The Cure: Nature and Old World Medicine?

Sunlight. Forest bathing. Fasting. Cold-water baths. Bloodletting. Leeches. Cupping. These ways of healing have been practiced in different cultures around the world for centuries. But as a cardiologist working with the most high-tech medical tools, Dr. Andreas Michalsen was taught that these practices were medieval and outdated, even dangerous. As he saw surprising results in his patients, however, Dr. Michalsen explored more deeply those seemingly “outdated” methods of healing. The more he researched, the more he was convinced by the power of natural medicine–naturopathy–to heal the human body.

Over the past few decades, Dr. Michalsen has published the most cutting-edge scientific research on the efficacy of natural medicine. At the prestigious Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Dr. Michalsen has successfully treated thousands of patients using elements found in nature–sunlight, water, nourishing foods, medicinal plants and animals. The culmination of years of research and clinical knowledge, The Nature Cure: A Doctor’s Guide to the Science of Natural Medicine, explains how and why naturopathy works. Dr. Michalsen breaks down the science behind natural ways of healing and shows how we can incorporate these methods into our everyday lives to trigger our body’s self-healing mechanism.

Dr. Michaelson is one of the best doctors of natural medicine working today. In the field of therapeutic fasting, his clinic in Berlin is among the most prestigious in the world and is at the forefront of experimentation and implementation of new scientific discoveries on patients with diseases ranging from hypertension, diabetes, and cancer to multiple sclerosis. He is even investigating whether fasting may aid the treatment and prevention of cancer, having shown that patients who undergo a short fast before chemotherapy tolerate it better. His theory is that “when temporarily deprived of energy, cells may enter a state of hibernation, which can protect them like a shield from external attacks”.

Many people point out that they don’t even know what’s healthy anymore, because for years now, media reports on nutrition have been more and more contradictory. One day fat is bad, the next day it’s good. One day you’re supposed to avoid carbohydrates, but then you’re advised to eat whole grains to prevent cancer. A little red wine is good for the heart, but too much is bad, and so on. What’s actually true?

Some treatment and therapy methods Dr. Michaelson encourages include:

1. Treatment for Hypertension:

• A vegetarian or vegan diet.
• Superfoods—flaxseeds, blueberries, spinach, arugula
• Super drinks—hibiscus and green tea
• Meditation

2. Treatment for Heart Disease and Arteriosclerosis:

• Moderate exercise therapy, such as tai chi
• Yoga
• Garlic
• Dark chocolate

3. Treatment for Anxiety

• Experience nature—forest bathing, gardening, outdoors exercise
• Kneipp therapy—various water treatments stimulate the autonomic nervous system and thus foster motivation and improve the mood.
• Massages
• Medicinal plants—Amber, ashwagandha, ginseng, lavender.

4. Treatment for Back and Neck Pain:

• Physical therapy and physical activity
• Acupuncture
• Heat therapy—hot baths, hot packs
• Walking barefoot—foot and knee problems constantly cause back issues.

Thoughtfully written and filled with science, history, case studies, and practical guidance, this illuminating book shares knowledge that has changed the lives of thousands of patients, teaching you what your body needs to heal–without medicine riddled with side effects or invasive procedures. Discover methods of healing that don’t just cover up your symptoms, but actually address the root cause of illness.