Spontaneous Healing

by Andrew Weil

Spontaneous Healing - How to Discover & Embrace Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain & Heal Itself (00) by Weil, Andrew [Mass Market Paperback (2000)]

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Nutrition, Psychology, Medicine, Science

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2011

About the author

Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing oriented approach to health care that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. He is the author of many scientific and popular articles and of 14 books: The Natural Mind, The Marriage of the Sun and Moon From Chocolate to Morphine (with Winifred Rosen) Health and Healing, Natural Health, Natural Medicine; and the international bestsellers, Spontaneous Healing and 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition The Healthy Kitchen: Recipes for a Better Body, Life, and Spirit (with Rosie Daley) Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-Being; and Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future (issued in paperback with new content as You Can’t Afford to Get Sick).

Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he also holds the Lovell-Jones Endowed Chair in Integrative Rheumatology and is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health. The Center is the leading effort in the world to develop a comprehensive curriculum in integrative medicine. Graduates serve as directors of integrative medicine programs throughout the United States, and through its Fellowship, the Center is now training doctors and nurse practitioners around the world.

Learn More:
Facebook.com/DrWeil
YouTube.com/DrWeil
Instagram.com/DrWeil
Flickr.com/DrWeil
Pinterest/DrWeil

Reviews

[Yazeed AlMogren · Rating 4 out of 5]

تقوم فكرة هذا الكتاب الذي كُتب عام 1995 على أن جسم الإنسان يحتوي على نظام مناعة قادر على التشافي من العديد من الأمراض التي نعالجها بالأدوية والتي تعتبر غالبيتها أدوية مسكنة وليست مخلصة من المرض، ينتقد مؤلف هذا الكتاب وهو طبيب متخرج من جامعة هارفارد طرق العلاج التقليدية الحديثة في علاج المرض بسبب تركيز دراسة الطب على الأمراض وليس على الوقاية من الأمراض قبل حدوثها، يستعرض الكاتب قصص العديد من المرضى الذين تشافوا من أمراض مزمنة عجز الأطباء عن علاجها ويوضح الكاتب نصائح مساعدة لوقاية وزيادة مناعة الجسم والتغلب على العديد من الأمراض، للأسف كانت ترجمة مكتبة جرير سيئة بسبب الإستعارة لبعض العبارات الإسلامية واقحامها في السياق حتى تشعر وكأن المؤلف شخص مسلم وكنت أتمنى ترجمة الكلمات كما هي بدون اللجوء لهذه الطريقة

[Stew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mark another one under the label 'Books not worth finishing'. In order to give full disclosure I should probably point out that I have spent some time with Dr. Weil personally and actually like him quite a bit. He's an interesting, likable man who has some progressive ideas about health care. I should probably also point out that I am in the medical profession myself.

I first met Dr. Weil while doing my undergrad in Complementary and Alternative Health at his rival school ASU. Although I found his ideas to be interesting, albeit somewhat short-sighted, until a week or so ago I never had any interest in picking up any of his books (I was confronted by a friend of mine who claimed that Dr. Weil says that "most doctors are duds" - a point that even after reading this book I don't think he holds). You see, in medicine you hear his story all of the time which somewhat explains the inability of alternative medicine to be widely accepted by traditional medical practitioners. Dr. Weil, and many other like him, quickly denigrates the treatment and training of allopathic and osteopathic physicians in favor of "natural" healing modalities, almost favoring the lack of scientific evidence over tested and tried methods of practice.

Spontaneous Healing is essentially Dr. Weil's personal apologetics for the primary use of "natural" medicine masked by the topic of the body's ability to self-heal. The book essentially starts off by providing multiple anecdotal illustrations of the miracles of alternative health when traditional medicine has failed. Now admittedly these stories are exciting and inspiring but they are also manipulative. I'm not one to ignore the power of nature or write off the seemingly miraculous despite lack of physical evidence - after all there is a reason I studied this in undergrad (in fact I almost decided to become a naturopathic doctor). The problem is that Dr. Weil's ideas can lead to dangerous practices such as the abandonment of proven medical treatments for the esoteric and romantic.

As the book goes on, Dr. Weil makes a case for "spontaneous healing", essentially utilizing the body's ability to heal itself. No doctor in their right mind would argue the idea that the body is intrinsically capable of self-healing but Dr. Weil pushed the point past logic. Many contemporary allopathic and osteopathic medical treatments indeed already utilize the body's own ability to heal itself - in fact, we use treatments on a regular basis that stimulate the body's immune reaction or cellular messages to create self-healing. The problem is that Dr. Weil finds superiority in practices that have little or no scientific basis.

I could only read so far into the book before throwing up my hands and saying "give me a break!" In my opinion, Dr. Weil has made some very beneficially changes to health care and I truly think that there are many unproven alternative modalities in medicine that can be beneficial to people in need of health care but without any checks and balances, these treatments can also be harmful and prevent the healing of diseases which would benefit from medical intervention. Dr. Weil is essentially a hippy doctor who decided early that anything except for traditional medical principles must be superior. His opinions on medical treatment and theory are largely based on the miraculous and anecdotal.

I agree with his thoughts that a collaborative system of complementary medicine would be beneficial to society but I think some of the ideas he advocates are shallowed by their inconsistency and lack of evidence. While I am grateful for the attention he has been able to give to alternative modalities - of which many certainly have their place in health care - I found this book to be an off-putting distortion of health and potentially dangerous to those who need serious medical intervention.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've liked Dr. Weil since reading his 'The Natural Mind' many years ago and his ethnobotanical newsletters more recently. This book, published back in '95 and, so, a little outdated as regards cancer therapies, advocates for preventative 'hygienic' medicine as an inexpensive alternative to the expensive interventionist practices favored by the American medical establishment. Weil's concern is with understanding how health is maintained and/or reestablished, thus obviating the need for radical treatments, or, in other words, what inner resources, some of them under the control of the subject, exist which promote health and healing. Much then is about immunology and about what behaviors support a healthy immune system.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Spontaneous healing" is described by Dr. weil as "the inate, intrinsic nature of the healing process." In his view, healing and good health is not so much a matter or external factors or treatments as much as a conjuring of one's own natural abilities. Dr. Weil is considered a practicioner of "alternative" medicine. Nonetheless, Spontaneous Healing is a fair and balanced read. Dr. Weil never suggests that conventional medicine be abandoned entirely. Rather, he convincingly points out the shortcomings of those treatments. Even skeptics of "alternative" or new age treatments will find something interesting and relevant here. Dr. Weil goes into detail about different kinds of foods, vitamins, supplements, and herbs and the science behind them. He presents numerous personal stories from individuals who experienced a myriad of illnesses and how they handled them successfully. One of the things I like best is his simple suggestion for preparing broccoli. See pages 187-188.

[Dottie Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thesis of the book is that the medical profession only concerns itself with disease. Medical schools teach nothing about prevention or about the ability for the body to heal itself. It's not against medical care but tells many ways we can encourage our body’s immune systems to help us heal. The author is a Harvard Medical school graduate. He has one chapter near the end of the book titled Cancer as a Special Case. Throughout the book he mentions the pessimistic stance of many doctors who predict the worst - which of course can affect the mind and body of the patient usually in a negative way. I highly recommend this book. The case studies of miraculous healings are amazing and he has many helpful ideas which can boost immunity. I have read and reread this book.

[GlobeRunner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first part of this book - both because it was inspirational (giving examples of spontaneous healing) and because it was in agreement with my own experiences (of the often unfounded medical pessimism, for example). Other good sections of the book were those on activity and rest, where practical exercises were described, and the afterword, where the author suggests a model of reform for medical education. The nutritional advice, on the other hand, was much less convincing: the author's ignorance of lectins and the inflammatory property of grains would have justified a rating of 1 star had it not been for the rest of the book.
If read critically - but with an open mind - this book can definitely offer hope and guidance to those willing to explore alternative medicine and take charge of their own health.

[Rob Savidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The general idea is that through nutrition, exercise, supplements, or other healthy lifestyle change, we can give our bodies the ability to heal themselves, spontaneously. Every person's body has a different trigger, or set of triggers. He provides stories of people's own bodies curing many auto-immune disorders and cancers. It makes sense really - cancers go into remission because of a body's responses, not necessarily because of medicine. Remission shows that a body can heal cancer if given optimum conditions (hence, I believe, the titles of Weil's other books on "Optimum health." Why keep giving someone medicine, which only serves to cover-up the body's responses to some sort of unhealthy practice or illness that needs to be healed, and not covered up.

[Ingrid Exner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book on my bookshelf for a number of years and recently went back to for some references both for the support group and book. I remembered first reading this a little over 15 years ago. I loved re-reading it again. I admit, I forgot some of the information and I undoubtedly would be healthier if I had remembered and actually applied a lot of the information shared in this book. The best sections: The Faces of Healing, information about the inportance of breathing (Mind and Spirit section) and the role of emotions. I actually started to really read up and practise meditation after I read "Spontaneous Healing" for the first time. This really is a great book and it has stood the test of time...it still has a lot of very valuable information.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was thinking about going to medical school. It is easy to read and has many stories. The personification of a doctor, Dr. Weil, shares some natural healing techniques not discribed in the mainstream. It really motivated me to be a doctor. Ofcourse, after volunteer in clinic and working in a hospital, I got a completely different view. Mainstream doctors are not healers but glorified technicians.

[Dennis Littrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Presents something profound and of enormous value

Andrew Weil, who is a graduate of the Harvard Medical School and the author of a number of best-selling books on medicine, consciousness, health and diet, is one of those rare men who have managed to acquire a prestigious conventional education and then build on that with unconventional experiences in other parts of the world. He has studied botany and medicine in the Amazon jungle and elsewhere, and alternative medicine in the far east before establishing his practice in the United States. This book, first published in 1995, is the result of what Weil has learned over the years. There is nothing spectacularly new here, but there is a carefully presented, enormously compelling argument for the power of our bodies to heal themselves if only we would give them the opportunity.

Problem number one is a medical establishment that sees its interventions as the cause of healing, when it occurs, and the failure of the body, when it does not. Every physician should humbly realize that it is the healing mechanisms of the body that defeat disease, not the treatment. Weil makes this point even in the case of antibiotics: "Antibiotics reduce numbers of invading germs to a point where the immune system can take over and finish the job. The real cause of the cure is the immune system, which may be unable to end an infection because it is overwhelmed by sheer numbers of bacteria and" their toxic products (p. 110). I would add that even in the case of setting a bone or removing a bullet, it is the body that does the healing. Properly understood, Weil advises, the function of the physician is to aid the defenses of the body. This is how medicine is understood in cultures of ancient linage around the world, particularly in the time-honored Chinese and Ayurvedic systems. There is much we could learn from them. The tech-heavy Western approach fails to treat the whole patient--mind, body, emotions and spirit--and therefore has great difficulty in dealing with chronic illnesses. Weil emphasizes prevention, and when illness does occur, the cultivation of habits and a lifestyle conducive to spontaneous healing.

Included in the text are a number of testimonials of spontaneous healing from people given up on by conventional medicine. Dr. Weil is fascinated by these "anecdotal" cases and believes that the medical establishment is missing something by dismissing them because they cannot be scientifically validated. Weil counts heads and comes to the obvious conclusion that something is going on here, whether it can be baselined and graphed or not. People do indeed get well for no apparent reason. There are literately thousands of documented cases. How does this happen? Weil calls it the phenomenon of "spontaneous healing," and believes that we are all capable of performing this "miracle." Personally, it happened to me (if you'll forgive the Yogi Berra-ism) at my daughter's wedding. I had strained the instep of my right foot playing basketball and it would not heal. Weeks went by. I either could not stay off it enough and/or I was re-injuring it to the point where I could not walk without pain. A friend and I walked around the Stanford campus during the day, which I should not have done. The pain was very annoying, but in the evening, fortified with the festive occasion and the refreshments, I danced wildly, joyously, one might say, ignoring the pain, realizing that I would pay for it the next day. But in the morning when I woke up there was no pain at all, and although it has been almost ten years, the pain has never returned.


Not exactly a miracle, but proof enough to me that spontaneous healing is a reality.

What Dr. Weil does here, relying on his wisdom and experience, is to present a program of right practice, right habit, right diet, and right attitude (e.g., "Regard illness as a gift...a powerful stimulus to change...[an] opportunity...for personal growth and development..." p. 251) that will, he believes, greatly increase anyone's chance of healing spontaneously. (Chapter 17, "Seven Strategies of Successful Patients" is a precise prescription.) I think he makes a cogent and compelling case. And, as usual, his felicity of expression, almost meditative in tone and effect, is a huge plus. Weil has a gift for making the spiritual and mysterious aspects of our existence seem the very bedrock of rationality! Noteworthy is a chapter on "Medical Pessimism" in which Weil argues that conventional doctors consciously or unconsciously infect their patients with a reverse placebo with their negative attitudes. "Simply put: too many doctors are deeply pessimistic about the possibility of people getting better, and they communicate their pessimism to patients and families" (P. 59). He calls this "medical hexing" (p. 64). He adds, on page 61, "So-called voodoo death is the ultimate example of a negative placebo response."

Weil believes that the pessimism of the medical profession has its roots in "the lopsided nature of medical education, which focuses almost exclusively on disease and its treatment rather than on health and its maintenance...the word is used rarely...the term not at all."

This last point, I believe, points directly to what is the central problem with conventional medicine in this country. Medical schools are too exclusive and expensive, preventing many people who would truly love to help others from attending. Their programs are also flawed because of a too narrowly focused curriculum that ignores the thousands of years of experience of practitioners from around the world. The emphasis is on the exclusivity and status of the profession and not on the healing arts. Dr. Weil, because he is a rare product of that system, is a man especially to be listened to. I consider this book a "quiet classic" that someday will be recognized as a catalyst that helped revolutionize conventional medical practice. At least I hope so.

This is an addendum to my earlier review of this important book. Here I want to concentrate on the final chapter, "Cancer as a Special Case," and the Afterword, "Prescriptions for Society." I think these two excellent chapters are of especial interest and importance.

Cancer is of particular interest to me because both my parents and my second wife died of cancer. Both my mother and my wife underwent conventional medical treatments for the disease and both suffered horribly because of the treatments. If we knew then what we know now--real information about cancer and its treatment as contained in Chapter 19 of this book--not only could much of the pain and suffering been avoided, but both of them might be alive today. I feel that what Dr. Weil writes about cancer is so important that I want to summarize his main points. His understanding of the disease strikes me as profound, and he is candid.

(1) "The presence of cancer in the body, even in its earliest stages, already represents significant failure of the healing system" (p. 268). This is why Dr. Weil emphasizes prevention through the assumption of a healthy lifestyle, the details of which are the subject of this book.

(2) "Current therapies...both conventional and alternative, are far from satisfactory. Conventional medicine has three main treatments: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, of which only the first makes sense" (and then only in a small percentage of cases). "Radiation and chemotherapy are crude treatments that will be obsolete before long" (p. 268).

(3) "Cells turn malignant constantly, and normally the healing system eliminates them...When remission does occur, the mechanism is immune activation; therefore great care must be exercised in deciding whether or not to use cytotoxic treatments (radiation and chemotherapy), because damage to the immune system may reduce the long-term possibility of a curative healing response" (p. 272). In order words, if you go for radiation and/or chemo you are decreasing your chances for the spontaneous healing that can sometimes occur. And for what? You may live a few more years, but those years, I can tell you from personal experience, are likely to be years of pure hell. And guess what? "[R]adiation and chemotherapy are themselves mutagenic and carcinogenic" (p. 273). Dr. Weil adds, "[Some] patients exposed to these therapies...will develop independent cancers that are direct results of treatment."

(4) "Cancer has always been with us" (p. 267). "Cancer will always be with us. Prevention remains the best strategy for managing it, and that depends on the integrity of the healing system" (p. 276). How to optimize our healing potential by boosting and maintaining our healing system is what this book is all about. Notice that Dr. Weil does not expect a "cure" for cancer. That is startling to realize, but when one observes that there is no "cure" for accidents or for senescence, then one understands what he means, since cancer is a disease characterized by accident (mutation of the cell's DNA) and a failure of the immune system to repair the damage or destroy the cancerous cells. Remember, if the system allows just one mutant cell to multiply freely, that may be all it takes.

In the Afterword, Dr. Weil spells out his program for transforming health care in this country. He believes that "Medical education is frozen in a disease-oriented mode"; that the "clinical training of doctors...makes it very difficult for students to maintain healthy lifestyles and develop the mental and spiritual qualities of healers"; that "Doctors are more afraid than ever to deviate from conventional standards of practice" due to potential lawsuits; that "Insurance companies [who are NOT healers] dictate how medicine is practiced"; that "Research on healing and on alternative medicine is primitive or nonexistent"; and that the very "biomedical model from which medical scientists work stifles movement toward Hygeian [healing] medicine." The root problem, Dr. Weil writes, is "medical education. If future doctors were taught alternative models of science and health, were encouraged to study the healing power of nature, and were allowed to develop themselves into healthy role models for patients, all the obstacles listed above would begin to melt away." (pp. 277-278)

More than enough said. Buy this book. You will learn a lot about medicine from a man who really knows what he is talking about, and you might even gain something even more valuable: your health.

--Dennis Littrell, author of “The World Is Not as We Think It Is”

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of hope contained in this book – of cures, of fixing ills – and I know that the mind can perform some amazing healing of the body. At the same time, this comes off somewhat as a vehicle to sell his supplements. There is an 8-week plan for health, which includes purchasing flowers for your home and meditation. In the end, most of the suggestions in the book can’t hurt and either will (altering your diet to be more healthy; exercising) or might help. He does a good job of laying out where traditional Western medicine is needed and where it might be harmful.

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this in audio... There were things to ponder...

[Mai-San · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listen long enough and a quack will explain how he works. This book is a placebo for the mind, summed up by this excerpt:

"Belief in the healing power of some person, place, or thing can also be a key to success. This is in the realm of placebo responses and miracle shrines. We do not seem to be able to will healing responses to occur, because our will does not connect directly to the autonomic nervous system and other controlling mechanisms of the healing system. Yet we can circumvent that obstacle by projecting belief in healing onto something external and interacting with it."

That is what the book is. This may or may not sound harmless but he also writes entire sections of the book recommending specific vitamin and herbal regimens without mentioning scientific support. Of course, we know already that the book is not about scientific evidence!

I skimmed those parts of the book. The beginning part of the book is somewhat entertaining with stories of his and other people's experiences with different types of alternative practitioners, sort of like entertaining myths. He provides some of their real names so I Googled them... look kind of "sketchy" to me.

The book is not just a book. It's part of a large empire of quack. The University of Arizona's Center for Integrative Medicine that he founded apparently offers fellowships and more that are almost completely online and distance learning except for a few weeks visit. Given how hands-on most alternative practices are, including his anecdotes in his book, I wonder how this is....

[Meshal · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب رائع وممتع
كفيل بهز ثقتك في الطب الحديث

كان السؤال الذي طرحه في البدايه مشجعا ومحفزا للقراءة الى النهايه
ماهو الشفاء وهل هو حكر على الطب التقليدي الحديث وما هي بدائله وهل هي جيده ؟

رحلة بحث طويله خاضها المؤلف وتنقل فيها لأنحاء كثيره من العالم , بعد ان تخرج من كلية الطب , التي لم تجب عن اسئلته وكانت تعلمه الامراض وليس الصحه كما تمنى

كتابه على 3 اجزاء
نظرية جهاز الشفاء وقدرته على مقاومة المرض بدون تدخل او بتدخل محفز فقط , لخصها في الجزء الاول من الكتاب مع البراهين والادله والتجارب التي عايش اغلبها في رحلة بحثه , وكان الجزء الاحلى والاكثر اثاره


الجزء الثاني
قدم برنامج لتقوية هذا الجهاز وتحسينه من خلال برامج الغذاء المعقوله واستخدام المقويات الطبيعيه -التي رأيته مسرفا فيها حتى بدون حاجه - والعقل والروح وعلاقتهما بالموضوع , وبين ايضا كمية السميات التي نتعاطاها من دون ان ندري , ممكن ان يوصلك هذا الجزء من الكتاب للوسوسه ههههه , ت

اما الجزء الاخير
فقد كان يهدف الى توصيل المريض للوعي والنضج الذي يخوله لأن يختار عندما يمرض بين الطب الحديث او البديل او الصيني او انواع الطب الكثيره التي لم اكن اتخيل انها موجوده ,, وكان منصفا مع الطب الحديث لأنه ابنه , فبين الامراض التي يتمكن منها الطب الحديث وبين التي لا يقدر الطب الحديث على علاجها : مثل الحساسيه وامراض المناعه الذاتيه والامراض العضونفسيه وغيرها ,,

لخص امانيه في نهاية الكتاب : بحدوث ثورة في تعليم الطب ليكون موجه للشفاء وليس للمرض وقال انه يستبعد حدوث ذلك ,,

الكتاب قديم قليلا , هذه السلبيه الوحيده

ملاحظه : الكتاب الذي قرأته مترجم وليس باللغه الاصليه وكانت الترجمه من جرير جيده الى ممتازه



كانت رحله ممتعه , فتحت لي ابواب كثيره, فقد وضعت 4 كتب بعده لقرائتها متعلقه بالموضوع ,

[Evan Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction and high level guide to unconventional types of therapy and how to enable your body's natural healing mechanisms. Weil gives very practical advice on how to protect and bolster your healing capabilities through lifestyle habits. I particularly appreciate his balanced presentation of different views of medicine and frankness about where science is inconclusive about the relationship between bodily biochemical reactions and engaging healing responses. His case studies make a very strong case for keeping an open mind to many schools of thought when seeking treatment for disease. I want this man, or someone like him, to be my doctor.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great book to use to help one adopt a healthy lifestyle that uses nutrition, mind-body awareness, and an integrative health approach using allopathic and alternative medicine. My only complaint...too much emphasis on the use of soy, but then this was written in 1995. We know more now.

[Kelly Daikoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the "Year of Covid-19", I wanted to take better control over my health. This book helped me do just that!

[Selenita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Típico libro que vende pseudociencias y que con masajes, dieta y medicina alternativa se puede curar todo. Basándose en anécdotas amimefunciona y sin dar ninguna evidencia científica.

Que sí, que hay veces que se puede producir lo que se llama una remisión espontánea de enfermedades, pero es algo muy raro (se estima que 1/100.000=0,001% de los casos), no es algo con lo que se deba contar si tu supervivencia depende de ello. Que sí, que una dieta sana y hacer ejercicio mejoran la salud y, si tienes buena salud, estarás más fuerte para poder recuperarte de enfermedades, pero eso no es bastante cuando estás ante algo serio. Y que sí, que el efecto placebo existe, pero, de nuevo, no es algo con lo que se pueda apostar tu supervivencia.

Y eso es con lo que cuenta este libro: que cambiando los hábitos de vida y con algún tratamiento inocuo la gente mejora su salud o se cura del todo la mayoría de las veces. Eso no es porque el tratamiento inocuo haya hecho nada, es que el cuerpo es mucho más increíble de lo que creemos y, especialmente si estamos sanas, la mayoría de las veces es capaz de curarse. Si no fuera así nuestra especie no habría sobrevivido. Eso es tal cual lo que hacen las terapias alternativas: contar con la capacidad del propio cuerpo y tratar de producir un efecto placebo o que, en casos muy raros, se produzca una curación espontánea. Basta de denigrar la medicina moderna. Que sí, que no lo sabe todo y por eso tiene que usar el ensayo y comete errores, y no se puede curar todo. Pero igual es lo mejor que hemos tenido nunca. Si todos esos tratamientos alternativos de sabiduría milenaria y tal son reales, ¿por qué la gente antes de la medicina moderna tenía una esperanza de vida de 30 años y ahora estamos por 70-80? ¿No tienen ese maravilloso tratamiento no convencional y mucho menos agresivo y más natural?

Odio este tipo de libros porque pueden hacer que la gente abandone tratamientos reales por desconfiar de la medicina convencional (que es como se llama aquí a la científica, es decir, la única real que de verdad ha funcionado en la historia curando lo hasta antes incurable); y, muchas veces, caer presa de estafadores sin escrúpulos que se aprovechan de la necesidad o la desesperación. Y eso cuesta vidas.

[Jakob]

Spontaneous Healing by Andrew Weil, narrated by Dennis Kleinman

Andrew Weil's "Spontaneous Healing" is a super insightful exploration of the body's innate ability to heal itself, and the audiobook version, narrated by Dennis Kleinman, really effectively conveys Weil's perspective. Weil, a total proponent of integrative medicine, approaches the topic with both knowledge and a balanced perspective. This book is relevant for anyone interested in understanding the awesome potential for healing within themselves.

Weil covers a variety of topics, from the science behind spontaneous healing to practical (and sometimes surprisingly simple!) ways to support this process. He discusses case histories and explores how various factors, including nutrition, lifestyle, and that amazing mind-body connection, can influence healing. He emphasizes that spontaneous healing isn't some crazy miracle, but rather a totally natural biological process.

Dennis Kleinman's narration is clear and steady, which suits the book's informative nature. He delivers the information in a way that is easy to follow, even when Weil delves into some pretty fascinating scientific concepts. The audiobook format allows for a convenient way to absorb the information and revisit key concepts.

This audiobook is a valuable resource for those curious about the body's incredible healing capabilities and how to enhance them. It's both educational and thought-provoking, and presents a balanced view of how to support the healing process. Recommended!

[Hollie Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically everyone knows that there are people who recover from the most awful diagnoses and illnesses and go on to live healthy for many many years. No one would say that never happens. Also, most people would not say that that kind of thing can be made to happen.
Others would disagree.
This book lays out some of the ways you can up your chances to spontaneously heal from any number of ailments, and it looks at some case stories of people who have done so.
Some people will always call someone who believes such things ridiculous, but I say again - such recovery does happen, yes?
The main take away from this book is that BELIEF is the number one thing you need in order to have the best chance of spontaneous healing. It's a very hard thing to have - you can SAY you believe all day long, but if you don't really, then nothing comes from your statements. - This pretty much applies to any magical thinking.

I have a number of friends who poo-poo alternative medicine and spiritual beliefs about the nature of healing. Weil has a statement in this book that I thought summed it all up quite well.
"Do not seek help from a conventional doctor for a condition that conventional medicine cannot treat, and do not rely on an alternative provider for a condition that conventional medicine can manage well."

Lastly I did like his idea to have a database of those who have healed miraculously from illnesses. Someday, someone really should scientifically study such cases. How does it happen? What do these cases have in common?
You can say it's all BS - but I say again - we all know that some people recover from the most unlikely medical scenarios.
This book does not tell us how or why, but it's a decent book if you believe, or want to believe.

[Mary Karpel-Jergic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, albeit somewhat dated now, read about understanding our immune and healing processes. Andrew Weil is a medical practitioner with a botanical education and this clearly informs this well researched and erudite book.

By the end, I was convinced that our body has the potential to heal itself and that there are measures we can take which support rather than obstruct these processes. Making the distinction between the god of medicine Asklepios and his daughter Hygeia, the goddess of health he is able to position allopathic medicine and philosophy alongside alternative and complementary therapies.

There are numerous suggestions as to how our healing systems may be boosted and none are invasive or toxic.

Overall, this is a lively discussion quite ahead of its time but its a shame that the standard treatment of some of the most chronic diseases that people face don't ever consider these alternatives.

[Ally Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest strength of this book was in translating complicated topics in holistic health to accommodate the average reader. I love the work that Dr. Weill has done to normalize the conversation and guide readers to challenge their definition of medicine. He certainly pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a healer, which I very much respect. There are great works similar to this one out there, but I feel his books have reached such success due to his background at traditionally respected institutions (an MD from Harvard). This background comes with a great deal of privilege but also forced him to seek out external sources of holistic knowledge. I enjoyed his commentary on the answers being right in front of him all along - that you don’t need to travel to far off lands to see the power of healers, rather that some of the most influential and enlightened healers have been right in his back yard all along.

[Dr. Ashori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of research by the author to report on cases where patients experienced complete healing, not just remission. This book taught me the value of appreciating and marveling at the human body's ability to heal. But I also learned that spontaneous healing from some deadly illness isn't really something to strive for. Life can be lived hoping one never gets sick and will live to a ripe old age while spending most of it doing things that aren't that desirable. Or life can be lived in the moment with excitement without leaving much for the future to be desired. Of course, hedonism is frowned upon, so pushing our kids to achieve more seems inevitable.
I'll double down my efforts to instill hope in my patients. In fact, more than ever before, I believe that tapping into the body's ability to heal is much more important than getting into the weeds about survivability data.

[ShelleyT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this author’s books in past. Really like the author’s books.
My copy was published in 1995 Fawcett Columbine Ballantine: book is out of date. The recommendations for healthy eating for example soy and sat fats disproven. Huge amount of knowledge for 1995 but 27 years…..
Makes me wonder whether we’ll be similarly perplexed in 2049 about 2022 the same way I am by this nutritional advice.
Good work for its day with important suggestions in the chapter on cancer that may be common knowledge today at least for people who know better than expect their doc to know it all. Be your own advocate and ask questions. Read applicable journal articles. With an internet connection info is available.
If read in 1995 would have given it 5 stars.

[Chynadolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is 20+ years old, but it reads like it was written yesterday. Lots of good information about a lot of things -- which is the problem. I found it hard to follow in some spots -- too technical and way over my head. What I came away with was a feeling that you'd have to rely on a professional that was well-versed in not only standard medicine, but also herbal remedies, alternative medicine, and much, much more. So, who would be such a professional? Probably only Dr. Weil! I didn't come away with any kind of a plan of how I could improve my well being on my own. It's just too much information in 284 pages.

[Arm Natthapat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very informative about the benefit of healing yourself with natural remedies. I am more confident after reading this, which how body and mind capacity can take care of itself. Nowadays I believe that most of sicknesses come from contaminated food, air and water, including emotional ailment, in addition the conventional drugs play a key role to aggravate the diseases to be more sufferings without heading to the right method.

So, this book inspires me to look after myself with better habit to change the old mindset by respecting natural insight self-immunity.

I’m thankful to Dr.Andrew Weil about the very well work of this book.

[Diane Fordham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, and in parts was absolutely fascinating, particularly the biology of cells and the way the body repairs broken bones. There is much to take away from this book and I will be keeping it on my bookshelf for future reference. However I should caution that it is very out of date and much of the information on and opinions of the world of medicine and science have been superseded. Indeed some of Dr Weil’s opinions have themselves been revised and updated by him. So I advise that it should be enjoyed for what it is but do please research current opinions prior to following any recommendations.

[Brandi D'angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Weil is a great proponent of alternative healing. At the outset of the book he states, "My medical training made me want to flee from the world of invasive, technological treatment..." and "...if I were sick, I would not want to be treated the way I had been taught to treat others, unless there were no alternative." I wholeheartedly agree. I think our healthcare system is in need of an overhaul.

This book provides powerful examples of spontaneous (and less spontaneous) healing. He gives many examples of the simple fact that our bodies can heal themselves; if we let them. There are numerous ideas to try. Eat more garlic and ginger!

[Morgan Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the information is a bit dated yet has still been found to ring true. Not entirely sure what the point of Part 1 was but got some tips and breezes through Parts 2 and 3. I was grateful that he did not discount allopathic medicine, instead suggested ways to integrate alternatives with allopathic when appropriate. Don’t let the title fool you, there is nothing spontaneous about the healing taking place. It is very calculated. Would still recommend to someone starting their wellness journey.

[سلوى · Rating 4 out of 5]

لكتاب هذا مره مفيد وأسلوب المؤلف جميل هو دكتور تخرج من هارفرد ويقول إنه هو ومجموعة من زملاء ماكانوا مقتنعين بمناهج الطب، ومارس المهنة سنتين وبعدين بدأ رحلة البحث عن معالجين يعتمدوا على الطبيعة والأعشاب وقابل أطباء مشهورين ب أساليبهم البسيطة لعلاج المرضى منهم طبيب عظام يعالج المرضى بيده ويعلمهم كيف يتنفسو صح لإن التنفس الصحيح ينشط الجسم ويعين على الشفاء
بالكتاب جدول لمدة ثمانية أسابيع يقدم خطة لتحسين الصحة وتقوية جهاز المناعة، كمان في نصائح غذائية وتوصيات على أنواع معينة من الأطعمة المقوية لجهاز المناعة وهذا اللي نحتاجه اليومين هذي
الكتاب يعتبر فرصة للي حاب يعيش حياة منعشة