Reddit mentions: The best holistic medicine books

(I'm going to copy and paste my response to another person who asked similar questions...)

You need to find a doctor that will prescribe an NDT like Armour. Endos can't/won't prescribe NDTs, only synthetics that don't work for the majority of thyroid patients (and studies have already proven this). Usually, primary care doctors or integrative/functional medicine doctors will prescribe NDTs like Armour, but endos won't/can't.

I wasted about a year on levo (and also included Cytomel) until I found a doctor who would prescribe an NDT. I had to leave my endo and then I found a new doctor at an integrative/functional medicine clinic that would prescribe Armour. A little while later, I discovered my primary care doctor was willing to prescribe Armour so now that's how I get it now. I haven't seen an endo in years. My mom had to do the same thing, as have countless people that I know because endos won't prescribe NDTs.

Check out Stop the Thyroid Madness and Hypothyroid Mom if you haven't already. They both also have Facebook (StTM Facebook and HM Facebook) and YouTube pages (StTM YouTube) that you should check out. They're both wonderful sources of information and I believe they will really help you.

If you like to read, definitely read the two STTM books (These books are amazing and I learned a lot from them.):

• Stop the Thyroid Madness: A Patient Revolution Against Decades of Inferior Treatment by Janie A. Bowthorpe
  
  
• Stop the Thyroid Madness II: How Thyroid Experts Are Challenging Ineffective Treatments and Improving the Lives of Patients by Andrew Heyman (Author), James Yang (Author), Janie A. Bowthorpe (Editor)
  
  Here is a clip from a study proving NDTs work better than synthetics...
  
  "Participants were “blinded” during both phases – they did not know the type of pill they received. After each treatment period patients were weighed, had blood tests, underwent psychometric testing and were asked which therapy they preferred. The researchers report that 49% of the patients preferred desiccated thyroid extract, 19% preferred levothyroxine and 23% had no preference. Desiccated thyroid extract use was also associated with more weight loss." - Summaries for Patients from Clinical Thyroidology (from recent articles in Clinical Thyroidology): Desiccated thyroid extract vs Levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism
  
  Here are a few quick links I found that I believe will help...
  
  Links About NDTs (naturally dissected thyroid) vs Synthetics
  
  
• Thyroid.org: Summaries for Patients from Clinical Thyroidology (from recent articles in Clinical Thyroidology): Desiccated thyroid extract vs Levothyroxine in the treatment of hypothyroidism
  
  
• STTM: T4-only meds like Synthroid do NOT work, exclaim patients!
  
  
• STTM: Natural Thyroid 101
  
  
• Jeffrey Dach MD: Why Natural Thyroid is Better than Synthetic
  
  
• Amy Myers MD: Which Thyroid Medication is Best?
  
  
• Hypothyroid Mom: Which is Better, Synthroid or Armour Thyroid Medication
  
  
• OP-ED News: New Study Shows Natural Thyroid Better than Synthetic
  
  
• STTM: Transitioning from T3-only to natural desiccated thyroid…or vice versa
  
  
• STTM: History of desiccated thyroid as a grandfathered in, yet “unapproved” drug
  
  Links About Doctors
  
  
• STTM: How to Find a Good Doctor
  
  
• STTM: Doctors Need to Rethink
  
  
• Hypothyroid Mom: 5 reasons conventional doctors can’t fix your thyroid
  
  Links About Thyroid-Related Tests
  
  
• STTM: Recommended Labwork
  
  
• STTM: TSH – Why It’s Useless
  
  
• STTM: Optimal Lab Values–how to interpret your results

These problems have to do with accumulated muscular tension which over time becomes "permanent". It can be removed but it will not go away on its own. Muscles will start to stick together and more and more movement patterns are impaired. In the body, everything is connected to everything, so it is more useful to work on realigning the body as a whole.

As you have found, most regular doctors know nothing about such things and have no interest in learning.

You must now embark on a Healing Journey. You can take a self-help approach or you can spend a lot of money paying various
therapists to help you. Or you can do both. The types of therapists that may be helpful will be various kinds of "bodyworkers" - massage therapists, myofascial therapists, Rolfers, Hellerworkers, etc. Maybe some chiropractors. You might look into yoga and other types of stretching. You need to spend time checking into various approaches and helpers to see what and/or who works for you.
You can make all the progress you want on this. Its just a matter of how much you want to learn and how much time you want to spend learning about and working on yourself.

Here are some very special books that I highly recommend:
(there are countless more)

 

• Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries - Sharon Butler
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/1572240393/
  
• Author's Website: http://www.selfcare4rsi.com
  
   
  
  
  
• Deskbound - Kelly Starrett
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628600586/
  
• Author's website: http://www.mobilitywod.com
  
• also search Youtube for Mobility WOD videos
  
   
  
  
  
• Pain Free - Pete Egoscue
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553379887/
  
• Author's website: http://www.egoscue.com
  
   
  
  
• The Endless Web: Fascial Anatomy and Physical Reality - R. Louis Schultes
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/1556432283/
  
   
  
  
• Discovering the Body's Wisdom - Mirka Knaster
  
• "A Comprehensive Guide to More than Fifty Mind-Body Practices
  
• that Can Relieve Pain, Reduce Stress, and Foster Health,
  
• Spiritual Growth, and Inner Peace"
  
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553373277/
  
   
  
  Note the reviews on these books. And note that you can get them cheaper used.
  
  Have faith. Good luck!
  

I loved Birthing From Within because it has many great relaxation techniques and exercises for you to practice. There's a lot of new-agey type stuff, but I'm not really into that so I skipped those parts. I did however practice many of the exercises before birth and they helped me tremendously. I especially think the ice exercise is very helpful for putting handling pain into perspective (basically you hold a piece of ice in your bare hand tightly and use one of the relaxation techniques to control the pain). I was able to have a completely drug free birth with no problems - in fact I labored mostly at home and showed up at the hospital 8.5-9cm dilated (not really in the plan but we left late, live an hour away and didn't realize I'd go that fast with my first).

Ina May's Guide was pretty good, but mainly a collection of positive birth stories. Didn't really offer much in the way of "how" to go about having a natural birth. I'm more of a practical person that needs something "to do" to prep myself. Though I do think it's just as important to read as many positive drug free natural birth stories as possible to get yourself in the right mindset. Mind over matter/it's as painful as you expect/manage your expectations is just as important in my opinion.

I was REALLY set on hypnobirthing. I knew it was definitely going to take an open mind from me and my husband, but we're both open-minded people and I was sure we'd be super into it. I decided to read the book before signing up for a class to get a sense of what we were going into and am I glad I did because I cannot get into it.
I was super down with everything - the theory, the support, the breathing techniques. But then I got to the visualization techniques and they lost me completely: they're all so contrived and complicated that I really think I'll forget how to employ them during labour. By the time I read about "The Glove of Relaxation" I was out. There's no way I'm remembering all that.
So, my husband and I are switching plans and taking a Birthing From Within class, which includes pain management techniques and has a real focus on helping the labour partner know he or she they can help during the birth. I'm starting that book this weekend.
I was pretty disappointed, because I'd heard many great things about hypnobirthing (my midwife said they're the only women she's ever seen to appear to not be in labour), but I just can't get into it. I guess this wasn't very helpful (sorry!) - but maybe just highlights another course you could look into just in case you get turned off by the complicated visualization techniques like I did.

I read this book but while it does get into the technique the rest is mostly about the mechanisms, the attitudes that promote healing and testimonies. I was going to refer you to the website but either their domain lapsed or they got hacked but it's now a page for viagra! Weird, I was there just last week.

The head shaking is what really matters so you can do this sitting down or even in bed (and as soft or vehement as you like/can).

This is what I do:

1. I put some music with a focus on rhythm (I really like Byron Metcalf's music, especially They Were Here with Jennifer Grais or anything by Heilung)
   
2. I usually start sitting and take the time to get into the music
   
3. I focus my awareness in my body, trying to pay attention to the sensations and whenever I notice I start thinking about something I get back to the body
   
4. I start moving my head to the music, usually either left to right, up and down or in an infinity symbol. Sometimes that's all I'll do
   
5. I let my body take me where it wants to go, either moving my shoulders, tapping my hands on my thighs and/or my feet on the floor
   
6. If/when I feel it, I get up and do whatever comes up. It's also a good exercise to let go of feeling silly or ashamed. I was surprised to notice that even if I'm alone, I still judge myself so I let go of that
   
   I'll do that for about 15 minutes, but sometimes as little as 3 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
   
   Sometimes I got some really weird reactions, like starting to cry, or laugh or cry AND laugh like a mad person. It's never unpleasant though. Do note that you may want to take it slow at first, I had some flu-like symptoms when I started and apparently that's a common thing.
   
   I have been amazed at how my body seems to know exactly what it needs to heal. Since I started doing that my pain has reduced (although it was already lower by that point), my mood has improved and I have more energy. I also crave healthier food weirdly enough. I was sincerely surprised by the results, I did it more as an exercise so I did not expect this. I also meditate and do QiGong and while I find them essential to my wellbeing at this point, I haven't had quick results like that from either. I felt good right after the first time but it took maybe 3-4 times before I saw concrete changes. I even shake my head left or right before falling asleep while thinking about waking up at a certain hour and wake up more easily (although that could entirely be an "intent placebo" but whatever works). When I'm more tired upon waking, I do it too and it seems to clear the cobwebs. I have no idea why it works that well, but it's also done that with 2 of my friends.

I’ve had pretty much the same reaction from people and people make fun of me at work. At first it bugged me but then I realized what’s best for my child should take precedence over people’s opinions.

We used this book in class Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method although I don’t think some of the explanations for different breathing techniques are the best so I thought going to class was really important. You can find YouTube videos with demonstrations and I did a quick google search and did find online Hypnobirthing classes.

I’m glad you have a doula to advocate on your behalf!

This is a great place to start before you have a chance to see a doctor: this doctor named Bill Rawls used the Buhner protocol to get himself better, and now sells his own herbal protocol called the Restore Kit. Read his book, buy the restore kit, and schedule and appointment with him on the vital plan website. This book is by far the best I've read about Lyme and associated diseases, and I've read many of them. Another good one is Dr. Horowitz's book "How Can I Get Better?"

https://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Lyme-Practical-Solutions-Chronic/dp/0982322526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501890905&sr=8-1&keywords=dr+rawls+lyme

https://vitalplan.com/shop/restore-program?gclid=CP7z5NjjvtUCFRFYDQodNosG3w

I've ordered from Morse and I like his products - he also publishes his recipes so you can just use whatever herbs or extracts you want after you do your own research. If you do come to the conclusion it's definitely some kind of internal parasite then I would highly recommend listening to Dr Jennifer Daniels - her methods are extremely cheap, time-tested and effective.

Free pdf https://www.amazon.com/Lethal-Dose-Murder-Medicine-Accident-ebook/dp/B00DR6JPNW

check out her videos on youtubes too if you're so inclined

I'm not exactly sure if I understand your question, or if this is what you're interested in. But here are two good introductory books to Tibetan Medicine (Sowa Rigpa), which is thoroughly Buddhist (comes from tantras taught by Medicine Buddha):

Birth, Life, and Death by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche

The Tibetan Book of Health by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang

Additionally The Tibetan Art of Good Karma is an introductory book on the Yuthok Nyingthig, the spiritual practice of Tibetan doctors. The Yuthok Nyingthig was revealed by the terton Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, "the father of Tibetan Medicine", who also revealed the Four Medicine Tantras taught by the Medicine Buddha. This book is an introduction to the Yuthok Nyingthig Ngondro and also gives a historical (some might call "hagiographical") background on Yuthok Yonten Gonpo himself. It's a pretty neat story. There are actually two Yuthoks, an elder and a younger reincarnation a few hundred years later. One of them attained rainbow body along with his wife and dog!

you want everything we know? I have a giant notepad full of info...

• Find a LLMD:
  https://www.ilads.org/patient-care/provider-search
  
  https://www.lymedisease.org/members/lyme-disease-doctors/
  
  
• You had a Western Blot done with various positive bands? Congrats, it's probably Lyme even though they told you it was "negative for Lyme."
  
• Get Igenex testing done. Yes it's expensive. You know what else is expensive? Wasting $$$ on useless brain MRIs that the neurologist orders for you every year.
  
• No, you probably never even saw the tick bite, most of us didn't
  
• Oh you had a tick bite? Congrats, you have Lyme
  
• No, 10 days of doxy is NOT enough. Go get more. You need at least a month.
  
• Barely anyone gets a bullseye rash. I read a statistic that said only 17% of people get it. If you got one — congrats, you have Lyme.
  
• There are ticks in cities -- you can get Lyme walking through Central Park.
  
• Not everyone gets joint pain (I had neuro symptoms for 7 years before I had joint pain)
  
• Yes, it can cause psych symptoms, deja vu, anger, anxiety, depression, and depersonalization. No, you're not crazy.
  
• No, it's not just stress. Stress doesn't make your arm go numb during a heat wave.
  
• Alcohol intolerance is a very important early symptom. Very few other things cause this (Hodgkins lymphoma?)
  
• Don't go to a neurologist, rheumatologist, the Mayo Clinic, or an infectious disease doctor, they will not help you, they will likely just lie to you
  
• No, it's not "chronic fatigue" or "fibromyalgia" or any other bullshit diagnosis they try to give you
  
• Yes, Lyme can cause every bizarre weirdo fucking symptom you can think of (vibrating sensation, feeling of water running down your leg, spasticity, can’t remember words)
  
• Lyme can go dormant for years
  
• If you have Multiple Sclerosis you probably really have Lyme
  
• Ignore the salt/vitamin c guy who posts here
  
• Yes, there is Lyme and ticks in every state. That one too. Yes, mosquitos carry it too
  
• Info on co-infections (Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Mycoplasma, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), aka it's probably not just Lyme. Ticks have over 100 different types of bacteria, with new ones being discovered every year. There are even different types of Borrelia burgdorferi depending on what part of the country you're in. There are 29 strains of Bartonella alone.
  
• Clean up your diet: Keto or Paleo may help. Give up gluten, dairy, sugar, and processed foods. Borrelia feeds off of sugar.
  
• Some people heal with just herbs (Buhner or Cowden protocol)
  
• Why do I feel like I'm dying when I take antibiotics or herbs? Herxheimer reaction
  
• It's Lyme singular, NOT "Lymes"
  
  TREATMENT:
  
  
  BUHNER PROTOCOL:
  
  https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4127022
  
  http://buhnerhealinglyme.com
  
  https://techpost.io/hacking-chronic-lyme-disease-and-co-infections/
  
  
  
  Disulfiram
  (new treatment that not many LLMD’s are using):
  
  https://www.lymedisease.org/disulfiram-kinderlehrer/
  
  https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03891667
  
  https://recruit.cumc.columbia.edu/clinical_trial/1661
  
  There’s a private Facebook group too
  
  
  COWDEN:
  (need links)
  
  
  BLOODWORK INFO:
  
  
• Western Blot - aka “what the hell are bands?” https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=4147204
  
• Igenex
  
• Armin Labs - Germany
  
• DNA Connections
  
• Galaxy Diagnostics - specifically for Bartonella testing https://www.galaxydx.com
  
• CD-57 for immune response (need a link/info for this)
  
  Lyme-specific bands: 23, 31, 34, 39 and 83/93
  
  BARTONELLA:
  
  https://youtu.be/uYEHsRRxrQw
  
  http://www.townsendletter.com/July2015/bartonellosis0715.html
  
  BOOKS:
  
  Stephen Buhner, Healing Lyme
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Lyme-Borreliosis-Coinfections-Rickettsiosis/dp/0970869649/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Buhner+healing+lyme&qid=1567635287&s=gateway&sr=8-2
  
  Stephen Buhner, Healing Lyme Co-Infections
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1620550083/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
  
  Unlocking Lyme
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982322526/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
  
  Why Can’t I Get Better?
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Buhner+healing+lyme&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
  
  Cure Unknown
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250044561/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
  
  Believe Me - Yolanda Hadid (celebrity)
  https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Me-Invisible-Disability-Disease/dp/1250132770/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lyme+yolanda&qid=1567635346&s=gateway&sr=8-1
  
  Bitten
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Bitten-History-Disease-Biological-Weapons/dp/006289627X/ref=pd_sbs_14_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=006289627X&pd_rd_r=2275bf65-9f9d-4e9d-bd21-f907c727b622&pd_rd_w=FyN0V&pd_rd_wg=yhka3&pf_rd_p=1c11b7ff-9ffb-4ba6-8036-be1b0afa79bb&pf_rd_r=2GVJQT1XQ2PXA4R98XYH&psc=1&refRID=2GVJQT1XQ2PXA4R98XYH
  
  ARTICLES:
  
  https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/04/i-survived-lyme-disease-and-you-will-too/
  
  https://globallymealliance.org/marisol-thomas-existing-with-late-state-neurological-lyme-disease/
  
  https://affairsofliving.com/blog/2010/12/9/my-lyme-disease-is-not-the-idsa-lyme-disease.html
  
  https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/09/life-with-lyme/594736/
  
  https://www.lymedisease.org/mylymedata-catherine-fox/
  
  https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/its-time-to-get-serious-about-tick-borne-diseases/
  
  https://folks.pillpack.com/the-worst-thing-about-lyme-disease-is-what-it-does-to-your-mind/
  
  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-lyme-disease-feels-like_b_7539130
  
  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-a-scandal--daryl-hall_b_11118332
  
  SYMPTOM LISTS:
  
  https://canlyme.com/lyme-basics/symptoms/
  
  https://www.prohealth.com/library/a-deep-look-at-the-symptoms-of-six-major-lyme-related-infections-41139
  
  https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-disease-symptom-checklist/
  
  DOCUMENTARIES:
  
  
• Under Our Skin
  https://underourskin.com
  
  
• Heal (Netflix) - not specifically about Lyme, but informative and gives you hope
  
  
• The Paleo Way (Netflix only has season 2) - this is just a really good cooking show about the Paleo diet and health
  
  
  DETOX METHODS:
  
  https://www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html
  
  http://www.ladyoflyme.com/blog/burbur-drops-lyme-detox
  
  https://affairsofliving.com/blog/2010/7/5/helpful-hints-for-battling-a-herxheimer-reaction-or-my-adven.html
  
  Binders:
  
  https://alisonvickery.com.au/binders/
  
  
• activated charcoal (take on an empty stomach and 1-2 hours from meds)
  
• citrus pectin
  
• Zeolite
  
• bentonite clay (food grade)
  
  Make the body alkaline:
  
  
• lemon water
  
• Alka Selter Gold tabs (I have to get these on amazon, can’t find them in stores)
  
  Detox baths and sweating (20-30min):
  
  
• dry brush the skin before baths (brush twds the heart)
  
• epsom salt (3 cups) and peroxide (16 ounces)
  
• epsom salt (1-3 cups) and bentonite clay (1/2 cup)
  
• infrared sauna 5-30min
  
  For headaches and histamine reaction:
  
  
• Benadryl
  
  Brain/nerve detox:
  
  
• Burbur and Pinella detox
  
• Jernigan Neuro-Antitox https://www.jnutra.com/products/neuro-antitox-ii-cns-pns?variant=18838316810336
  
• L-Ornithine (gets rid of excess ammonia)
  
  HEALING:
  
  
• Meditation
  
  • https://youtu.be/jK2hS40pr-g
    
  • https://youtu.be/RCCeEXs-6Nc
    
• Vagus nerve stimulation
  
  • https://darouwellness.com/the-vagus-nerve-how-inflammation-can-be-controlled-by-the-brain/?fbclid=IwAR2lePixdHcMDg0lgQXlhsEr16C-vQbd4nCqcFSOmzHrBodsI5KdX545s7c
    
  • https://drarielleschwartz.com/natural-vagus-nerve-stimulation-dr-arielle-schwartz/#.XY4vsS3MzOQ
    
  • https://drarielleschwartz.com/vagus-nerve-yoga-dr-arielle-schwartz/#.XY5f6i3MzOQ
    
  • https://drprincetta.com/tag/humming/
    
  • https://www.optimallivingdynamics.com/blog/how-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve-for-better-mental-health-brain-vns-ways-treatment-activate-natural-foods-depression-anxiety-stress-heart-rate-variability-yoga-massage-vagal-tone-dysfunction
    
  • https://me-pedia.org/wiki/File:Cranial_Nerves.png
    
  • https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve_infection_hypothesis
    
  • http://simmaronresearch.com/2013/12/one-theory-explain-vagus-nerve-infection-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
    
• ASMR (this helps my nerve pain, I know it’s weird) https://youtu.be/xyW5HZIj7ZE
  
• Yoga https://youtu.be/Ba0fweKUwIc
  
• Nature (hmm… maybe go to the ocean, not the woods)
  
• Exercise
  
• Laughter
  
• Neuroplasticity (need books, links)
  
• Positivity
  
• Music or Art
  
  SUCCESS STORIES:
  
  
  https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3683338
  
  HOPE:
  
  https://www.outsideonline.com/2402641/kirby-morrill-appalachian-trail-stabbing
  
  https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a28677255/jeannie-rice-half-marathon-age-group-world-record/
  
  
  THE GODFATHER OF LYME:
  
  
  Dr. Joseph Burrascano
  
  https://vimeo.com/306846706
  
  https://www.lymedisease.org/history-lyme-disease-burrascano/
  
  https://holisticprimarycare.net/topics/topics-a-g/chronic-disease/1184-shape-shifters-hidden-accomplices-a-natures-dirty-needles-confronting-the-challenges-of-lyme-disease-sp-858975690.html
  
  https://lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/medical/treatment-guidelines/
  
  Dr Horowitz
  
  https://vimeo.com/channels/ldnresearchtrust/359020273
  
  says Lyme can be transmitted from mother to fetus
  
  “Lyme causes psych symptoms”
  
  Dr Armin Schwarzbach - German Lyme specialist at Armin Labs
  
  https://vimeo.com/channels/ldnresearchtrust/113603875
  
  He says “Multiple Sclerosis is just a collection of symptoms, and Lyme bacteria can be the cause of it.”

HypnoBirthing, Fourth Edition: The natural approach to safer, easier, more comfortable birthing - The Mongan Method, 4th Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0757318371/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_25q7xbA17YN2V

Well, since Ayurveda was developed before the scientific method, certainly it is all based on "anecdote" or "case study."

However, I was referring mostly to the surgical procedures that had developed and were deliberately adopted by the West based on observation of indian practices at least thousand (or two) years after they were first used in India: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushruta_Samhita#Surgical_procedures_described

As well, though I haven't read the actual texts, I've been told that Charaka (I think it was) actually had a "germ theory" of disease to guide his development of antiseptic and hygienic practices more than 2,500 years ago: "diseases are caused by things 'too small to be seen' [and therefore need to be washed off of both patients and equipment]".

As far as specific Ayurvedic concoctions go, there's a very complicated system of "doshas" and "sub-doshas" etc that are supposed to be taken into account when prescribing plants and combinations of plants. While no doubt many preparations are flat out bad for you (which isn't too different than the ever-changing research results found in studies on modern medicine), there's still preparations that have remarkably consistent, and broad-band effects when tested using modern science. E.G., these two universal rasayanas are pretty darned amazing in their effects, at least on lab animals, even though they are meant for people to consume:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=maharishi+amrit+kalash


However, unlike the two preparations researched in the above studies, most Ayurvedic products are meant to be taken only by specific individuals, and very little modern research on Ayurveda takes that into account. The prakriti and vikriti divisions map almost perfectly in to "nature/nurture" or "genetic/epigenetic" divisions in modern biology, so, at least in principle, Ayurveda is far more sophisticated in how it prescribes things than Western medicine is because it is only in the past few years that Western medical practice even considered basing prescriptions on genetic and epigenetic factors.

Of course, you can argue that the doshic strategy for prescribing treatments and diets doesn't really work because it is too primitive and uncertain, but only recently have researchers attempted to see if there really ARE innate [genetic] properties in humans associated with the diagnosis of someone having a specific combination of doshas and sub-doshas:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=ayurvedic+(vatta+OR+pita+OR+kapha)+genetic

so the jury is out there, as well.

...

One problem about trying to understand the history of the development of Ayurveda is that, while there are a few important documents central to the system, modern tradition combines many different sources in ways that didn't exist when those documents were written.

For example, my own "guru" Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, spearheaded an effort to "revive" Ayurveda starting around 1980, and for him one of the most sophisticated and important technologies (after his "Transcendental Meditation") was the art of pulse diagnosis. It turns out that pulse diagnosis was almost unknown by the authors of the major Ayurvedic texts and is actually a transplant from another system

http://www.amazon.com/Nadivijnana-Crest-Jewel-Translation-Examination-Pulse-Diagnosis/dp/3639306732

There is virtually no research on the utility of such a practice, and what little there is, suggests that it aint very useful.

However, since it is a practice that is supposed to take thousands of hours to master and is completely internal with no feedback possible, as is the case with meditation, the initial instruction is conceivably all-important as far as the results that are gained, so studies done on how reliable pulse diagnosis is, yield random results possibly because random practitioners trained in random schools were used as subjects.

Quality control of teachers arguably is all-important when training what is essentially a mental practice.


Any way, just some ramblings. The biggest problems with studying Ayurveda scientifically are:

1. practitioners are very biased [often VERY biased] so they make poor researchers;
   
   
2. independent researchers often don't understand what they are studying well enough to devise studies that take into account the personalized nature of most Ayurvedic treatments -not only does one-size NOT fit all in ayurveda, but by Ayurvedic tradition, something that is good for one subject due to their doshic nature might be bad for another, so taking a random group of people and testing their reaction to some arbitrary ayurvedic preparation is pretty much guaranteed to generate a null-finding from an ayurvedic perspective as Ayurveda would predict that the positive and detrimental effects would average out or even be skewed to the detrimental in some cases.
   
   
   
   
   .
   
   Just rambling, but I hope I've convinced you that Ayurveda may not be as uniformly worthless as most people in this forum assume it must be, because it isn't "scientific."

> It does matter if it's being sold as an effective treatment, because it isn't.

Except that the evidence seems to suggest that a placebo treatment is an effective treatment for many things. Why no one has jumped on this yet and started advertising a placebo pill, I don't know (hell, they could even use the filler pills used in the Pill - it's not like they'd need to start producing anything new). Maybe because of drug approval laws. Still, until someone does this, we need the alternative meds for their placebo effects.

Book recommendation for anyone interested in a not very sciencey look at the science.

well at least you are trying to be helpful.

But no, has nothing to do with tinfoil hats. Yes some of it is anecdotal (my personal experience and the experience of several other people I know who have had the same procedure and the same results...i.e. complete elimination of chronic migraines), but there is also a mountain of evidence out there to support those claims.........including a book written by a world renown dental surgeon:

http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Body-Dentistry-Complete-Understanding-Impact/dp/0967844312

As well as several other dental surgeons speaking out on the subject......here is an example on Dr. Oz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf2t53ytNa8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd7c_3-OWq8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKOrgMVfvFk

Sounds like you have a good opportunity to think things over.

I encourage you to find an audiobook while your drive.

Maybe this one:

I Wish I Knew This Before My Divorce: Ending the Battle Between Holding On and Letting Go https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BR8DWGN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gbJKDb6VBDBQK

I had responded this somewhere else, lol. Copying it to the proper place, here:

Crappy naming aside, all you listed is pretty awesome. I do most of that stuff myself.

You might enjoy a book that touches pretty much all those topics: https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Body-Ancient-Modern-Health-ebook/dp/B077CJN6N3

The author has a youtube channel that is too disperse and broad for my taste, but still, has some great content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs6wIwjJpc6vm7ue6qYjkeg

Do you have any books, blogs or youtube channels that you'd recommend regarding this kind of topics?

Re. the hedonism term... meh, I kind of disagree. There is a fundamental negative aspect of hedonism that gets carried wherever you use it, no matter how much context you add.

I would rather call this SYSTEMATIC POOP.

edit: Who would've thought? This is a thing, lmao. /r/SystematicPoop

The Mongan Method Hypnobirthing Book (http://www.amazon.com/HypnoBirthing-Fourth-approach-comfortable-birthing/dp/0757318371/ref=sr_1_1/182-6966116-7885857?ie=UTF8&qid=1451932471&sr=8-1&keywords=hypnobirthing)

has transcripts of the relaxation scripts in them. During the class I took, we also wrote our own so our partners could help us with our visualizations.

I'll admit that it was difficult to learn to just slip away; I haven't given birth yet (any day now) and I hope this will work for me.

yoga mastering the basics it's got very detailed descriptions on how to get in and out of postures, not to mention some very effective relaxation techniques with detailed instruction.

The book Spiritual Nutrition and the Rainbow Diet by Dr. Gabriel Cousins focuses on this exact topic in great detail. It is an inspiring read on how to use nutrition to take you to higher levels of vibration.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Nutrition-Rainbow-Gabriel-Cousens/dp/0961587520/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543552169&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=spiritual+nutrition+and+the+rainbow+diet

For a brief and free book it's cool, but I'd hardly call it a bible. I personally also don't find it a worthwhile reference because it only shows one view of each pose. I also disagree with its choice in poses and levels of difficulty.

For a proper "bible" I prefer Iyengar's Yoga: The Path To Holistic Health. It shows poses from every single angle, and then has a wonderful guide in the back for sequences for beginners, specific health issues, and other situations. I get that it's not free, but for anyone looking for a comprehensive and large hardcover book to take that will endure on your bookshelf for years, this would be the one.

I'd be interested in hearing other people's suggestions for what yoga book on their shelf they consider their yoga bible!

I am broke and couldn't afford the classes, but have been reading the book and it's great!
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0757318371/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1977604502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0757302661&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_r=YAMPN156JWFCRVF2CEA5

To be honest, I'm not super knowledgeable in regards to Paracelsus, but this edition by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke looks good.

Funnily enough there is a book on this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stoic-Body-Ancient-Modern-Health-ebook/dp/B077CJN6N3 - but the essential thing is that you are not at fault - you don't choose to become ill or can harness or suppress any of your bodies natural functions. Not only would that be against the natural, but it is also outside of your reasoned choice.

Hey there! I've been looking into Richard Gerber's works and can't wait to add to my library. I found three on Amazon... which is the one you were recommending?
Vibrational Medicine for the 21st Century: A Complete Guide To Energy Healing And Spiritual Transformation

A Practical Guide to Vibrational Medicine: Energy Healing and Spiritual Transformation

Vibrational Medicine: The #1 Handbook of Subtle-Energy Therapies 3rd Edition

Free in the US as well, just replace .co.uk with .com

https://www.amazon.com/Health-Made-Simple-Revised-2nd-ebook/dp/B01G2FRTC8

She copy-pasted a previous blog post on banting she wrote last year, barely changing a word. It could be a good idea to signal that to the publication ?

Well, see her book:

> If you want to beat diabetes, you have to eat more plant food and stay away from meat-centered diets as much as possible.

Her marketing sale speech can't be clearer.

You might want to look into this book and other eastern approaches to medicine.

https://smile.amazon.com/HypnoBirthing-Fourth-approach-comfortable-birthing/dp/0757318371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473623021&sr=1-1&keywords=hypnobirthing

It's in this book, it's not on me: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0985615435/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525710568&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=stop+the+thyroid+madness+2&dpPl=1&dpID=51-dpskURlL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/Health-Made-Simple-Revised-2nd-ebook/dp/B01G2FRTC8 US store

My favourite's so far have been:

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

The Birth Book

Birthing from Within

and my husband is reading The Birth Partner

Oh sorry! The Mongan method:
Link on Amazon