The Healing Power of Illness: Understanding What Your Symptoms Are Telling You (Paperback)

by Thorwald Dethlefsen (Author), Rudiger Dahlke (Author), R¿diger Dahlke (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Contrary to conventional opinion, illness is not some quirk of nature you have to fight. A truer understanding of illness actually helps you stay healthier. When you "understand what your symptoms are telling you," you view them as bodily expressions of inner conflicts. Their symbolism will reveal the real problems you're facing. Pick a current health issue and see the difference when you treat it as a sign of healing instead of as a negative, following the approach of two psychologists, one trained in spiritual traditions and the other in natural healing and psychotherapy. Troubles with infection, allergies, respiration, digestion, skin and nervous system, heart and circulation, sexuality and pregnancy, even accidents, come with practical actions to take to remedy them.


About the Author
German-born Thorwald Dethlefsen is probably best known as a spiritual psychologist. He combines the qualifications of a trained psychologist with the insight gained through a deep study of the spiritual traditions. He runs a private institute in Munich as well as holding regular courses and speaking at lectures and conferences worldwide. Along with his co-author Rudiger Dahlke MD, his work opens up completely new areas of thought regarding the understanding of illness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Vega (October 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843330482
• ISBN-13: 978-1843330486
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #780,828 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, A book that speaks the truth!, November 6, 2003

By	Robert Selig, D.C. (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

As a doctor of chiropractic I get a chance to listen to every excuse, as to why we hurt, or why our bodies have boken down. This book goes beyond the excuses, and give us a chance to face the truth as to why we are broken. However, most people do not want to hear the truth, and will blame everything from the foods that they eat to their computer, and everything in between. In reality, we really need to look inside, and give our symptoms a chance to tell the real story without sugar coating the truth. I know on many levels that this book will challange the reader in many ways, and I commend the author for his bravery to go were most will shy away. In closing I just want to thank the authors for truly a great piece of challenging work. Dr. Robert

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to real health through basic human experience, September 30, 2003

By	DR M FRAGUAS POOLE (Killaloe, Clare Ireland) - See all my reviews

Now I don't need to write my book anymore. It is already written, and probably much better...
Rather than blocking or destroying illness, we can learn from it. Paradoxical, yes. Give a minute of your thoughts to this affirmation. Our body is just showing us the way we were unable to follow in our free consciousness. Learn from your illness, then your illness becomes useless and fades away. Illness represents the last opportunity for evolution. Whatever you do for healing, pay simultaneous attention to the only true healing. Take the challenge!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical Application of "The Challenge of Fate", April 13, 2004

By	John E. Chadwick "John C" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wow, such an amazing book. If anyone has read "The Challenge of Fate" before this, then I am sure you noticed how perfectly this book compliments the first. While "Fate" challenged you with groundbreaking theory, this new book actually takes some theory from "Challenge" and spends an entire book, in great detail, explaining how, we must awaken from the world of duality to accomplish something concrete as "health".
This book is almost a scientific approach to Zen Buddhism. I am also reading "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" and these two books seem to match exactly. While zen attempts to deal with the problem of duality in ritualistic fashion, Dethlefsen and Dahlke go into scientific analogies to show the existence of dualism and it's impact upon our lives. Plus, how to move beyond it. Beyond a world of light/dark, male/female, fast/slow, cold/hot, etc. etc. Basically, this book is a practical application of the fundamental concepts of zen buddhism. The more of our nature we deny, the more builds up on other levels that ultimately spill over onto the physical plane and thus "cause" disease.
This book is a MUST read for anyone who questions exactly "why" things are, the way they are. It will soon become apparent that the answers are correct, we are simply asking the wrong questions.