Customer Reviews

Asian Health Secrets: The Complete Guide to Asian Herbal Medicine

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Asian Health Secrets by Letha Hadady, D.Ac., was recommended to me by an elder "kung fu brother" when I attended a very traditional kung fu school in Chinatown, NY. I knew very little of Asian medicinal theory so, I started with a fairly clean slate and couldn't have asked for a better foundation for learning about this rich tradition. The fact that His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote the foreword speaks volumes in and of itself.

The book is written in a conversational manner that serves to gently ease the reader into learning about the Asian health perspective. Hadady, an absolute expert in this field, is also a talented teacher - she effectively conveys the complexities of Asian herbal medicine so that anyone who would read this book would "get it". She describes what an Asian herb is and how everything we consume, in addition to elements in our environment, act upon our energy, or chi (which she clearly explains as well). She addresses foods, herbs, and teas and explains in the text and in easy to read tables their energy and effect on the person and mind.

She explains Asian elements and humors and how they are expressed through our physical and mental health. There is also a fantastic cleansing program that is flexible in the amount of time and degree of dedication you wish to do it with. The program uses foods that are easily obtainable and suggestions for herbal products that are easy to get at a Chinese herb shop or through one of the suppliers listed in the back of the book (if you don't have the fortune of a local Chinatown). She also refers to remedies that are available at most health food stores.

She devotes a chapter to reading the tongue (an Asian method of diagnosis which I have personally found is uncanny in its accuracy). There are also chapters about weight loss, arthritis, headaches and toothaches, circulation, allergies, colds & flu, beauty, women's health (including PMS, menstruation, birth, menopause), energy, insomnia, sexuality, ginseng, depression and mental clarity among others.

Throughout the book, there are questionnaires so that you can find out what state your energy is in as it relates to the topic you're reading about. While the questionnaires are optional, they bring it all together because you can see how the material applies to you personally. You also begin to see how it applies to others - it's eye opening, really.

I have studied/read this book twice and refer to it all the time. I've also gone through all the questionnaires and am not too bad at figuring out which part of me is suffering and treating myself, whether through meals or herbs (including western herbs such as basil or Chinese herbal remedies). You'll understand why it's more than just traditional to eat things like salad in the summer and pumpkin pie with cloves and nutmeg in the fall.

I highly recommend this book because it's helped my family and me so much. They say that Asian doctors are held in high esteem not in the number of patients they treat but because their patients are healthy. Right on. I also recommend Letha Hadady's film, Asian Health Secrets (ISBN: 1-58350-240-8) where she goes to Chinatown, NY and visits vegetable vendors, restaurants and herb shops. She shows the viewer Chinese patent remedies and explains what they do which is a lovely compliment to this book. You can also tell from her beauty and radiant healthy presence that what she's doing works.

Asian Health Secrets has taken ALL of the struggle out of getting and staying healthy. It outlines how to get in top notch physical health (and this in turn improves emotional, spiritual and mental health as well). The author describes how to get individual energy flowing as opposed to "being stuck" to achieve greater balance, energy and therefore, enhanced health. The book's basic health information is natural, doesn't cost a thing and is mainly a matter of using the teas, foods and herbs and spices in your kitchen with AWARENESS of what you're doing (ie, which herbs do what functions and paying attention to your individual needs based on your body type). Following the author's guidance, I have no doubt I am preventing dis-ease as well since the book teaches how to make your body function smoothly -in balance-(ie, good digestion, circulation, etc). I am a diabetic and since utilizing many concepts in this book, my blood sugar readings have been normal to low. In fact, I've been able to decrease the amount of insulin I take (and hope to get off of it completely one day). I've achieved and maintained my ideal weight with ease. I used to crave sweets and fats all the time, making it VERY difficult to get normal blood sugar readings; however, since learning how to satisfy my body's needs, I don't have the cravings anymore! I don't eat that much diffently - I just know what combinations of food to eat now and know to use herbs, spices and teas more often. I feel TREMENDOUSLY energetic, know how to relieve my back from aching (previous chronic pain is now only experienced once in awhile), know how to clear up acne (I have clear skin for the first time since puberty!), know how to diminish wrinkles, prevent indigestion and even how to prevent headaches. I used to suffer from chronic sinus headaches all fall and winter and my mother used to suffer from migraines. Neither of us has had one single headache since utilizing this book's concepts. Don't let the size of the book deter you in any way. The first few chapters outline the basic information and it is in very easy to read language. I want everyone to feel as good as I do. This is the reason why I'm so happy to share what I've experienced as a result of reading the book. I look around now and wonder sometimes why everyone else seems to be in such a bad mood all the time and then I realize it's simply me in such a GREAT mood most of the time. It's so much easier to put into practice my philosophy of believing everything happens for a good purpose when I'm feeling so good inside no matter what life events are transpiring around me. I can't thank Letha Hadady enough for taking the time and energy to share her wealth of excellent and responsibly-given knowledge with the rest of us. I hope you take advantage of this PRECIOUS find of a book. It can and will change your life for the better - I guarantee it!

Reading through the other reviews I have trouble seeing the confusion. It was stated that you had to mail order alot of the things in this book, but I don't find that to be true. I live in a very very small southern town, and I just go to my local oriental market. This book actually made me seek that place out, and become aquainted with it. Now I go there atleast once a week!

If you are thinking about getting this book, you are already looking for alternatives, and I don't think you would be opposed to finding new markets in your town to shop at. What Letha Hadady has put together here is a fantastic book that takes you through a diagnosis process before giving you advice on what to take. This alone makes this book stand out above all others, because so many herbal remedy books list symptoms and cures. This book helps you become aware of your bodies processes, and makes you pay attention to the inner workings of yourself. The stories of clients are great, and really make you understand how some of these topics are in practice.

I have had this book for going on 9 years now, and I use it frequently. It is sitting beside me right now. I too have been able to lose all of my problem body fat and maintain a healthy diet just from the cleansing program in this book. I have given so many away as presents, and made so many people buy it for themselves, that at times I feel that I should get a comission. This book is great for the beginner and even those experienced in herbal medicines/traditional oriental medicine. Letha is truly a great teacher because while there may be other books on the market that contain the same information, she explains it in a way that is accessible to everyone. The treatments listed in this book work!

This book is one of the best purchases of any kind that I've made in years. It is what I think a good health book should be --- it offers discrete remedies to individual, immediate health concerns, but it also emphasizes a comprehensive approach to improving overall health. It focuses on improving one's overall health in a systemic way, rather than just suppressing symptoms. I found that it also demystifies Asian medicine (Chinese, Tibetan, Indian, etc.) somewhat. As rooted in Western tradition and science as I am, I've often been confused by discussions of Asian medicine that sounded intangible and mystical. This book discusses everything in the most calm, intelligent, and pragmatic way possible, even providing photographs of common herbal preparations, so that all the information feels concrete and practical.

Ms. Hadady is an excellent teacher: like most good teachers, she gives you the information and the methodology to be able to begin analyzing problems on your own. She presents a huge amount of information in way that is warm and readable but not patronizing. She starts from the beginning, laying out all the foundations of Asian medicine, so that each chapter builds on the knowledge you've gained in the previous. Every piece of information is useful and necessary; there is no fluff. It's completely worthwhile to take the time to read the whole book. As big as it is, it's a quick and enjoyable read, and the information is invaluable. I found myself taking notes because I really wanted to absorb everything.

I don't think I'm really communicating how good I think this book is. It's truly comprehensive in the best meaning of the word, without being overly complicated or esoteric. It presents alternative methods of diagnosing and treating problems (teas, herbal remedies, nutrition, homeopathic remedies, meditation, etc.), so if one approach doesn't see to be working, you can try others. The appendix lists resources for obtaining supplies and further information. Most importantly, the suggestions are all things that the average person (like me) can actually do. I strongly recommend this book.

ASIAN HEALTH SECRETS is one of those wonderful books that combines the gift of knowledge you can immediately use with the readability of a well written classic. As you explore the intriguing facets of Chinese medicine you come away with the basic knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of life's imbalances plus the deep appreciation of a healing practice that spans thousands of years.

Letha Hadady knows her subject well as evidenced by her ability to summarize important points and make them accessible to the untrained reader. This is the kind of book that becomes both an invaluable reference and a source of enjoyable reading as you browse again and again, picking up valuable nuggets of helpful hints about how to get well and stay well.

This is a complete introduction to herbal medicine for the novice. Asian Health Secrets offers practical advice on how to use a variety of herbs, teas, extracts, and pills as safe and inexpensive alternatives or complements to Western treatments. In this informative guide to herbal medicine, Letha Hadady, D.Ac., presents simple yet thorough diagnostic methods that will allow readers to evaluate their well-being to prevent illness, boost immune strength, and promote health. Through case studies and step-by-step instructions Hadady reveals ancient cures for a variety of ailments that were, for centuries, known only to Eastern healers. This is the kind of book that becomes both an invaluable reference and a source of enjoyable reading as you browse again and again, picking up valuable nuggets of helpful hints about how to get well and stay well. It's a helpful book but if you're interested in Eastern medicine, you should see a doctor who deals with this type of medicine before self-diagnosing yourself. It's a good book to keep around.

I had the very good fortune to meet Letha in SoHo a few months ago for her guided tour of the herbal markets in neighboring Chinatown. She radiated with wisdom and was most informative on the huge and complex subject of Asian medicine. I was honored to finally meet her, as her book Asian Health Secrets, had helped transform my health three years ago.

The book was given to me by a close friend in Phoenix who had witnessed my suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome. I had been to many Western MD's who prescribed anything from Prozac to muscle relaxers. Nothing worked. I was told many times, my illness was in my head. But I knew better. As a last resort I read Letha's book and followed her advice. I also started yoga. Within six months my body had healed.

Of course I now have a special affection for the book, which started my personal transformation. I have recommended it to many friends. It is an excellent read, informative and addresses many health concerns of men and women. It is wonderful that there are alternative ways of looking at health, that often provide better and more lasting results than the standard Western model. Thank you Letha, for a wonderful book!

Honestly, to start, I was torn with how to rate this book. I'll begin with the positives: there is a LOT of helpful information here. The facts, picked out, are solid and very informative, and as a whole the book is a great guide to Asian medicine.

The main negative, as I see it, is that the beneficial information is scattered throughout the book in such a way as to frustrate the first-time reader. If you aren't familiar with many of the basic concepts of Chinese medicine, such as warming/cooling herbs, you don't really gain an understanding of these things until about halfway through the book. There is no time spent in early chapters to acquaint the novice with the things that the author takes for granted.

On the whole, it's a great book with a lot of good info, if you've got the patience to read it a few times - which, really, with a good reference book, you want to do anyway. Personally I do say it's worth it, but I wouldn't treat this book as a simple reference to have on the shelves - it's for someone who either has deeper knowledge or is looking for it.

Asian Health Secrets: The Complete Guide to Asian Herbal Medicine by Letha Hadady is being currently used in courses offered to nurses and doctors wishing to receive continuing education credits through The Renfield Center for Nursing Education, a branch of Beth Israel Hospital Complex and Albert Einstein Medical College and the annual complementary and alternative medicine conference offered by Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, The Rosenthal Center for Alternative Medicine, N.Y. Botanical Gardens, and the University of Arizona's Department of Integrative Medicine, which is headed by Dr. Andrew Weil.

The author is quite knowledgable about Chinese herbs, medicinal mushrooms, and other applied health practices including acupuncture. Her clear explanations and attractive illustrations in the book help to bridge the learning gap experienced by physicians and nurses in the West.

I predict that this book and workshops associated with it will become a growing trend in modern clinical practice.

When I heard a few months ago that I will be moving to Bangkok this summer I bought the book Asian Health Secrets in order to prepare myself for living in a new culture. I wished I had bought it many years ago, what an eye opener!!!! Letha Hadady makes Chinese Traditional Medicine so understandable and accesible. I was hooked from the moment I started to read and keep re-reading and applying certain parts of the book. I am very grateful to the writer that she is sharing her knowledge and valuable information with us. It is amazing to see how the herbs and remedies she recommends work in such a beautiful way. Everybody should own a copy of this great book.