Balanced Healing: Combining Modern Medicine with Safe & Effective Alternative Therapies [Paperback]

Larry Altshuler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 2003

Balanced Healing arms readers with ailment-specific information that will help them make intelligent choices for a bias-free, balanced approach to health and healing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Larry Altshuler, M.D., began introducing alternative methods of treatment into his medical practice 25 years ago, long before alternative medicine enjoyed widespread acceptance. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and also has extensive training in herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, Qigong, hypnosis, and mind-body medicine.

Dr. Altshuler heads the Balanced Healing Medical Center in Oklahoma City, a clinic specializing in the treatment of chronic disease and pain. It enjoys a phenomenal success rate through the combined application of conventional, alternative, and research therapies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Harbor Press, Inc.; 1 edition (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936197471
• ISBN-13: 978-0936197470
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The right prescription., January 24, 2004

By 

R. Shaff "Velocipede" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Balanced Healing: Combining Modern Medicine with Safe & Effective Alternative Therapies (Paperback)

I had a bit of an advantage before reading Dr. Altshuler's book. You see, I've know Larry and have been a patient of his, from time-to-time, for several years. To say I was extremely excited for this published offering would be a supreme understatement.

I met Dr. Altshuler some years ago in a business setting. At the time, I had a chronic back problem resulting from an old sports injury. While it wasn't a debilitating problem, it was constant and frustrating. One of those chronic pains that was judged each morning as I arose from bed...sometimes not as painful, other times very painful. In any event, I was in a business meeting with Dr. Altshuler and was having a fairly problematic day with my back so, as I sat down at the conference table, I did so very gingerly. Dr. Altshuler asked me what the trouble was and I very offhandedly told him about my back problem. I indicated I had been to countless chiropractors and massage therapists to no avail. He asked me if I was willing to let him have a shot at helping me and I said, "sure." Well, to say I was hesitant to go to a doc who openly touted his alternative methodologies-cold laser therapy, not to mention acupuncture-was, well, rather uncomfortable. Net, net, I was very dubious...alternative treatment sounded like voodoo. However, my back problem was not getting any better and, as I told him, even if he had to sacrifice a chicken, I was willing to give it a go.

I arrived at his clinic for my first treatment. He did a thorough history and examination and prescribed a regimen of cold laser therapy and infrasonic treatments. He further put me with one of his technicians who offered several exercises and stretching activities to complement and assist in the treatment. The one thing he told me that I never forgot as well as solidifying my belief that this man REALLY knew what he was doing was, "These treatments should help get rid of the pain. It doesn't work for everyone but it helps most people." That let me know immediately that I was dealing with a realist, someone who was interested in his patients' well-being and health.

After the first week of treatments, my back was not any better and my attitude toward alternative medicine was still dubious at best. However, I was determined to run the spectrum of treatments in an effort to give this "new medicine" a real try. As the next few weeks and treatments passed, I noted some relief. Not full relief, mind you, but relief nonetheless. The best was yet to come.

Upon full completion of my treatments, some eight weeks later, my back pain literally dissipated. It was gone. That was in 1997. To this day, I still do the exercises and stretching activities each morning but can attest that I have still have no back pain. Voodoo? I don't think so. His knowledge, care, and thoroughness in determining the best treatment regimen was the key. His only interest was alleviating and ridding me of pain.

I've returned to Dr. Altshuler from time-to-time for various treatments associated with other aches, pains, and allergies...yes, allergies. While not all the results have been as miraculous as my experience with my back, the treatments have always provided relief.

Dr. Altshuler's new book, BALANCED HEALING, is a fairly exhaustive offering of his knowledge of conventional and alternative medicine (thus, "balanced" healing). This book is groundbreaking in its breadth and guidance. It is easy to read yet, in this reviewer's opinion, should be held closely as a reference guide. He offers an index of ailments with corresponding treatments. The only downside of the book is that the reader doesn't get the pleasure of Dr. Altshuler's hands-on presence. However, it's pretty close.

Awareness of alternative methods is becoming more accepted throughout the United States. Other countries have been using alternative treatments for years, or even centuries (acupuncture has been around 'forever' in China). The U.S. is in its infancy relative to acceptance of alternative methodologies. Without doubt, Dr. Altshuler is a domestic pioneer in combining conventional and alternative methods of treatment for a variety of illnesses and chronic syptoms.

This book will be a boon to anyone inasmuch as we all need "a bit of cure" now and then. The price of the book is negligible for the knowledge and priceless insight and the cure is, well, quite balanced.

Highly recommended.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Organized, January 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Balanced Healing: Combining Modern Medicine with Safe & Effective Alternative Therapies (Paperback)

I found this book to be helpful and organized. There is a wealth of good information between its covers and it is presented in a way that makes sense. I bought the book as a general guide to "living better" and have been very impressed. I am trying one of the recommended action plans to cure a nagging tennis elbow and, so far, it is working. I am intereted in the role alternative medicines can play in healing, and it extremely interesting when a board-certified physician is the one doing the explaining. The book begins with general discussions on both conventional and alternative medicine, then has a large section on recommended treatments for a number of specific ailments and conditions, from hay fever to high blood pressure. There is also a wealth of information on different alternative medicine products in a hundred page appendix. Thumbing through the book, it is easy to see the reinforcement of some general themes: diet and exercise, but they are supplemented with other interesting and easy to follow suggestions. I plan to begin following several of the actions plans, hopefully incorporating them into my life. I found much more information in this book relevelant to me and my health than I first imagined I would. I would recommend this book to evertyone.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars choices, February 14, 2004

By 

healthnut (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balanced Healing: Combining Modern Medicine with Safe & Effective Alternative Therapies (Paperback)

This book is the most complete health reference I have come upon. Altshuler isn't bantering on about one method of treating pain but gives holistic advice as well as specific treatments for each ailment. This book gives many options for every problem, giving a list of choices and alternatives that enable the reader to have an active role in their own health. Each recommended medication is discussed and he talks about taking precaution on some medications which may have side effects or can be dangerous if combined with other drugs. Altshuler also gives nutritional advice and therapy suggestions which are not often available to patients. I recommend this book highly and suggest that you take a look at it to see if it can help you as this book has helped me.