Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up: Slow Down the Aging Process, Keep Your System Running Smoothly, Help Your Body Heal Itself--for Life! [Hardcover]

Michael Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2000

How would you like to put your body in peak running condition? How would you like to repair the damage done daily by stress, lack of exercise, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental toxins? How would you like to slow down-even reverse-the aging process by cleaning out the sludge that causes bodies to fail before their time?

In this remarkable new approach to holistic medicine, Michael Murray, N.D., one of the nation's leading naturopathic doctors, shows you how to use the latest information in natural medicine to customize a program that will have your body running like new. Take Dr. Murray's self-tests to pinpoint your health priorities. Then join him for a fascinating guided tour through each of the body's major systems.

   CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: lower your blood pressure without pills _ keep your cholesterol in check with a vitamin derivative _ stop varicose veins with a treatment that's better than surgery

   IMMUNE SYSTEM: foods that bolster your defenses against cancer and other life-threatening illnesses _ herbs to stop a cold...fast!

   DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: discover Germany's number one natural remedy for digestive problems _ what's dangerous about antacids _ how to stop heartburn with DGL

   BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: natural remedies for memory loss and depression _brain-boosting vitamins and herbs

   DETOXIFICATION SYSTEM: cleanse your liver with an ancient herb _ revitalize your
system through safe fasting

   ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: a no-cost way to burn fat _ new ways to achieve crucial hormonal balance and reduce stress

   SKELETAL SYSTEM: how to prevent-even reverse-osteoporosis with these simple natural supplements _ new approaches to arthritis and chronic fatigue

   SEXUAL SYSTEM: how to bring more energy to your love life without dangerous drugs _
ease menopausal hot flashes, and much more!

   THE LATEST, MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION: on such popular herbs as St. John's wort, kava extract, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and controversial supplements like DHEA, melatonin, and 5-HTP

Dr. Murray shows how natural medicine can work alongside conventional medicine to help bring the body back into balance. He will convince you that your body's natural state is health.  What's more, he gives you the tools-and the knowledge-you need to put yourself in the best shape of your life.

Does your body need a tune-up?

Dry skin? Aching joints? The blahs or the blues? Change your outlook and your health with the right kinds of fats in your diet...see page 64

Mood swings, poor resistance to disease? The culprit may be America's sleep deprivation problem-get the secrets of enjoying a healing night's sleep...see page 257

Low energy? Chronic flu like symptoms? Yeast may be silently ravaging your body, but an herbal oil can perform miracles...see page 170

Forgetful? Blood pressure soaring? Uncover the hidden dangers of heavy metals-and how to get the lead out safely...see page 193

Overweight and can't seem to lose? Syndrome X,
a modern epidemic, may be behind elevated insulin levels; if so, you can be an "ex" victim fast...see page 252

Cholesterol too high? Diet can help, but so can an amazing B-vitamin extract that does the trick when other remedies fail...see page 359

Do you feel fatigued after eating, suffer abdominal cramps, or have frequent bouts of diarrhea?...see page 147

Are you sensitive to cold, do you have trouble waking up in the morning, and does sugar make you irritable?...see page 237

Do you tend to feel jittery, does your heart pound easily, and do you have a diagonal crease on your earlobe?...see page 328

For men: Do you have difficulty urinating, feel pain in your back or legs, suffer from a lack of sex drive?...see page 566

For women: Do you struggle with monthly PMS, bloating, or tender breasts?...see page 518

And much more!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Michael Murray is on a mission. A prominent naturopath, professor, and coauthor of the hugely popular Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, he's been teaching people for over 20 years to "harness the power of nature and achieve the highest level of health possible." In his Total Body Tune-Up, Murray outlines a plan to adjust the major organs of the body on a cellular level, using nutrition, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs--and the body's natural drive to heal itself. "Most cells in the body reproduce many times during your lifespan," he writes. "By tuning up, you can make sure that each new generation of cells is as fit and robust as its ancestors."

Murray opens each chapter with a symptom checklist, so readers can prioritize the needs of the various body systems--digestive, cardiovascular, reproductive, and so on--as high, medium, or low. He then explains how each system works when healthy, inspiring an odd affection for all the organs needing nutritional support, from the brain to the thymus. ("If the entire absorptive area of the small intestine were laid flat, it would be the size of a tennis court.") Because naturopaths practice holistic medicine, he covers stress, humor, and optimism, and gives dosages and brand names for hundreds of supplement regimens. Murray's book is so full of useful nutrition information, the occasional missing piece is forgivable. (Most Americans adults, he writes, eat 100 pounds of sugar and at least 40 pounds of "other sweeteners" a year--yet he fails to detail the health hazards of what's inside those ubiquitous blue and pink packets.)

The book's title notwithstanding--the body as car needing a tune-up is a bit rusty--Murray writes with a knack for metaphor. (Phase II detoxification in the liver is "like handcuffing the toxin so it can be escorted out of the body by the biological equivalent of security guards.") Citations for the clinical research articles he pulls from would have been useful for readers seeking more information. Still, this is a must-have reference for anyone who wants to move toward the promise of well-being, whether readers have a medical condition or want to prevent health problems. --Rebecca Taylor

From Library Journal

Natural medicine expert Murray, seen on Prime Time Live, Dateline, and more, offers his prescription for slowing down the aging process and healing the body.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1 edition (July 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553107895
• ISBN-13: 978-0553107890
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #909,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael T. Murray, N.D., is widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine. He has been featured on numerous television programs, including 20/20 and Dateline. He lives in Washington.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, well-organized, easy to read and understand!, July 20, 2000

By 

Ms. Kathryn Houseman Lobert (Arlington, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up: Slow Down the Aging Process, Keep Your System Running Smoothly, Help Your Body Heal Itself--for Life! (Hardcover)

Dr. Murray really has written a "whole body" book. By coming from the naturopathic viewpoint, he has made achieving and maintaining optimum health an obtainable goal without a lot of side-effect inducing prescriptions. He does not just list a series of steps to follow, but makes the reader a participant and advocate for his or her own health by providing explanations as to why the procedures work. He also provides rating scales so that the reader can prioritize the steps by personal need. If I can only have one health book, this is the one.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down., July 20, 2000

By 

Jamin Condou - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up: Slow Down the Aging Process, Keep Your System Running Smoothly, Help Your Body Heal Itself--for Life! (Hardcover)

Last night I sat on the floor of my local bookstore enthralled in this book. As it is not yet payday and cheaper on Amazon, I didn't buy it. But, what a book. It is so easily organized. Besides the basic and known aging issues, Murray addresses others as well. He gives several "tune-up tiips" for each concern. He weaves in the words of Norman Cousins. He gives facts as well as suggestions for herbal, botanical and lifestyle treatments. I don't want to get too obsessed with aging, but I do want to know which supplements I can be incorporating into my diet. This book really helps me do that.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, October 24, 2005

By 

Jan Erik Petersen "jepeter" (Montreal, QC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dr. Murray's Total Body Tune-Up: Slow Down the Aging Process, Keep Your System Running Smoothly, Help Your Body Heal Itself--for Life! (Hardcover)

This is my favorite book on health, and I strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to improve their health in a effective and natural way. Its superbly written, and you have a hard time putting it down. Its a easy read and you will feel like implementing it right away. And it works!!! I have used it for everything from curing colds fast to loosing weight. My parents have received a copy for lowering cholesterol and blood presure ...in the natural way!