I can’t remember when I got the book, or where, or even why. I do know it was prior to having children. So at a minimum, it was ten years ago. I’d wager eleven or twelve though.
The book was called New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine. And I won’t lie; I found some of the suggestions just plain weird. But I was new to this whole idea of natural remedies, so I read it all anyway.
The first part of the book explained various schools of thought in alternative medicine (Ayuveda, herbs, reflexology, etc.). The second part listed dozens of conditions and gave therapies to try from several of the different branches of natural medicine.
Looking back, I must have bought the book hoping it would help my migraines. I don’t recall anything in it making too much of a difference there. I did successfully use its suggestions for other, more minor ailments over the years, and I still pick it up to thumb through once in a while.
Interestingly, some of the info in the book that didn’t register or seem worth trying way back then has sneaked its way into my regular routines. I’ve discovered a love of yoga, even though I skipped those sections back when I first read it. The migraine section mentioned magnesium, and that made a tremendous difference when I finally started taking it daily. The aromatherapy stuff seemed silly to me at the time, but I now use a variety of essential oils (including a headache blend my sister-in-law found).
Sometimes information just comes along at the wrong time, and we’re not receptive to it until later.
I think I might just reread this book again. I might find some formerly “weird” parts that aren’t so out there anymore.
Are there any areas of health where you’ve changed your mind? Or at least opened your mind to a remedy that just seemed like nonsense when you first encountered it?
Journey to Whole Health 