, and improve self-esteem.

In Return to the Garden" Gawain shares her insight about our need to make a commitment to our own healing and to the healing of the planet.

Stretching. Bob Anderson
First published in 1980, Anderson recommends-- "static" stretching -- you sit in one place and hold the stretch for a specified amount of time. This isn't exactly trendy, but it remains the most accessible way for entry-level exercisers to improve their flexibility. He makes it clear that stretching should make you feel better, not worse, and that it's not a competition. Any little bit you can do is better than not doing anything.

Active Isolated Stretching. Aaron Mattes
Aaron Mattes started formulating Active Isolated Stretching almost thirty years ago. The information in the first dozen pages lay out the scientific and medical basis for the common sense approach of the Mattes Method. His references are sound and accepted. Mr. Mattes politely refutes some of the "traditional" stretching styles and backs his with physiological laws.

Your Body’s Many Cries for Water. F. Batmanghelidji MD
The author, a medical doctor, believes that chronic dehydration is the cause of many conditions including asthma, allergies, arthritis, angina, migraine headaches, hypertension, raised cholesterol, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, depression, and diabetes . The author explains how much water one needs to drink a day to stay healthy, and why tea, coffee, and sodas are not good substitutes for water

Prescription for Nutritional Healing. James Balch MD
This book has long been considered one of the most comprehensive sources on the mind-boggling array of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements. Working from the premise that a good diet promotes good health, this third edition of PNH still starts with the basics: consume fresh produce, grains, and lean meats; avoid foods that are processed or high in saturated fat; cook using glass, stainless steel, or iron--never aluminum; and drink filtered water.

Healing with Whole Foods. Paul Pitchford.
Used as a reference by students of acupuncture, this is a comprehensive guide to the theory and healing power of Chinese medicine. It's also a primer on nutrition--including facts about green foods, such as spirulina and blue-green algae, and the "regeneration diets" used by cancer patients and arthritics--along with an inspiring cookbook with more than 300 mostly vegetarian, nutrient-packed recipes.
Back to Eden. Jethro Kloss

The classic guide to herbal medicine, natural foods and home remedies underscores the fundamental principle that true healing consists of a return to natural habits of living.

Hygieia: A Woman's Herbal. Jeannine Parvati Baker and others
The author is an international teacher of midwifery and presents this work at conferences around the world.

Male Herbal. James Green
The author presents specific information concerning herbs and folk wisdom for male health-care including some basic male biology often missing from this type of book. He also explains how to make infusions, decoctions, and tinctures.

The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies. David Hoffman
A full-color edition of a highly acclaimed herbal is an A-Z compendium of more than 200 herbs, providing extensive information about the uses, actions, dosages, and cautions for each herb, as well as instructions for gathering and preparing herbal remedies.

The Family Herbal. Barbara and Peter Theiss
A very good guide to 40 herbs recommended for common health problems. This book outlines herbal treatments for a wide range of ailments. Particular attention is paid to herbal remedies for childhood illnesses and disorders associated with old age..

Today’s Herbal Health for Children. Louise Tenney.
The ultimate herb reference guide, taking a comprehensive look at herbs and their healing potentials. This revised and updated edition covers both single herbs and herbs used in combinations, with up-to-date information on over 150 herbs. In addition, powerful testimonials concerning natural therapies are included. Consider this book the essential reference guide to herbs and natural health.

Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable. The Complete Herbal Handbook for the Dog and Cat. Cats Naturally. Juliette de Bairacli Levy
A valuable guide for farmers and the general public concerned about the overuse of non-natural medicine, herbicides, and insecticides in farm management and animal husbandry. This book, used in conjunction with proper consultation with a veterinarian, can help animal owners and farmers move back to natural and healthy farming practices.

Cats Naturally is based on raising cats according to the cat rather than the human. Diet is determined in large part by their diet in the wild, medicines according to their own means of healing when left alone. There are herbal remedies for parasites and insects (mange, ear mites, ticks, lice, fleas & ringworm), and herbal remedies for digestive problems and other ailments.

Wood becomes Water: Chinese Medicine in Everyday life. Gail Reichstein.
Each chapter includes lists of common ailments associated with each of the five elements of Chinese cosmology, feng shui solutions for the home and workplace, acupuncture treatment, dietary therapy, and qigong exercises.

Rare Earths Forbidden Cures. Joel Walsh DVM
A comprehensive look at the physical, emotional, and social problems attributed to mineral deficiencies in our soil and food supply.

Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Woman's Guide to a Trouble-Free Menopause.
Nan Lou and others
Traditional Chinese Medicine has successfully treated menopausal systems for thousands of years and continues to do so today. In this book, Dr. Lu, trained in the principles, theories, and technical practices of this ancient medicine makes this unique knowledge available to women everywhere.


Working Out – Working Within. Jerry Lynch and Chungliang Al Huang.
In this book a tai chi and Chinese calligraphy master teams up with a sports psychologist to outline a program for inner fitness through sports. They offer stages rather than steps, so in addition to committed practice, the stages entail a gradual process of growth, development, and transformation

8 Weeks to Optimum Health. Andrew Weil MD
Health," Dr. Andrew Weil writes, "is a dynamic and temporary state of equilibrium destined to break down as conditions change." Weil suggests, your goal should be to improve your resilience to disease, and while you're at it, feel more joy and strength. , Weil doesn't come on with a hard sell to give up every bad habit or all of the foods you enjoy. Instead, he suggests gradual changes: clean your pantry of whatever cooking oils you have there, except olive oil; start taking vitamin C three times a day; walk a few minutes a day; eat some fish and broccoli. The program is so simple and sensible that anyone trying it probably will feel better in a week. The program then gets progressively more involved--more supplements; more of a shift toward a diet based on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; more exercise. Even those who don't go for the entire program will probably find something here to like.

Tai Chi Classics. Waysun Liao
Presents the inner meaning and techniques of T'ai Chi movements through translations of three essential texts which together are often considered the "T'ai Chi Bible." Includes practical instructions and illustrations for the entire sequence of movements

Light on Yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar
The definitive guide to the philosophy and practice of Yoga--the ancient healing discipline for body and mind--by its greatest living teacher. Light on Yoga provides complete descriptions and illustrations of all the positions and breathing exercises. Features a foreword by Yehudi Menuhin. Illustrations throughout.

Your Face Never Lies: An Introduction to Oriental Diagnosis. Michio Kushi

Michio Kushi, introduced and developed modern macrobiotics in the United States. Oriental diagnosis can be used to detect many conditions that often go unnoticed by Western medicine. Kushi describes methods of diagnosing by, for example, the appearance of the eyes, mouth, fingers, and feet, to identify potential health problems.,

Conscious Eating. Gabriel Cousens M.D.
The author presents a nutritional paradigm based on the concept that fresh, raw,live, or unprocessed foods ideally enhance the "Subtle Organizing Energy Fields" of the human body and are therefore the choice for optimum health.

New Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way: Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90 (Wise Woman Herbal Series, Book 5). Susun S. Weed
For women who've chosen strong bones and healthy hearts without recourse to hormones. A treasure trove of accessible, reliable, non-drug remedies.

Electrical Nutrition: A Revolutionary Approach to Eating That Awakens the Body's Natural Electrical Energy. Denie Hiestand, and others.
The premise of the book is that our bodies require electrically available nutrients that can be converted by the body into energy. The problem is that pollution and processing render most of what we eat and drink into electrically dead substances. The result of continually bombarding our bodies with substances we cannot effectively interact with in an electrical sense is degeneration and disease. The good news is that damaged electrical systems in the body can be restored through cleansing, proper nutrition, and nurturing of a healthy body/mind connection.

Light Years Ahead: The Illustrated Guide to Full Spectrum and Colored Light in Mindbody Healing. Brian Breiling (ed.) Bethany Argisle (ed.)
The use of light and color as therapeutic tools are explored in this collection of presentations.

The Web That Has No Weaver. Ted Kaptchuk
The author, associate director of the Center for Alternative Medicine Research and Education at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center, discusses the ideas of Qi, Essence, Spirit, and Fluids, as well as the basics of acupuncture and herbology. The bulk of the book focuses on the notion of harmony, the body's patterns, and signs of disharmony.

Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine. Harriet Beinfeld and Efrem Korngold.
This groundbreaking book by two Western health practitioners who are experts in Chinese medicine was the first really accessible guide to Chinese medicine that enable Western laypeople to understand the philosophy behind the practice, and learn how to use Chinese medical techniques in their own lives.

The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life. Robert Becker
The author, a physician and pioneer in the field of bioelectric science, examines the role electricity plays in healing, challenging the traditional mechanistic model of the body, offeriong new possibilities for fighting disease and harnessing the body's healing powers.

resources • links • volunteer! • contact us • home

Have questions or comments?
Please contact Dudley Evenson with your questions and comments.

Join our Mailing List!
You’ll receive notices of upcoming events and opportunities to get involved!

(We promise not to share your name or email address with anyone.)

Interested in volunteering?
Click here to fill out and send in our Volunteer Form!