The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine, Movement, Massage, Meditation, Breathing

Essentially an all-in-one beginner's guide to self-healing techniques, The Healer Within examines four practices: movement, massage, meditation, and breathing. The movement section focuses on gentle motions, more like tai chi than yoga, and might be especially useful for those who suffer from back pain. The self-massage chapter involves stimulating acupressure points that traditional Asian medicine believe can help heal organs and improve bodily functions. A section on breathing (a seemingly natural process that is often retaught as part of alternative-medicine regimens) includes techniques intended to help you take in more oxygen and get rid of tension. And the meditation chapter provides an easy introduction to various meditative techniques and deep relaxation. Jahnke, an acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine, makes a persuasive argument for using these mind-body healing techniques both to recover from illness and to remain healthier and happier all the time. --Ben Kallen