Description:

In this breakthrough book, Dr. James Forleo proposes a return to the body as the site of self-healing. The problem, he says, is that we don’t understand the language of signs and symptoms it uses to communicate its healing messages. Health Is Simple helps readers decipher that language and access the great realms of health and vitality the body contains. Written in a clear, engaging style, the book takes a systems approach to health, walking readers through the basic design and function of each major organ system—the nerve, endocrine, immune, musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and elimination systems—and offers a set of simple practices to boost their performance. With only a few minutes a day, readers can radically improve their health and well-being. Based on his work with hundreds of patients, the program emphasizes simple correctives to diet and lifestyle, a new perspective on digestion and elimination, and the alignment of the spine and structural system. Case studies demonstrate successfully resolved conditions from chronic headaches, anxiety, and respiratory disorders to exhaustion, autoimmune disorders, and allergies. Health Is Simple offers readers access to the same customized program the author’s celebrity clients have enjoyed, with the possibility of achieving the same spectacular results.

Author Biography:

Dr. James Vincent Forleo specializes in holistic health and has over 30 years of clinical experience in chiropractic, spinal biomechanics, applied kinesiology, clinical nutrition, and cranial osteopathy. A popular workshop leader and educator who writes regularly for Today’s Chiropractic and Dynamic Chiropractic magazines, he lives in Durango, CO.

Reviews/Endorsements:

“Dr. Forleo is a great asset to the chiropractic community. I consider him to be a talented practitioner who exemplifies the spirit of balance in bodywork.”
—Andrew Weil, MD, author of Spontaneous Healing: How to Discover and Embrace Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself

“A very useful and practical source of information for the inspired, for those who understand the importance of participating in their own health and well-being, and for those who awaken to the need to feel empowered and participate because of some disease or injury.”
—Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Help Me To Heal

“Dr. Forleo has done an admirable job of synthesizing the worlds of spirit and health together in a practical and understandable way.”
—John W. Travis, MD, co-author of Wellness Workbook

Introduction . . . 1
Chapter 1: The Whole Enchilada . . . 7
Our Inner and Outer Worlds of Experience . . . 8
Attunement with Nature . . . 9
The Resonant System of the Body . . . 10
Our View of the World . . . 12
The Experience of Wholeness . . . 13
Co-creation . . . 14
Chapter 2: Health and Disease . . . 17
The Wisdom of Our Inner Intelligence . . . 17
Our Intimate Connection with Intelligence . . . 18
The Healing Process . . . 20
Signs and Symptoms . . . 22
The How, Where, and Why of Symptoms . . . 23
Health and Dis-ease . . . 25
Choosing Health . . . 26
Shift to the Above-Down Approach . . . 26
The Wellness Continuum . . . 27
Signs of Intelligence . . . 27
The Treatment Is Not the Cure . . . 29
Make Practical Use of Your Education . . . 30
The Whole Body Scan . . . 31
Chapter 3: The Nerve System . . . 35
The Cerebrum . . . 36
HEALTH TIP #1: The Cross Crawl Exercise . . . 37
The Cortex . . . 39
The Lower Brain . . . 40
The Switchboard . . . 41
Too Much and Too Little . . . 42
HEALTH TIP #2: The Twist and Towel Exercise . . . 43
HEALTH TIP #3: Regular Spinal Checkups . . . 46
Make No Bones About It . . . 46
Mem-Brains . . . 47
HEALTH TIP #4: Cranial Balls . . . 48
Our Sensory System . . . 49
HEALTH TIP #5: The Whole Body Scan . . . 50
Movement . . . 50
Communication . . . 51
HEALTH TIP #6: The Roundabout . . . 52
Electricity and the Brain . . . 53
HEALTH TIP #7: B&E Acupuncture Points . . . 54
HEALTH TIP #8: Chapman Reflex Points . . . 55
Nerve Chemistry . . . 55
HEALTH TIP #9: Nutrition for Your Nerves . . . 56
Feeling and Thinking Nerves . . . 61
Our Gut Feelings . . . 62
HEALTH TIP #10: Emotional Holding Points . . . 64
HEALTH TIP #11: Exercise Your Mind and Emotions . . . 65
HEALTH TIP #12: The Slant Board Exercise . . . 65
The Spirit of Health . . . 66
HEALTH TIP #13: The Space Between Activities . . . 66
Chapter 4: The Musculoskeletal System . . . 69
Alignment with Gravity . . . 70
Flexibility . . . 72
Core Alignment . . . 74
Optimal Postural Alignment . . . 75
HEALTH TIP #1: Evaluate Your Posture . . . 76
HEALTH TIP #2: Find Your Optimal Standing Posture . . . 77
Optimal Sitting Posture . . . 79
HEALTH TIP #3: Find Your Optimal Sitting Posture . . . 79
HEALTH TIP #4: Use a Lumbar Sitting Cushion . . . 81
Our Posture of Heart . . . 81
Activating Your Body . . . 82
HEALTH TIP #5: Activate Your Body . . . 82
Active and Passive Stretching and Exercise . . . 83
Range of Motion . . . 84
HEALTH TIP #6: Evaluate Your Range of Motion . . . 84
HEALTH TIP #7: Improve Your Range of Motion . . . 85
HEALTH TIP #8: Range of Motion Exercises (ROME) . . . 86
HEALTH TIP #9: Series of Range of Motion Exercises (ROME) . . . 88
HEALTH TIP #10: The Alignment Series . . . 93
HEALTH TIP #11: Flexibility Techniques . . . 98
HEALTH TIP #12: Energy Exercises . . . 106
Chapter 5: The Care and Feeding of the Human Frame . . . 109
Bones . . . 109
Bones Renew Themselves . . . 110
HEALTH TIP #1: Eat Whole Foods for Healthy Bones . . . 111
Bone Acts as a Conduit for Electricity and Magnetism . . . 112
HEALTH TIP #2: Keep Your Structural System in Alignment . . . 113
Bones Provide a Storage Unit for Minerals . . . 113
HEALTH TIP #3: Check Your pH on a Regular Basis . . . 115
Bone Salts Are Crystals . . . 115
HEALTH TIP #4: Have Your Toxic Metal Load Evaluated . . . 116
Bones and the Immune System . . . 117
HEALTH TIP #5: Build a Healthier Immune System . . . 117
Other Bone Related Factors . . . 117
HEALTH TIP #6: Exercise and Move Your Body . . . 118
HEALTH TIP #7: Take Whole Food Vitamin and Mineral Supplements . . . 119
Muscles . . . 119
Gait Patterns . . . 120
HEALTH TIP #8: Use Range of Motion Exercises and Foot Exercises . . . 121
The Stretch Reflex . . . 122
HEALTH TIP #9: Utilize the Principles of Active Stretching . . . 124
HEALTH TIP #10: Evaluate the Function of Your Adrenal Glands . . . 124
Trigger Points . . . 124
HEALTH TIP #11: Treat Your Trigger Points . . . 124
Muscle Cells . . . 126
HEALTH TIP #12: Improve the Function of Painful Muscles . . . 127
Muscle-Organ Relationships . . . 127
HEALTH TIP #13: Use the Muscles & Related Organs Chart & the Referred Pain Chart . . . 128
HEALTH TIP #14: Use High Quality Essential Fatty Acids . . . 130
Neurolymphatic Treatment Points . . . 130
Muscles and Feelings . . . 131
Connective Tissue . . . 132
HEALTH TIP #15: Support Your Connective Tissue Nutritionally . . . 132
Joints . . . 132
Feet and Ankles . . . 133
HEALTH TIP #16: Support Your Feet . . . 134
Neurolymphatic Reflex Points . . . 136
Knees . . . 136
HEALTH TIP #17: Knee-Strengthening Exercises . . . 137
Hips . . . 137
HEALTH TIP #18: Hip Exercises . . . 138
Shoulders . . . 139
HEALTH TIP #19: Exercise and Align the Shoulders for Optimal Function . . . 140
Elbows . . . 142
HEALTH TIP #20: Elbow Exercises . . . 143
Wrists and Hands . . . 143
HEALTH TIP #21: Stabilize the Function of Both
the Wrist and Hand . . . 144
Conclusion . . . 145
Chapter 6: The Endocrine System . . . 147
Maestro, Please . . . 148
Hormones . . . 149
The Pineal Gland . . . 150
HEALTH TIP #1: Enhance the Functioning of Your Pineal Gland . . . 152
The Hypothalamus and the Pituitary Gland . . . 153
HEALTH TIP #2: Enhance the Functioning of Your Pituitary Gland . . . 154
The Thyroid Gland . . . 155
HEALTH TIP #3: Enhance the Functioning of Your Thyroid Gland . . . 158
The Thymus Gland . . . 160
HEALTH TIP #4: Enhance the Functioning of Your Thymus Gland . . . 164
The Pancreas . . . 165
Insulin . . . 167
Glycogen . . . 168
Associated Organs . . . 169
HEALTH TIP #5: Enhance the Functioning of Your Pancreas . . . 170
The Amazing Adrenal Glands . . . 170
The Adrenal Cortex, Corticosteroids, and Cortisol . . . 172
The Adrenal Medulla . . . 173
Implications . . . 175
Associated Organs . . . 175
HEALTH TIP #6: Enhance the Functioning of Your Adrenals . . . 176
The Ovaries and Testes . . . 177
Estrogen . . . 178
Progesterone . . . 180
Testosterone . . . 181
Male Reproduction . . . 182
Associated Organs . . . 183
HEALTH TIP #7: Enhance the Functioning of Your Sexual Organs . . . 184
Conclusion . . . 185
Chapter 7: Insightful Nutrition . . . 187
The Ideal Diet . . . 187
1. Whole Foods . . . 188
2. Body Type . . . 189
HEALTH TIP #1: The Body Type Diet . . . 189
Exercises to Support Your Body Type . . . 197
HEALTH TIP #2: The Blood Type Diet . . . 198
3. The Key Elements of the Healthiest Diet in the World . . . 199
HEALTH TIP #3: The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid . . . 200
4. The Principles of Food Combining . . . 200
5. pH Balance in the Body . . . 200
HEALTH TIP #4: Testing the pH of Your Saliva . . . 201
HEALTH TIP #5: Testing the pH of Your Urine . . . 201
Balancing Your pH . . . 202
HEALTH TIP #6: What to Do About Split pH Readings . . . 203
HEALTH TIP #7: Colon Cleansing . . . 203
HEALTH TIP #8: pH-normalizing Foot Bath . . . 203
HEALTH TIP #9: pH-Balancing Complements . . . 204
6. An Awareness of the Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load . . . 204
7. Natural Methods of Cleansing, Detoxification, and Elimination . . . 206
HEALTH TIP #10: The Seven-Day Detoxification Feast . . . 208
Transition Diet . . . 211
HEALTH TIP #11: The Eleven-Day Elimination Diet . . . 211
HEALTH TIP #12: My Breakfast Drink . . . 214
Conclusion . . . 215
Chapter 8: Digestion and Elimination . . . 219
An Easy Self-Check of Your Digestive System . . . 220
The Mouth . . . 220
HEALTH TIP #1: Chew Your Food Thoroughly . . . 222
The Esophagus and Stomach . . . 223
HEALTH TIP #2: The Trouble with Ice Water . . . 224
HEALTH TIP #3: Eat Small Meals in a Relaxed Atmosphere . . . 225
Acid Reflux and Hiatal Hernia . . . 226
HEALTH TIP #4: Correcting a Hiatal Hernia . . . 227
The Small Intestine . . . 229
HEALTH TIP #5: Enhance the Functioning of the Small Intestine . . . 232
The Liver and Gallbladder . . . 233
HEALTH TIP #6: The Bile Duct and Gallbladder Cleanse . . . 234
HEALTH TIP #7: The Liver Flush . . . 236
HEALTH TIP #8: Liver Detox . . . 238
The Pancreas and the Glycemic Index . . . 239
HEALTH TIP #9: Enhance the Functioning of the Pancreas . . . 240
The Ileocecal Valve . . . 241
HEALTH TIP #10: Correction of Ileocecal Valve Problems . . . 242
The Large Intestine or Colon . . . 245
How to Create a Healthy Environment in the Colon . . . 245
HEALTH TIP #11: Colon Cleansing . . . 247
HEALTH TIP #12: The Stomach Lift . . . 249
HEALTH TIP #13: Abdominal Massage . . . 249
HEALTH TIP #14: The Emotional Release Point . . . 250
HEALTH TIP #15: Castor Oil Packs . . . 251
HEALTH TIP #16: Nutrition . . . 251
Two Digestive Systems . . . 252
HEALTH TIP #17: Food Combining . . . 252
Food Categories . . . 253
The Other Elimination Systems . . . 254
HEALTH TIP #18: Enhance the Functioning of the Kidneys . . . 255
The Skin . . . 256
HEALTH TIP #19: The Skin . . . 259
Hair and Nails . . . 260
HEALTH TIP #20: For Nails . . . 261
Conclusion . . . 261
Chapter 9: The Immune System . . . 263
Our Amazing Defense System . . . 264
Does Chicken Soup Really Work? . . . 267
The Lymphatic System . . . 269
HEALTH TIP #1: Lymphatic Drainage Technique . . . 270
Immunity and Emotions . . . 270
How to Create a Healthy Immune System . . . 271
Immune System Relationships . . . 272
HEALTH TIP #2: Build the Health of Your Immune System . . . 272
The Agents of Dis-ease . . . 274
Bacterial Infections . . . 275
HEALTH TIP #3: Bacterial Infections . . . 275
HEALTH TIP #4: Self-Testing to Detect Disease-Causing Bacteria . . . 276
HEALTH TIP #5: Antibacterial Remedies . . . 278
Viral Infections . . . 278
HEALTH TIP #6: Antiviral Remedies . . . 279
Yeast Intolerance . . . 280
By-products of Yeast and Fungus . . . 281
How Yeast and Fungus Multiply . . . 282
HEALTH TIP #7: Treatment for Yeast and Fungus . . . 283
Parasites . . . 284
Parasite Testing . . . 284
HEALTH TIP #8: Natural Methods of Treatment for Parasites . . . 286
Toxic Chemicals . . . 286
Dairy Products . . . 287
Air Pollution . . . 288
Drugs . . . 289
Environmental Toxins . . . 290
HEALTH TIP #9: Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
That Help Balance Toxic Chemicals . . . 290
Toxic Metals . . . 291
Dental Fillings . . . 292
HEALTH TIP #10: Eliminate Toxic Metals . . . 295
Allergies . . . 295
Food Allergies . . . 296
HEALTH TIP #11: The Pulse Test . . . 297
Health Problems Caused by the Agents of Disease . . . 298
HEALTH TIP #12: For Allergies . . . 299
Conclusion . . . 301
Chapter 10: Respiration and Circulation . . . 303
The Respiratory System . . . 304
The Mechanics of Breathing . . . 306
The Natural Phenomena of Respiration . . . 308
Coughing, Sneezing, Yawning, and Hiccupping . . . 308
How Well Do You Breathe? . . . 309
Shutdown Feelings and Shutdown Breathing . . . 310
HEALTH TIP #1: Integrated Breathing Technique . . . 311
HEALTH TIP #2: Retention Breathing . . . 312
HEALTH TIP #3: Improve Your Lung Capacity . . . 312
Health Tip: #4: The Sinus Drainage Exercise . . . 313
Respiratory Health Tips Summary . . . 314
The Circulatory System . . . 316
Blood, the River of Life . . . 316
The Heart . . . 317
Timing Is Everything . . . 320
Circulation . . . 321
Blood Pressure . . . 323
Indications of Heart-Related Problems . . . 325
HEALTH TIP #5: Enhance the Functioning of the Circulatory System . . . 326
Emotions and the Heart . . . 328
Conclusion . . . 329
Chapter 11: The Mind . . . 331
The Educated Mind . . . 332
Our Belief Systems . . . 332
Positive Thinking . . . 334
Intention vs. Chance . . . 335
The Present Moment . . . 336
Listen to Your Inner Guidance . . . 336
Using Your Whole Brain . . . 337
Mental Patterns . . . 338
The Conscious and Subconscious Minds . . . 338
Inner Wisdom . . . 340
The Innate Mind . . . 340
How to Get There . . . 341
HEALTH TIP #1: Visualization and Meditation Practice . . . 342
Chapter 12: Bring in Your Heart . . . 345
The Limbic System . . . 346
The Healing Power of Love . . . 347
Posture of Heart . . . 348
Feelings and Emotions . . . 349
Your Feeling Tone . . . 351
The Feeling Tone of Health . . . 353
Clearing Your Heart Realm . . . 354
HEALTH TIP #1: Move Stuck Emotions . . . 355
Emotional Clearing Techniques . . . 357
Just for Fun . . . 358
Toning . . . 359
HEALTH TIP #2: Sounding the Tone . . . 359
Breathing . . . 360
HEALTH TIP #3: The Walking Breath . . . 361
HEALTH TIP #4: Heart-Centered Breathing . . . 361
Movement . . . 362
HEALTH TIP #5: The Sounding Technique . . . 363
HEALTH TIP #6: The Heart-Centered Meditation . . . 365
Chapter 13: Being Spirit . . . 367
The Heart of the X . . . 369
Energy and Matter Are One . . . 371
Energy Centers of the Body . . . 373
Corresponding Vibrational Frequencies . . . 374
Aligning Your Energy Centers . . . 376
Positive and Negative Attitudes and Emotions . . . 376
Rising Spiritual Substance . . . 377
HEALTH TIP #1: Sound Healing . . . 378
Sound Awareness . . . 378
Color Your World . . . 379
HEALTH TIP #2: Color Healing . . . 380
HEALTH TIP #3: Check Your Breathing Patterns . . . 380
HEALTH TIP #4: Affirm Your Health . . . 381
Pathway of the Ancients . . . 382
HEALTH TIP #5: The Caduceus Meditation . . . 384
The “I Am” of Spirit . . . 385
Our Seven Multidimensional Energy Centers . . . 386
HEALTH TIP #6: Restore a Sense of the Sacred . . . 387
Creating the Reality of Wholeness . . . 390
Conclusion . . . 390
Reclaim . . . 391
Renew . . . 391
Restore . . . 391
Conclusion . . . 393
Appendix A: Resources for Treatments and Products . . . 397
Appendix B: Resources for Specific Assessments . . . 411
Bibliography . . . 425
Index . . . 431
About the Author . . . 4XX

Excerpt

FROM THE INTRODUCTION

Most of us only go to a doctor or other health care provider when we’re feeling pretty miserable. We seek out health care to deal with troubling symptoms or severe pain. We even approach “alternative” health care with a focus on alleviating our latest variety of symptoms. But is that what health is all about, an absence of disease or pain? Or is it possible that health is an active presence, a power, a grand feeling of being alive and in tune with yourself and the world around you? And if that’s the case, why aren’t we focusing our efforts on building that power in order to create vibrant health?

If you think I’m just splitting hairs, I ask you to reconsider. As far as our health
is concerned, we have all been settling for far less than we should be. We have become reasonably satisfied with being free of our obvious ailments, without considering what these ailments really signify. I have been providing health care to patients for nearly thirty years, and I can tell you that health is far more than the mere absence of disease or pain. Health is a positive and powerful presence. Symptoms and disease are the result of the absence of that presence.

Rather than looking so intently at what has gone wrong with us, we should be looking at the causes of health within ourselves. What I am proposing is that the human body isn’t just a machine that breaks down and needs its parts replaced, like an automobile; it is a magnificently intelligent, self-healing organism that is capable of creating vibrant health and well-being—not only for our physical bodies but for all levels of human experience. To have this experience we must understand our amazing human bodies and learn how best to care for them.

As you read this book you will discover how you can have an ongoing experience of health that goes far beyond the absence of symptoms, disease, or pain. To begin the process, I will help you understand how your body works, and how you can work along with it, not only to alleviate your symptoms but also to correct the underlying causes that create the experience of symptoms and disease in the first place.

I will help you decode the signs and symptoms of dis-ease that might be present in your experience and guide you toward correcting their underlying cause. I will show you how each of the major systems within the body works, including the often-overlooked neuromusculoskeletal system, and how you can bring each system into balance by working with the awesome healing presence that is within you and everywhere around you. I will introduce you to a series of simple, powerful practices to get you in touch with that healing presence. In short, I will help you become actively engaged in the process of creating your own health.

These practices will not only help you to break through to a more vibrant level of health, but they will significantly lighten your financial burden as well. If you are like most of us, you have been paying through the nose for disease care, so much so that you don’t really do much about your health until it is too late and you need the expensive heroics of modern medicine. I am going to show you another way—the way of building health, the way of listening to your body’s needs and making the appropriate changes before you become another diagnostic statistic.

Health Is Simple, Disease Is Complicated

Written by James Forleo, DC

Price: $22.95

Description:

Author Biography:

Reviews/Endorsements:

Table of Contents

Excerpt