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Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life
When it comes to spontaneous healing, skepticism abounds. Doctors are taught that "miraculous" recoveries are flukes, and as a result they don't study those cases or take them into account when treating patients.
Enter Dr. Jeff Rediger, who has spent over 15 years studying spontaneous healing, pioneering the use of scientific tools to investigate recoveries from incurable illnesses. Dr. Rediger digs down to the root causes of illness, showing how to create an environment that sets the stage for healing. He reveals the patterns behind healing and lays out the physical and mental principles associated with recovery: first, we need to physically heal our diet and our immune systems. Next, we need to mentally heal our stress response and our identities.
Through rigorous research, Dr. Rediger shows that much of our physical reality is created in our minds. Our perception changes our experience, even to the point of changing our physical bodies--and thus the healing of our identity may be our greatest tool to recovery.
Ultimately, miracles only contradict what we know of nature at this point in time. Cured leads the way in explaining the science behind these miracles, and provides a first-of-its-kind guidebook to both healing and preventing disease.
Enter Dr. Jeff Rediger, who has spent over 15 years studying spontaneous healing, pioneering the use of scientific tools to investigate recoveries from incurable illnesses. Dr. Rediger digs down to the root causes of illness, showing how to create an environment that sets the stage for healing. He reveals the patterns behind healing and lays out the physical and mental principles associated with recovery: first, we need to physically heal our diet and our immune systems. Next, we need to mentally heal our stress response and our identities.
Through rigorous research, Dr. Rediger shows that much of our physical reality is created in our minds. Our perception changes our experience, even to the point of changing our physical bodies--and thus the healing of our identity may be our greatest tool to recovery.
Ultimately, miracles only contradict what we know of nature at this point in time. Cured leads the way in explaining the science behind these miracles, and provides a first-of-its-kind guidebook to both healing and preventing disease.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published February 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
November 10, 2020
I gobbled this book, and it is my new favorite. Cheering to read a whole book about our incredible power to heal! The author brought together so many of my favorite things: the placebo effect, personal engagement and responsibility for having good health, the powerful effects of diet, the importance of resolving trauma and digging to root out unconscious negative beliefs, promoting the parasympathetic nervous system, meditation/spiritual development, and so much more. He concludes that the only common factor he can discern about documented spontaneous healings is that making significant life changes with dedication seems to make unexpected healing more likely to occur. The stories were inspirational and made me feel like I am generally on the right track for my own healing, but also reinforced the mystery of illness and that you can do everything apparently right, and still not get the “reward” of being cured. He suggests that coming to terms with death can be a vital part of laying the groundwork for a spontaneous healing to occur. He talks about these cases as being today’s miracles that can begin to lay a path for others to follow, so that more and more healing miracles can occur. We have footsteps to follow! I love that, and how great would it be to lay those footsteps for others? I want to be part of turning that vague deer track into a path, a road, and then a super highway!
I have so much faith in my body to heal itself, reading this book reminded me to aim even more to be around people and read things and do things that reinforce that.
This book encompasses all the things that matter most to me — just delicious!
Ok! So now it’s fall and I Just read the whole book again! So glad I did. I underlined even more of the book, and feel inspired anew about my ability to heal. The book provides deeper psychological direction for root- cause healing. I find it super inspiring!
I have so much faith in my body to heal itself, reading this book reminded me to aim even more to be around people and read things and do things that reinforce that.
This book encompasses all the things that matter most to me — just delicious!
Ok! So now it’s fall and I Just read the whole book again! So glad I did. I underlined even more of the book, and feel inspired anew about my ability to heal. The book provides deeper psychological direction for root- cause healing. I find it super inspiring!
March 27, 2020
This is probably one of the most difficult reviews I've had to write!
'Cured' is Rediger's account of his experience investigating and researching spontaneous remissions; that is people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness but have unexpectedly recovered. This is rare but happens more than people think, and more than is reported on. When it does happen (and it definitely does) the medical industry sees it as an oddity and generally does not report or monitor the patient any further.
Rediger argues that we should be looking into these incidents more - just because they go against what we know of about disease and science, it doesn't mean they should be ignored or dismissed. They could provide insight into how our bodies work (particularly our immune system) and how we can beat these illnesses (think cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and so on).
I'm not a religious person AT ALL but this book looks at the affect of prayer, meditation and other more spiritual activities on the outcomes of patients given terminal prognoses.
Thankfully this is done with scientific rigour. Rediger is a qualified medical doctor but also has a theology degree which makes him well placed to investigate the relationship between mind and body. He doesn't dismiss or attempt to understand religion or God, but does look into more measurable concepts and theories such as the placebo effect and even quantum mechanics!
Overall Rediger's point is that there are still many things that the medical industry doesn't understand, and we're only just beginning to appreciate the impact the mind has on the body. Perhaps having a better understanding of yourself and the meaning of your life, along with taking actions such as having a more nutrition-rich diet, doing more exercise and creating/maintaining loving relationships can help people be more likely to recover from illnesses. Perhaps this is due to boosting the immune system or perhaps it goes even deeper than that (this is where we get into the discussions around quantum mechanics).
I think this is an amazing book and not something I would usually expect to pick up. But I'm a huge fan of science and medicine and I'm really glad that despite the topic, it still had real scientific rigour and kept a sceptic eye. I also appreciate how brave it is for the author to investigate this area in the face of a medical industry which finds the ideas within hard to swallow.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I felt it was just a bit too long. The last few chapters each felt like a conclusion and it could have been a lot shorter.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
'Cured' is Rediger's account of his experience investigating and researching spontaneous remissions; that is people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness but have unexpectedly recovered. This is rare but happens more than people think, and more than is reported on. When it does happen (and it definitely does) the medical industry sees it as an oddity and generally does not report or monitor the patient any further.
Rediger argues that we should be looking into these incidents more - just because they go against what we know of about disease and science, it doesn't mean they should be ignored or dismissed. They could provide insight into how our bodies work (particularly our immune system) and how we can beat these illnesses (think cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and so on).
I'm not a religious person AT ALL but this book looks at the affect of prayer, meditation and other more spiritual activities on the outcomes of patients given terminal prognoses.
Thankfully this is done with scientific rigour. Rediger is a qualified medical doctor but also has a theology degree which makes him well placed to investigate the relationship between mind and body. He doesn't dismiss or attempt to understand religion or God, but does look into more measurable concepts and theories such as the placebo effect and even quantum mechanics!
Overall Rediger's point is that there are still many things that the medical industry doesn't understand, and we're only just beginning to appreciate the impact the mind has on the body. Perhaps having a better understanding of yourself and the meaning of your life, along with taking actions such as having a more nutrition-rich diet, doing more exercise and creating/maintaining loving relationships can help people be more likely to recover from illnesses. Perhaps this is due to boosting the immune system or perhaps it goes even deeper than that (this is where we get into the discussions around quantum mechanics).
I think this is an amazing book and not something I would usually expect to pick up. But I'm a huge fan of science and medicine and I'm really glad that despite the topic, it still had real scientific rigour and kept a sceptic eye. I also appreciate how brave it is for the author to investigate this area in the face of a medical industry which finds the ideas within hard to swallow.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I felt it was just a bit too long. The last few chapters each felt like a conclusion and it could have been a lot shorter.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 9, 2021
This book is nothing short of life changing. This is the first genuine "non fiction page turner" I have come across. It's laden with pearls of knowledge about living to the fullest. It combines the best of medical science, individual and social psychology, spiritualism and nutrition to chart out a narrative which, if studied carefully, will force the readers to change their outlook towards life as they know it currently.
Moreover, this is not imaginative literature. It's filled with stories of people like you and me who did the impossible without doing anything special. Their stories are narrated in detail with scientific explanations wherever necessary. The writing style is lucid and exudes a certain warmth. Each chapter touches on a different aspect of healing. The best part about the book is that it makes a lot of sense. The exact crux of the book is hard to put into words, but I'll try to give it a shot.
We hold a lot of power over our physiological well being through our eating habits, our stress coping mechanisms and our outlook towards life. No matter how fancy it may sound, the key to unlock the full potential of our immunity and bodily functions lies in our approach to daily life. True healing can only be achieved when we are ready to put in as much effort to heal as we expect our doctors to do. The author doesn't deny the serendipity factor while making these claims. He also admits that the stories in the book might not span out similarly for everyone. But through this book he asks us to adopt some positive ways of life which will add quality to the the time we live, however long or short that might be.
Moreover, this is not imaginative literature. It's filled with stories of people like you and me who did the impossible without doing anything special. Their stories are narrated in detail with scientific explanations wherever necessary. The writing style is lucid and exudes a certain warmth. Each chapter touches on a different aspect of healing. The best part about the book is that it makes a lot of sense. The exact crux of the book is hard to put into words, but I'll try to give it a shot.
We hold a lot of power over our physiological well being through our eating habits, our stress coping mechanisms and our outlook towards life. No matter how fancy it may sound, the key to unlock the full potential of our immunity and bodily functions lies in our approach to daily life. True healing can only be achieved when we are ready to put in as much effort to heal as we expect our doctors to do. The author doesn't deny the serendipity factor while making these claims. He also admits that the stories in the book might not span out similarly for everyone. But through this book he asks us to adopt some positive ways of life which will add quality to the the time we live, however long or short that might be.
November 8, 2021
Jeffrey Rediger „Išgiję“: netikiu būrėjomis, gydūnais ir kitais šarlatanais
https://m.delfi.lt/moterys/is-pirmu-l...
https://m.delfi.lt/moterys/is-pirmu-l...
January 29, 2023
wow. i'm so glad i read this. it was honestly live changing? never before have i seen an actually convincing and scientifically/medically spelled out argument for the ways that stress contributes to inflammation/disease. so much of the "wellness industry" is focused on $$$ and silver bullets, and so much of the medical industry is focused on $$$ and drugs, and it's important to see a perspective that acknowledges this ~and~ argues for something else without putting any blame on the patient, and instead empowering them to harness their body's own potential to heal--and more, to contribute to that healing. there is no one size fits all when it comes to one's body and how to heal it, as rediger says again and again, but there are things that are simply GOOD for us as individuals--cheers to finding those and healing our identities, folks!
the one thing i found this lacking is more about the weirdness and privilege aspect of a bunch of probably rich white people flying to brazil to "be healed"? but also it makes sense that going to a place that has a different value system than the american one (work, money, bacon is life, etc.) would be healing for folks stuck in a society that is simply not built for healing.
the one thing i found this lacking is more about the weirdness and privilege aspect of a bunch of probably rich white people flying to brazil to "be healed"? but also it makes sense that going to a place that has a different value system than the american one (work, money, bacon is life, etc.) would be healing for folks stuck in a society that is simply not built for healing.
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November 18, 2023Raised Amish, graduate of Wheaton College, now physician teaching at Harvard: Dr. Jeffrey Rediger is uniquely qualified to explore what medicine calls "spontaneous healings." There is no magic formula, but his accounts give hope to patients told their condition is terminal.
September 14, 2020
Normally I wouldn’t finish, much less recommend, a book that’s first chapter begins with a graphic description of the author’s first surgery. Thankfully, the Introduction promised a less traditional approach to disease. I’m glad I stuck with it. I’ve read a lot about spontaneous healing, and Cured is my top recommendation for anyone suffering from “incurable” illness, and the people who love them. So many good points—physical, mental, and spiritual—that I read it twice to absorb it all, and also took notes.
What sets this book apart is its completeness. Dr. Rediger is a surgeon and psychiatrist, a medical center director, and a Master of Divinity. While he’s a scientist, he acknowledges that the scientific approach, with its orientation to statistics, control, and numbers, isn’t the best way to study spontaneous healing. The N of 1, or outlier factor, becomes worth examining. In the end, he calls for changes in our medical system, in particular that doctors listen more and think “big picture” rather than “diagnosis” about patients.
For patients, the most important factor might be their degree of involvement in treatment, taking charge of their own healing. Accepting their diagnosis, but not their prognosis and involving themselves in various healing modalities makes a difference. High self esteem correlates with high involvement. Taking responsibility for the healing, but not blame for the illness, spontaneous healers make physical, psychological, and lifestyle changes that lead to survival. Patients must become empowered by embracing their treatment and realizing that they are not their illness. Interestingly enough, studies can’t measure this involvement.
Through many case studies and medical research studies, Dr. Rediger also examines such healing factors as diet, chronic inflammation, good and bad stress, stress triggers, mindfulness, reframing problems, the vagus nerve and vagal tone, micro love, immune cells influenced by social interactions, beliefs effecting the body/the double slit experiment, self-expectation and self-validation, the default mode network (DMN) and how to interrupt it, redefining identity, and facing death to get more out of life. With such comprehensive and diverse information, Cured proceeds logically and is very readable, even when it dips into highly technical areas.
Can people become observers of their own body and change their bodies, even when suffering with so-called terminal illness? They have. Definitely check out Cured if you or a loved has a chronic illness and desires both practical advice and hope. Cured is also a great read for those interested in integrated healing, and/or overhauling our current medical system.
What sets this book apart is its completeness. Dr. Rediger is a surgeon and psychiatrist, a medical center director, and a Master of Divinity. While he’s a scientist, he acknowledges that the scientific approach, with its orientation to statistics, control, and numbers, isn’t the best way to study spontaneous healing. The N of 1, or outlier factor, becomes worth examining. In the end, he calls for changes in our medical system, in particular that doctors listen more and think “big picture” rather than “diagnosis” about patients.
For patients, the most important factor might be their degree of involvement in treatment, taking charge of their own healing. Accepting their diagnosis, but not their prognosis and involving themselves in various healing modalities makes a difference. High self esteem correlates with high involvement. Taking responsibility for the healing, but not blame for the illness, spontaneous healers make physical, psychological, and lifestyle changes that lead to survival. Patients must become empowered by embracing their treatment and realizing that they are not their illness. Interestingly enough, studies can’t measure this involvement.
Through many case studies and medical research studies, Dr. Rediger also examines such healing factors as diet, chronic inflammation, good and bad stress, stress triggers, mindfulness, reframing problems, the vagus nerve and vagal tone, micro love, immune cells influenced by social interactions, beliefs effecting the body/the double slit experiment, self-expectation and self-validation, the default mode network (DMN) and how to interrupt it, redefining identity, and facing death to get more out of life. With such comprehensive and diverse information, Cured proceeds logically and is very readable, even when it dips into highly technical areas.
Can people become observers of their own body and change their bodies, even when suffering with so-called terminal illness? They have. Definitely check out Cured if you or a loved has a chronic illness and desires both practical advice and hope. Cured is also a great read for those interested in integrated healing, and/or overhauling our current medical system.
August 28, 2020
This book EXCEEDED my expectations and I’m so glad I didn’t brush it off on the first glance as just another self help book.
Sure this book is about spontaneous healings but it goes beyond just looking at the superficial factors like diet, exercise, life style changes, and dives deeper into all aspects of human experience including emotional and spiritual.
It was refreshing to hear someone of scientific background’s take on subject matters like spirituality and I really enjoyed his pragmatic approach to validating topics that are often considered ‘woo-woo’.
I wholeheartedly agree with Rediger’s point that modern medical science fails to see patients as a whole, as an individual with just as complex inner mechanics as our physical. We fall short to acknowledge the less visible and more ambiguous aspects of human existence and the implications are worth exploring as assisted by the cases of ‘spontaneous’ healing.
Tl;dr: A truly scientific dissection into mind and body relationship.
Sure this book is about spontaneous healings but it goes beyond just looking at the superficial factors like diet, exercise, life style changes, and dives deeper into all aspects of human experience including emotional and spiritual.
It was refreshing to hear someone of scientific background’s take on subject matters like spirituality and I really enjoyed his pragmatic approach to validating topics that are often considered ‘woo-woo’.
I wholeheartedly agree with Rediger’s point that modern medical science fails to see patients as a whole, as an individual with just as complex inner mechanics as our physical. We fall short to acknowledge the less visible and more ambiguous aspects of human existence and the implications are worth exploring as assisted by the cases of ‘spontaneous’ healing.
Tl;dr: A truly scientific dissection into mind and body relationship.
March 28, 2020
Must Reading and Life Affirming
In looking at what created a common link in subjects experiencing spontaneous remissions of their terminal disease, Dr. Rediger uncovered that connection. He takes us on his multi year quest for an answer that continues to elude detection. Along the way, people changed their eating lifestyle or their stress level or their loving therapeutic community to facilitate a remission. Some changed their toxic family relationship. Others took up Yoga or meditation practice. But the aha moment that linked these cases was revealed at the end of the book.
There was no single vector and each case was distinct and unique. As in life, we are all on individual journeys.
For me, the book was an affirmation of the self testing and self discovery I do regularly. I am grateful to Dr. Rediger for the insights and inspiration his book afforded me!
In looking at what created a common link in subjects experiencing spontaneous remissions of their terminal disease, Dr. Rediger uncovered that connection. He takes us on his multi year quest for an answer that continues to elude detection. Along the way, people changed their eating lifestyle or their stress level or their loving therapeutic community to facilitate a remission. Some changed their toxic family relationship. Others took up Yoga or meditation practice. But the aha moment that linked these cases was revealed at the end of the book.
There was no single vector and each case was distinct and unique. As in life, we are all on individual journeys.
For me, the book was an affirmation of the self testing and self discovery I do regularly. I am grateful to Dr. Rediger for the insights and inspiration his book afforded me!
March 8, 2020
I just finished this book in a week. I couldnt stop reading. My life will be forever changed by the amazing research and bravery of Jeffrey Reducer M.D. Before I started this book, I have been trying to heal 'incurable' vitilago with food, exercise, sleep, meditation & graditute. As he says these are important but he gave me so many more pieces to the puzzle that I was missing. I now have so much hope and I plan to put his important work to use to heal my own life. Beautiful thing is even if it doesn't heal my vitilago, everything he recommends will improve my life quality. I am so thankful for his book!
March 12, 2023
The last case I read about before finally putting this book down in disgust was of a patient who "cured himself from kidney cancer" through meditation only. Seriously?
Then I found out, through a quick Google search, that the Brazilian "healer", whom Dr. Rediger praises to the high heavens, is the infamous "John of God". He has been condemned in 2021 to 60+ years in prison for abusing and raping dozens of female "patients". More than 600 women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse.
He also practiced "medicine" and performed surgeries without a medical license.
This kind of quack book preys on the vulnerability and gullibility of people desperate for some hope.
Despicable.
The one star is for Dr. Rediger's writing skills. He is a very good story teller.
Then I found out, through a quick Google search, that the Brazilian "healer", whom Dr. Rediger praises to the high heavens, is the infamous "John of God". He has been condemned in 2021 to 60+ years in prison for abusing and raping dozens of female "patients". More than 600 women have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse.
He also practiced "medicine" and performed surgeries without a medical license.
This kind of quack book preys on the vulnerability and gullibility of people desperate for some hope.
Despicable.
The one star is for Dr. Rediger's writing skills. He is a very good story teller.
May 6, 2024
Mind blowing read. listened on audio.
Specifically for medical folks, but also non medical folks alike. This is about spontaneous healing/remission from incurable diseases i.e. pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, etc.
I was pretty much mind blown the entire time. Dr. Rediger does an excellent job at weaving storytelling with philosophy, history, lifestyle, and more.
Specifically for medical folks, but also non medical folks alike. This is about spontaneous healing/remission from incurable diseases i.e. pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma, etc.
I was pretty much mind blown the entire time. Dr. Rediger does an excellent job at weaving storytelling with philosophy, history, lifestyle, and more.
April 11, 2021
Spontaneous healing is a topic that currently sits in the no-man's-land between faith and science, and in Cured, Rediger aims to bridge that divide, by applying his medical training to the topic. Certainly, he succeeds when it comes to selecting the case studies that he discusses. He is fastidious in his requirements for clear, documented and irrefutable proof of existing disease prior to the remission occurring -and of the long-term absence of the disease after remission. This is probably the main strength of the book. When it comes to the 'how' of remission, things get a little fuzzy - and that's only to be expected, given our current state of knowledge. The 'how' varies from person to person - from a healing centre in Brazil offering a totally immersive lifestyle change, to a medical doctor who describes himself as an 'energy healer', through the placebo effect and the resetting of individual identity - most cases in the book follow a path unique to them. Rediger looks for common themes among these cases, and identifies a number of factors but ultimately concludes that the one thing all examples had in common was their total dedication to their approach. Some chose diet, some used yoga, some rid themselves of toxic relationships; many focused on being themselves, rather than the people they felt they ought to be. There is clearly no magic bullet - if you had a terminal illness and read this with the hope of direction for becoming one of the outliers who beat the odds, you'd probably be disappointed. But as a starting point for thinking about the possibilities of incorporating different strategies in healthcare, it does a good job. The sub-title is a bit misleading, as we don't really have any 'science' behind this yet - but that's probably more the publisher's choice than the author's, so I'd cut him some slack here!
July 16, 2022
This book is incredibly underrated. The beginning makes it sound like another sensationalist book or perhaps a book that just makes wild claims. And then the author sets the tone for his research methodology - wow! I can't believe this is a physician - more like an engineer/researcher. Brilliant thinking, brilliant writing, and absolutely relatable and entertaining.
To write a book like this but make no outlandish claims - this author has mastered his ego.
What I learned from this book is that there's more to healing than what western medicine prescribes. And it's not always something that can be measured in even a well-designed research study.
I don't want to spoil the conclusions nor the stories he tells which he weaves in and out of each chapter so well - really, so well.
It's the not the kind of book you pick up to learn how to fight cancer. But it is the kind of book you pick up to learn what healing, curing, and health really means. How different people achieve the same results with different approaches. And you get to hear the author's insightful explanation as to why he thinks something happened or didn't happen.
If I ever have something interesting to write one day in my life then this is the kind of book I would want to write. If this was written 5 centuries ago or 10 years ago or 100 years from now it would be an everlasting book. Those kinds of books come along rarely for me.
To write a book like this but make no outlandish claims - this author has mastered his ego.
What I learned from this book is that there's more to healing than what western medicine prescribes. And it's not always something that can be measured in even a well-designed research study.
I don't want to spoil the conclusions nor the stories he tells which he weaves in and out of each chapter so well - really, so well.
It's the not the kind of book you pick up to learn how to fight cancer. But it is the kind of book you pick up to learn what healing, curing, and health really means. How different people achieve the same results with different approaches. And you get to hear the author's insightful explanation as to why he thinks something happened or didn't happen.
If I ever have something interesting to write one day in my life then this is the kind of book I would want to write. If this was written 5 centuries ago or 10 years ago or 100 years from now it would be an everlasting book. Those kinds of books come along rarely for me.
May 30, 2023
Foarte bună, de actualitate.
“ Most of us, whether we realize it or not, leave ourselves an out: a pathway back to old behaviours, habits, belief systems or ideas about ourselves. We make a new plan, a new resolution, but leave an escape hatch in the back of our minds so that when the stress gets high enough we can always go back to our old life, our typical ways of perceiving and thinking. It is a comforting habit-it could be alcohol or drugs or food for some, or even a relationship that you know isn’t good for your health. It could even be sitting back and letting others chart a course for your life instead of doing it by yourself. It could be as simple as just staying with the status Quo because it initally feels incredibly hard to make big life changes.”
“ Most of us, whether we realize it or not, leave ourselves an out: a pathway back to old behaviours, habits, belief systems or ideas about ourselves. We make a new plan, a new resolution, but leave an escape hatch in the back of our minds so that when the stress gets high enough we can always go back to our old life, our typical ways of perceiving and thinking. It is a comforting habit-it could be alcohol or drugs or food for some, or even a relationship that you know isn’t good for your health. It could even be sitting back and letting others chart a course for your life instead of doing it by yourself. It could be as simple as just staying with the status Quo because it initally feels incredibly hard to make big life changes.”
February 9, 2023
I stumbled upon this book in a local bookstore and I'm so happy I did! Dr. Rediger retells stories of spontaneous healing from terminal conditions; infusing the science, soul, & mind-body connection. He manages to take something so complicated- the human immune system- and makes it feel understandable and manageable. Even better- he breaks it down into actionable behaviors (nutrition, stress, meditation, connection, etc). I know I'll be re-reading this one often!
April 2, 2024
This book talks about the art of spontaneous remission. I find it super interesting how he brings in many people stories, and uses his own research and experiences to enlighten his audience. This book is very accessible and easily readable. Additionally, it was moving and I found it to be an essential read for patients, physicians, as well as the general public who want to learn how they can take their health in their own hands and create enormous impacts with small changes.
February 1, 2021
I know we're only in January (at the time of writing this review) but this will be in my Top 5 Reads of 2021 for sure. It was so insightful. It reshaped my views on our general outlook for life, our diet and the community around us and how these all shape the person we are (inside and out). I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
November 18, 2020
Amazing. Just wow. Going to implement it now.
April 13, 2021
Reading this book has been a truly life changing experience for me.
October 27, 2023
An eye opener. I enjoyed it and felt i wanted more.
January 24, 2023
I’ll 100% read this again. It’s really well done. A good go-to for motivation to have a healthier lifestyle.
June 26, 2024
Best book I’ve ever read! Highly recommend to anyone and everyone!!
January 1, 2022
Jeffrey Rediger, M.D, a Harvard psychiatrist and E.R doctor, explores the mysterious phenomenon of spontaneous healing in medical science. Along the way, he offers pragmatic advice for anyone looking to optimize their overall health, exploring the nutritional, psychological, and spiritual factors that individuals can incorporate into their everyday lives. Personal stories of survivors who have conquered terminal illnesses, the mind-body connection, healing childhood trauma, and a historical background of Western medicine, are some of the ideas discussed.
The most important idea presented in this book, is that given the right conditions, the human body has an amazing capacity to heal itself, and that discovering the science behind this phenomenon would unleash a revolutionary breakthrough in medicine. According to Rediger, healing from chronic disease requires an individualized, integrative approach, including such things as radically changing one's diet, developing social connections, meditation, prayer, and seeking out new experiences. What works for one person might not work for another, as each individual is biochemically unique, and must find their own individualized path to healing.
Another important point Rediger makes is that there are no silver bullets, neither any guarantee that making radical changes is going to improve a chronic health condition. In fact, there is nothing "spontaneous" about spontaneous healing, as in most cases the seeds for healing are planted long before any noticeable changes take place. However, scientific studies have proven that the amount of involvement and participation that an individual puts forth has an enormous impact on their treatment recovery.
Throughout the book, Rediger explores the mind-body connection, and how our perception of the world and our stress response has a profound impact on our immune and nervous system, altering how our body functions on a deep cellular level. Rediger believes that along the journey to health, individuals need to confront those unconscious, often self-limiting beliefs that we carry about ourselves and the world, which are deeply ingrained in our psyche, and often developed through traumatic childhood experiences. Also, an acceptance of one's own mortality is an incredibly important part of the healing process, relinquishing individuals with chronic and life threatening illnesses from their fear of death, allowing them to live their fullest and most authentic lives possible.
Overall, I was deeply impacted by the message of this book. The author takes what could have been a depressing subject, and turns it into an inspiring and hopeful work of literature. I was impressed with how Rediger handled what are considered controversial ideas, exploring the spiritual dimension of healing, a concept not traditionally discussed in Western medicine. Also, it was admirable how Redigier opened himself up, sharing significant events from his own life, such as being raised by religious fundamentalist parents, and the trauma from the emotional and physical abuse that he needed to overcome. It added an emotional depth not seen in other books of this genre, making the reader feel how much the author connected to the subject matter of his book... 5 stars all the way.
The most important idea presented in this book, is that given the right conditions, the human body has an amazing capacity to heal itself, and that discovering the science behind this phenomenon would unleash a revolutionary breakthrough in medicine. According to Rediger, healing from chronic disease requires an individualized, integrative approach, including such things as radically changing one's diet, developing social connections, meditation, prayer, and seeking out new experiences. What works for one person might not work for another, as each individual is biochemically unique, and must find their own individualized path to healing.
Another important point Rediger makes is that there are no silver bullets, neither any guarantee that making radical changes is going to improve a chronic health condition. In fact, there is nothing "spontaneous" about spontaneous healing, as in most cases the seeds for healing are planted long before any noticeable changes take place. However, scientific studies have proven that the amount of involvement and participation that an individual puts forth has an enormous impact on their treatment recovery.
Throughout the book, Rediger explores the mind-body connection, and how our perception of the world and our stress response has a profound impact on our immune and nervous system, altering how our body functions on a deep cellular level. Rediger believes that along the journey to health, individuals need to confront those unconscious, often self-limiting beliefs that we carry about ourselves and the world, which are deeply ingrained in our psyche, and often developed through traumatic childhood experiences. Also, an acceptance of one's own mortality is an incredibly important part of the healing process, relinquishing individuals with chronic and life threatening illnesses from their fear of death, allowing them to live their fullest and most authentic lives possible.
Overall, I was deeply impacted by the message of this book. The author takes what could have been a depressing subject, and turns it into an inspiring and hopeful work of literature. I was impressed with how Rediger handled what are considered controversial ideas, exploring the spiritual dimension of healing, a concept not traditionally discussed in Western medicine. Also, it was admirable how Redigier opened himself up, sharing significant events from his own life, such as being raised by religious fundamentalist parents, and the trauma from the emotional and physical abuse that he needed to overcome. It added an emotional depth not seen in other books of this genre, making the reader feel how much the author connected to the subject matter of his book... 5 stars all the way.
October 11, 2023
Didn’t like this book. I had to force myself to finish it. I prefer books that have footnotes rather than personal stories, especially when it is about science. The author goes to great lengths to say you cannot do controlled experiments on this kind of healing, but you could show the medical tests of the people talked about.
I felt that the author had a theory and found stories to support the theory. I have no idea if his theory is valid, but this book didn’t convince me. Almost anyone with a pet theory can find stories to support it whether or not it is valid. Cherry picking the information presented is one way to do that.
I cannot argue with the advice to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and avoid stress. However, saying that some people change their mind set to cause life style changes so they cure and “incurable” disease and those who don’t get cured didn’t change their mind set enough is the same as saying that if you get sick or don’t get well it’s because you did something bad or didn’t pray hard enough. You are blaming the patient for being sick. I think that is evil.
I felt that the author had a theory and found stories to support the theory. I have no idea if his theory is valid, but this book didn’t convince me. Almost anyone with a pet theory can find stories to support it whether or not it is valid. Cherry picking the information presented is one way to do that.
I cannot argue with the advice to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and avoid stress. However, saying that some people change their mind set to cause life style changes so they cure and “incurable” disease and those who don’t get cured didn’t change their mind set enough is the same as saying that if you get sick or don’t get well it’s because you did something bad or didn’t pray hard enough. You are blaming the patient for being sick. I think that is evil.
June 9, 2022
Fascinating, informative, and well-written. I loved this book, and it gives me much to ponder.
June 5, 2022
This is an excellent book. It thoughtfully covers so many incredible areas without being too "out there". I found it to be hopeful and realistic. I especially related to the section on ACE's. Thank you for exploring this fascinating topic. There is SO much more to health and healing and this is an amazing step forward.
June 22, 2022
The author is a qualified doctor, specializing in psychiatry, who became interesting in investigating instances of so-called spontaneous remissions from often potentially fatal illnesses. This book is an account of his investigation with a sprinkling of autobiographical material that details his own early years, which he credits with being responsible for some of his own health problems. He suggests that many of those who with ill-health trajectories throughout their lives are also those who have suffered from adverse childhood experiences.
The book is in two parts, in the first of which he introduces the reader to a variety of case studies of those who have had such seemingly ‘miraculous’ remissions and astounded their physicians. Part Two looks at their post-prognosis life-styles in some detail to discern whether there are any commonalities that might provisionally be evidence that suggests what might be the reason for such uncommon outcomes.
The book is interesting but, to this reader at least, structurally flawed: so many case studies are introduced and returned to at various points throughout its length that it is quite difficult to distinguish between them without looking back constantly to see ‘who is who’! Admittedly, I read it as an eBook and that may not be such a problem with a physical copy.
Essentially, as in similar books that promise more than they ultimately deliver, it is a quilt who parts are held together by speculation and not much else.
The book is in two parts, in the first of which he introduces the reader to a variety of case studies of those who have had such seemingly ‘miraculous’ remissions and astounded their physicians. Part Two looks at their post-prognosis life-styles in some detail to discern whether there are any commonalities that might provisionally be evidence that suggests what might be the reason for such uncommon outcomes.
The book is interesting but, to this reader at least, structurally flawed: so many case studies are introduced and returned to at various points throughout its length that it is quite difficult to distinguish between them without looking back constantly to see ‘who is who’! Admittedly, I read it as an eBook and that may not be such a problem with a physical copy.
Essentially, as in similar books that promise more than they ultimately deliver, it is a quilt who parts are held together by speculation and not much else.
April 28, 2021
This is another book that I think I will return to. It is a hopeful yet clear eyed look at what people with life threatening diagnoses can do to make the most of the lives they have. The author, a Harvard trained doctor, offers four pillars of health.These are as follows: “healing your immune system, healing your nutrition, healing your stress response, and healing your identity.”
I feel like this book just hasn't gotten enough attention. For such a thoughtful book it has just a little over 200 reviews and it's been out for more than a year. I don't know how to explain that. But I will say that if you're looking for a thoughtful book about how to improve your life this is one worth reading. The author intertwined his own journey moving from a fundamentalist background to a much broader view of the world. He uses case studies to illustrate what "spontaneous healing" looks like. Spoiler: it is not really spontaneous. There are things that people who are seriously ill can do to improve their chances of surviving even stage four illnesses.
I feel like this book just hasn't gotten enough attention. For such a thoughtful book it has just a little over 200 reviews and it's been out for more than a year. I don't know how to explain that. But I will say that if you're looking for a thoughtful book about how to improve your life this is one worth reading. The author intertwined his own journey moving from a fundamentalist background to a much broader view of the world. He uses case studies to illustrate what "spontaneous healing" looks like. Spoiler: it is not really spontaneous. There are things that people who are seriously ill can do to improve their chances of surviving even stage four illnesses.
September 27, 2022
There's a quote in the book from an interview where the individual says "I became a different person," as to what propelled them into decades of remission. And she had truly done so - geographically, intimately, work wise, even changed her name to match a new self. This really struck me and after listening to a recent Healing Trauma workshop with Dr Gabor Mate and Dr Bruce Perry looking at similar "outliers" and what may contribute to one's healing - I came to realize that perhaps it's not becoming someone else, someone different than who we are; but rather returning to being who we were always intended to be - allowing to be our true selves and the version of life that invites and unfolds in turn, which is often quite different from the lives many of us have currently constructed. Perhaps disease itself is the brewing of a denial and disconnect from self.
Highly recommend this book, couldn't put it down. Really highlights that there is no magic solution or one size fits all and explores different domains of health from various perspectives. Refreshing and inspiring.
Highly recommend this book, couldn't put it down. Really highlights that there is no magic solution or one size fits all and explores different domains of health from various perspectives. Refreshing and inspiring.
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