Book reviews

Staying Healthy with the Seasons

Staying Healthy with the Seasons by Elson M. Haas, M.D.  is a great guide to seasonal living. This book gives a great introduction to the fundamentals of Chinese medicine. Ancient Chinese acupuncture recognizes that the seasonal changes going outside us are also happening within us.  When we learn from and align ourselves with nature we can harnessing the energy all around us.

Beginning with the spring each chapter explains the corresponding elements, organ systems, dietary recommendations, herbs and physical movements to stay healthy in the season. For example, Hass says that spring is the ideal to do a body cleanse be it the master cleanse liquid fast, elimination diet (to determine alergies), herbs that are supportive or body work that is focused on cleansing.

This book is a great resource for anyone using the seasons as a guide to health.

Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health

Whether you’re looking to get pregnant or be sure that you don’t, this is the book for you. Toni Weschler, MPH breaks down in simple, easy to understand chunks, just how our reproductive system works and how to know where you are in the process. The Fertility Awareness Method is not the Rythm Method of  the past.  It is a precise and simple process of tracking three major clues your body gives to tell you when you are most likely to get pregnant and when you are not.

Weshler breaks the book down into sections; rediscovering your cycle and your body, natural birth control, pregnancy acievement, and beyond fertility: practical benefits of charting your cycle. She also includes many easy to use charts so you can follow along at home.  Even if you make no changes to your present birth control practice it is an empowering experience to understand just what’s happening down there and when.  I highly recommend it.