Enriching Health: Pathways To Complementary Therapies

"If you are interested in learning more about the history, modalities, and statistics associated with complementary alternative medicine (CAM) - this is the book for you. In addition, Professor Betz provides some powerful anecdotes about CAM that makes this book an interesting read. The author clearly speaks from personal experience with CAM, demonstrates thorough research over a long period of time, and speaks with a clear passion for an enlarged view of what personal and collective health can and should be. In this book, key ideas are highlighted and well documented. Indeed, there were over 40 pages and 606 citations provided! While I fail to see the political courage to responsibly and comprehensively tackle our growing health care crisis, this book provides ideas and encouragement for those struggling with chronic health problems, acute health problems not solved by contentional medical treatments, and those simply who want a higher quality of life. I especially enjoyed reading the final chapter which dealt with the power and potential of looking at health and healing as the movement and balancing of energy. This book is a fresh and much needed addition to the literature on CAM. Too many alternative healers condemn allopathic medicine, and too many allopathic practitioners are not open to what CAM offers. This book offers a synthesis of how alternative therapies can enhance our nation's health outcomes, expand access to our health care system, and reduce costs all at the same time."
~ Written on 2006-07-27

"When medical costs are exorbitant and a catastrophic accident or illness can wipe out a family's finances, why would anyone voluntarily give up his health insurance? M. D. Betz did just that because he found an alternative path from the corporation-run medical-pharmaceutical-insurance complex to one that prioritizes healthy living over disease treatment.

Betz's book "Enriching Health" informs readers about the paths that lead to health and, when one succumbs to illness or injury, about alternative therapies for healing other than the conventional invasive, "heroic medicine" model. "Western" medicine has historically rejected alternative medical practices that don't conform to this disease-centric model. Yet complimentary alternative therapies (CAM) are increasingly becoming accepted as part of a broader range of available health care. These CAM therapies include Ayurvedic, chiropractic, homeopathic, naturopathic, and traditional Chinese medicines such as acupuncture and herbal; others are mind-body therapies, therapeutic massage, energy therapies such as healing touch and Reiki, and magnetic therapy.

We live in our bodies everyday, so isn't living in a healthy body much more pleasant than in an unhealthy one? This book brings to light the broad range of paths that lead to healthy living and bypass the costly disease treatment route that currently holds us hostage.
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~ Written on 2006-07-21

"Enriching Health is an important addition to the literature on how health has declined in the US population over the past half century. It also documents how the conventional healthcare system, particularly the "fast fix" cures, are less effective in healing the chronic disease states that plague our country.

The book describes in detail how health promotional strategies including complementary therapies can increase health and vitality without the side effects and risk of medical errors associated with conventional medicine. This book should be part of the curriculum of every medical and nursing school."
~ Written on 2006-06-28