Customer Reviews

Herbal Healing Secrets of the Orient

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As China becomes a world economic power and the West and East join to co-create new medical and social models for the betterment of all life on earth, it is vital for westerners to understand the ancient and fascinating art and science of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Herbal Healing Secrets is well-written and easily understood by the western mind. Darlena L'Orange introduces us to many practical and inspirational ways of putting Traditional Chinese Herbalism and Medicine to work to improve the quality of life.

I have been a patient, friend, and colleague of Darlena's for the past twelve years and have always been inspired and encouraged by her integrity. In Herbal Healing Secrets of the Orient she brings in very complex information and simplifies it so it can be used by the public. She is the physician that Hippocrates spoke of, "Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine." Not only has she developed herself as a master acupuncturist and herbalist, but also as a culinary artist. Darlena has learned to incorporate the wisdom of many ancient healing systmes into her medicinal recipes. She has not only taught me life enhancing ways of eating, cooking and taking herbs, but has likewise helped numerous patients of mine. In all ways she is a treasure. I think so, my family thinks so, and so do my patients. We're all thrilled that this book is now on the market so we can apply its healing principles in our self-care programs. I regularly give my patients excerpts and recipes from Herbal Healing Secrets!

L'Orange has taken a very complex topic and made it accessible to the American public. As a practicing acupuncturist and herbalist, I applaude her pioneering efforts to open the world of Chinese medicine to both Jon and Jane C. Public! I frequently loan copies of "Herbal Healing Secrets of the Orient" to my patients who enjoy reading about the herbs and herbal prescriptions they are taking. This book is loaded with wonderful health tips, great recipes, a short but thorough introduction to Chinese medical philosophy and one of the best sections on individual healing herbs available to readers. Comparing L'Orange's book to Kaptchuk's is like comparing apples to "Oranges"! Kaptchuk's book is a classic but deals completely with Chinese philosophy and the descriptions of acupuncture meridians with scarcely a mention of Chinese herbs. For those interested in learning more about Chinese healing herbs, this book is for you.

I met Darlena L'Orange sixteen years ago when I was an overworked counselor for social services agencies. I went to her for assistance with stress and headaches. Her gentle techniques and candidly fresh style captivated me. I realized I was before a true curandera, the kind that envelopes in you the will for self-improvement, peace and wellness. I have followed Darlena's career all along, referring friends and clients to her for diverse health problems. Her greatest gift comes from eloquently and clearly making the language of healing communicable. I am extremely pleased that she is now able to bring all of her distinguishing, empowering characteristics into manageable literataure. Those who can communicate with the soul and the intellect, as well as the flesh, are few and far between. Darlena is the most authentically touching and hard-working (well-researched) acupuncturist/herbalist one could know in person as well as through her writings. Her soul travels well on paper.

L'Orange is somewhat familiar with ancient Chinese medical philosophy and does attempt to give her readers some grasp of these concepts. The issue is that the Nei Ching, the classic Chinese medical text, does not promote one consistent "prescription" for each disease. There are thousands of herbal variations based on a unique diagnosis of each patient. This book tries to simplify a complex system and culture and in the end is not pure Chinese herbal medicine...or at least not what the ancients had in mind. In L'Orange's defense she does attempt to take individual herbal knowledge and translate this information into something meaningful for today's consumer.

I thought this book would help me out a lot, but found most of the items listed are very hard to find. I'm enjoying the info it is providing, but it hasn't been too helpful in treating any conditions I, or my family might have.

I learned how to make tinctures, dry herbs, cook with herbs and much much more. Great book for natural healing.

Darlena has made an important contribution to the mainstream appreciation and use of Chinese herbs. I am proud of her ability to convey the meaning and spirit of Chinese herbal medicine so that larger numbers of people will feel confident in their use.

Herbal Healing Secrets of the Orient unfortunately does a great injustice to the public. It appears that the author has greatly underestimated the level of intelligence of Jon Q. Public. The result is that readers come away with a overly simplified view of what traditional Chinese medicine is, does, how it functions in relation to present day medicine, and so on. I write this as both a critical reader and an acupuncturist/herbalist. My suggestion is that readers purchase The Web That Has No Weaver, by Kaptchuk. IT is informative, intriguing, and a classic.