Radical Healing: Integrating the World's Great Therapeutic Traditions to Create a New Transformative Medicine

I first met Dr. Rudy Ballentine in 1974 when we were both participants in a tour to the Kumbha Mela in India. For the reasons he explains in the book I didn't have a wonderful first impression. What I loved most about this extremely useful volume are his personal stories of self-transformation as a result of thinking about health in a holistic way. This is a refreshing look at the notion of health in the sense of positive "wellness" at each level of our embodiment, the physical body, the energy body, the mental body and beyond. I can say, having met Rudy a couple of years ago, again in India, that he is a different person. His work with himself is a considerable inspiration for the reader.Particularly useful to me was the section on homeopathy. I read the book while visiting friends in Holland and I arrived in India two weeks later with a bad cold I had caught from my hosts. In the past I had taken a remedy that worked fairly well (gelsemium) and so I took a dose just after arriving. My cold--runny nose, sneezing, sinus congestion, tickly throat--entirely disappeared in one minute! When you get the right remedy, it can be amazing fast because it works at an energetic rather than a physical level. As a psychologist and psychotherapist, if I were a little younger, I would consider taking a few years of training in homeopathy as an alternative to training in conventional psychopharmacology. I went out the next day and purchased the home medical kit that Ballentine describes in the book!The sections on the spiritual dimension of health and healing refer mostly to the Kashmiri Shaiva doctrine of spanda. This is an interesting hypothesis about what Amit Goswami would refer to (in his book The Quantum Doctor) as accessing the quantum level of healing. It would be interesting to see Ballentine take this connection between Shaiva thinking and quantum thinking further. (I suspect that within the intersection of these paths lies the long sought unified field theory.)The reader will find this to be a very practical guide; it is not just theory. He goes into some detail in areas of expertise, particularly diet and nutrition and related cleansing practices, as well as homeopathy. It is enough for the novice to get a good start at doing these practices in a way that is both effective and kind to the body. (Our teacher, Swami Rama, forbade us to fast for the most part because he felt that Westerners couldn't do this non-violently.)Enjoy this book and use it in good health to construct a positive vision of a better you!

very interesting book

The definitive book on complete holistic healing and health! Read this book if you are into holistic healing and health, or you are at all curious about it. It’s the best book I’ve ever read on the subject thus far, and I’ve read quite a few.

This book is practical and thought- provoking, thoughts that resonate in the guts and force me to question many habits, look deeper and rearrange the way I care for my health. Thank you Johannes Ehrhardt

This book has it all, stories, hints for health , education...you name it. Great book and super helpful to read for anyone who is intersted in taking charge of thier own health

arrived on time and I really enjoyed the perspective of the writer on the material presented. was recommended by a friend and I was glad I made the purchase. I will certainly keep it around for reference.

The parts of this book that address how to approach holistic healing and summarize alternative therapies (humors, ayurveda, and Traditional Chinese Medicine) are very useful. The nutritional segments are incredibly outdated and his tone is often patronizing or precious. Ultimately, it felt sanctimonious and irritating.

Doctor Ballantyne's works should be on every single bookshelf that is owned by a human body mind and soul

Absolutely love it! Unfortunately there are sooo many 'health and healing' related books out there.. so one can get easily confused and misinformed. However, this book is really nice and informative. It has been recommended by Swami Rama ji himself (a Saint from India). Of course when a saint recommends something, it has got to be the real thing! Haven't finished it yet, but so far, I am really impressed and can't wait to complete it.

I loved this book. He talks about Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, homoeopathy - the lot. It's very easy to read and I found it all fascinating.

Good

Love it

I found this book impractical and dull.