Nan Lu | Ellen Schaplowsky
"I am committed to educating all women that there are natural and effective healing actions they can take to help prevent breast cancer, as well as prevent a recurrence," writes Nan Lu, a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). TCM is a 5,000-year-old medical system based on the concept of internal vital energy (Qi) flow to maintain or restore our organs' normal function and harmony. According to TCM theory, "you absolutely cannot get cancer if your organs work in harmony and Qi flows freely throughout your body's meridian network."
This book explains the philosophy, history, principles, and theories of TCM; how these relate to breast cancer; and how a woman can restore harmony with TCM self-healing practices. The practices include movement, dietary recommendations, herbs, emotional balance, and mental messages. However, the book is more theory than self-help. For example, Lu suggests "a combination of TCM herbs and special herbal teas to help relieve the side effects of breast cancer treatment," but doesn't give any specifics, instead saying to write to the TMC foundation. However, on the next page, he gives a recipe for producing breast milk (is this really what a woman with breast cancer is longing to know?) consisting of peanuts, soybeans, and pork feet. Later in the book he gives some herbal recipes and food recommendations. He recommends gentle exercise only (not even brisk walking), and notes that "too much sex will cause liver and kidney Qi deficiencies" or even eye problems, recommending restricting sex to once or twice a month if you're undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
1 Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Woman's Guide to Healing fro
Dr. Nan Lu, extensively trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), founded and developed The Breast Cancer Prevention Project. He is also a founding director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation, Inc., and is involved in SHARE, a self-help organization for women with breast and ovarian cancer. He is also a Qigong master and martial arts champion.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Woman's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer, Dr. Lu describes how ancient TCM techniques can help prevent, treat, and aid recovery from breast cancer. He emphasizes throughout the book that "TCM is dedicated to helping the individual treat the source and not the symptoms of his or her problem."
Dr. Lu presents lots of general information about TCM, natural laws, and Qi, repeating that "everything has a connection and everything has an effect on every other thing." He then applies those principles specifically to breast cancer. He says that "headaches, stomachaches, PMS, or menstrual irregularities. . .are not normal conditions for a healthy body." He regards them as symptoms that should be heeded, to prevent future difficulties.
TCM can be used in many simple ways. For example, doing a monthly breast exam is a source of stress for many women, because it focuses their thoughts on having breast cancer. Dr. Lu recommends "telling yourself instead, that wherever you touch, you are sending in healing energy to protect that location so that you will never have breast cancer." He includes many other ways to conserve, increase, and use the natural healing energy each human possesses.
The healing information is presented in a way that allows each woman to customize the techniques to fit her own needs. All the techniques are compatible with modern medicine and may be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Dr. Lu says that "many of the self-healing techniques I've talked about can help keep your organs working in harmony." Bodies that are in harmony and balanced do not suffer from physical problems, including cancer.
The Woman's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer is a valuable reference for everyone, regardless of age, sex, or current physical condition.
2 Get to the root cause of breast cancer
I had breast cancer on the same breast twice, in 1983 and again in 3/2001. I want to find the root cause as I do not want it to happen again. I find the book easy to read and understand. I will start the Wu Ming Meridian Therapy which seems easy to do. I will also start to take the healing food and herb listed in the book. Thank you Dr. Lu for helping me to heal. If I had a book like this in 1983, I probably would not have breast cancer again in March 2001. I have been recommending this book to other breast cancer survivers at my support group.
3 INFORMATIVE BUT EASY TO UNDERSTAND
I STARTED GOING TO A TRADITIONAL CHINESE PRACTIONER IN MARCH 2000. SOME OF THE TERMS SHE USED DID NOT MEAN MUCH TO ME. SHE RECOMENDED A BOOK TO ME BUT IT WAS SOMETIME HARD TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. I WAS LOOKING FOR A TCM BOOK SPECIFIC FOR BREAST CANCER. I FOUND THIS BOOK AND VERY STRONGLY RECOMEND IT TO ANYONE THAT WANT TO INCORPARATE TCM IN THEIR TREATMENT. DR LU EXPLAIN THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TCM IN LAYMAN'S TERM. NOW WHEN I GO IN FOR MY TCM SESSION, I UNDERSTAND MORE OF WHAT MY PRACTIONER IS TELLING ME. AN EXCELLENT BOOK.
4 The information in this book is incredibly useful and helpfu
Wow! I real page turner. I learned so much information about my body, and now feel more empowered over my body's health. I think this book is a must read for bay area women since we have the highest rates of breast cancer nationaly. I really apprecailted the combination of male and female authors and eastern-western perspectives this book offered.
5 It was thorough, simple, and heart felt
I am a chiropractic student and I was pleased to see a non medical approach to breast cancer. It was very informative,and it is something I can use as a tool in my office for patient information.
6 informative, compassionate and encouraging
This book is for anyone who wants to participate in their own healing. A whole new world of information is provided in an organized an easy to understand format. This is the book that demystifies Traditional Chinese Medicine for us here in the west. It is written with hope and compassion for all women dealing with breast cancer. Most of the information available to women in this country is about how to get rid of the cancer. Dr. Lu teaches us the many ways in which to strengthen mind and body to prevent breast cancer from developing and to prevent it's return. This book is a beautiful roadmap to healing. Many thanks, Dr. Lu.
7 This information packed book makes TCM very accessible.
I am very impressed with the depth of information presented. More importantly, I understand how I can apply this information to my daily life so that I can have greater health. I found the fabulous section on foods and herbs that have healing qualities fascinating. I've tried the qigong movements that are described in the book. They are easy, take only a few minutes a day, are not strenuous and give me a general feeling of well-being. I think that this is a book that every woman should read, whether or not she is concerned about breast cancer!
8 A book of knowledge.
This is a book that's a real eye opener. For anyone who either knows of someone with breast cancer or has breast cancer, this is a book that should be read. Dr. Lu has a great ability to tie in Traditional Chinese Medicine with the Western world.
9 EXCEPTIONAL I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN AND I WILL REREAD IT OVER
DR LU'S BOOK IS EXCEPTIONAL. THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE BREAST CANCER ALSO. IT IS A GUIDE FOR A WAY OF LIFE. CAN'T WAIT TO READ ANYTHING ELSE THAT HE WRITES.
