The earliest records of history show that the art of healing was held in high esteem since the time of Ancient Egypt. In the early 20th century, medical doctors had almost attained the status of sainthood by the promotion of the idea that they alone were "scientists" while other healing modalities and traditional healers who did not follow the "scientific method' were nothing but superstitious, ignorant charlatans who at best would take the money of their clients and at worst kill them with the unscientific "snake oils" and "irrational theories." In the late 20th century, the failure of the modern medical establishment's ability to lead the general public to good health, promoted the move by many in society towards "alternative medicine." Alternative medicine disciplines are those healing modalities which do not adhere to the philosophy of allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine is what medical doctors practice by an large. It is the theory that disease is caused by agencies outside the body such as bacteria, viruses or physical means which affect the body. These can therefore be treated by medicines and therapies The natural healing method began in the absence of extensive technologies with the idea that all the answers for health may be found in nature or rather, the deviation from nature. Therefore, the health of the body can be restored by correcting the aberration and thereby restoring balance. This is the area that will be covered in this volume. Allopathic techniques have their place in the art of healing. However, we should not forget thatthe body is a grand achievement of the spirit and built into it is the capacity to maintain itself and heal itself.

    The forefathers of alternative medicine discovered methods of healing the body by stimulating this life force. In Vitalism: The History of Herbalism, Homeopathy, and Flower Essences, Matthew Wood describes the theories, lives, and work of nine great physicians who laid the groundwork for natural medicine.

    Herbal expert Ron Teeguarden explains how to apply natural Chinese herbal medicine in order to lead a full and energetic life.

    (1925-90) rose from childhood stardom on the vaudeville stage to become one of the most famous African American entertainers of the 1950s and '60s (and the only black member of Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack). At the same time, he spent most of his career surrounded by controversy and ridicule--over his affairs with white film stars, his 1960 marriage to Swedish actress May Britt, his conversion to Judaism, his closeness to the Kennedys (and later Richard Nixon), and his problems with alcohol and drugs.When Davis published his first memoir, "Yes, I Can," in 1965, it was a critical and popular success--acclaimed for a candor and thoughtfulness rare in celebrity autobiographies and for its painful evocation of life as a black peformer in segregated America. Davis's 1980 memoir, "Why Me?," laid bare Davis's troubled relationship to the Kennedys, his ambivalence toward the Black Pride movement, the end of his marriage to Britt (and his complex open marriage with Altovise Davis), and his flamboyant, self-loathing misbehavior, from ruinous extravagance to flirtations with Satanism.Davis's co-writer Burt Boyar has revised Davis's memoirs, incorporating material from unpublished interviews, and has added a new introduction and epilogue. The result is a testament to an unacknowledged--often uncomfortable--leader in the struggle for racial equality.

    It addresses a growing interest in the field of mind-body medicine and the role of natural energy forces within the body in maintaining normal health and wellbeing. This in turn has lead to interest in how these energies or forces may be channelled to assist in healing and the restoration of normal health.The first clinically related text on a new theory of medicine which is arousing increasing interestWritten by a respected scientist who adds respectability to what otherwise might seem to be New Age theoriesBrings together the evidence to support the theoriesBrings together material which previously has been unpublished or hard to come by, especially for clinicians

    This is a guide to homeopathy featuring information on over 320 remedies, a self-help section covering minor ailments such as colds and indigestion and real-life case studies on the treatment of chronic disorders including rheumatoid arthritis.

    Giving a good massage can involve stimulating meridians and meridian points, finding the location of blocked energy, and then working with oils to affect change.Eidson writes in an unabashedly spiritual context, using her intuitive energetic abilities to help clients open to their own development and spiritual path. In a thorough listing of essential oils, Eidson describes each in terms of its use in life transformations, relevant growth and healing issues, the oil's energetic influences on blockages and distortions, relevant organs, and the botanical origin of the plant. Her trust in plants to reveal the nature and problems of a person amounts to a fascinating statement on the nature of the relationship between plants and people, as well as an important healing text.

    An Introductory Guide to Aromatherapy by Louise Tucker , Volume editor Jane Foulston Category: Home, Family & Health / Mind, Body & Spirt Publisher: EMS Publishing Publication date: 30 November 2000 Number of pages: 136

    • Clear directions for growing and using many wild and cultivated herbs. • Detailed pen-and-ink drawings help readers identify 70 herbs. With irresistible enthusiasm and an endless store of knowledge about the plant kingdom, herbalist Adele Dawson traces the human-plant relationship through the seasons, providing practical and enlightening information about every aspect of herbalism, including spring foraging, summer gourmet gardening, the preparation of remedies in autumn, and the brewing of healing potions in winter. The mysteries of preparing infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and essences are unraveled through the author's clear and cohesive chapters on how to identify, collect, and preserve herbs. Detailed pen-and-ink drawings show the essential elements of flower and leaf anatomy as well as 70 wild and cultivated plants in their budding, blossoming, and dormant stages. Sprinkled throughout the text are recipes for impromptu wild feasts such as milkweed buds tempura, directions for soothing hand lotions of marigold and milk, and an enormous variety of medicinal and culinary teas. In equal measure an herbal encyclopedia, a health-food cookbook, and a nature guide, this book deserves a place on the reference shelf of both the new and experienced herbalist.