The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine (2nd Edition)

Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., Michael T. Murray, Herb Joiner-Bey
Churchill Livingston (2007)
ISBN 9780443067235
Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (8/09)


A superb desktop guide, “The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine” is the condensed, shorter version of the comprehensive, two-volume standout in its field “Textbook of Natural Medicine.”  Written by leaders of natural medicine with links to Bastyr University, this is a uniquely professional yet comprehendible reference book.

As a natural health practitioner myself, I have found “The Clinician’s Handbook” to be incredibly useful in designing healing options for my clients.  Is it an absolute definitive guide to every disorder? No, but it does outline 80+ of the most common issues facing the public, which may be translated to 80% of clients walking through my door.  The easily-referenced sections which include diagnostic summaries, naturopathic considerations, clinical laboratory testing, flow charts, and therapeutic protocols are clear and concise reflecting current information available in the holistic health care field.  The inclusion of issues such as food allergy/intolerance, candida overgrowth and chronic inflammation (CRP) immediately indicated to me that this book is striving to include the most recent knowledge in the naturopathic health model. 

While I do believe this is a fantastic reference for the general public, being far superior in its depth and understanding compared to most of the wellness/reference guides available, some of the dialogue may be one step further than newbies to natural health can comprehend.  It is designed more for clinicians, nutritionists, herbalists, alternative health care providers and the astute layperson with some background knowledge in natural health.  My only issue with this book is that I would have liked to have seen a little more attention paid to dietary suggestions in general, and then taking it further to metabolic and biochemical individuality.  I believe strongly in “letting thy food be thy medicine,” so unfortunately, this is where I feel the book fell a little short.  On the dietary issues as well, there are increasing studies and research proving the negative side of soy products, and unfortunately, this book doesn’t reflect that research.  That said, “The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine” is still, by far, my favorite quick-reference guide and is the first book I reach for in research and protocol planning.

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