Excellent Scientific Overview of Energy Medicine, January 14, 2003

Reviewer: Cynthia Sue Larson from San Francisco bay area, CA USA

James Oschman's compelling book, ENERGY MEDICINE, provides an excellent scientific overview of the healing power of subtle energy fields. As scientists increasingly recognize how living organisms consist of dynamic energy systems based on familiar kinds of physical field phenomena, we can all begin to see that "vibrational therapies are not magic or superstition: they are based on biology, chemistry, and physics."

Oschman guides the reader through a delightful series of beautifully-illustrated chapters that present well-organized pieces of a bridge between scientific information and complementary medicine. While western medical practioners have long been aware that rapid and spontaneous remissions occur for even the most potent cancers and the most catastrophic injuries, they have been slower to establish and evaluate workable explanations for how such healing can occur. ENERGY MEDICINE thoroughly examines the most current scientific theories and experimental findings to describe how a wide variety of complementary medical treatments operate within the realm of what we know to be true.

I hope that ENERGY MEDICINE will be required reading in schools the world over, because it presents scientific research without side-stepping around the most interesting aspects of healing (such as spontaneous remissions). When you read ENERGY MEDICINE, you'll learn how: our cells and tissues are crystalline molecular arrays that act as coherent antennas, humans respond to the Schumann oscillations around the Earth, a mechanism for entrainment operates between the Earth and humans, and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) can be used to detect biomagnetic fields around the human body. You'll also discover a wealth of fascinating facts, such as how the ventricle of the heart is formed of a single band of muscle wrapped in a double-helix in such a way that the heart's rhythmic beatings resonate with the more rapid oscillations of DNA.

ENERGY MEDICINE is a must for anyone who desires a more complete understanding of the scientific basis for complementary and alternative medicine.

expansive, objective, thorough, March 24, 2003

Reviewer: rhedhaering  from Los Angeles, CA United States

The problem with many books on all types of energy healing are the moments when well-meaning but hopelessly uninformed authors try to explain the "why" of their practice. Why does energy healing work? What is the physiological mechanism for this phenomenon? While authors whose practice is informed by their psychic knowledge (Barbara Brennan, Rosalyn Bruyere, etc.) are certainly valuable, James Oschman is successful in this book because he is first and only a scientist. He has no agenda to defend the validity of energy healing at all costs. In fact, you get the sense that he would be just as happy DISproving the phenomenon. And his objectivity in showing that in fact there IS a scientific basis for the practice is what makes this book absolutely priceless.

The topics covered are surprisingly far-ranging. I was even skeptical of some of the chapter headings, but the author is so reasonable, and his claims so well-documented that even the most open-minded might find themselves taking a new look at topics they never considered. The chapters on crystal healing and the emotional impact of posture, respectively, were for me particularly fascinating. Some of the most fascinating scientific reading I've done in years.

His description of the physical body as a liquid crystalline system, the mechanics of how movement strengthens this system, and how the physical liquid crystal interacts with and is the basis for the energetic system is remarkably beautiful. There are many moments where the scientific meets the spiritual in this book and it's so beautiful.

What this book is not: This book is not an instruction manual. I noticed at least one other review seemed to say it was an instruction manual. There are no instructions as to how to practice any of the many techniques covered. The book is for people who already know how to do these things or people who don't want to know HOW but rather WHY IT WORKS. A fabulous reference for those who would like to give clients a more lucid explanation for why various forms of energy healing might work, or at least more current theories on the topic.

Worth the price of the book for the bibliography alone.