Natural Health, Natural Medicine (1990), and Spontaneous Healing (1995), by Andrew Weil, M.D. Excellent, highly readable advice on how to be well and invoke the body's natural ability to heal itself. Many inspiring examples and stories. Nutritional advice.

The Four Pillars of Healing (NY: Random House, 1997), by Leo Galland, M.D. This book is written for those who believe in M.D.'s and distrust all that hokey "alternative stuff." Galland tells the story of his transformation from hardcore M.D. to "hybrid" doctor, recognizing the need to test and treat for nutritional deficiencies as well as parasites. He is known for successfully treating many people with chronic, intractable disorders. He discusses what he has come to believe is necessary to build a healthy immune system – you must read Ch. 9 . . . "Plagues Revisited!"

Gary Null's Ultimate Anti-Ageing Program (1999), by Gary Null, Ph.D. Null discusses his findings from many years of research with samples of hundreds of people with various ailments ranging from mild to severe. Of course the program addresses diet, exercise and spirituality. Chock full of nutritional information and recommendations. Following his own program, Null grew back his hair and reversed it from gray back to its original brown color; he needs only about 2 hours of sleep, he claims, and runs every day. He addresses both male and female health problems – how to prevent or alleviate them. Null has also written a number of cookbooks you can look for and try.

Healing with Whole Foods: Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition (1993), by Paul Pitchford. An incredible source of nutrition and health information, bringing together Oriental medicine with up-to- date research on healthy vegetarian diets. The interconnectedness of all things makes it hard to read just one part of this book – you'll find yourself checking out other sections to learn more and more! This book is effectively a manual for using food and its relationship to life in order to heal. Includes a chapter of recipes.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C. Second Edition: 1997; Third Edition: 1999? The Subtitle on the front cover sums it up: A practical A-Z reference to drug-free remedies using vitamins, minerals, herbs and food supplements. Want to know what is Co-Q10? Want to know what to take to help prevent a heart attack? Arthritis? Candidasis? It's all in there! You'll find the book in health food stores and you're sure to refer to it frequently if you have it on your bookshelf! (Bug bites? Skin rash? Eye problems? It's there!) Great self-help natural medicine guide!

The Chemistry of Success: Six Secrets of Peak Performance, Susan M. Lark and James A. Richards. (2000) This wife-husband team notes that it takes more than willingness and desire to succeed: you need to have the energy, the stamina, the clarity of thinking, and the resilience to keep on going! They ask: what is it about the physiology of successful individuals which makes them tick and not get sick? The arrive at six chemical functions needed for peak performance and health, namely: regulate the body's acid/alkaline balance: produce digestive enzymes; ability to detoxify the body of pollutants generated by both external sources and internal combustion; ability to oxygenate tissues and cells; ability to neutralize the chemical imbalances caused by stress, and the body's ability to produce sex hormones. (p. 7). State-of-the-art nutritional information!

Hands of Light: A guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field, by Barbara Ann Brennan (1988) - on bioenergy fields and healing.

Auras, by Mark Smith (1999) - on viewing and interpreting Auras; also mentions bioenergy healer Miatek Wirkus.

Report on the Shroud of Turin, by Dr. John H. Heller (1983) - example of an image made on a cloth by someone who appears to have had some very strong bioenergy fields; factual and historical evidence strongly suggest this cloth to be the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ. Book reports the first modern research conducted on the shroud.

A New Science of Life (1981), The Presence of the Past (1988), The Rebirth of Nature (1991), Seven Experiments That Could Change the World: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Revolutionary Science (1994), and Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home and Other Unexplained Powers of Animals (1999), by biologist Rupert Sheldrake, who hypothesizes the existence of a “morphogenic field” - “morph” = shape or form; “genesis” = create - to explain how all living things take shape and share a kind of “memory” that they can access - so that, for example, homing pigeons can always find their way home, and honeybees can always find honey, amongst other things.

The Edgar Cayce Remedies, by Wiliam A. McGarey, M.D. (1983), and Edgar Cayce: Encyclopedia of Healing, by Reba Ann Karp (1986) - these books document the phenomenon of Edgar Cayce, known sometimes as “the sleeping prophet” because he would work from a trance-like state to recommend ways to cure people, as well as to predict future events (and past, such as Atlantis). The unusual therapies proved effective in many cases (if followed). The Edgar Cayce Foundation continues to research these methods. Cayce is an example of someone who acts as a “channel” through which some other entity works. He had no medical knowledge or background.

Mind Medicine: The Secret of Powerful Healing, by Uri Geller (1999) - Uri has gone from bending spoons for show to using his bioenergy abilities to heal. Appendix of book documents many scientific studies conducted on Uri’s abilities.

The Power of Reiki: An Ancient Hands-on Healing Technique, by Tanmaya Hoervogt (1998) - Good introduction to Reiki, illustrated with photos showing various hand positions for Reiki treatments.

The Touch of Healing: Energizing Body, Mind and Spirit with the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu, by Alice Burmeister (1997) - the first guidebook which teaches the principles and a few simple patterns used in Jin Shin healing treatments.

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, by Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D. (1983) - the classic introduction to Chinese Medicine - its philosophy (yin/yang) and practice (diagnostic tools, meridians, etc.). Written in a way that conveys the Chinese mind-set - a different way to view the body and health. Good references on pulses, tongue analysis and other visible signs of health.

Plant Spirit Medicine, by Eliot Cowan (1995) - to my knowledge, the only book written on the subject. Eliot has visited and studied with many Native American Indian shamans and healers to arrive at his current understanding of the philosophy and practice of plant spirit medicine.

The Colon Health Handbook, by Robert Gray (1990) - More than you ever wanted to know about your poop and how to read your health from the way it looks, smells, etc. The downside of this booklet is that Gray is explaining his theory of how “death begins in the colon” and how health can be restored through his suggested colon cleansing program. Still worth reading for perspective on the importance of diet and colon health. Decent iridology chart in middle of booklet.

Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients: Clinical Application of Tissue Mineral Analysis, by Dr. David L. Watts (1995) - a detailed outline of the role of trace minerals (measured through hair analysis) in our health (or lack thereof) and their synergistic interactions with one another. Could be hard to find this book - ISBN # is 1-885676-15-8

Body Learning, 2nd Edition, by Michael J. Gelb (1994) - a great introduction to the Alexander Technique.

Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, by Burton Goldberg (1999) - a great resource to give an overview of the huge field of alternative medicine, complete with self-help tips and many references on where to find help - from books and organizations.