THE KALISH METHOD integrates the latest in modern scientific testing with age-old natural health solutions for weight loss, fatigue, depression, digestive problems and female hormone imbalances. Through the implementation of simple lifestyle changes and the use of individualized, lab-based supplement programs, the Kalish Method has already helped thousands of people reclaim their health and achieve optimum wellness. In addition to using functional medicine assessments for hormones, digestion and detoxification systems, the program also incorporates one of the most significant recent breakthroughs in natural medicine, the next generation of amino acid therapy: Mind Mapping.
Dr. Kalish's method may be amazing, but you won't figure anything out about it from this book. The only message is that fatigue, weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, depression, and hormonal issues are related. Given the discussion in his book, I can buy into that.
The remaining thing theme is that a giving up gluten, soy, and dairy for two months (and reintroduction to identify distress) is good for you. Not sure why butter is ok, then. The Virgin Diet has a much better explanation of elimination and reintroduction diets.
I enjoyed his functional medicine philosophy and especially his three key body systems. However, his constant self-aggrandisement was a little annoying - "Dan the miracle man". I would have liked him to go a bit deeper into his actual prescriptions.
The book gives several solid guidelines for optimizing health. The advice is pretty standard fair, that is found in most good functional medicine books. There was a small section that was a fairly good introduction to amino acid therapy. It's emphasized the importance of balancing amino acids to avoid neurotransmitter imbalances. The discussion only focused on the balancing dopamine and serotonin, with no mention of Acetyl Choline and GABA, two other primary neurotransmitters. The cover states "training for practitioners" and "health results for patients". The book did a fair job of doing the later and a poor job of the former. I know a book cannot take the place of his courses, but there was very little detail on the actual treatment protocols or in depth descriptions of his testing protocols. He gave many personal case studies, but was very vague in the actual protocols used. It was very repetitive and more like a 184 advertisement for he and his practitioners services than an actual guidebook to applying these principles. The book was also very light on scientific references. I was hoping for a little more applicable substance and a little less self promotion.
Although Dr. Kalish has some good insights (treating the root of the problem not the symptoms/eating clean and reducing stress to manage "The Big 5" health concerns, and not always following western medical advice - rather a harmonized balance of both eastern and western healing) he fails to separate himself as the guru he's obviously decided himself to be. The Kalish Method requires patients to seek out doctors specifically trained in his technique and to pay for testing only they know how to do. It also paints an overtly negative picture of western medicine. There wasn't enough substantive information, and a lot of repetition. I think Dr. Kalish imagines himself the next Dr. Weiler or possibly, Dr. Oz.