Eight Weeks to Optimum Health (Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body's Natural Healing Power) by Andrew Weil M.D.

Description

In his new book, Dr. Weil explains how the mechanisms and processes of the body's healing system work.  He delineates the ways in which an individual can optimize the functioning of his or her own system, and he explains the effects of the eight-week program, conceived to harness and support the internal healing system of our bodies.

Incorporating alternative medicines and treatments, he gives specific and detailed information on diet, exercise, stress reduction, breathing techniques, vitamins, supplements, herbs, and all the other components in the eight-week program. He customizes programs for special groups of people: pregnant women, overweight people, recovering alcoholics and drug abusers, those dealing with or overcoming heart problems, former cancer sufferers, people over 65, and a dozen other categories.

Building on the breakthrough thinking of Spontaneous Healing and drawing on the experiences of patients who have adopted his program, Dr. Weil's Eight Weeks to Optimum Health provides an invaluable means to maintain health and lessen the need for medical intervention.

Editorial Review

“Health,” Dr. Andrew Weil writes, “is a dynamic and temporary state of equilibrium destined to break down as conditions change.” In other words, there's no such thing as the type of health that allows you to feel equally great every day of your life. Instead, Weil suggests, your goal should be to improve your resilience to disease, and while you're at it, feel more joy and strength.

As to how you should gain this strength, joy, and resilience, Weil doesn't come on with a hard sell to give up every bad habit or all of the foods you enjoy. Instead, he suggests gradual changes: clean your pantry of whatever cooking oils you have there, except olive oil; start taking vitamin C three times a day; walk a few minutes a day; eat some fish and broccoli. The program is so simple and sensible that anyone trying it probably will feel better in a week.

The program then gets progressively more involved–more supplements; more of a shift toward a diet based on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables; more exercise. Besides these steady changes, each week's program has a focus: In week 2, you start drinking bottled or filtered water; week 3 focuses on organic produce; week 4, on sleep; week 5, using a steam bath or sauna; week 6, trying a “universal tonic” like ginseng; week 7, volunteering in your community; and finally, in week 8, figuring out how to integrate permanently the elements of the program into your life.

Even those who don't go for the entire program will probably find something here to like–the recipes, maybe, or the suggestion that you cut back on strenuous types of exercise like running and competitive sports in favor of brisk walks. It's perfectly useful either way: as a total lifestyle overhaul, or a series of suggestions, any one or two of which will probably help you feel better. –Lou Schuler