Rating: 
Summary: An Ayurvedic Sampler
Review: ....Deepak Chopra is a prolific and successful author. He also creates great titles--who can resist the offer of “Perfect Health?” I checked it out at the library because I was compelled to see if the book lived up to the title. Chopra introduces us to what he calls the “quantum mechanical human body.” His theory is that “by treating the underlying quantum mechanical body itself, Ayurveda can bring about changes far beyond the reach of conventional medicine, confined as it is to the level of gross physiology.” Sounds good to me. Let’s get to those devils, the details. First we take tests to learn which body type we are, Vata, Pitta, or Kapha, or a combination thereof. We learn that these names also refer to doshas, “metabolic principles.” By implication, we surmise that we must keep these doshas in balance or our health will suffer. We learn about the twenty-five gunas, or fundamental qualities. We learn about the subdoshas. We address How To Balance Your Doshas: diet, exercise, daily routine, seasonal routine. Then we get right to it, Opening the Channels of Healing. This encompasses panchakarma, meditation, primordial sound, pulse diagnosis, marma therapy, bliss technique, aroma therapy and Gandharva music therapy. That’s where my problems with this book began. After convincing me of the value of meditation I learned that “meditation needs to be learned from a qualified instructor, it cannot be learned from a book.” Primordial sound, I read, “is a medical treatment taught by a qualified Ayurvedic doctor after a complete diagnosis of the patient’s condition.” Then “any patient who comes in for a consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor is routinely given pulse diagnosis.” “Most Ayurvedic clinics offer a special marma therapy that includes instruction for home treatment.” As for the bliss technique, “Instruction is by a qualified teacher who is also an Ayurvedic physician and takes about an hour; a complete medical evaluation precedes the actual teaching.” Finally, at aroma therapy, we find something we can do for ourselves, but we are pointed to page 317, where we may find sources for oil, aroma pots and diffusers. Ghandharva music also requires no instruction beyond the book, except of course we are told to buy the tapes and CDs “from the sources listed on page 317.” The marketing continues with Ayurvedic herbs, called rasayana. After selling us on the value of same, “You can obtain further information regarding these rasayanas by writing to Quantum . . .” We are also encouraged to drink teas appropriate to our body types--yes, from sources on page 317. My biggest disappointment, though, came in the section on diet. I learned that I should not be eating many of the items that have kept me healthy for sixty-five years, onions, garlic, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, bananas, yogurt, cheese and eggs, and that I should be drinking cow’s milk which I’ve not touched in decades, and I should be eating ghee, which is butter with the water cooked out of it. Chopra writes that I should minimize raw foods, which flies in the face of everything I have learned about food over the last many decades.
This book contains some reasonable ideas. The rub is that the book buyer gets only a few ideas they can use and a lot of ideas for which the author tells us we need an Ayurvedic doctor or products. As usual in his books, he provides scientific tidbits, sensational anecdotes and little scientific data.
Ayurvedic theory and practice dates back in India more than 5,000 years. Chopra urges us that Ayurvedic practitioners and practices will give us longevity and perfect health. Ayurveda is “the science of life” or, as Chopra prefers, “the knowledge of life span.” Others say it is the science of longevity. I checked that out. According to The World Health Organization, India ranks 134th of the 191 countries recognized for “healthy life expectancy.” (The USA ranks 24th.) There are other reasons why Indian health statistics are so poor, but it is difficult to take seriously an ancient practice that seems to have failed in its native country. I think that Deepak Chopra is an essentially good person who has been caught up in the American mania for fame and fortune. I suggest that our money is better spent on books that give instructions we can follow without travelling to a doctor’s office or buying exotic foods, herbs and essences.
Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening! Two thumbs up, way up!!!
Review: A great book for people who are trying to find an alternative way to achieve optimum health. I tried his methods for one week and I already feel great! The methods is based on ancient Indian health regime called Ayurveda. It is enlightening, esp. for people who are open-minded to try a new approach to healthy living. Even if you don't want to use Ayurveda, it's a great experience to at least know about it.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Health-Amazing!
Review: An amazing book for the person who is seeking to improve their health in the most natural and healthy way possible. Truly a jewel and a most favorite book :)
Rating:
Summary: He covers it all.
Review: Brilliant!!! I highly recommend this book. Deepak Chopra really knows his stuff. This book covers all that you need to know about Ayurveda and is very inspiring. This has been the best book that I have read on Ayurveda. Excellent. You will not be disappointed. This is the kind of book that you keep on coming back to, as it is filled with so much information.
Rating: 
Summary: Quantum view of the body
Review: Chopra has an interesting, quantum view of the body. Instead of considering it as something solid, he sees the boy as interweaving systems of energies that are constantly being consumed and renewed. Ayurvedic medicine gives us the tools to intervene at the quantum level where we are being recreated every day.This book provides an exhaustive step-by-step programme of mind-body medicine adapted to individual needs, based on the person's mind-body type. This typology forms the basis of a focused Ayurvedic program of stress reduction, diet, neuromuscular integration, exercise and daily routines. Part I, A Place Called Perfect Health, explains these various body types. Part II, The Quantum Mechanical Body, explains the channels of healing via meditation, healing sounds, marma -, music - and aromatherapy. Part III, Living In Tune With Nature, deals with diet, exercise and a seasonal routine that fits your type. The book concludes with an appendix, glossary, bibliography and index.
Rating:
Summary: Alternative Thinking.
Review: Deepeck Chopra writes with an amazing understanding of the human body and his intelligence on the topic really shines through in his work. This is a great book of alternative cures for all kinds of illness but also a way to understand yourself in a new and better way. It explains how by using what we are already given and made of to overcome any obstacle no matter how big or small. It talks about how powerful human thought actually is. Once we control that power we have the possibility of
achieving "Perfect Health".This book taught me that you don't have to use traditional medicine to fix or, actually, cover up your symptoms. All you need to do is find out what is best for your body, what calms it what helps it heal. Once you figure out those things and start doing them, you will find that you have everything you need to cure and even prevent illness.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting perspective on health and vitality
Review: For one of the reviewers who commented that Dr. Chopra is "on the heavier side," I have this to say: that is exactly the author's point. Looks are deceiving, everyone has a different body type. Thin doesn't necessarily mean healthy and vice versa. We live in a materialistic society yet this book enlightens your mind, body and soul. It makes you realize that there is another angle to life. We live with nature so we are part of nature. The book simply illustrates this viewpoint and uses ancient Ayurvedic methods to eat, sleep and breathe side by side with nature. Following these practices will heal you. However, everyone is different. If this approach doesn't work for you the least it will do for you is enlighten you. What more can you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: An interesting perspective on health and vitality
Review: For one of the reviewers who commented that Dr. Chopra is "on the heavier side," I have this to say: that is exactly the author's point. Looks are deceiving, everyone has a different body type. Thin doesn't necessarily mean healthy and vice versa. We live in a materialistic society yet this book enlightens your mind, body and soul. It makes you realize that there is another angle to life. We live with nature so we are part of nature. The book simply illustrates this viewpoint and uses ancient Ayurvedic methods to eat, sleep and breathe side by side with nature. Following these practices will heal you. However, everyone is different. If this approach doesn't work for you the least it will do for you is enlighten you. What more can you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: Perfect health
Review: I think this book are presenting the main issue about heath and health promotion. There are several of researches that brings us the facts that illness are closely affected from our mind. To work with our mind and our feelings, gives us the possibility to have the perfect health. Health is in one way a balance between body and mind. Working only with the focus on the body is good, but we can't forget the work of our mind. In our body there are several energyblockers filled with our forbidden feelings. Learning pepole to take care of their health with the insight of the power of our mind,that is a good thing to spread all over the world. This is something that should be the properity of every human being on this earth.
Rating:
Summary: Think for yourselves
Review: I'm amazed at the controversy here over the "diet" that Dr. Chopra recommends. This is not a "diet book." It is an excellent introduction to the world of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian health system that teaches everything is a balance, and that there are no wholesale answers that work for everyone. We must all weigh our own circumstances and needs and conditions, and make smart decisions based on our own unique situations. Lemmings need not look for answers here-buy Dr. Atkins and follow it to the letter if what your looking for is instructions, rules, and someone else to do the thinking for you. Everyone else, get this book to learn how to think about your health intelligently and for yourselves.
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