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93rd out of 179 books
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29 voters
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Spontaneous Healing
by
Andrew Weil
The body can heal itself. Spontaneous healing is not a miracle but a fact of biology--the result of the natural healing system that each one of us is born with. Drawing on fascinating case histories as well as medical techniques from around the world, Dr. Andrew Weil shows how spontaneous healing has worked to resolve life-threatening diseases, severe trauma, and chronic p...more
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published
April 4th 2000
by Ballantine Books
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"Spontaneous healing" is described by Dr. weil as "the inate, intrinsic nature of the healing process." In his view, healing and good health is not so much a matter or external factors or treatments as much as a conjuring of one's own natural abilities. Dr. Weil is considered a practicioner of "alternative" medicine. Nonetheless, Spontaneous Healing is a fair and balanced read. Dr. Weil never suggests that conventional medicine be abandoned entirely. Rather, he...more
I read this after the 8 Weeks book. This was written first, and there is a summary of the 8 Weeks book in chapter 2. This is a great resource, with lots of details on alternative medicine and an emphasis on keeping oneself healthy enough to fight off most illness.
Listen long enough and a quack will explain how he works. This book is a placebo for the mind, summed up by this excerpt:
"Belief in the healing power of some person, place, or thing can also be a key to success. This is in the realm of placebo responses and miracle shrines. We do not seem to be able to will healing responses to occur, because our will does not connect directly to the autonomic nervous system and other controlling mechanisms of the healing system. Yet we can ...more
"Belief in the healing power of some person, place, or thing can also be a key to success. This is in the realm of placebo responses and miracle shrines. We do not seem to be able to will healing responses to occur, because our will does not connect directly to the autonomic nervous system and other controlling mechanisms of the healing system. Yet we can ...more
This is a short, but very interesting, book about Dr. Weil's views on the mind-body-spirit connection. The basic theme is that the body has a natural power to heal itself and that we in modern society--Americans in particular--need to honor that power more. The book is somewhat repetitive of Dr. Weil's many other books in that he gives specific advice about healthy diets, foods to embrace and those to avoid, specific amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements he recommends, the importance of r...more
I read this book when I was thinking about going to medical school. It is easy to read and has many stories. The personification of a doctor, Dr. Weil, shares some natural healing techniques not discribed in the mainstream. It really motivated me to be a doctor. Ofcourse, after volunteer in clinic and working in a hospital, I got a completely different view. Mainstream doctors are not healers but glorified technicians.
okay this book would have been terrific if it hadn't included the doomsday chapter on cancer. i'm going to guess that a lot of people who buy this have some familiarity with the disease and are in search of ways to heal themselves. although the author claims people are not responsible for their condition (kudos for not blaming the victim) he goes on to say that once the immune system's failed the barn door can never be closed again. i like alternative ways of looking at health and nutrition but ...more
Noelle
added it
Dr. Weil has very sensible approaches. Also, unlike several "trendy" books written by practitioners with no credentials (not necessarily bad info, but it varies so widely), Dr. Weil is a medical doctor who supports preventative/alternative medicine. He calls the combination of Western medicine & "alternative" medicine - integrative or complementary medicine. It's so refreshing to be exposed to medicinal info that does not dismiss one kind of medical care or the other.
It's pretty helpful. If you can't get to a doctor but you can get to a grocery store, Dr. Weil can fix it if it's not a burst appendix or broken bone. Some of the content of the book is a little nutty and difficult to apply, but much makes sense. For instance, he encourages varying the content of your diet almost everyday and introducing different things into it. Some of his information is common sense but who couldn't use a reminder now and again?
I've seen Weil's creepy Santa face on the cover of books my whole life, but I've never read one until now. I was fascinated by his patients' true stories of spontaneous healing. I have to assume that they are pretty rare cases even though I'm all for natural medicine. Although he doesn't go into any subject with much depth, his brief overviews of types of holistic practices got me interested in seeking out more information about Osteopathy. Craniosacral therapy anyone??
i like most everything that Andrew Weil writes. He seems to be a spokesperson for the practice of whole, sane medicine. i appreciate that he looks deeply into things, considers all angles, and values approaches that work. A good book, since we'll all suffer the wrath of decomposition sooner or later. i think i still have a few years:)
It was very good, but I could tell it was written several years ago. Quite a few of the things that were talked about as "new" or "unknown" in the book have since moved into the mainstream...or if not the mainstream, then at least more prominence. Perhaps that happened in part because of this book? I don't know.
As much as I love books, there are few I would say actually changed my life.
This book did. It brought such hope after my MS diagnosis and encouraged me to seek
alternative treatments that have made such a great difference in how I feel.
This book did. It brought such hope after my MS diagnosis and encouraged me to seek
alternative treatments that have made such a great difference in how I feel.
Weil's book has some interesting information on the healing properties of some foods and the potential benefits of lifestyle choices and alternative therapies. It is a straight-forward and easily skimmable read.
I like this guy because he is a medical doctor and has natural healing ideas that don't seem hokey. I like his books and I trust his judgement.
A well-meaning book, but written for very conventional-minded readers. If you've read much in this area, there isn't anything new.
A great look at how to keep your body healthy. The idea is what you put into your body helps keep it from getting sick.
I like the stories of people who heal themselves but Western Doctors are unlikely to change or give people options.
I was put off by his recommendations for taking massive amounts of pills, be they what he calls natural or not.
This book was amazing, I learned so much about alternative health care and the mind body connection.
Lucia
added it
I read this as part of the Integrative Medicine elective in medical school. A very interesting book.
Amazing!!!!! This book has changed my ideas of how to be healthy.
After trying to find someone with a balanced view on health issues this book was like a breath of fresh air. Dr. Weil seemed very balanced in his views between alternative health care and modern medicine. His views on the patient being the expert when it comes to their condition and their ablity to influence their own healing power through diet, exercise, lifestyle choices, and supplements really made sense to me. I plan on buying this book to have as a reference and am hoping to implement hi...more
Good year-end review for healthy habits.
Andrew Weil is great!
I love Dr. Weil's books!!!
Forrest Yoga Homework
Amazing!!i
Very interesting. I love hearing how diet, proper breathing, rest, "de-tox"ing and so forth can contribute to a better, longer life.
This is a good combination of reference and non-fiction on healthy living. Dr. Weil provides information on nutrition, exercise, mental health and self-care, alternative therapies as well as essays on how the body can heal itself naturally.
I read the book front to back to be sure I didn't miss anything, but it is also a book that you can pick up and open to a particular topic and hopefully find what you are looking for.
I read the book front to back to be sure I didn't miss anything, but it is also a book that you can pick up and open to a particular topic and hopefully find what you are looking for.
I really enjoyed this book. It is one actually checked out from the library. Would love to add to my own personal library. What made it so good for me was the stories of others healing. Showing that there is hope when Doctors give you none. I have always believed that our bodies could heal it self just as a it does with a scrap or cut. He shows that when a body is give the right kinds of foods and herbs that we can get better.
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Andrew Weil, MD, is the founder and program director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. He is the author of many bestselling books, including Spontaneous Healing, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, and others.
Learn More:
Facebook.com/DrWeil
YouTube.com/DrWeil
Vimeo.com/DrWeil
Flickr.com
WeilPod
More about Andrew Weil...
Learn More:
Facebook.com/DrWeil
YouTube.com/DrWeil
Vimeo.com/DrWeil
Flickr.com
WeilPod
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