Meditation as Medicine: Activate the Power of Your Natural Healing Force (Hardcover)

~ Dharma Singh Khalsa M.D. M.D. (Author), (Author) "Just before dawn, in the intense quiet outside my desert home, slight sun and deep shadow swirl together, coloring the eastern sky a streaked gray,..." (more)
Key Phrases: medical meditation, index finger touching your thumb, gyan mudra, Medical Meditation, Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Long-term meditators experience 80 percent less heart disease and 50 percent less cancer than nonmediators, according to a large body of studies. Meditation has been shown to improve sleep and reduce chronic pain. Not all meditation is equally effective, however. Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., has developed a form of advanced meditation he calls "Medical Meditation," which "more fully addresses every element of our physical and ethereal makeup... a full-service approach." Medical Meditation is an adaptation of kundalini yoga combined with meditation, using specific breathing patterns, posture and movements, mantras, and mental focus.

Different Medical Meditation focus on different physiological benefits for specific conditions, so once you've learned the basics, you can choose a specific Medical Meditation for high blood pressure, to improve digestion, or to strengthen the immune system or the heart, for example. Line drawings illustrate the postures, and Khalsa's stories about his patients are inspiring and involving.

Meditation as Medicine is not a brisk read or a "read-today-do-tomorrow" guide, however. Be prepared to immerse your mind in a study of chakras, mantras, breathing exercises, movement exercises, poses, and meditations--and discipline yourself to practice Khalsa's techniques patiently. Are the benefits worth all the work involved? Khalsa thinks so: "For the ill and injured, Medical Meditation is not a problem. It's a solution."

Khalsa is both a physician and a yogi. He is board certified in anesthesiology, pain management, and antiaging medicine, and president and medical director of the Alzheimer's Prevention Foundation. Cowriter Cameron Stauth, author of 12 books, was named Journalist of the Year by the National Health Foundation. --Joan Price

From Library Journal

Here, Khalsa presents a compelling look at the value of "medical meditation," a form of therapy based on the principles of kundalini yoga, a discipline that he has practiced for over 20 years. Using references to current medical research and case histories from his medical practice, Khalsa builds a case for the efficacy of medical meditation to assist in healing many diseases. A firm proponent of the power of mind, body, and spirit to overcome illness, he believes that the ethereal body can help the physical body to heal and vice versa. Throughout the program, the author stresses the need to use traditional Western medical techniques in combination with medical meditation to achieve the best results. Khalsa's narration is excellent; however, it is hard to follow some of his instructions for meditation positions. Those who are not already motivated to meditate, or who are not facing life-threatening illness, may find his daily regimen for maximum results overwhelming. Highly recommended for libraries that serve audiences interested in current techniques to increase the healing connection of mind and body. Kathleen Sullivan, Phoenix P.L.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074340064X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743400640
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #759,679 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation as Medicine, a Prescription we can all Afford, August 24, 2004

By	K. J. Cohen "Minister of Peace" (Raleigh, NC, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Meditation As Medicine: Activate the Power of Your Natural Healing Force (Paperback)

If you are searching for inner peace, in the process of healing yourself, or healing others, Meditation as Medicine is an essential reference. Dr. Khalsa gives practical, step-by-step instructions on how to understand and heal your physical and ethereal bodies by combining techniques from yoga, meditation, and chanting. He presents numerous scientific studies plus his own experiences and those of his patients. He explains how the chakras, nadis, endocrine systems, and brain interconnect the body, mind and spirit.

Dr. Khalsa reveals many gems as he explains how our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies are miraculously intertwined. "Breath is the kiss of God," he writes, "With the proper breath, posture, movement, and mental focus, we can heal ourselves." He proposes that "The chanting of mantras endows us with a single-mindedness that is needed for a life of passion, commitment, and peace and heightens the proper replication of DNA."

Even if you only follow a few of his recommendations, you will be convinced that his approach is valid.

The techniques synchronize with each other to reinforce the magnificence of our creation. "The sixth chakra is the path of the soul," Khalsa reflects. If you are ready to explore the path of your soul, then try some of the exercises. Experiment with the mantras and notice how sound affects your energy. Take time to meditate and discover a renewed sense of vitality. Incorporate these techniques into your morning or evening routines and witness the miracle of the healing within.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chock full of information, October 31, 2001

By	K. Murray-Purcell "hypnomoon" (VA Beach, VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the most informative book I have read all year! Dr. Khalsa gives lots of background studies to back up the use of meditation for healing. Having Dr. Khalsa from the medical profession make a statement that maybe medicating clients isn't always healing, indicates that there is a turn; a turn inward. In these times of turmoil, this book is a godsend. There are distinct instructions for implementing the meditations for the various chakras. If you can do just one of these meditations, you will find a plethora of benefits in the long run. Use this book to tap into the strongest pharmacy on earth: your mind!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MEDITATION - A TERRIFIC STRESS RELIEVER!, March 19, 2001

By	Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Meditation is a great stress reliever and has had some valuable results in many cases in improving sleep patterns, aiding in pain management, reducing stress and heart problems, and lowering blood pressure. One of the key elements in the success of mediatation lies in studying the chakras, mantras, and breathing exercises and having the self-discipline to follow through on the meditations on a regular basis.

This is an excellent book based on the concept of using meditation as a powerful healing agent which heals both mind and body. Like many other things in life, what you read only works if you put what you read to good use and have the dedication and commitment to stick with it. For anyone interested in meditation and healing, this is a first-rate book written by one of the most knowledgeable authors on the subject.