This is the large book you take down from the shelf and look up things out of---similar to a "regular" medical guide, but...NOT! The wonderful twist is that the author "blends" Eastern wisdom with Western words. It sounds complicated (and it is). But worth reading (if not just to understand what it all means). University of Berkeley Press. ( )

Healing with Whole Foods is a comprehensive guide to health and well being. Paul Pitchford lays everything out in an easy to understand and follow set of guidelines in his book. Any disease and its treatment can be found between its extraordinary covers -- and it has become my bible. It covers so many ailments from the 21st century...from high blood pressure, diabetes, headaches and congestive heart failure to arthritis, gout, cancer and various other diseases. It uses ancient methods of Ayurvedic principles to heal the body with Whole, Organic Foods. It is a must read for anyone who is seriously ill, or desirous of learning more about the amazing healing properties of whole foods and the dietary guidelines that bring about health.

-jancarpenter- ( )

This book is a bit more advanced, but has great ideas for ways to heal with whole food. It also talks about some history of whole foods and introduces the reader to Ayurvedic healing principles.

Fantastic. My health has improved significantly in just the few weeks since I've been working with this book. It explains the Chinese principles behind choosing the right foods for a person's individual constitution. For example, something very healthy for a person with a "dry" physical condition might be harmful to someone with a "damp" physical condition. The book explains what kinds of symptoms are associated with different types of constitutions and explains the properties of various foods, including Western foods. While it could be better organized, there's nothing else around that gives such thorough, useful information in English for Western readers who would like to improve their health using Chinese medicinal properties of food. Highly recommended.

Amazon.com Review:

Used as a reference by students of acupuncture, this is a hefty, truly comprehensive guide to the theory and healing power of Chinese medicine. It's also a primer on nutrition--including facts about green foods, such as spirulina and blue-green algae, and the "regeneration diets" used by cancer patients and arthritics--along with an inspiring cookbook with more than 300 mostly vegetarian, nutrient-packed recipes.
The information on Chinese medicine is useful for helping to diagnose health imbalances, especially nascent illnesses. It's smartly paired with the whole-foods program because the Chinese have attributed various health-balancing properties to foods, so you can tailor your diet to help alleviate symptoms of illness. For example, Chinese medicine dictates that someone with low energy and a pale complexion (a yin deficiency) would benefit from avoiding bitter foods and increasing "sweet" foods such as soy, black sesame seeds, parsnips, rice, and oats. (Note that the Chinese definition of sweet foods is much different from the American one!)

Pitchford says in his dedication that he hopes the reader finds "healing, awareness, and peace" from following his program. The diet is certainly acetic by American standards (no alcohol, caffeine, white flour, fried foods, or sugar, and a minimum of eggs and dairy) but the reasons he gives for avoiding these "negative energy" foods are compelling. From the adrenal damage imparted by coffee to immune dysfunction brought on by excess refined sugar, Pitchford spurs you to rethink every dietary choice and its ultimate influence on your health. Without being alarmist, he adds dietary tips for protecting yourself against the dangers of modern life, including neutralizing damage from water fluoridation (thyroid and immune-system problems may result; fluoride is a carcinogen). There's further reading on food combining, female health, heart disease, pregnancy, fasting, and weight loss. Overall, this is a wonderful book for anyone who's serious about strengthening his or her body from the inside out. --Erica Jorgensen