Complexion Perfection!: Your Ultimate Guide to Beautiful Skin by Hollywood’s Leading Skin Health Expert by Kate Somerville. © 2010 Hay House. ISBN 9781401924621. Hardback. Health/Skin Care. 384 pages. $24.95 US. [ Pre-order ] Source: eARC from publisher

As a sufferer of chronic stress and acne rosacea, I jumped at the chance to read this book. At the moment, I am using a topical antibiotic for my rosacea (metronidazole), but I want a way to treat my skin without having to resort to a harsh chemical.

This book does a great job of explaining what outside of ourselves affects our skin, how our skin is made up and how it functions, the connection between our skin and our emotions, and takes us through a list of the common ingredients used in skin care products and what exactly they are for.

This is not just someone giving you a Cosmo version of healthy skin, Somerville gets into the science of skin care in such a way that the reader is not overwhelmed. It’s extremely easy to understand. Read the rest of this entry »

Narrative Medicine: The Use of History and Story in the Healing Process by Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D., Ph.D. © 2007 Bear & Company. ISBN 1-59143-065-8. Indigenous Cultures/Healing. Paperback. 324 pages. $20.00 US. [ Purchase ]

Best-selling author of Coyote Medicine, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, has done it again with this innovative book on how the power of a story also contains the power of healing. The indigenous people have long used story-telling as a healing modality, and through this book the author shows that when we learn to dialogue with disease, we come to understand the power of the story we tell about our illness and our possibilities for better health. This approach also includes examining our relationships to our family and extended community to find underlying disharmony that may need healing. The author includes chapters on illness such as asthma, mental illness, cancer, and diabetes.

I found this greatly innovative and something the Western world could very much reap the benefits of if they open their minds only a little.

Basic Yoga for Everybody by Gertrud Hirschi. © 1998 Red Wheel/Weiser. ISBN 1-57863-103-3. 1 Book and 84 Card set. $29.95 US. [ Purchase ]

The accompanying book, though short, contains great primers on breathing techniques and explains how to use the cards to your advantage. The cards allow you to see what areas of the body are worked with this and what organs and systems are most benefited. They also allow you to create your own yoga routine depending on how advanced you are or have become. This makes an excellent companion to Gertrud’s other book on mudras (Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands).

Pain Relief Without Drugs: A Self-Help Guide for Chronic Pain and Trauma by Jan Sadler. © 2007 Healing Arts Press. ISBN 1-59477-151-0. 196 pages. Paperback and CD. $19.95 US. [ Purchase ]

Jan Sadler has created a treasure trove of holistic methods and advice. She shows us how using breathing, relaxation, mediation and visualization techniques will help you take control of your pain. In my opinion, the best piece of information to come from this book is where Jan explains how having a positive attitude is key to self-healing. That is something I cannot preach enough myself and is something everyone needs to know.

The book even includes a 55-minute CD presenting techniques for Pain Management. The author has a soothing voice that fully allows the listener to feel comfortable practicing her techniques. I highly recommend to anyone experiencing chronic pain and traumas.

The Aromatherapy Bible by Gill Farrer-Halls. © 2005 Sterling Publishing, Co. ISBN 1-4027-3006-3. 400 pages. Paperback. $14.95 US. [ Purchase ]

Aromatherapy, the art of healing through the use of various scents, is a wonderfully delightful holistic therapy useful in many instances. Following along the same lines of the Wicca Bible and the widely popular Crystal Bible, the Aromatherapy Bible is loaded with the history and procedure of administering aromatherapy and a thorough directory of essential oils.

Hidden inside this miniature volume is hundreds of techniques of help relieve numerous varieties of illnesses and/or problems, from depression, stress, grief and much, much more. This book is by far the best and most comprehensive compilation of information on aromatherapy I have yet to read.

Lillian Too’s 168 Feng Shui Ways to Declutter Your Home by Lillian Too. © 2003 Sterling Publishing Co. ISBN 1-4027-0610-3. 160 pages. Paperback. $19.95 US. [ Purchase ]

If you read my review on Feng Shui: Secrets That Change Your Life by Li Pak Tin and Helen Yeap, you will remember me mentioning how Lillian Too is a guru (if not the top) in this field. This book is a perfect example. It’s clear-cut and doesn’t get the novice confused and frustrated.

Lillian not only brings fantastic recommendations as to bettering your life, by clearing clutter, through Feng Shui, she goes deeper (yet still remains straightforward and easy) to explain how managing our life energy or chi with Feng Shui is possible and simple as well.

This book (and any by Lillian Too) are the best out there for anyone looking to perfect their lives using the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui.