Reader Views

The IBS Healing Plan: Natural Ways to Beat Your Symptoms (Positive Options)

For many, many years from an early age children have been taught that anything relating to "#2" is something that you deal with but it’s just not talked about. Individuals have been suffering in silence of a condition that is just not being discussed or resolution attempted. "The IBS Healing Plan: Natural Ways to Beat Your Symptoms" by Theresa Cheung begins with an orientation of what exactly IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) is and its symptoms, then leads the reader thru possible resolution.

Individual sufferers make this book very personable with first-person accounts from pre-diagnosis thru continual maintenance. If you are one of the 15-20% of people who suffer with this affliction you will benefit from the information about supplements, herb, and the vast array of complementary therapies that could improve your condition. Many different types of exercise and meditation are introduced as ways to improve your overall well-being which can decrease some of the symptoms. The Seven Golden Rules of the IBS Diet along with tips for eating out are easy to follow and would be a great start for those just diagnosed. As well as providing information for sufferers, I have gained knowledge that will help me understand how members of my family see a condition they have suffered silently for many years. I hope to use the knowledge I have learned to help ease the symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Every day is a challenge for those who have been long suffering or recently diagnosed regardless of the severity of your symptoms. As stated in the book, "Like an unannounced visitor who drops in when you’re just about to go out, or the annoying caller who won’t let you off the phone, IBS comes calling whenever and wherever it likes." Equipped with the information provided by "The IBS Healing Plan: Natural Ways to Beat Your Symptoms" by Theresa Cheung, you will have knowledge gained to help combat your condition.

The IBS Healing Plan
Theresa Cheung
Hunter House (2008)
ISBN 9780897935074
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (9/08)

Body Eloquence: The Power of Myth and Story to Awaken the Body’s Energies

Nancy Mellon’s "Body Eloquence" is a truly wondrous book. From the absolutely beautiful cover to the very last page of it, I could not find fault with it. The way the author wove together storytelling, science, medicine, myths, exercises and more was incredibly marvelous. There was no way to put it down, and no way that I would voluntarily decide to part with this book for good, although I plan to get a few copies for those near and dear to me.

The best way to describe the impact of this work on me would be with a little personal story. Years ago, as a perennially broke student, I lived on the banks of a great big river. I wear eyeglasses and my prescription changes often. Well, I was broke, so for a few years I could not afford new lenses. When I finally got a new pair of glasses, I remember looking at the river bank and thinking, "Wow, I never realized there were all those pebbles and rocks on the shore." All of a sudden I could REALLY see, and what I saw was beautiful. This book made me look at my body in a whole new way, and I found it utterly fascinating.

Ms. Mellon reintroduces us to different body organs, and all of a sudden we see many layers of their roles and meaning for our entire body. She retells stories and myths, makes us see what really matters and what we have been missing and also introduces a wonderful healing technique, which trough the art of storytelling helps us to get our bodies in perfect balance. Both the mental and the physical exercises described in "Body Eloquence" are simple enough, yet I have no doubt that they will prove very useful in everyday life. Such holistic approach to wellbeing is one I deeply respect and I have learned to appreciate it more and more.

Wonderfully fluid and engaging writing, exciting ideas and exercises, imaginative stories and attractive illustrations, and lovely content all contribute to the enjoyment of this book. Get a copy for yourself and a few more for those people in your life about whom you care. "Body Eloquence" by Nancy Mellon with Ashley Ramsden would make a perfect personal gift.

Body Eloquence
Nancy Mellon with Ashley Ramsden
Energy Psychology Press (2008)
ISBN 9781604150285
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (9/08)

The Age of Dedoctorization

We are living in an age where more progress than ever has been made in extending lives, curing disease and providing health care prevention. I have to ask the question then, why do I as an Executive Director of a not-for-profit healthcare organization spend so much of my time advocating for individuals whose healthcare plans are refusing to pay for simple procedures? A couple of years ago, I spent over 50% of my time at my local state house educating legislators as to why medical health care providers should decide what constitutes a treatment, not health plan administrators. That is why Dr. Bill’s story is so important. He wrote his memoir in hope that the same trend that tied his hands as a physician over several decades will not repeat itself again.

Dr. Bill was born, raised and educated in Turkey. Early on in his life he suffered tragedy with the loss of his own father who was a mental health care provider. During school Dr. Bill proved himself a very worthy advocate in promoting the funding of medical student exchange programs.

After medical school, Dr. Bill decided to move to America and work at the Delaware State Hospital. As always, he worked hard to advocate for patients health care. He chronicles the years when he was the last psychiatrist administrator in a private psychiatric hospital. He discusses the pitfalls of health care when business administrators take over. He also discusses the fact that while administrators were making drastic cuts in health care during those years, administrative costs went through the roof.

Dr. Bill’s thoughtful front-line perspective is very important to what is happening in today’s healthcare arena. The only problem that I found in the book was that I found parts confusing when he was jumping back and forth between years. Sometimes I was not sure if he was in Turkey or the U.S. I would recommend "The Age of Dedoctorization" to those who are in the healthcare field, patients or family members advocating for patient care, legislators and for health care business administrators.

The Age of Dedoctorization
Aydin Z. Bill, M.D.
American Literary Press (2008)
ISBN 9781934696125
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (9/08)

Seven Minutes to Natural Pain Release: WHEE for Tapping Your Pain Away, The Revolutionary New Self Healing Method

Dr. Daniel Benor, MD is a wholistic psychiatrist who developed WHEE. WHEE stands for Whole Health Easily & Effectively. It incorporates two methods used in psychotherapy: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Professional psychotherapists will most likely recognize these terms; the lay person can learn about them in this book.

WHEE is a method that provides fast relief of both psychological and physical pain. It helps you get to the root of the pain by identifying the emotional issues that helped to create it and to gain an understanding about why we are experiencing it. We tend to create emotional blocks as a way to bury feelings that we think we can’t handle. Physical pain often develops in our muscles and joints as a result of this. By identifying the blocks or resistances that are surrounding the pain, you can release it. Letting go helps you to be able to move on from the psychological issues that were binding you to the pain.

Dr. Benor observes, "Pain is often a message from our inner self, spoken through the symptoms of our body." WHEE is described as wholistic because it takes into account all of the aspects that complete a person, including mind, body, spirit, emotions and relationships. For some people, some of the issues that are dealt with involve past life experiences and healing relationship issues with people who have passed on.

Who can benefit from WHEE? People who are experiencing either physical or emotional pain from health issues such as: fibromyalgia, PTSD, cravings, depression, irritable bowel syndrome and headaches. WHEE is simple and easy to learn. It takes less time than traditional therapy. As a matter of fact, WHEE was developed as a result of time limitations that have been imposed upon psychotherapists with their patients. Today, with so many insurance companies only willing to pay for brief therapy, WHEE is incredibly important. It is also something that people can use to help themselves outside of the therapist’s office.

As a person with fibromyalgia it is a relief knowing a doctor recognizes that it is a real health issue. It is also wonderful to know that a simple treatment exists that can help me heal from it, without having to resort to medications. I am sure that other readers will also feel this way in regards to whatever health issues they are facing.

I really enjoyed reading "Seven Minutes to Natural Pain Release." Dr. Benor writes with such understanding and compassion. He also offers a glossary and in-depth explanations so that a layperson will have no problems understanding any of the subjects offered. I highly recommend this book to those who want to heal themselves from pain without medications and raise themselves to higher spiritual levels, and to the therapists who help them to heal.

Seven Minutes to Natural Pain Release
Daniel J. Benor, MD
Elite Books/Energy Psychology Press (2008)
ISBN 9781604150346
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (9/08)

Moving Your Aging Parents: Fulfilling Their Needs and Yours Before, During, and After the Move

There are very few certainties in life. We are born and we die. If we are lucky, we age. If we are very lucky, our parents live to a ripe old age as well. When that happens, the traditional roles of children and parents become somewhat reversed. The oh-so-strong, capable and never-wrong person of our youth all of a sudden finds him- or herself in need of our assistance - their child! This is always a difficult position to be in, and usually it is true for both of the involved parties. So how does one handle such delicate situations without "putting down" one’s parents?

Wesson’s "Moving Your Aging Parents" is a true gem of a book. It is rarely gentle, compassionate, but utterly useful and practical at the same time. Wesson seems to have thought of every aspect of moving – from the very initial stages of planning and mapping things out, to the practicalities of the actual moving activities, packing, unpacking and settling in to the ways to create a "new home" quickly and efficiently. Wesson understands very clearly that a house is not a home, and she guides the reader into making it a home quickly, suggesting the essential activities, key pieces and rituals to achieve that. She is forever attentive to the fact that it is the parent’s comfort, safety and happiness that count the most and she suggests ways of respecting their wishes, while maintaining a level of practicality and feasibility.

Having read "Moving Your Aging Parents," I found it an invaluable resource not only for those who have to help parents move, but really for anybody contemplating a move in general. The advice contained within those pages is incredibly practical and well thought out. I wish I would have read it sooner; or at least before our last cross-country move. If there is one piece of advice I could not agree with more, it would be the one about hanging the artwork you own as soon as possible. Nothing says home more than that as far as I am concerned.

I could not recommend this book highly enough to anybody who is lucky enough to be in the position to help their aging parents move. "Moving Your Aging Parents" provides all the advice on the technicalities of moving you’ll ever need; and it will also teach you some valuable lessons in patience, understanding and compassion.

Moving Your Aging Parents: Fulfilling Their Needs and Yours Before, During, and After the Move
Nancy Daniel Wesson
Loving Healing Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690545
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (8/08)

Getting Whole, Getting Well: Healing Holistically from Chronic Illness

When switching from conventional medicine to CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) there could be a lot of confusion or questioning what modality would work best, or what each one does.  Dr. Iris Bell, a CAM practitioner and one who is healed using CAM, is an expert in the field. She is giving us a concise, but very effective explanation of what CAM is and how to proceed with one’s own healing processes. 

All through the book “Getting Whole, Getting Well” Bell puts the suggestion of Assess, Balance, and Coordinate into our healing processes.  She also advocates seeing the big picture – body, mind, spirit, not just focusing on the specific illness. She says “Chronic disease is a manifestation of being stuck in a pattern of being that is bad for you, i.e., a dynamic rut…. Symptoms are a sign of a larger problem.”  Conventional medicine focuses on symptoms; CAM focuses on the “larger problem.”

Furthermore, Bell insists we take responsibility for our own healing; we must take charge of organizing and coordinating our own treatments.  She explains the various tiers of intervention, however, she also tells us using a combination of treatments that fall into the same level will not give optimal results. Bell suggests using a variety of treatment from different levels, for example, Chinese medicine (systemic,) journaling (mind-body,) Chiropractic (structural,) and exercise (preventative/biochemical.)  It’s important to affect all levels for optimum healing.

“Getting Whole, Getting Well” is your basic 101 to getting well – there is nothing complicated. Not only does Bell give a concise plan, she gives charts, resources, research readings, and sources. As a proponent of CAM myself, I’m gratefully encouraged by the fact more conventionally trained medical doctors are choosing to add alternative methods and seeing “curing” the patient on all levels, not only putting a band aide on the symptoms. I don’t think there is another book on the market that holds as much information about CAM as this book does, specifically in such a concise manner.  It’s a book every CAM practitioner should have available for their patients. Dr. Bell takes the guessing out every reader’s mind of how to proceed with healing, as well as choose modalities to heal their chronic disease/s.

Getting Whole, Getting Well
Iris R. Bell, MD, PhD
Morgan James Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781600373879
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (8/08)

The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Guide for Caregivers

This is an exceptional book that gives the reader tips on how to care for family members with Alzheimer’s Disease. Each chapter discusses some behaviors caregivers might encounter along with tips on how to make the home safe.

The goal of the book is to help family members with Alzheimer’s to stay at home for as long as they can before having to go into a nursing home. The chapter on reducing frustration for family members was very interesting and informative. Ideas on how to reduce this frustration included information on noise levels, changing of furniture and daily routines. The author also gave resources on how to look for nursing homes, what one needed to do to prepare the family member for the move and addressing end-of-life issues.

“The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Guide for Caregivers” would be a wonderful resource to have; it was easy to read and the suggestions were very helpful.

The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer’s Disease
Maria M. Meyer
Care Trust Publications (2008)
ISBN 9780978790301
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (7/08)

The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness)

A medical doctor that has devoted his life to the study of arthritis, Dr. Cooper became interested in this disease as a child. Seeing his own grandmother suffer the pain and debilitating effects of this crippler was his inspiration. Working at New York’s “Beth Israel Medical Center” in the Orthopedics Department, Dr. Grant Cooper specializes in the care of people with spine, sports and musculoskeletal problems.

“The Arthritis Handbook” is a five-part, 224-page book that will change the lives of arthritis sufferers everywhere. Dr. Cooper has broken it down to a combination of three vital elements. These three elements are diet, exercise and carefully selected supplements to a healthy diet. Dr. Cooper shows you how you can do much more to ease your pain than just taking pills. He does not advocate discontinuance of such drugs as are prescribed; he just gives the reader alternatives.

In Part I, he defines:  Osteoarthritis and how it develops in the human body. The role obesity plays in damaging the cushioning properties of cartilage. How the additional weight puts undue pressure on these joints, causing damage to the cushion. Part II deals with nutrition and the benefits of eating a healthy diet. Grant stresses such things as more fruits and vegetables, less red meat and more fish.  The depth and concise detail that these topics covered kept me very interested. I enjoyed the way he explained the diet and what each part played toward a healthy body.

Part III explained the importance of exercise and the types of exercise one should do to help ease the pain of this disease. He covers this portion of the book with many photographs and an in-depth discussion. So in-depth is his coverage of this important area that he dedicates about a third of the book to it. Stretching, Strength Training, Aerobics, specific knee and hip exercises and lifestyle changes are just some of the topics covered.

Part IV describes what Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate are and what part they play in the health of the human body.  Part V is the one we all fear, “Medical and Surgical Options.” Dr. Cooper gives an insight into medications, injections and surgery. Explaining the benefits and drawbacks of these procedures, he lets the reader know what can be expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing book and recommend it highly to anyone that has this disease and wants to know more, or has a loved one that has this crippling debilitator. “The Arthritis Handbook” is very well written and presented, in-depth examples and explanations, good pictures and quality printing earned this book my highest A+ rating. Buy it, read it and live well by following Dr. Cooper’s recommendations.

The Arthritis Handbook
Dr. Grant Cooper
DiaMedica Publications (2008)
ISBN 9780979356414
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/08

The Perfect Menopause: 7 Steps to the Best Time of Your Life

Dr. Hess’ book “The Perfect Menopause” carries an intriguing subtitle – “7 Steps to the Best Time of Your Life.” Speaking to women around me, I have to admit I’ve never heard the words ‘menopause,’ ‘perfect’ and ‘best time’ mentioned together, in one sentence. Needless to say, I was curious and more than just a little skeptical…

Dr. Hess approaches the subject of menopause with a holistic and very much no-nonsense approach. It became immediately obvious to me that he has done extremely extensive research and that he evidently keeps informed about the current research and the numerous updates in the field of menopause management and treatments. While clearly expert, his writing never becomes too technical for an average reader and he never sounds condescending, which is something I’ve noticed in certain other books from the medical field. Dr. Hess sounds like somebody one would love to meet and have for a healthcare provider.

While guiding women through the sometimes very confusing data on menopause, possible treatments, treatment goals, symptoms management and general improvement in all of the related areas, Dr. Hess shows extreme respect for other people working in the field of menopause research and treatment, whether they are medical experts or simply women who have experienced it and decided to share their insight with others. While cautioning the reader to be diligent when deciding for certain treatments, Dr. Hess does not discount simple remedies, herbs, exercise and other, possibly less traditional ways of managing one’s symptoms. He also clarifies the immensely confusing issue of hormonal treatments, clarifies the results of past studies and offers the readers a comprehensive overview of hormonal treatment options.

I have no doubt that “The Perfect Menopause” should be present on the bookshelves of women in any stage of menopause, whether we are just entering it or are well in the midst of it. It should prove to be invaluable in gathering information as well as facilitating the future discussions with your health provider. Written in a clear and very upbeat voice, this is a great companion on the voyage through a certain unavoidable life stage. And with it, the journey should be considerably more pleasant.

The Perfect Menopause: 7 Steps to the Best Time of Your Life
Dr. Henry M. Hess, MD, PhD with Tiffany Farrell
Westfall Park Publishing Group (2008)
ISBN 9781604029352
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (4/08)

Proceedings of the 6th Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference

The 6th Annual Rocky Mountain Disaster Mental Health Conference was held in Cheyenne, Wyoming from November 8-10, 2007. The main theme was: “From Crisis to Recovery: Resilience and Strategic Planning for the Future.” Presenters from the conference put their materials into articles which are in this book. This is an excellent resource for people who attended the conference because they can use this as a reference for the information presented.

The purpose of this conference is to present information, “to promote the development and application of practice, research and training in disaster mental health, critical incident stress management, traumatology, and other emergency response interventions and to promote community awareness, resilience and recovery.” This information is needed by people who deal with critical incident stress management, behavioral health professionals, first responders and others who might be dealing with crisis situations.

I did not attend this conference; however, I found the information presented to be fascinating. Several important topics were discussed, in areas of critical importance to what is happening in our world today. It is imperative that people who are involved in crisis situations read this material. It is all well written and presented in a way that is easily understood and very interesting.

Some of the topics covered traumatic stress in the workplace with issues like police suicide. Others involved emergency preparedness. It is so important that people who deal with emergency and disaster situations are appropriately trained and have resources to handle the stressors of dealing with these situations. Many times, their lives have been impacted in a way in which they are unable to handle the aftermath of having dealt with horrific situations, such as having to deal with an airplane crashing. There are also discussions about the importance of having disaster readiness plans in places such as tourist vacation spots where natural disasters or terroristic acts can occur. In addition to needing to be trained in advance about how to handle these events, people also need to have an understanding of the traditions of the cultures that they might be helping.

“Proceedings of the 6th Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference” is a must have for first responders and mental health professionals. Addressing the needs of people who work in these fields is critical. The better trained they are to be emotionally equipped for disasters, the better they can help others. I think that the 120 pages of information covered in this book will be some of the most important information needed by people in this field today.

Edited by George W. Doherty, MS, LPC
Rocky Mountain DMH Institute Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690569
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/08)

The 6th Annual Rocky Mountain Disaster Mental Health Conference was held in Cheyenne, Wyoming from November 8-10, 2007. The main theme was: “From Crisis to Recovery: Resilience and Strategic Planning for the Future.” Presenters from the conference put their materials into articles which are in this book. This is an excellent resource for people who attended the conference because they can use this as a reference for the information presented.

The purpose of this conference is to present information, “to promote the development and application of practice, research and training in disaster mental health, critical incident stress management, traumatology, and other emergency response interventions and to promote community awareness, resilience and recovery.” This information is needed by people who deal with critical incident stress management, behavioral health professionals, first responders and others who might be dealing with crisis situations.

I did not attend this conference; however, I found the information presented to be fascinating. Several important topics were discussed, in areas of critical importance to what is happening in our world today. It is imperative that people who are involved in crisis situations read this material. It is all well written and presented in a way that is easily understood and very interesting.

Some of the topics covered traumatic stress in the workplace with issues like police suicide. Others involved emergency preparedness. It is so important that people who deal with emergency and disaster situations are appropriately trained and have resources to handle the stressors of dealing with these situations. Many times, their lives have been impacted in a way in which they are unable to handle the aftermath of having dealt with horrific situations, such as having to deal with an airplane crashing. There are also discussions about the importance of having disaster readiness plans in places such as tourist vacation spots where natural disasters or terroristic acts can occur. In addition to needing to be trained in advance about how to handle these events, people also need to have an understanding of the traditions of the cultures that they might be helping.

“Proceedings of the 6th Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference” is a must have for first responders and mental health professionals. Addressing the needs of people who work in these fields is critical. The better trained they are to be emotionally equipped for disasters, the better they can help others. I think that the 120 pages of information covered in this book will be some of the most important information needed by people in this field today.

Proceedings of the 6th Rocky Mountain Region Disaster Mental Health Conference
Edited by George W. Doherty, MS, LPC
Rocky Mountain DMH Institute Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932690569
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/08)