Complete Self-Care Guide to Holistic Medicine: Treating Our Most Common Ailments

This dense volume attempts to provide a comprehensive picture of holistic alternatives--which include some of the world's oldest and most subtle medical traditions--as well as a review of major physical complaints. Ivker (Sinus Survival), Anderson (Stress Power!) and Trivieri, a journalist with a specialty in holistic medicine, open with a sweeping definition of good health, in which they include such advantages as financial well-being. They provide a whirlwind tour of ideas for healing body, mind and spirit, including prayer, sex, laughter, meditation and affirmations. The bulk of the book consists of individual summaries of both conventional and holistic treatment options for common problems, from acne to diabetes. In their attempts to cover such vast territory, the authors are forced to give important issues short shrift. Cancer, for instance, receives only 18 pages; explanations of key alternative therapies from chiropractic to Ayurveda are relegated to the appendix and handled in one paragraph each. The book is carefully and intelligently written and serves well as a useful brief reference. However, its broad scope may force readers needing help with complex health issues to seek out more specialized volumes. (Oct.)