Book Review: Brain Maker

Fascinating look at the impact our gut has on our health.  Medical Science is now beginning to refer to our gut as our "second brain".   The microbiome that we have in our large and small intestine impacts our body's ability to fight infection and remain healthy.  The health of our microbiome also has a direct impact upon inflammation in our body.  Many chronic diseases begin with chronic inflammation.

Perhaps what struck me the most about this book is the author's claims about the effects of inflammation and your gut health on Alzheimer's Disease.  I'm not claiming one way or another that what he says is true- research is beginning to come in that supports some of these claims.  Having a healthy microbiome and eating correctly is not as sexy as a popping a pill - the long term effects could be worth the time and effort of cultivating good gut health now.  What does it hurt to invest in eating right now?  If you never get a chronic disease, you'll never know that it worked.

Seriously, there is a lot of hard science in this book, and it is broken down into terms that a lay person can easily understand.  And a deep hard look at how the typical American Diet is killing us.  We also get a look at what steps we can immediately take to counteract the effects.

I've seen research coming out about gut health and the effects our gut health has on all of our other body systems.  We have been ignoring this side of our overall health for far too long, with devastating effects on our health.  If you're looking for a fascinating read with enormous potential impact upon our health, this book is for you!

Secrets of Self-Healing

Maoshing, Ni.  Secrets of Self-Healing.  2008.  Avery Press, a division of Penguin Publishing, New York, NY.

Hardcover, $24.95.  ISBN: 978-1-58333-296-2.

Book Review:

The Secrets of Self-Healing is a very quick look at the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Dr. Mao is a doctor of Chinese Medicine, with an established practice.

Dr. Mao asserts that within us, we have the ability to heal many of our common ailments, by balancing our energy and eating the proper foods and nutrition.  A healthy body, healthy spirit, and balanced life are crucial for your well being.  Any imbalance in these spheres will lead to sickness as your body fights to regain balance.

The first half of this book is a quick look at the five elements and how they impact your life.
Special attention is paid to the importance of a balanced spiritual life and the role of excellent nutrition.  He touches upon the importance of a cleaning the clutter out of our homes, and the importance of living in harmony with the world around us.

In the second half of his book, Dr. Mao takes a look at individual ailments, and what can be done at home to help yourself heal.

Throughout the book, Dr. Mao stresses that Eastern and Western Medicine are complimentary, and need to work together to solve the most serious illnesses we face.

I really enjoyed the book. I've been working on improving my eating habits.  I found out some fantastic tips on which foods work better for me.  I also found some solid, hands on strategies that will help me focus more on keeping myself healthy and moving as I age.

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