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The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things: Fourteen Natural Steps to Health and Happiness

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In his book Larry Dossay, a Vietnam War veteran, shares his wisdom regarding the truly important things in life. We learn that the secret to a joyful and meaningful life is hidden among the simple, small things. The author talks about basics of natural healing and recovery, investigating the medical research that acknowledges and supports natural remedies. It is not a surprise that the best healer is the practice of living in agreement with nature. Dr. Dossay also draws our attention to the importance of duality, and experiencing the seemingly negative things in live. Surprisingly, not only stress, but also an occasional dose of unhappiness turn out to be beneficial to our overall well-being. Another example of Dossay's unconventional wisdom is the discovery of the healing power of prayers.

This is an exceptionally good reading. The author's unusual wisdom will bring about extraordinary results one applied in practice. Another great book that I highly recommend as the addition to this book is Can We Live 150.

Physician, writer and editor Larry Dossey has been an important voice in medicine for more than two decades.

In his previous books and papers he has articulated an emerging vision of medicine which goes far beyond a simple mechanical view of the body, and emphasises a model that also addresses the emotional, spiritual and timeless aspects of our lives.

In this book he incorporates and expands upon some of the insights of the burgeoning field of positive psychology. One of the most attractive things about this new work is that he also emphasises the importance of apparently "negative" experiences. I have pointed out in my own work that we need to understand the importance of duality, balance and personal integration: To recommend positive thinking can be disastrous for some people, for whom pessimism and negative cognitions are their natural defense styles. Similarly, there are some people who get sick once stress is over. And the constant drive to boost self-esteem has created many people with narcissistic and sociopathic personality traits. In the same vein, Dossey also points out the importance of bugs, tears, dirt and an occasional a bit of unhappiness for our overall well-being.

This is a book that should be widely read and the principles applied in all our lives.

Highly recommended!

In the spirit of Aristotle and Thoreau Larry Dossey provides compelling and stimulating answers to the eternal question - "what is truly important in life?" At a time when we seem increasingly confused by complexity, speed and continuous change this book reminds us that the important things in our lives are timeless and simple.

As befits the title Dr Dossey writes with simple elegance. The essays are lucid, well-reasoned, practical and frequently moving. Indeed I experienced the rare feeling that I was receiving genuine wisdom, and was being shown the path to a joyful and meaningful life through paying attention to the small things. So I recommend that the reader learns the principles in this book and takes "route one" to health and happiness

Thank God for Larry Dossey!!

As I sat at my grandmothers' feet, many years ago, she told me of the importance of the subtle world around me. She ministered to people struggling in various ways in the back-woods of West Virginia in the early nineteen hundreds. She learned medicine from her grandmother. Her life was rich with stories of healing and her love of nature.

Larry Dosseys' voice in the world is long overdue!

Dr. Larry Dossey's book is for everyone who seeks everyday peace, everyday purpose, everyday hope and everyday love. He gives us stories to nourish our hearts, science to satisfy our minds and a 14-step path to ease our way. Truly, we CAN find sacred footing on ordinary ground.

The subtitle of this book, Fourteen Natural Steps to Health and Happiness, is somewhat misleading. To me, at least, it suggests that specific procedures or techniques of healing will be discussed. Its true there are fourteen chapters in the book, each devoted to a discussion of a general topic. But the discussions are mostly anecdotal and metaphysical rather than specific disciplines or remedies. Dr. Dossey draws on a wide array of quotations from philosophers, scientists, theologians, psychologists, and writers to illustrate his views on healing. A central point he makes is that there is no cut and dried formula that can be said to predictably effect miraculous cures, but that there are such cures, he has no doubt. Of course faith and positive thinking play large roles, but they are by no means the only effective methods. Sometimes, he says, totally passive people receive a miraculous cure. The point is, desperately ill people should never be discouraged from seeking a miracle. For one thing, such hope can give comfort. More importantly, such cures can happen, and are usually associated with a positive mental outlook of faith, prayer, or determination. Dr. Dossey suggests that the most important thing is that a person somehow get in touch with their own inner being to in turn connect with the healing power of nature. He talks of the non-locality of the universe, a term from quantum physics which means that everything in existence is part of an undivided whole. Our separateness is an illusion of our conscious minds, and the way to connect with this wholeness is through the unconscious. The idea, as I understand it, is that any activity we engage in that has a strong unconscious content might be able to focus the power of the wholeness to effect change or cure. I'm going to confess to you that I took some parts of this book with a grain of salt, but this idea of our unconscious mind being connected to some sort of cosmic wholeness or consciousness echoes some of the thinking of our greatest visionaries of science - those who established quantum theory. I would have once completely dismissed a book such as this as nonsense, but personal experience with an acutely serious illness has convinced me that thoughts and prayers do make a difference in outcomes. My feeling is, that in those intense times of urgency, we are more likely to find the tools we need in our own inner selves than in a book. Nonetheless I did find the book to be interesting and inspirational, though not terribly deep or specific. Its possible that some of the ideas presented here might prove to be a stimulus to your own personal quest for natural aids to healing.

Larry Dossey, M.D.'s THE EXTRA-ORDINARY HEALING POWER OF ORDINARY THINGS: FOURTEEN NATURAL STEPS OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS comes from a physician long hailed as one of the discoverers of the idea of 'mind-body medicine'. Here Dr. Dossey discusses sources of natural healing and speedy recovery, exploring the medical research that acknowledges and supports natural remedies. From the return of leeches as useful medical tools to religion as a risk-reduction tool, THE EXTRA-ORDINARY HEALING POWERS OF ORDINARY THINGS surveys both physical and psychological rituals and healing methods.

This is the third copy I buy since I keep giving it away. Informative, based in scientific evidence (with a sizable bibliography) and very useful. It kept my interest, and I keep going back to it for more tidbits of information on human behavior, as well as ideas that will help in healing.

The purpose of this book is to explore ordinary, simple things that have "an extraordinary capacity to help us heal, to understand our place in the natural order, and to be more complete as human beings." Healing and health are both related to wholeness, knowing who we are and the how we are connected to the world around us. Some of these ordinary things are tears, dirt, bugs, plants and music. Dossey relates his own experiences, in fascinating stories, and raises pertinent issues with contemporary medical practices. Some of the chapters on optimism, risk and mystery read more like brief literature reviews than compelling personal stories. I prefer to connect with the author's voice.

Some ordinary "things" that Dossey identifies are attributes, such as optimism. Dossey cautions us against viewing optimism as a panacea. Adapting an optimistic mindset is an unrealistic solution for people who are discriminated against, living in poverty, and struggling to survive day by day. There are real life barriers, beyond the individual's psychology. In addition, unhappiness is part of life, a necessary part of life.

In Dossey's view, health and healing encompass spirituality, a connection with our universe and a spiritual source. In many ways, the "ordinary things" he describes are more effective than traditional Western medicine. Readers gain insights into their own responsibility -- and the ordinary things they use -- for health and healing.

The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things is for anyone interested in healthcare and healthy living. Dr. Larry Dossey, a clinical physician, explores the broadest definition of "health" through this book. From the purely physical to the purely mental - all aspects of a healthy life are explored and examined. Essentially, this book is for anyone seeking to improve their health without pills or procedures.

The concept of Dr. Dossey's philosophy is simple - "optimistic people are more likely to want to be healthy and to believe they can be healthy." From this, Dossey demonstrates through medical fact, published studies, and his own extensive experience how profoundly influential this simple belief can be.

All of the information in The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things is drawn from such a wide range of sources. This book is more than a philosophy - it's science. Every last one of Dossey's arguments are supported by recognized studies and real-life scenarios.

Dossey explores a wide range of topics - the history of crying, optimism as an evolutionary tool, the power of forgetting - and the list goes on and on. All of this leads to and culminates in his belief that a positive attitude can have a huge effect on a patient's health problems. He proves not only the power of emotions on mental health, but also their immense influence on physical health.

I am deeply impressed by Dr. Dossey's astounding work. Beyond the wealth of knowledge and information he provides, he does it in a truly enjoyable and delightful way. His wonderful sense of humor and self-deprecating anecdotes make this a joy to read. His considerable experience and expertise aside, Dossey is also an exceptional storyteller.