Rating: 
Summary: A Flawed, but Valuable, Resource
Review: As a Natural Therapist, I find the Balch's book very useful in many respects. If I want a quick rundown on a particular condition, I can look it up in the book and get its medical pathology, standard drug treatments, and how clinical nutrition and herbal therapy can help treat it. Although the suggested supplements are broken down into various categories indicative of their importance in helping wtih a particular condition, a person could easily get overwhelmed with the sheer number of possible helps for a condition, not knowing for sure which ones they really need. I think there needs to be more emphasis on working with a knowledgeable health professional throughout the book so that people don't waste their time or money on supplements or herbs that will not help them. A session with a natural health professional would most likely help people to know the supplements they really need. The "cookbook" approach to disease is another flaw in the book. The book does not emphasize root causes of diseases or how other conditions can feed into others. People may mistakenly get the idea that if they take the supplements listed for a condition, that they will be "cured." It does not often happen like that in the real world. The dietary advice in the book is awful. For the Balch's, it seems that the dietary answer for virtually every disease is a low-fat, near vegetarian diet that is high in complex carbohydrates. If it were only that simple! As a practitioner, I can confidently tell you that some of the sickest people I've ever dealt with have been vegetarians and high carb/low fat diets often worsen people's health. For more accurate nutritional information, see the books LIFE WITHOUT BREAD or NOURISHING TRADITIONS. The Balch's entries on saturated fats are abysmal and full of mistakes. For example, in the section on multiple sclerosis (MS), they tell readers to avoid saturated fats at all costs because of research (from one person!) that implicates saturates as aggrvating factors in the disease. But two recent studies of 200,000 women showed that saturated fats, animal fats, and dietary cholesterol were PROTECTIVE against MS (Am J Epidem, Dec. 2000 1;152(11):1056-64). They also preach the mistaken Lipid Hypothesis of heart disease on virtually every page. This theory has been thoroughly disproven by several noted researchers (see U. Ravmskov's book "The Cholesterol Myths"). If you can ignore the wrong dietary advice and use this book for its positive aspects, you will get much out of it, however.
Rating: 
Summary: very helpful
Review: I found it very informative and helpful and it worked for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Great resources
Review: I received a copy of this book from the publisher when I was pitching a health care book to them. I've used it over and over and go to it almost on a monthly basis. It's an invaluable source for good information as well as a way to calm the nerves late on a Saturday night when you have a pain or concern and want to make sure you aren't going to die in your sleep! Just a terrific guide with a good index and clear, informative writing.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!!
Review: I am just getting started with trying to take better care of myself mentally and physically. A friend recommended this book to me and now I see why.
Rating:
Summary: answered a lot of questions
Review: This is a good reference to have on hand. Information is presented and organized well.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid Reference Book
Review: I deal with customers every week and this book helps all whom need more info, so its great reference book when looking for a particular herb you want for whatever the aliment. We sell lots of these books, especially by this author - James Balch...Many people today are looking for alternatives and this book is a must have the other great one I own as well is the Dietary Wellness by James Balch...These books are a must have!!!
Rating:
Summary: A must-have.
Review: I'm on my 3rd copy of this book. I keep giving it away to 'worthy' friends who show interest in preventative maintenance of the human body. This book is so full of information that I refer to it first on any health issue. Every other natural health book I've found, is secondary. It is also interesting to simply browse through this volume for its fascinating health tips. Anyone who is a believer in taking charge of his/her own health, without dependance on doctors for everything, needs this book. It will save you a lot of money and time in the long run.
Rating:
Summary: This book saved my life
Review: In 1989, I was working Medical Intensive Care, U.C.I. Hospital. I was a widowed mother with three children in college & high school. My health was great, I loved my career and the security it gave us and my life revolved around my career and children. I worked circles around younger nurses, when I SUDDENLY became so exhausted that I couldn't push myself out of a chair. My doctor & friend, ran tests that revealed Acute Hepatitis B. Long story short, after 3 months - I remained bed ridden and my liver specialist gave me 1 to 2 month life expectancy. My life and my childrens lives had turned upside down. Out of desparation, (the medical field could not help me as the acute hepatitis became chronic), my oldest daughter bought this book. She bought all the vit., mineral, dietary supplements, etc. listed under "esential" and "very important" and started force feeding me. I felt like I was being tortured these last days of my life as I already battled nausea/vomiting/diarrhea and a type of exhaustion beyond explaination. It took all my concentration to force an eyelid open or to ask my tongue to move in order to speak. I knew she and the book were nuts but I saw the desparation in her eyes as she would beg me to swallow the beet juice, alevea juice or some capsule. Never-the-less, she continued to insist, three weeks later - I was out of the bed. Three months later I was able to work one night a week and soon a full week. 13 years later - the good news - I am health, happy, active and alive. The bad news - the Acute Hepatitis B became chronic, (which happens in a low % of cases and though I FELT like I overcame the disease, my doctor says the liver is still being destroyed. I truely believe this book saved my life. I have 30 years in the health field as a nurse, and a teacher but this is the book I most frequently use for information. It lists diseases and disorders from "Acme" to serious diseases like "Cancer". They are listed in alphebetical order, making them fast to find. First a very accurate describtion of the disease is given. Then a simple and consice list of things to use. I have bought copies for friends and families and lent my copies to many. Happy ending: Shortly after my close to death experience, I changed jobs, for fewer hours, leaving time for more activities: hiking, biking, swiming, working out, learned ballroom dancing, and I continued the recommended changes in nutritional eating. I met a wonderful man, we married, and I kept cutting back my work hours till I reluctantly retired from my wonderful position at the hospital last year because our travels, projects, hobbies and activities just didn't leave me time to work. We share an absultely fantastic lifestyle. My health is very dependent on how I eat and drink - even now. I have learned to really "listen" to my body and I can enjoy perfect health if I avoid the foods and drinks that do not leave me feeling well. Pepsi, fats in moderation and sugars are my challenge. I gave out my last copy of this book and am buying another because I fractured my ankle while hiking near our home in Southern Baja, Mexico, last week. Again, I will do EVERYTHING Dr. Balch and Phyllis Balch reccommends and heal rapidly.
Rating:
Summary: The easiest self help medical book around
Review: I looked at a lot of these types of books. This beats them hands down. It covers almost everything you could think of. Disorders are listed alphabetically for easy reference. This is not heavy reading folks. You don't have to read the whole thing or even a whole chapter to get benefits from it, a few paragraphs or a page or two will do it! Great book.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Reference Book
Review: I am constantly refering to this book. It gives great information about herbs, vitamins and nutritional supplements. The book gives detailed information on ailments, with recommendations for what foods to avoid, what foods to eat, and what supplements are advised for that particular problem. I recommend it for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable about alternative medice, and take control of their health.
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