The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine *Movement *Massage *Meditation *Breathing

by Roger Jahnke

Release your natural powers for healing, endurance, and longevity

With this revoloutionary guide, you will learan four simple and remarkably effective techniques to release your natural powers for healing. The methods – gentle movement, self-applied massage, breathing exercises, and meditation – are drawn from the ancient Chinese healing system of Qigong (Chi Kung) and are easily adaptable to every lifestyle. You can practice them almost anywhere – in the car, in line at the bank, at your desk, while walking, even in bed. Using these methods for as little as ten minutes a day can dramatically increase your endurance, vitality , and longevity. Self-care has never been so easy!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Spirituality, Psychology

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 1997

Reviews

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

a simple book with suggestions on simple movements, self-massage, breathing exercises, and meditation one can do to heal oneself or maintain one's health. this is ideal advice in a world where everyone suggests that exercise and movement is wonderful medicine, but most exercise and movement just doesn't feel good and seems very daunting if you are in pain or under the weather. jahnke calls on the wisdom of tai chi and qi gong to suggest some simple practices that can improve health for the better, and envisions a world in which we are all taught these practices. while at times obnoxiously idealistic, the advice in here is some of the best i've found on how to take care of your body every day when you aren't feeling well.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I won't read just once; it will become an often-consulted reference book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am almost at the end of the book, but I rated it before being completely done because I may never feel "finished" with the book. Very simple and inspirational approach to self-healing. Not disrespectful of Western medicine but encouraging all of us to help ourselves with even small changes. Everyone can do these exercises - lying down, sitting or standing. Jahnke's message is that even the breathing exercises can positively impact our health. The four sections: Movement, Massage, Meditation, and Breathing are accessible to all. Great resource and easy read.

[Tif · Rating 5 out of 5]

enlightening and empowering.

[Linnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really approachable book about how to activate your body's own healing & wellness energy through gentle movement, self massage, breathing, and meditation. It was also my first introduction to reflexology. I love the way it discussed how you can create your own personalized daily wellness routine, something as simple as stretching, and massaging your ears/feet/hands when you get out of bed each morning. This book really taught me about tapping into the power of simple, gentle routines. So often we hear about wellness defined in terms of diet, green smoothies, high intensity interval training, or other intensity based exercises. This book took health to a foundational energy level; something I'd never even considered before. One part of the book which I loved talked about how taking care of ourselves and sharing this knowledge with those around us has the power to impact and change our communities for the better. Makes me think of all that is possible in changing how we approach healthcare and the ways we teach children to take care of themselves. I took one star off because of some typos in the book (why?!). I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I used to heal myself about ten years ago when I had repetitive motion injury (RMI). It was very effective. I had forgotten about it until a friend of mine hurt their back and I found the book again to send to her.

I have now purchased my own copy. The book is divided into four parts:

Movement
Massage
Meditation
Breathing

It is qigong, an ancient Chinese technique known to cure any disease and prevent them as well. Jahnke is a doctor of oriental medicine.

The exercises in each section are very simple. The massage is self-massage which is actually very effective. I am inspired to put together a practice for myself using these exercises and do it on a regular basis.

I have been having insomnia and he has a paragraph on how to deal with that. Before bed (or if you wake up in the middle of the night) do three of the gentle movements, massage your hands, feet and ears, then do the relaxation exercise in Chapter 7. I can't wait to try it tonight!

[Aubrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

FINALLY DONE.

it feels kind of wrong to give this one star, but my attention could not be held. it took me MONTHS to finish this.

there was some good info, but it seems outdated now. pretentiously written. glad to be done.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book examines how four techniques – movement, massage [specifically, self-applied], breathing exercises, and meditation -- can be used to facilitate a robust immune system and to stimulate the body’s innate healing capacities. Jahnke, as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM,) but he acknowledges that these activities aren’t the exclusive domain of that system. The book is designed to be one-stop shopping for an individual seeking to build their own self-healing practice either as preventive medicine or as a part of one’s treatment regimen for an ailment or infirmity.

The thirteen chapters of the book are divided into five parts. The first two chapters form the book’s first part, and they discuss the body’s innate healing capacity and the literature on the roles of mind and self-applied activities on health outcomes.

Part II forms the heart of the book, and it consists of chapters three through seven. Chapter three offers insight into the process of building a personal practice from the four key activities including guidelines for how to organize disparate parts into a whole and how to fit it into one’s life overall. The other four chapters provide examples and techniques for each of the four components of the system: gentle movement (e.g. qiqong), self-applied massage, breathing exercises, and meditation and deep relaxation techniques.

Part III expands on the issues touched upon in Chapter 3. That is, it explores in greater detail the nature of building and deepening a personal practice.

Part IV, entitled “The Way of Nature,” provides a philosophical context for a global self-healing movement and describes how a community can be built around this endeavor. There are three chapters in this section. The last part consists of only one chapter and it describes a potential future self-healing regime. Throughout the book there is a recognized that, while modern medicine is invaluable, it’s also developed a dysfunction by undervaluing the role of the body’s innate healing factor, while not only removing the patient from of the driver’s seat but also stuffing them in the trunk as a sort of cargo in the health and healing process.

The book has line drawings to help clarify the techniques. There are several pieces of back matter (an appendix, a bibliography, and a resources section) to help make the book more useful. [The appendix is a little strange and unfocused for an Appendix. It’s almost more of a Reader’s Digest Condensed Version for someone who wants to get to brass tacks, but it does offer some interesting insight into how a community built around these ideas has formed.]

I found this book to be informative and believe it offers a great deal of valuable insight into how to not only develop one’s own preventive medicine activities, but also how to situate those activities within a community of like-minded individuals. I thought the author did a good job of presenting scientific evidence for building a self-healing practice while not becoming too bogged down technical detail and offering a way of thinking about it for those who look at such activities in more metaphysical or spiritual terms. I’d recommend this book for anyone who is considered engaging in health enhancing activities.

[Breakfast & Bookmarks · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a massage therapist, I found this book very helpful when it comes to helping others. Aside from showing how one can self-heal, it gives great references and information on how one cam help heal another person. From emotional correlation to health to how one can use their breathing as a skill to calm and meditate on healing themselves, this book is a small but good read for those attempting to live a more holistic and natural way of health.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book when I found it. While I'm not necessarily an alternative-medicine fan, the thing that resonated with me the most from this book is the fact that we have the ability to find peace and calm in our lives, and therefore prevent and heal from so many of life's maladies. I do believe there's a strong connection between our bodies, minds, and spirits and that we have more control than we know to care for ourselves.

[Ulrika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and simple techniques for wellbeing. Simple illustrations help to understand the movements.
The only thing missing toward a 5 star is color and layout - the book feels a bit dated in the "looks".

[William Lapis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most profound book pn self healing I have ever read!!

[Ben Brodhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book from an amazing and inspiring teacher.

[Thomas Zegray · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am enjoying the moment and the journey, I will meditate, self massage and practice yoga consistently. I was already on the path the author details in this book. I can now hone and tailor my daily routines and rituals to further my progress. Something the author should have stressed is the daily routines of home cleaning, yard work etc are also great mild exercises and meditation during the routines are positive towards the journeys goals. Having been diagnosed with COPD 27 years ago, I have just learned the importance of deep breathing which I do multiple times a day including 5 minutes on my nebulizer.....

[Phil Calandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essential them of this book is how we can create and maintain a self-healing practice for maximum health. Dr.Jahnke, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, outlines an easy to implement program from ancient healing traditions which include gentle movement, self applied massage, meditation and breathing. Dr. Jahnke maintains that the true source of all healing is from within and that 70 percent of all illnesses can be treated without medical intervention. The book is very informative and the explanation and illustrations are easy to follow. I would highly recommend this book

[Antonio Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible, could be good for some who are just getting into this sort of thing but I do yoga every day so when the first few chapters are "here's some things kind of like yoga to get your body moving" I'm like why don't I just do yoga.

[katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and practical guide to traditional healing techniques including movement, self-massage, breathing, and meditation. Full of simple illustrations to make these self-healing methods readily accessible.

[Joel B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A groundbreaking testimony to the intrinsic capacity for healing and a resource for anyone who feels they have to depend on external health practices (e.g., modern medicine) for self-care and healing.

[Joann Calabrese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview and introduction to energy medicine techniques

[Mike Nyberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good take aways, suggestions and advice I was able to put into practice right away.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas. Some of it seemed a little strange, but it is certainly something to think about in our over-medicated culture.

[Frank W Farrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable read with plenty of information

As a Qigong and tai chi teacher and having spoken in events which included Dr Jahnke I felt I should study his methods further

[Itraj Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Healer Within is an incredibly accessible and straightforward guide that makes the path to better health feel simple and achievable. It’s easy to read, includes helpful visuals, and walks you through meditation and self-care practices in a way that’s effortless to follow. Meditation has become one of the most impactful and low-effort habits in my life, and books like this clear, practical, and easy to navigate are absolute gems for anyone starting their wellness journey.

[Finbar · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit more new age-y for my own tastes but Jahnke does a good job presenting this material in a very readable manner.