ACU

Every time you read it, you find something you didn't see before.

I have dozens of herb books. It never fails to amaze me how thorough this book is. If you want info on an obscure herb or obscure info on a common herb, this is the book for you.

I'm glad to see there is a spiral bound version. I'm buying a second copy to have it in spiral. It is literally a book you can study from and want to take notes from. The spiral version will make that easier.

This book is absolutely the best one I have seen when it comes to being thorough for the different uses of each herb. It has listings of primary and secondary conditions affected by the herbs, after a write up of usually close to a page on each one. In the write up it elaborates on many of the uses, and often gives historical uses. I find it a vital reference guide and refer to it VERY often!!! Is easy to understand, contains warnings about the herbs that need it, and is really the most informative guide to herbal usage.

I bought the new, soft paperbound book, and it fell apart on the way home from the store. After using it for a while I decided it was invaluable and ordered (YEAY!) a spiral bound book from Amazon.com. I definitely recommend the spiral bound as the way to go if you can get it! But even if you get a paperbound copy and it should fall apart, it is worth 50 times the money, and worth the extra care you need to take of the book. (Hopefully everyone is not as physically "hard" on books as I am!)

This little book (400 pages in paperbound volume) is so handy. It is such a good herbal reference because it lists individual herbs, herbal combinations, Chinese herbs and combinations (which is important, as Chinese herbs are almost always used in combination.) Common herbs as well as less familiar ones used in Western herbal medicine are included with much helpful detail.

The Chinese herbal section is better than those I have seen in many other books including ones solely on Chinese herbs. This section gives the Chinese and common name, alternative names, the action and the yin/yang (dry, moist) type of action. While not a comprehensive Chinese herbal and not a substitute for years of education in TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) the section on Chinese herbs is a very helpful reference.

There is a lot of information packed into this book. Highly recommended.

This is by far my favorite Yoga book. I have been practicing Hatha Yoga for years (Hatha Yoga is the physical Yoga that is the most common form in the Western world), but have discovered that many of the techniques and sets of asanas (exercises) described in Yoga books were not very tuned in to Westerners. Acu-Yoga combines Acupressure and Hatha Yoga into a very palatable form for the common Westerner. It is the best book I've seen as of yet for anyone suffering an acute or chronic disease or symptom. There are symptomatic exercises for such discomforts as the common cold, sinus problems, menstrual tension to exercises for more serious problems such as hypertension and spinal disorders. I have often warded off an oncoming flu or cold by following some of the advice in Acu-Yoga. There is additional supplemental advice from Michael Gach, in terms of lifestyle and nutritional imbalances - and very effective solutions to bring our bodies back into a state of harmony.

For instance, on our natural resistance to illness, Gach writes: "An ancient Indian method for maintaining resistance against illness is to swing a thick branch or club back and forth. The Yogis would do this when they felt any illness about to come on, since it was common knowledge that the tensions which accumulate between the shoulder blades contribute to illness. The swinging motion helped break down this tension. Swinging a baseball bat around moves and stretches the shoulder blades to release the tensions that collect there."

He goes on to describe the exact acupressure points around the tips of the shoulder blades, and then delves into a Yoga asana to help alleviate the oncoming flu or cold. Every exercise is complete with both a photo and an illustration, which details precisely his written directions. I have a terrible time learning physical things from books, even when they have illustrations and photos, but I have never had difficulty from Acu-Yoga.

Even if you aren't prone to illness or a symptomatic approach isn't for you, Acu-Yoga is split into 5 parts: a general introduction to the philosophies and practices of yoga and acupressure, a series of exercises based on the meridians (channels) of acupressure, a whole-body self-treatment emphasizing flexibility of the spine, a series of exercises that balance the chakras, and then the Acu-Yoga postures that benefit specific conditions.

This is a perfect book for the Westerner just beginning to practice Yoga, and for anyone who has an interest in expanding their current horizons of Hatha Yoga and Acupressure.

This is the one book that I recommend for anyone interested in yoga and overall health. By combining postures with meridians, (flows of energy thruout the body)and specific organs of the body, the information gives the yoga practitioner a more complete sense of the benefits of that posture. This also allows for a better focus, more mindfulness of the posture and intent. The photos and essays are clear and easy to view. Enjoy!

I'd agree that Gach writes a very straight forward and simple book. If you are a beginner to the acupressure/kinesiology world, you will easily understand the basics [with the aid of this book]. The book gives many useful points, but for general problems most of the time. His knowledge in some promblematic areas goes into more depth than others. So, if you are looking for help with a specific problem, little information might be given or non at all. For example, the book gives great explanations and cures for colds, indegestion, depression and headache, however, it explains very little about allergies and sinuses. Gach backs his explanations with a strong facts and basic common sense.

I think that the book could give a better explanation on how to stimulate points. The diagrams of the locations of points are very useful and understandable. Overall, the book is well organized and convienent. If done correctly, the Yoga exercises are very powerful. With just a couple of exercises you can be healed instantly. This book left me curious buy more books on acupressure and is great reference to find quick cures.

It is not unusual for teachers of various bodywork methods to incorporate something from other traditions. For instance, when I was taught the Eight Brocade Way (Ba Qua Jin), I was taught 9 postures. One of which was from Yoga. Later my teacher introduced some Western exercises to aid in working around physical problems.

Michael Reed Gach has achieved a synthesis from two paths, Acupressure(Chinese health system based on the flow of energy (Chi) through channels and meridians) and Yoga postures including the connected idea of breath energy (Prana).He achieved this synthesis while taking classes in both areas at the same time and finding that no one else had drawn the same parllels between the two systems or had interest in doing so.

He has specifically made these tapes to provide, through tone and pacing, instruction difficult to achieve only from reading. Each exercise topic is accessble separately e.g. breath, spinal stretching, chakras, channels, meridians. There is also a section, oraganized alphabetically, applying acu-yoga exercises to specific problems.

The exercises are presented as a combination of postures and pressue points within the framework of the meridian system. The addition of the 5 types of yoga breathing and sometimes tone(chant) enhances the power of the exercises.

The sucess of these methods can be attested to from the 20 yrs in-print of Micael Gach's book on acu-yoga. I personally can attest to the presentation on the tapes. The set I used had been missing the instruction book and I still able to follow the clear verbal program easily, only later refering to standard acupressure and yoga texts. I strongly recommend these tapes not only for their intrinsic value, but also for their providing a frame in which to incorporate other ideas.

Sometime last year I found Dr. Bahr's book in a friend's used book store. I'm an acutherapist who has worked mainly for children with neurological damage; it worked for them. Since I'm focused on that application of acutherapy, it was wonderful to find a book with a plan to solve one of my problems.

Over the past year or so, I have lost 30 pounds after starting just with the acupressure, and not the diet. Now I'm using also the 300 calorie diet plan, but not every day, and beginning to lose more weight (I have lots to lose!). I know I need to eat more vegetables, and the 300 calorie diet plan has helped me to start in that direction, as well.

A friend emailed me asking for information about the plan, so I looked up the book in Amazon and found it is out of print. How unfortunate for those who need to lose weight in a sane and safe manner, that does not take an enornous effort of the will.

By stimulating the acupressure points indicated in Dr. Bahr's plan, one! not only facilitates the losing of excess pounds, one benefits one's whole well-being.

Somebody put it back in print, please!!

The authors, Harry Selker and Robert J. Zalenski wrote a very good and informative book. A "must read" for doctors and cardioloigsts.

I know Dr. Durlacher well. He is an excellent chiropractor and a wonderful, kind human being. In this book he cuts to the chase, which is typical of his personal, authentic style. He lays out for the reader a system of healing that can be applied to a wide variety of psychological problems. The method involves tuning into the problem by simply thinking about it, testing the relative strength in a specific muscle, and thus localizing the circuitry that accounts for the problem (e.g., phobia, depression, addictive urge, sports problem). Then we tap on key meridian points to alleviate the interfering emotion. The wonderful thing is that this simple therapy gets amazing results! It is a useful adjunct to any therapy. This book is a worthwhile investment for health care professionals, performance coaches, and motivated lay people. --Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D., author of "Energy Psychology," "Energy Diagnostic and Treatment Methods," and "Energy Tapping."

Freedom From Fear Forever is a wonderful book which will show you how to obtain true freedom. I used this process for other emotions too with very good success: anger, sadness, grief, worry. The process works!!! And it is easy to learn. The Acu-Power Method described in the book is great to use before interviews to calm anxiety. The method works great prior to test taking also. Ive seen it work for patients undergoing medical procedures including surgery, MRIs, anesthetic, etc. One of my students used Acu-Power before a major exam and passed it successfully.. She was amazed since she had always experienced severe test anxiety. Ive seen it work on the fear associated with labor & delivery, on fear of anesthetic/surgery, fear of dental procedures and more. I continue to be amazed by the effectiveness of the methods described in this book. This book is a must read for one wanting to make life easier with less fear, anxiety, phobia, etc. I wish I had read it 30 years earlier!! Dr M.Marie Green (DSW/LCSW)Clinical Social Worker mgreen@xmission.com

It's interesting reading the other reviews of this book. One review says the methods are "silly"; or simply passes it off as "placebo effect". If it's simply placebo effect, then I personally am the luckiest person west of the Mississippi. And I'm batting 1000. I've had 3 sessions of Accu-Power therapy with a local healer and I have overcome 3 major obstacles in my life. The last month has been life changing and has finally put me on a road to real recovery after years of traditional psychotherapy, allopathic treatment and drugs that have nearly killed me.

I found Durlacher's book to be easy to read, full of wonderful annecdotes and It introduced some of the basics of Traditional Oriental Medicine in a clear, simple manner. To say that it suggests that you simply "touch yourself in certain ways" says to me that that reviewer did not really read and understand the text. Don't go into accu-power thinking that it is a simple solution to all of your problems. A treatment session using these methods is a lot of hard work and concentration and it also physically takes a lot out of your body. I've been recovering physically for a week now from my last session. However, my fear, doubts, and anxiety from a violent past of beatings and rape no longer plagues me.

No, you can't read a book and be over all of your woes. But the methods in this book DO work. They have pretty much saved my life and give ME back to myself. If that ain't worth $13.27 plus shipping.....I don't know what is.

thanks dr. durlacher
:)

For all of you that got a little queasy during middle school history lessons, this book pinpoints the source of your nausea. By now, most of us realize the true nature of white Americans push westward from the 18th century onward. It was a cruel, intrusive robbery that stole, raped and destroyed the dynamic culture and societies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. However, little is ever discussed about the entirely different and much older paradigm of U.S. history: the push from the south to the north.

Acuna examines the nature of the Spanish and Indian cultures that amalgamated and moved forward, only to collide with the U.S. expansion in the Mexican War. He also looks at the many levels of exploitation the mexican-american people have faced over the centuries and current movements to stop or reverse these practices. A fascinating book and an enlightening adventure.

When I sat in school learning about George Washington for about the thousandth time, my teachers started to wonder why I was becoming disenchanted with school. I wasn't educated enough (at the time) to realize that I wasn't the problem, the material I was being force fed was the problem. Occupied America fills in the gaps in my history. When a student is developing a self identity it is important that he or she has heros and sheros that they can identify with. This book gives those student (of all ages 7-70) that are Chicano a chance to see effective heros that made/make a difference in our every day lives. I recomend this book to anyone that will be teaching a history class with a multicultural focus, (and every teacher should be since we live in a multicultural society.)

Professor Acuna is able to provide some of the most basic underpinnings of Chicana/o History. This book provides basic information that can be used to supplement a teacher in providing a more thorough history of the United States in a strict standard based High School Course. Knowingly, if one is using this book at a level higher than high school or if it is the base of an ethnic studies, its use becomes central importance due to its demonstration of injustices, experiences, and mediatory experiences of the Chicana/o community. Although Acuna has received criticisms for his usage of words in the trajectory of the Chicana/o experience, they are unfounded. The book tries to present experiences, experiences that decimated, raped, and destroyed Chicana/os as a community. Additionally, take a look at the sources as a form of guidance towards more books and articles.