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Doctor Yourself: Natural Healing That Works
SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND EXPANDED
“Provacative and exciting… [it] deserves a prominent place in the library of anyone serious about self health care." –Vitality magazine
Don't bother looking in the history books for what has killed the most Americans. Look instead at our dinner tables. We eat too much of the wrong foods and not enough of the right foods. Scientific research continually indicates nationwide vitamin and mineral deficiencies in our country, and we spend nearly three trillion dollars each year on disease care. Is it any surprise that doctors consistently place among the highest incomes? Andrew Saul has seen enough of this situation, and in Doctor Yourself, he gives you the power you need to change it. Citing abundant scientific evidence as well as case studies from his decades of practice, Dr. Saul explodes the myth that an army of medical specialists and pharmaceutical drugs is necessary to maintain health. The human body evolved to live well and fight off disease on a supply of only a couple of dozen essential nutrients. Unfortunately, modern diets provide catastrophically inadequate levels of those nutrients.
Using the guidelines set out in Doctor Yourself, you can not only prevent disease from getting a foothold in the first place, but also cure yourself of illnesses already in progress without resorting to drugs and surgery. One of the most popular guides to nutritional therapy ever published, Doctor Yourself is now updated and expanded with the latest research and additional topics, providing proven methods for combating an even wider variety of health conditions. Whether he is delivering commonsense tips on subjects such as weight loss and longevity or praising the healthy glow of a carotene tan, Dr. Saul takes the starch out of healthcare and makes taking charge of your family's health a fun and valuable experience.
“Provacative and exciting… [it] deserves a prominent place in the library of anyone serious about self health care." –Vitality magazine
Don't bother looking in the history books for what has killed the most Americans. Look instead at our dinner tables. We eat too much of the wrong foods and not enough of the right foods. Scientific research continually indicates nationwide vitamin and mineral deficiencies in our country, and we spend nearly three trillion dollars each year on disease care. Is it any surprise that doctors consistently place among the highest incomes? Andrew Saul has seen enough of this situation, and in Doctor Yourself, he gives you the power you need to change it. Citing abundant scientific evidence as well as case studies from his decades of practice, Dr. Saul explodes the myth that an army of medical specialists and pharmaceutical drugs is necessary to maintain health. The human body evolved to live well and fight off disease on a supply of only a couple of dozen essential nutrients. Unfortunately, modern diets provide catastrophically inadequate levels of those nutrients.
Using the guidelines set out in Doctor Yourself, you can not only prevent disease from getting a foothold in the first place, but also cure yourself of illnesses already in progress without resorting to drugs and surgery. One of the most popular guides to nutritional therapy ever published, Doctor Yourself is now updated and expanded with the latest research and additional topics, providing proven methods for combating an even wider variety of health conditions. Whether he is delivering commonsense tips on subjects such as weight loss and longevity or praising the healthy glow of a carotene tan, Dr. Saul takes the starch out of healthcare and makes taking charge of your family's health a fun and valuable experience.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
198 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 10, 2012
This book quite good but nowhere near as good as 'Fire your doctor' by the same author.
Instead of quoting studies, this book relies too heavily on case studies of single patients, I thought.
In the section at the back which makes up most of the book, different diseases are each given a section on treatment. Some of these sections were okay, but many did nothing more than relate a single case study which was almost always completely resolved following the use of high dose vitamin C or similar.
What was lacking was information on how typical such results were and what could be done if the remedies listed did not work. At the very least, it would have been better to include at least a few case studies rather than just one.
This book, as with 'Fire your doctor' just does not have enough information about chronic diseases, and long-term illness. There is little talk of how much high dose C's effectiveness is limited by years of damage caused by the disease, and how long to keep C at bowel tolerance if your disease is long term, and some case studies of what can happen in long-term disease with orthomolecular medicine. This is a problem I have found with most books on this topic, so little is written about long-term illness. I suppose it's just not as 'sexy' as writing about getting amazing and very quick results treating a serious infection in its first few weeks etc.
Many of us have the non-sexy diseases though!
I'd highly recommend 'Fire your doctor' before this book, but it is still far better than almost all books on this topic that are out there. Other good books include 'Orthomolecular medicine for everyone' and 'Dr Atkins' Vita-nutrient solution' as well as all the books by Dr Sherry Rogers.
To be clear, I very strongly support the basic message of in this book and am convinced by the benefits of orthomolecular medicine, I just think that this book does nowhere near as good a job as others in presenting this information to the reader, it's a bit simplistic and vague. There was nothing in this book I hadn't already read in 'Fire your doctor' as well.
Jodi Bassett, from the Hummingbirds' Foundation for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Instead of quoting studies, this book relies too heavily on case studies of single patients, I thought.
In the section at the back which makes up most of the book, different diseases are each given a section on treatment. Some of these sections were okay, but many did nothing more than relate a single case study which was almost always completely resolved following the use of high dose vitamin C or similar.
What was lacking was information on how typical such results were and what could be done if the remedies listed did not work. At the very least, it would have been better to include at least a few case studies rather than just one.
This book, as with 'Fire your doctor' just does not have enough information about chronic diseases, and long-term illness. There is little talk of how much high dose C's effectiveness is limited by years of damage caused by the disease, and how long to keep C at bowel tolerance if your disease is long term, and some case studies of what can happen in long-term disease with orthomolecular medicine. This is a problem I have found with most books on this topic, so little is written about long-term illness. I suppose it's just not as 'sexy' as writing about getting amazing and very quick results treating a serious infection in its first few weeks etc.
Many of us have the non-sexy diseases though!
I'd highly recommend 'Fire your doctor' before this book, but it is still far better than almost all books on this topic that are out there. Other good books include 'Orthomolecular medicine for everyone' and 'Dr Atkins' Vita-nutrient solution' as well as all the books by Dr Sherry Rogers.
To be clear, I very strongly support the basic message of in this book and am convinced by the benefits of orthomolecular medicine, I just think that this book does nowhere near as good a job as others in presenting this information to the reader, it's a bit simplistic and vague. There was nothing in this book I hadn't already read in 'Fire your doctor' as well.
Jodi Bassett, from the Hummingbirds' Foundation for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
January 21, 2011
In a nutshell: take a LOT of vitamins, especially vitamin C.
November 20, 2021
I wouldn't recommend "reading" this one. It's similar to all these books that list 100 illnesses, and the treatment is invariably the same:
* Large dose vitamin C: 5g+ per day. There's no harmful limit. The limit is when you get diarrhea.
* Large dose niacin. Start low and increase by 25mg every day until you experience mild flushing.
* Juicing vegetables for beta-carotene, minerals, and hydration
* A vegetarian diet
So you end up reading the same thing 100 times, over and over and over again. But there are new quotes for every chapter, and new stories, which break the monotony somewhat.
To be fair, the above is an amazing strategy, and everyone should be doing it [1]. However, this book isn't the best resource to read about it. The book is kind of fun, but then it also has a lot of handwaving and some downright wrong info. Examples:
* "Vitamin C doesn't cause rebound scurvy". It absolutely does! If you take large doses and then stop abruptly. There's no question about this. This is absolute certainty.
* "There's no difference between folate and folic acid." There is! Folic acid can't be used directly by the body. It gets converted to folate in the liver, but it isn't a very efficient process. Large doses of folic acid accumulate in the body and cause all kinds of trouble.
There are many more examples. The point is, there are better health books that give you similar info. I'd hotly recommend Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet's "Perfect Health Diet". It's very scientific in its research and explanations of every single nutrient, and gives science-based optimal dosages (although nothing is perfect, and I find that their dosages are too low sometimes).
In the end, the reason why this and other books keep saying the same stuff over and over again is because it works. If you're reading this, pick up any of these books, start juicing, take large dose vitamin C, sleep well, and practice whatever it is that reduces your stress levels (yoga, football, prayer, reading books, anything goes).
Do it now. You'll thank yourself tomorrow, in one week, in one month, and in 50 years. It's so worth it! There's nothing better out there. You think there is, but you're wrong. Being 100% healthy is the best thing there is in life. Everything else follows from there.
Like Andrew Saul says:
"If you want to change your health, you have to change your life."
[1] Except the vegetarian diet part: it should me *mostly* a vegetarian diet, but not *entirely*, at least in my opinion. [2]
[2] Oh, and don't confuse vegetarian and vegan. Having milk and eggs changes everything. If you don't eat those, you're going to be at the very least B12- and calcium-deficient. Not saying a vegan diet can't be healthy, but it's very technical, and you really need to know what you're doing. Supplementation becomes a must, and the dosage is tricky.
* Large dose vitamin C: 5g+ per day. There's no harmful limit. The limit is when you get diarrhea.
* Large dose niacin. Start low and increase by 25mg every day until you experience mild flushing.
* Juicing vegetables for beta-carotene, minerals, and hydration
* A vegetarian diet
So you end up reading the same thing 100 times, over and over and over again. But there are new quotes for every chapter, and new stories, which break the monotony somewhat.
To be fair, the above is an amazing strategy, and everyone should be doing it [1]. However, this book isn't the best resource to read about it. The book is kind of fun, but then it also has a lot of handwaving and some downright wrong info. Examples:
* "Vitamin C doesn't cause rebound scurvy". It absolutely does! If you take large doses and then stop abruptly. There's no question about this. This is absolute certainty.
* "There's no difference between folate and folic acid." There is! Folic acid can't be used directly by the body. It gets converted to folate in the liver, but it isn't a very efficient process. Large doses of folic acid accumulate in the body and cause all kinds of trouble.
There are many more examples. The point is, there are better health books that give you similar info. I'd hotly recommend Paul and Shou-Ching Jaminet's "Perfect Health Diet". It's very scientific in its research and explanations of every single nutrient, and gives science-based optimal dosages (although nothing is perfect, and I find that their dosages are too low sometimes).
In the end, the reason why this and other books keep saying the same stuff over and over again is because it works. If you're reading this, pick up any of these books, start juicing, take large dose vitamin C, sleep well, and practice whatever it is that reduces your stress levels (yoga, football, prayer, reading books, anything goes).
Do it now. You'll thank yourself tomorrow, in one week, in one month, and in 50 years. It's so worth it! There's nothing better out there. You think there is, but you're wrong. Being 100% healthy is the best thing there is in life. Everything else follows from there.
Like Andrew Saul says:
"If you want to change your health, you have to change your life."
[1] Except the vegetarian diet part: it should me *mostly* a vegetarian diet, but not *entirely*, at least in my opinion. [2]
[2] Oh, and don't confuse vegetarian and vegan. Having milk and eggs changes everything. If you don't eat those, you're going to be at the very least B12- and calcium-deficient. Not saying a vegan diet can't be healthy, but it's very technical, and you really need to know what you're doing. Supplementation becomes a must, and the dosage is tricky.
May 31, 2012
Practical ways to eat healthy, to get and stay healthy. Specific recommendations for specific complaints. Lots of information that is very helpful.
June 12, 2012
I am not as pessimistic towards the medical industry as the author. He doesn't claim to be medically trained, but does cite journals/publications for further research regarding your condition. While I feel he oversimplifies disease and disease treatment, he does have a point regarding Western diet deficiencies and emphasis on medicating over "natural" use of vitamins and minerals. All in all I think it provides good food for thought when considering how to care for yourself and family. I am not so extreme as to deny vaccinations or antibiotics (as the author recommends), but I do plan to improve my diet and lifestyle.
January 27, 2020
Excellent, and i've tried a number of Andrew's suggestions, all have worked. I've heard many lies about him being a 'quack', which i find so funny because most of those saying it benefit from people getting sick (yes, i've done the research and am training in nutrition). He get's no money royalties from the vitamins he suggests people buy so doesn't benefit at all. I tested out his advice on taking megadoses of vitamin c for years and it has prevented me getting sick when others do, and i recover quicker when i do rarely get sick. I've been healthier since following his advice, please don't knock it until you've tried it and do own research.
October 7, 2017
This book is a great reference for treating practically anything the natural way. Vitamins are used extensively and specific doses are mentioned. He talks about vaccines and how to get exceptions in your state. From kidney stones to heart disease. It's all covered.
November 28, 2017
I enjoyed this book. There is quite a bit of content that I already knew about, but it's a good reference manual.
October 9, 2018
Great info
I like Dr. Saul's personable approach in this book. Its valuable information that needs to be more widely available to the people
I like Dr. Saul's personable approach in this book. Its valuable information that needs to be more widely available to the people
September 3, 2022
I had to reread it immediately.
November 13, 2023
Lots of great information. I won't do everything that he suggested. He leans real hard towards vegetarianism. I just got done reading a book that leaned just as hard towards high fat and animal protein. I don't want to take either to extremes. He also pushes juicing which is something I may try at some point. What he advocates most is mega dosing vitamins with vitamin C being the most important. This is one point that carries over amongst most of the wellness books that I've read, so one I plan on implementing immediately (vitamin C). Although I don't plan on shooting for the high dose he suggests. I'll ease into it.
I believe he is spot on concerning the medical and pharmacological industries. I feel like I'm powerlessly watching them kill my husband. I can't even megadose him on most of the vitamins due to interaction with various medications he has been prescribed. Vitamin C is the very least I can do for him.
All in all, this book did provide a lot of useful information. I can't follow what he suggests strictly and I don't really want to pop vitamins around the clock (being a healthy person with no known medical conditions), but I will certainly re-visit this book and his methods if I ever do develop a medical condition. I will also use some of his suggestions to prevent medical conditions arising...that mainly being the use of vitamin C as a preventative.
I believe he is spot on concerning the medical and pharmacological industries. I feel like I'm powerlessly watching them kill my husband. I can't even megadose him on most of the vitamins due to interaction with various medications he has been prescribed. Vitamin C is the very least I can do for him.
All in all, this book did provide a lot of useful information. I can't follow what he suggests strictly and I don't really want to pop vitamins around the clock (being a healthy person with no known medical conditions), but I will certainly re-visit this book and his methods if I ever do develop a medical condition. I will also use some of his suggestions to prevent medical conditions arising...that mainly being the use of vitamin C as a preventative.
October 7, 2020
I wish everyone would read this book. I've incorporated, at the minimum, the Vitamin C dosing and it works. It's kept me from going to the doctor at least four times now since I started in November 2019, times when I would have gone to the doctor for antibiotics in the past (thinking that was the only answer).
Why do more people or doctors not incorporate these views or scientific research results into their practice? And why do my friends get this "I am really not listening and don't believe you" look in their eyes when I tell them this works? When Saul and his videos were censored from facebook and youtube during the pandemic panic, that's when I got my answer.
Seek your own truth, read the studies, try this out for yourself. Or keep paying and trusting your doctor, the pharmaceutical companies and the media with your health. If your doctor will not talk about Vitamin C, vitamins or the power of changes to your diet, find a new one immediately.
Why do more people or doctors not incorporate these views or scientific research results into their practice? And why do my friends get this "I am really not listening and don't believe you" look in their eyes when I tell them this works? When Saul and his videos were censored from facebook and youtube during the pandemic panic, that's when I got my answer.
Seek your own truth, read the studies, try this out for yourself. Or keep paying and trusting your doctor, the pharmaceutical companies and the media with your health. If your doctor will not talk about Vitamin C, vitamins or the power of changes to your diet, find a new one immediately.
April 19, 2020
Great read! very informative on basic nutritional needs of the body. It's definitely an inspiration to be healthier in all aspects of life. I am a disabled veteran suffering from many aliments including PTSD, chronic pain, migraines and insomnia. While becoming a medical cannabis patient helps alienate almost all of my symptoms, putting together a daily vitamin and mineral regiment based on my personal conditions and recommendations in the book- I can honestly say I've never felt happier and healthier. An additional benefit is I have not had to go to the doctors in almost 5 years, with the exception of my ongoing treatments of chiropractic care, or an annual physical. However for illness, I have not been to the doctors in years. Definitely a life changer.
November 9, 2022
Amazing insight into a new way of thinking about health and illness, at least for me. In this book Dr Andrew Saul explains an alternative way to look and explain illnesses and how to cure them. It doesn’t involve taking pharmaceutical medications (that, let’s be honest don’t actually cure the cause at all, but just deal with symptoms) but, instead it focus on making the body health by providing the right fuel and nourishing with supplements in huge doses. He backs all of his claims with several researches, his own professional experience, his personal believes and he mentions other authors too. It was enlightening and I will definitely put it into practice.
March 20, 2019
Please don't follow this megadose vitamin advice. There are more recent enormous studies indicating that these large doses of vitamins do not improve ones' health. With the exception of Vitamin D, all nutrients can be obtained from a healthy Mediterranean diet. Vitamin D may be taken as a supplement if you think that your sun exposure is low. Vegetarians may need B12 supplements. Better advice from Michael Pollan “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
September 10, 2020
This book seeks workarounds where actual solutions already exist.
Bases everything on anecdotes and opinions, while claiming irrefutable evidence in support of it.
It doesn't occur to the author that it's fishy (pun intended) that they have to megadose themselves with artificial ingredients (synthetic vitamins in doses that wouldn't be consumable in such quantities otherwise) - how about treating the cause of the nutritionally incomplete (vegetaria) diet instead?
Bases everything on anecdotes and opinions, while claiming irrefutable evidence in support of it.
It doesn't occur to the author that it's fishy (pun intended) that they have to megadose themselves with artificial ingredients (synthetic vitamins in doses that wouldn't be consumable in such quantities otherwise) - how about treating the cause of the nutritionally incomplete (vegetaria) diet instead?
July 8, 2023
The author insists he’s not a quack, but then presents his case relying entirely on anecdotes and hearsay - the hallmark of quackery. YET I recommend this book. The systematic abuse of antibiotics is immoral and will probably condemn future generations to the sort of plagues we read about in history books. I’ve found natural remedies like nettle tea, apple cider vinegar, vitamin C have worked for the sort of common ailments that seem to be found in waiting rooms.
April 24, 2020
Amazing read about the use of vitamins and minerals as preventative care and medicine to heal. I have always know Vit C help when I came into cold and flu season but had no idea the extent of research that has been conducted on high dose levels, or saturation levels. Gee why would you? Can you say big Pharma. Highly recommended id you want to take control of your own health.
April 12, 2019
Unfortunately, once you start digging into some of the claims Mister Saul makes they range from quackery to dangerous advice. I do think some of his recommendations are harmless (take lots of Vitamin C), and some may even be helpful. Using Cashews for mild depression: I don't know if it worked, but I certainly enjoyed eating more cashews.
Unfortunately, some of his claims are downright dangerous - chief among them his write-ups about vaccines. His analysis is not based on reputable medical research, and relies more on circumstantial statements and anecdotal evidence.
Unfortunately, some of his claims are downright dangerous - chief among them his write-ups about vaccines. His analysis is not based on reputable medical research, and relies more on circumstantial statements and anecdotal evidence.
October 6, 2025
This book had it fair share of influence in my life. I saturated with Vitamin C and I as amazed at the recovery in my entire body. This is research that is so important for humanity. This is really a treat to read if you are into health and personal care.
May 8, 2018
Absolutely awesome!
April 23, 2019
Not just for reading, more a resource guide. Need to get print copy to keep handy.
May 6, 2020
Wonderful book. I benefit A LOT from Orthomolecular Medicine.
But the information on the book is the same on Dr.Saul website.
But the information on the book is the same on Dr.Saul website.
December 26, 2020
so much information - took many notes
October 30, 2022
Lots of stuff regarding using nutrition for good health and healing. Don't agree with his vegetarianism though, and definitely not the meditation. In my opinion he generalises, and is too broad.
January 6, 2024
Great lifechanging book. Good info for better health.
January 17, 2026
Out of date
July 16, 2011
I am still not sure what I think of this book. Completely interesting concept that mega doses of vitamins can be healing. I didn't really like the author's style, however. It didn't make him trustworthy to me. However, he was funny at times stating things that made me laugh out loud. It is an interesting concept, and yes, I am taking lots of vitamin C now, and pushing it on my whole family.... My hubby and I now have a joke--either vitamin C or windex (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding) will solve all of our problems.
February 5, 2015
I'm a bit indifferent towards this book. I believe some of this information will greatly impact the lives of many, I feel that each body is different, therefore these practices may not be recommended for all. I believe there is a time and place for modern medicines (aka-pharmaceuticals) so I definitely agree with taking your health and/or sicknesses into your own hands if all possible. Food is your best medicine.
May 4, 2011
I'm still trying to decide what I think about this book. I believe that if I had gotten this book for a certain ailment, I would liked it more. The proof is far too anecdotal for me, but I also would have been bored by only scientific data. With that said, I'm really intrigued by the idea of mega-dosing and plan to give it a try. What could it hurt, as he asks?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews