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Heal Environmental Illness and Reclaim Your Life

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In her book Heal Environmental Illness and Reclaim Your Life the author, Dr. Lorraine Smith, takes the reader into a fascinating journey into the world of the environmentally ill. In what may eventually serve as the handbook for dealing with environmental illness the author adroitly covers all aspects off the illness on not only the afflicted but their families as well.

Dr.Smith provides an extremely personal and vivid first-hand account of the long, downward spiral of declining health she experienced after being exposed to chemical solvents, and her heart-rendering account of her struggles to regain her health are powerfully told. Poignantly detailed are her many long hours of solitude and loneliness forced upon her due to the nature of the illness, something to which fellow sufferers will readily relate.

Dr. Smith's extensive research of environmental illness helps to provide a veritable wealth of information on alternative therapies not recognized by the established medical community. Her solution and the path she takes to restore her own health have provided not only a ray of hope to the many thousands afflicted with the problem but a blueprint to wellness as well.

Heal Environmental Illness and Reclaim Your Life is a moving account
of a schoolteacher's journey through the effects of environmental
illness. Her intense search for help leads to her discovery of
alternative healing methods. These methods take her far from her
earlier understandings and into a world where alternative health
practices bring about her dramatic recovery.

Confused by her
symptoms, the doctors can do nothing. Her mounting allergic reactions
leave Dr. Smith and her family desolate. Alone with accumulating
physical problems (from excruciating body sensations to problems with
seeing, hearing, eating, and breathing), her world becomes very
small. She sits next to her window, listening to her clock, wondering
why she is suffering so much. Through it all, the author does not
give up. Slowly, she builds on each small poignant turning point. She
shares these stories with her readers, as well as the practical
healing ideas and methods she discovers (including exercises that even
someone quite ill can do).

One of the very special features of
this book is that many of Dr. Smith's suggestions cost nothing to
incorporate. The biggest investment needed by readers is that of
cultivating willingness . . . to believe that healing is quite
possible. She describes how each seeming obstacle eventually, through
her willingness, becomes a jumping off point. Dr. Smith gives readers
the means to take control of many aspects of their recovery.

This
book is full of optimism, compassion for those who suffer, practical
advice on what to do, and energetic ways to gently and incrementally
ease back into living. She also includes her spiritual experiences,
for those who wish to call on this often ignored aspect of recovering
health. Dr. Smith's personal story (told in a stirring,
straightforward, and easy to understand manner), combined with helpful
healing ideas (also presented in a clear, useful, easy to grasp and
practice fashion), make this book a rare find. The reader is offered
hope and the means to realize that hope in Heal Environmental Illness
and Reclaim Your Life.

Dr. Smith understands what it is to live
through having EI. Her gentle and honest narrative invite you to feel
as though she is right there to offer wisdom and kindness and
help. She also knows what it is to recover! Her words are uplifting
and inspiring. Her fascinating journey provides a path for others to
discover their journey, one that well may result in seeming miracles!

I was drawn to the word "HEAL" in the book title. She has come a long way in her journey - but is not healed. I was saddened when I came to the end! I felt the anguish of her story as I am experiencing chemical sensitivities as well. Beautifully written! This woman (and her wonderful husband) have been thru a very hard time - quite the nightmare! I have tried many of the treatments she speaks about - except for the hypnotism. I will pursue this avenue soon! The pages had me sobbing as I related to many different episodes in her life. If she has "HEALED" since the release of this book - I would love to read the follow up book! I'm saddened that this is a life sentence

This author was very brave to write about her illness and road to recovery. She has gone on to help many people overcome a dreadful disease. There is no known test for it yet but there are ways to avoid the every day chemicals in our lives that we never thought of as a danger to our health. An intense sensitivity occurs to common odors,household items, pesticides,chemicals in personal products,clothing. The list is quite lengthy and varies from person to person. Fortunately we are entering an era where green and fragrance free products along with more organic foods are being made available to consumers. Hopefully more people will read this book and have more understanding of someone who suffers from this very real and debilitating illnes and offer them hope. elsie

Author Lorraine Smith had been in academia as her life's career --teaching. The September 1994 school session opens, and Ms. Smith (now Dr. Smith) is looking forward to another year with students. The school building is having a new roof installed, while school is in session. Lorraine Smith experiences illness, along with her students, from the odor of chemicals being used to apply the roofing material. It doesn't end there... she becomes so ill from head to toe, literally, Ms. Smith has to stop teaching, becomes purposefully reclusive, cannot go outside, wear certain clothes, even the smell of coffee makes her ill. Ms. Smith seeks help from varied physicians... one blatantly laughs at her throughout the medical appointment.

One physician gives her a diagnosis -- Environmental Illness (EI) or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). But, he tells her, there is no cure! Over years of suffering, and courageous, non-stop searching, she meets others who have the same illness. She discovers doctors and alternative medicine who know Environmental Illness, providing the increasingly ill Ms. Smith with knowledge, understanding, support, assistance and clinical, healing methods.

Lorraine Smith is now a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy (D.C.H.). After a horrendous struggle, Dr. Smith today helps other sufferers. Read this book for information, if for no other reason. One of the best medical references on the bookshelves. It is enlightening with bibliography, indices of terms and referrals. The reader will discover many other surprises as they delve into the life of Lorraine Smith, D.C.H.

The biblio references vary from Deepak Chopra, M.D., "Quantum Healing"; Professor Steven Rochlitz, "Allergies and Candida: with the Physicist's Rapid Solution"; Devi Nambudripad, S., D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D., "Say Goodbye to Illness", and Norman Vincent Peale, "How to Handle Tough Times."