How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor: One of America's Leading Pediatricians Puts Parents Back in Control of Their Children's Health Mass Market Paperback – May 12, 1987

I learned about this book from a proven Master Herbalist with decades of clinical (pure plant based protocols) experience helping people heal themselves, including me. Do not be misled by the title or publication date. Dr. Mendolsohn's work was relevant then and remains so now (2015). This book is for individuals 18 years old +, with and without kids, with the ability to read, comprehend and think logically.

In the book the words "pediatrician" and "child" can very easily be replaced with "doctor/PCP/OB-GYN" and "person" because his straight talk, sage advice, practical experience and keen analyses, is for all to consider. The first few chapters illustrate this point: 1: Most Things Get Better By Morning, 3: How Doctors Can Make Healthy Kids Sick, 4: Protecting Your Children Before They Are Born (should be integrated into high school science, health and phys ed classes and after school programs for teens, with parental consent) and 5: Proper Nutrition For Health And Growth.

As an adult, I can relate to many topics discussed in the book. During a physical a few years ago, which was my last "routine exam" because I realized they were unnecessary, a nurse tried to hustle me into purchasing vaccines. SIDEBAR: Insurance IS a form of payment so do not be misled simply because the total bill is not the patient/consumer's upfront financial responsibility. There is a price to pay for blindly volunteering to be part of a test with dangerous consequences (Rx consumption, x-rays/scans, "exploratory" surgery, etc.). I had no idea what the nurse was talking about because I did not know there were "adult" vaccines and I never bought into the flu shot frenzy. So I politely told her that I was vaccinated as a child AND had not one but two battles with the not so childhood disease that is the chickenpox. She was on me like a mad dog until my voice went up a few decibels interrupting her aggressive sales pitch with a firm, across the board, "no" after the pox story. That ended the vaccine hustle immediately. I am way ahead of the vaccine game as I am familiar with the secret vaccine court run by the feds, I believe parents that have proof of injuries (anecdotal is all I need) to their children post-vaccination and my pox experience is more than enough to continue to opt out as an adult. Kudos to Dr. Tenpenny (reading her say no to vaccines book next) and all the parents out there that have posted state laws and opt out info as it pertains to vaccines as a per-requisite for school (vaccines are not mandatory for kids so assert your parental rights). I went to public school...you get what you pay for.....so I am talking to adults that are and have home schooled AND have home schooled kids in college, to learn more from successful parents. The vaccine chapter in the book is insightful.

"Key To Health: Stay Away From Doctors" (page 23)
When I started to read this section I shook my head in agreement and smiled. After dealing with the medical establishment and almost dying "under doctor's care" a few years ago, I can say that is a true statement. Once I began my healing journey (fired all improperly trained doctors in writing) and moved closer to nature by changing everything I was eating, drinking and thinking, I got better quickly. Wise elders that I listened to over the past few years all said the same thing. Stay away from doctors and hospitals unless it is a real emergency (hit by a mack truck, unconscious and hot pepper powder or tincture under the tongue did not work to revive me).

The wise doctor also says: "I know it may be difficult for you to accept the fact that......" "This position is shared by many other doctors who have been moved to look objectively at the results they have experienced in their own practices rather than continue to accept hat they learned in medical school." I was shaking my head in agreement once again. Vegan doctors such as retired 100 year old heart surgeon Dr. Ellsworth Wareham is a doctor I listen to and respect for obvious reasons, along with others that chose to acknowledge experience as the teacher and educate patients accordingly. In Pam Grier's memoir, her ivy league doctor told her in secrecy (because it could have ruined his reputation otherwise) that there was nothing more that western medicine could do (prepare to die with cancer if you don't follow through on the right way to heal cancer) and REFERRED her to a Chinese Herbalist! Wow. If I had not read it with my own eyes I would not have believed it. I'm so thankful to Ms. Pam for including that important dialogue in her book "My Life In Three Acts", which speaks to Dr. Mendelsohn's point that it is indeed difficult to believe that doctors (minus a small few) are harming the public at large because they refuse to believe the real science, practical experience/proven results in the bodies and lives of real people.

To add insult to injury, licensees (doctors, nurses, dieticians/nutritionists, et al) cannot legally say certain things. Dentists can't tell the truth (mercury fillings are dangerous), but if you have them removed dentists are wearing hazmat suits to remove mercury fillings because they are indeed dangerous, pollute and damage the human body, hence the hazmat gear and strict removal procedures. Oncologists can't legally recommend a pure plant based detox and herbs to cleanse the body and blood to "fight" cancer, but they spook patients into injecting drugs (chemo) that are known carcinogens and can cause death, but never give patients the written literature that states the dangers, in writing! Nutritionists/dieticians can't say that clean food will reverse disease, but they can say it can prevent certain diseases. I'm not in the medical profession so I'm here to tell you, yes, an apple a day will keep the doctor away. So will 13 (8oz) glasses of fresh pressed organic carrot juice, 3 organic plant based meals, medicinal herbs and yoga, on a DAILY basis, for life. To be even clearer, clean food is chemical free, animal/seafood free, can be eaten in its natural state (as grown) or is gently cooked (rice, beans, peas, gently steamed food) and will, without a doubt, cleanse, nourish, heal, strengthen and protect the body. Clean food can be found at your local farmers market so be sure to start shopping there this week.

Freedom must be alive and well elsewhere because it is nowhere to be found in the US when it comes to health and healing. If for no other reason, read this book to protect children. They did not ask to come here. As a teacher, I see too many children and dependents suffering at the hands of ignorant adults that refuse to simply listen, learn, think and act logically. It is much easier to prevent disease and involuntary encounters with the medical establishment and "law enforcement". As adults we are responsible for doing everything within our power to protect children and dependents. Listen to wise elders like Dr. Mendolsohn and take decisive action by doing everything in your power to protect children from avoidable harm. Free your mind, exercise common sense and educate yourself.

AM Brown
Finance Teacher

P.S. Great Amazon feature....start reading a book online until it's delivered. Love that!

I once had a pediatrician rail at me for liking this book-but I stand by my dedication to it. I would love to have all pediatricians as dedicated as Dr. Mendelsohn is in helping those interested in becoming a more astute, observant parent in the partnership of supporting health in our children.

If you provide good nutrition and lifestyle habits as part of your parenting ideal, this book will give you a good outline of common disease patterns and what supportive care to give from a Dr. who was around before antibiotics and actually has a good handle on the healing capabilities of the human body-along with what to look out for should options for treatment need to become more invasive than food, fluid and rest requirements.

A great overview of the scientific role of fever in disease, and the roll of fluid intake during illness. A "cry from the wilderness" in support of calm rationality and historical perspective in the frightening milieu of crisis management style medical care that dominates our society today. I highly recommend it!

This book has been so enlightening and empowering. In times when we no longer trust our own instincts and knowledge as parents, this books is simply the perfect guide through dealing with illnesses in a way that we can also protect our children from unnecessary and often dangerous interventions. It revealed facts that continue to be a reality more than ever. It's eye opening, and also teaches you how to identify and react to serious situations. I have never written a review but knowing that I might be motivating somebody to receive the precious information this doctor gives, I felt I had to do it.

I honestly don't have the words that could truly emphasize how empowered I felt as a mother and educated parent while reading this book. There were times I felt vindicated, and times I wished I had gotten a hold of this book before I received the news of my pregnancy. The most powerful aspect of this wonderful book, in my opinion, is the sheer love, respect, and care Dr. Mendelsohn truly felt toward his patients, and the respect he had toward the parents which becomes even more evident with every turning of the pages--something that is sadly rare to find in a pediatrician these days, as motherhood has quickly shown me. Nevertheless, he speaks in such a way that highlights this same problem as existent in his days as a pediatrician, which leads me to believe that he was not the first, and will not be the last doctor to regard his patients and the parents with such high esteem. Though this type of doctor may be very hard to find these days, he does have an important section titled "How to Select the Right Doctor for your Child."

Moreover, I read an outlying review (and dissenting reviews of this book are by far very rare, might I emphasize!) in which a reader thought the author of this book was bitter. I honestly do not understand how the reader arrived at his or her conclusion, and as I've stated above, what was quickly revealed to me was the love and passion this doctor had for his profession which may very well be what prompted him to write such a great resource for parents. Additionally, what would have been more appropriate to state is the occasional humor throughout the book. In fact, there were a few times I stopped reading to have a laugh and share the joke with my husband. What more could you want? Here you have a very passionate, caring, and occasionally funny pediatrician!

Please, buy this book! Buy it for yourself, buy it for your friend, buy it for every pregnant woman you care about! And, don't forget the daddies. For the very fact that this doctor is a male shows that men care and love their children just as much as mothers (and in some cases, more)!