27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Outstanding Source of Information!, April 19, 2008
This review is from: The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind, and Spirit for New Life (Paperback)
After I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of twenty-three, my oncologist suggested that I go to see a fertility specialist. This being that my ovaries were affected by the chemotherapy and my chances of conceiving would be drastically lowered. The fertility specialist immediately recommended many types of drugs, needles and having IVF and then an FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer). I was devastated to say the least. Few doctor's have mastered how to handle this delicate problem that plagues women today. Dr. Dao is one of them. He doesn't shy away, as if it only exists in the minds of the women facing it, instead he leads the way to hope and promise of fertility.
This book is a blessing! It speaks volumes with both knowledge and information that is easily readable and understood. Dr. Dao, Being a Taoist with their full understanding of balance, mind, body, and nature, many of these concepts were new to me and I was pleased to find that all the information given seemed logical, easy to follow and most importantly, achievable! An important aspect to women searching through the seemingly endless amount of information on this subject.
From the diets to detoxify to the daily meditation to relax the mind, there is something for everyone struggling with fertility in this book. Included are recipes, suggestions for herbal supplements, questionnaires, and charts that are easy to follow and bring hope to those trying to increase the likelihood of getting pregnant! This is an astonishing turn around in fertility books. I've read many books on this very subject and most jump into the available drug treatments, IVF, and surgical solutions used to help women with this problem.
This book includes more than the usual doctor's message of eating a sensible diet, not smoking, exercising and staying positive. Dr. Dao discusses Traditional Chinese Medicine with an equal scale toward Western Medicine. He never says one is better than the other and helps you to understand the way of the Tao and the Traditional Chinese Methods. This is the first book of this type where I've actually had the doctor prepare your body for pregnancy in both body and mind. ,
The second half of this book was beautifully done with touching vignettes of previously infertile women who now have conceived and have happy, healthy children. I find these stories not only touching, but helpful in coping with my own infertility. Hope is the first word that comes to mind.
A massive amount of information is placed in this single volume book. It's not just a self-help guide to women and couples, but an outstanding source of information that I will turn to time and time again.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Thoughtful and Important Book, April 29, 2008
This review is from: The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind, and Spirit for New Life (Paperback)
This book addresses a most difficult and emotional subject with a great deal of respect and sensitivity. I was most impressed with the humanity and kindness that infuses this work.
The overall presentation assumes the reader has little or no prior knowledge of Chinese medicine and is very straightforward and instructive. The Taoist method is based on centuries of observation and experience, but with a fundamentally different philosophy from that of western medicine. Dr. Daoshing's explanations about the use of diet, herbs, acupuncture and specific exercises to promote fertility are directed to the reader who is unfamiliar with the science behind Taoist practices. He is able to simplify the rationale behind the various aspects of the medical program for a western reader while retaining just enough "science" to satisfy this lay reader. This holistic approach to the patient is logical and very appealing.
The individual stories in the second part of the book serve as a reminder that most of the western patients seeking Dr. Daoshings's assistance have already experienced great disappointment and sorrow. While they may seek him out with the goal of giving birth, it is clear that he does not view this as the sole metric for success. Dr. Dao's view is that fertility and motherhood are important aspects of a woman's life, but not the totality. He addresses the whole person. The brief but poignant chapter "When Dreams Don't Come True" and the final chapter, "In Balance for the Rest of Your Life" reinforce this view.
I learned a great deal from reading this book, and I would recommend it to anyone considering an "alternative" approach to fertility. I would also recommend it highly for the family and friends of women experiencing fertility problems.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book on fertility, May 1, 2008
This review is from: The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind, and Spirit for New Life (Paperback)
Dr. Dao has written a beautiful, helpful book on how to help women get pregnant. He is an excellent practitioner of Chinese Medicine, devoted to his patients. I recommend this book!
Judith Orloff
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