Cured by Nature: How to Heal from the Inside Out, Find Happiness, and Discover Your True Self

by Tara Mackey

Life can be stressful, overwhelming, and sometimes difficult to cope with. Modern medical professionals will tell you to take various prescription medications, which can ultimately do more harm than good. But it doesn't have to be that way! Healing is all in the mind and can be attained through finding harmony in your own life and resorting to natural remedies already provided by the very environment in which you live. Blogger Tara Mackey, who has a background in science, shares her own experiences with stress, depression, and anxiety and teaches you how to break free from them.

Growing up, Tara suffered from dependency on various prescription drugs for depression, anxiety, and ADHD.  At age twenty-four, she decided that enough was enough and quit her prescription meds cold-turkey in search for happiness. Today, she is drug-free, stress-free, and happy.

Cured by Nature is Tara's personal story combined with her knowledge and advice to battling personal demons and coming out victorious. Follow Tara as she shows you how to adapt and grow, using various herbal remedies, breathing exercises, and mind-strengthening techniques that will help you be a happier and better you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2016

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I would like to commend Tara on a very inspiring and motivational story of how she overcame many obstacles on her road to health. The pieces where she describes her childhood and her relationship with her grandparents were very moving, and it was wonderful to see her sharing from such a vulnerable place. She offers good information for those just beginning on the path of natural health. I especially appreciated the mini meditation ideas she lists throughout the book - with easy, guided visualizations linked to the breath. Her story itself is beautiful, and she offers encouragement to those of us who struggle with life circumstances - showing that difficulties can be overcome; and that with a shift of perspective, confidence and radiance can be claimed.

However, there were many discrepancies, and my overall impression is one of product- and brand-pushing. I do realize that it can be difficult to find products that don't contain chemicals and pesticides, so I can appreciate the name drops for that reason. (She also gives a nice shopping guide of products containing the natural substances she talks about, ranging from makeup to deodorant, which is useful for anyone wanting to make more natural beauty and self-care purchases.)

On page 88 she states: "I figured that since I had taken so many drugs for so long, taking something natural for the same ailments couldn't hurt." A run-through of her natural herbal regimen includes 500 IUs of vitamin D four times a day (pg 80), four 200-mg acidophilus tablets ("sometimes...more...but never less" pg 84), eight tablets of melatonin daily (pg 92), four 120-mg capsules of DIM supplement daily (pg 109), in addition to "other supplements and herbs" she takes including "omega 3, 6, and 9, black currant, olive leaf, and evening primrose oil" (pg 110), rhodiola "capsules of vitamins at night" (pg 113), and a 200 mg dosage of vitamin E (pg 234). It is a sad thing to think that in order to maintain "natural health" one must rely on AT LEAST 20 individual manufactured tablets or vitamins DAILY.

She would describe many different brands as "miraculous", contradicting herself in various points of the story - like how she states the use of beeswax in her garden to try and control pests was "to no avail" on page 263, but back on page 233 where she lauds the beeswax brand of Waxalene (the CEO of which wrote her a shining review on the back of the book) she says that it was helpful in her garden to "protect the base of my plants against pests."

On to the complicated skincare routine: on page 232 "No other product had ever delivered an instant glow...but Barbary fig seed oil instantly gave me smooth, fresh-looking skin". Except for French green clay, with which "I immediately saw results....my complexion became clearer the very next day!" (pg 218) and vitamin E with which "I truly saw improvement in my scars overnight" (pg 234). Yet also, "jojoba oil was the answer I had always been looking for. It created a glowing, golden complexion" (pg 227). And even still - "Rhassoul clay worked on days where nothing else truly did" (pg 224). But no, it's charcoal and that works "Whenever I am at a point where my skin has become totally unmanageable" (pg 224). But wait - I thought you said back on page 109 that it was the DIM supplement which saved your skin, to the point that "the bumps stopped appearing altogether! In fact, they only happened sometimes, like if I forgot to wash my pillowcase or my face before bed, or ate a ton of dairy."

I've listed quite a few products here - but there are so, SO many more she details! Clays, oils, supplements, salts, toners...and there is no idea of how to incorporate them all into a manageable routine. It is, quite frankly, overwhelming, scattered, and messy.

I will end with a quote from Yogananda which Tara herself shares on page 92: "Man has allowed his consciousness to identify itself almost wholly with a frail physical body, requiring constant air, food, and sleep in order to exist at all." Natural supplements can be helpful for a time, especially if the body is adjusting to a new lifestyle. Herbs in the form of teas or used in cooking are a great thing to study up on! But the body should not require more tablets from an ever-increasing profitable "natural health" industry to exist healthily every day. Skin should not suddenly break out if one forgets to pop a few tablets in the morning, whether they be derived from natural herbal sources or not. The body is better, and smarter, than that. I would think that the goal of "natural health" is to eradicate dependency on these bottled and manufactured items - to tune in and know yourself, listen to your body, and make healthy choices. This book begins to scratch the surface on that mindset, but ends up feeling more like reliance on what an alternative industry can sell you.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The forward of the book noted that the book was written in three months, and it was very apparent after reading it... The chronology was all over the place, making the narrative horribly confusing. It read like a blog of memories with tips dispersed throughout. There were some interesting ideas in terms of using vitamins and supplements in lieu of other drugs, but there wasn't any real science behind her recommendations other than anecdotes. Most of the citations didn't have legitimate academic merit whatsoever. I read it as if it was a blog, and it made it somewhat more coherent.

[Aimee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked some of the ideas that Mackey had about changing mindset and will try to apply them to my own life, but I'm not sure what I think about some of her writing. It seemed to jump from a memoir to a set of product placement posts, which may be because the book didn't take her too long to write. More long-term, concrete changes and steps would have been helpful- this seemed very rushed.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard part of Tara’s story on a podcast and knew I wanted to pick up her book and hear more from her because she is so inspiring. I took so many useful tidbits away from this book, my only complaint is that it felt a little disorganized at times.

[Valerie Gangas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Mackey is magic. She woke up, took massive action and turned her life into something incredible. Through the power of meditation, manifestation and enormous amounts of will, she broke on through to the other side. Cured By Nature is funny, inspirational and devoid of bullshit. The author and her authentic writing style show the reader a clear as day path for self-improvement. You can have anything in this world and once you see the light, you will KNOW it. This book is proof of that statement. Tara tapped into the infinite unseen world and dove in, head first. Every single day, minute by minute, we are creating our physical reality and it's always an inside job. Cured By Nature is a no-nonsense guidebook to show you the ropes and get you going on your own magical mystery tour. And once you change, everything changes. Boom👩🏽‍🎤✨💪🏼

[Myriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tara’s story is really interesting and some quotes are truly inspirational. I liked discovering new product worth their properties and I myself included some on my life. However, the structure of the book is quite messy and some parts are confusing. If you are going to buy any product I would
do it one by one and do some extra research.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my cup of tea. I have a friend who LOVED it. So try it for yourself and see.

[Denielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. An inspiration. Highly recommend

[Bawvii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though fully written

I have met Tara personally & have met grief in my own life. I have read a lot of books but hers is truly a comprehensive guide to wellness. Thank you Tara!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a poorly written book that jumped all over the place. I also feel that a lot of it was greatly exaggerated. I did get a few good ideas from it but not enough to recommend it.

[Kristen Nazario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

This book was positive and offers good ideas. I was confused at times by the order which information and ideas were presented.

[Global Donnica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely positive and a good read for those who are moving forward for the better.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved reading about Tara's experience from overly-medicated and unhappy, to finding happiness and healing through natural alternatives.