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 Although I have a tendency to distrust the motivations of some professionals who become “stars” in the health field, Dr. Andrew Weil has accomplished an enormous amount toward creating an environment where alternative healing can begin to be taken seriously by the medical profession. You need to understand the depth and intensity of the resistance of conventional medicine to alternative treatments of any kind for almost the last century (see section on Conventional Medicine) to appreciate what an achievement it is to even have an alternative doctor who is a medical celebrity.
One interesting feature of studying nutritional theories is that most people are biased in a certain direction depending on their area of study. Scientists with a background in biochemistry, like Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer, favor supplementing with molecules that are identical to those found in the body, like those we call "vitamins." Andrew Weil studied as a botanist, and has a lot of respect for herbal remedies. His opinions, at least the written ones, seem to have become more conventional over the years, but this is perhaps inevitable since he started promoting the concept of “Integrative Medicine,” or combining the best parts of conventional and alternative medicine, and since he has founded a training school for health professionals at the University of Arizona. This has been extraordinarily useful in getting recognition for natural treatments that were once dismissed with contempt, though it may necessarily involve a departure from the more holisitic approach which a Naturopath or Homeopath would provide. My main beef with Weil is his position on Vitamin C--that 250-500 millligrams per day produces tissue saturation, and more is useless though not harmful. Since the body signals tissue saturation with Vitamin C by producing diarrhea, which doesn't happen in the case of severe illness until doses of more than a hundred grams, I do not understand this conclusion. His website offers a basic introduction to Alternative or Integrative Health and has answers to health questions, lots of vitamin and healthful eating advice, including recipes. They have a free daily email newsletter which gives health tips and recipes. You can sign up for a reasonable amount for an on-line 8-week Optimum Health Plan which sends you emails with exercise suggestions and weekly menus and provides contact with other health seekers and expert advice. Good if you prefer more active involvement than reading the book. (8 Weeks to Optimum Health).
If you prefer programs that don’t seem too “far out,” this provices solid, reliable information and group support in acheiving health goals.
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