The Tao Of Detox: The Natural Way To Purify Your Body For Health And Longevity [Paperback]

Daniel Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2005

The holistic approach to detox from bestselling author and leading expert on Eastern philosophy and medicine, Daniel Reid. It is time we recognised the direct correlation between the external pollution of the environment and the internal pollution of the body. The toxins in the air, in the water and in our food inevitably make their way into the human body, but until we take drastic measures to clean up our planet, we have to detoxify the human system from the inside. Combining the best of ancient eastern and the latest of modern western thinking, The Tao of Detox offers a solution to restoring and preserving your good health through detox. If you want to fight chronic disease, live longer, lose weight or just feel the benefits of good health with glowing skin and masses of energy, Daniel Reid's rational and scientific advice will tell you how. Highly practical, The Tao of Detox shows the way to enjoy immediate wellbeing and the promise of a longer, ailment-free life - and all without sacrificing the enjoyment of life's pleasures.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This manual suggests a raft of Eastern therapeutic techniques for those suffering from anxiety, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and general unhappiness, all of which Reid traces to "toxic waste" polluting the body, a problem common to the "Western lifestyle." Some of the advice is grounded and practical: the author urges massage, Tai Chi, deep breathing and a sensible diet in a revolving plan of "periodic detox" and "rational retox." Unfortunately, much of this guidebook's program is entirely unsubstantiated. The author is not a doctor, but rather a student of Chinese civilization, and his medical explanation ranges from shaky to irresponsible. For instance, he refers to "toxemia" as a "state of toxicity in the blood and tissues," though medical parlance already defines "toxemia" as a sometimes-fatal pregnancy complication. Specific claims come without any documentation, such as his statement, attributed to "several studies," that "five glasses of pure water per day ... may reduce ... risk of colon cancer by 45 percent, breast cancer by 80 percent, and bladder cancer by 50 percent." Most disconcerting are the dubious medical interventions he touts, such as the "Zapper," an electronic parasite-removal device he suggests as a treatment for "asthma, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and candida fungal infections." More reliable sources on detoxification can be found in any self-help section.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

“Anyone who has grown up in the overfed, over-drugged West will want to keep this book handy.”
( Bill Porter (aka Red Pine), author of Road to Heaven, translator of Lao-tzu’s Tao Te Ching )

“Of all the current experts and practitioners writing about traditional Chinese medicine, Daniel Reid is unique in his balanced methods of blending the East and the West. This is a timely book.”
( Chungliang Al Huang, author of Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain )

“In this well-written book, Daniel Reid shares with us his heartfelt purification techniques, from ancient Chinese life science to modern science. I recommend this book to those who are on their path of health and well being.”
( Zhongxian Wu, author of Vital Breath of the Dao )

"I found The Tao of Detox to be very comprehensive, making it a valuable reference book."
(Dhara Lemos, Lotus Guide magazine, Sept/Oct 2007

)

"Whether you are intersted in doing a pure fast or something more gentle and customized, The Tao of Detox will provide you the guidelines to create a specific detox plan based on your needs and priorities. Highly recommended!" (
Mystic Pop, July 2008 ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd (March 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743232100
• ISBN-13: 978-0743232104
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not the Tao, December 29, 2007

By 

Zen Druid (Aloha, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tao of Detox: The Secrets of Yang-Sheng Dao (Paperback)

I was excited to buy this book because I am familiar with some of Reid's other books on Taoism and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I was hoping for some authentic Taoist and Traditional Chinese dietary and detox processes. Alas, what I got was an uncritical promotion of the worst fads, snake oil, and expensive products and devices imaginable. Taoist teachings emphisize the ability to discern reality from delusion, most of this stuff is pure magical thinking. It reads like Reid is just citing promotional literature for a lot of this stuff. Some of what he says is pure nonsense that circulates around the internet with no substantiation, such as Pasteur's deathbed recantation of the germ theory (never been documented) and the notion that colons are packed full of hard plaque (never been seen at an autoposy). In at least 2 of the products he discusses, the manufacturers have been subject to prosecution for false and misleading claims.

The good - A couple of useful chapters dealing with detox by diet and detox by fasting. Some useful food ideas and several herbal mixtures, both American herbal and TCM, that might be useful. Some simple exercises. These sections warrent 2 stars.

The so-so - The promotion of colon hydrotherapy. There is no evidence of hard plaque in anyone's colon, however the cleansing of the colon is typically part of any detox, so this may be a useful addition to herbs and foods. Despite Reid's uncritical acceptance of the manufacturer's claims, the product he discusses for home use is at least not very expensive and appears well-made. I, for one, wouldn't want to do 14 colonics in 7 days. This would seem awfully disturbing to normal gut flora. But at least it is probably not harmful nor too expensive for those who want it.

The bad - Uncritical acceptance of science fiction theories and products and promotion of these (often very expensive) products with stuff straight from the company's literature. Things like: the Grander Living Water Sytem, proven in independant lab tests to do nothing and which is extremely expensive; "alkaline water" generators which are expensive and produce a product which is immediately acidified by the stomach; water "microclusters" when in fact the stomach and intestinal lining can absorb any conformation of water with ease, body pH (I thought this fad had died out several years back)... the list goes on and on and on. Only 1 page of discussion of the yin and yang of foods, pretty much reduced to yang = acid = bad, yin = alkaline = good. Minus 1 star.

I don't usually like to chime in on the skeptic side of things and sound like some quackbuster. I'm willing to be open-minded and try a lot of new stuff. But I also worked as a microbiologist and in chemistry for a number of years and I know when things just don't work on a physical level. Much of this is just magical thinking and I hate to see people waste a lot of money on it.

I'd suggest skipping this one and just look at some simpler, more basic books on diet and detox. You don't need a lot of expensive products to turn your kitchen into a chemistry lab and your bathroom into a colon treatment center to do a little internal cleansing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just a commercial, March 26, 2009

By 

Robert S. Schaefer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tao of Detox: The Secrets of Yang-Sheng Dao (Paperback)

I am a little disappointed in this book. It seems to just rattle on at times with bits of useful information added in. The useful information is then directed to the sponsors in the back of the book. The book often refers to experts who have no references. I'm sure that the information may be accurate, but these things that I have pointed out make me wonder.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars daniel reid is great!, December 19, 2005

By 

C. Pilieri - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Tao Of Detox: The Natural Way To Purify Your Body For Health And Longevity (Paperback)

i have read many of daniel reid's books and they are all incredibly informative and easy to understand, this book is no exception. daniel reid gives a practical way to exist in our society that's full of toxicity and periodically or daily clean or 'detoxify' ourselves. that simple act can great lenghten and improve one's life. the best part is he really gives great suggestions on methods and products people could use to detoxify. i really recommend this book for everyone.