Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing

by Lissa Rankin

“Sacred Medicine is a book of inclusion. It does not prescribe nor preach nor it illustrates, informs, and illuminates.” —From the foreword by Dr. Gabor Maté, author of When the Body Says No and In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
 
In 2007, Lissa Rankin left a promising career in medicine to tend to her own health and well-being. Her search to discover why people really get sick and what truly optimizes health outcomes launched a bestselling book, two television specials, and a revolution in the way we look at mind-body medicine. But so many questions remained for this doctor and skeptic. How is it that some people do everything right and stay sick, while others seem to do nothing extraordinary yet fully recover? How does faith healing work—or does it? What’s behind the phenomenon of spontaneous remission—and is this something we can influence? Can we make ourselves miracle-prone?
 
Certain that, if she looked hard enough, she would find the answers, Dr. Rankin embarked on a decade-long journey to explore these questions and more. The result is Sacred Medicine, both a seeker’s travelogue and a discerning guide to the sometimes-perilous paths available to patients when wellness fads, lifestyle changes, and doctors have failed them.
 
In Sacred Medicine, you’ll follow Dr. Rankin around the world to meet healers gifted and flawed, go on pilgrimage to sacred sites, investigate the science of healing, and learn how to stay safe when seeking a healer. You’ll receive the wisdom offered by Indigenous cultures for whom healing begins with our sacred connection to Mother Earth, and dive deep into the cutting-edge trauma research that is igniting a medical revolution. Rich with practices and protocols that Dr. Rankin has found particularly effective, Sacred Medicine delivers a thoughtful, grounded exploration of questions around how we heal—and a path of hope for those in need.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medicine, Psychology, Spirituality, Science

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2022

About the author

"Lissa Rankin, M.D., is a practicing gynecologist and the founder of The Owning Pink Center in Mill Valley, California, which is dedicated to redefining what it means to be healthy, vibrant, and alive as a woman in the twenty-first century."
- from the back cover of What's Up Down There?

"Lissa Rankin began painting in 1991, while in medical school and has been exhibiting her art in galleries and museums nationally since 2001. Trained as an OB/GYN, she brings the energy and inspiration of her patients to the art studio."
- from Lanoue Fine Art's artist profile for Lissa Rankin

Reviews

[Amelia Maness-Gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Sacred Medicine. The author, Lissa Rankin, MD, has spent a lot of time exploring health and illness, why some people get sick while others heal. She went on quite a quest to understand and explore questions about health and healing.
This book is a travelogue of sorts and she shares some valuable experiences and insights along the way. I appreciate that after a long while in traditional medicine she was open to experiencing other forms of alternative healing that aren’t mainstream.
The author shares wisdom gained from Indigenous cultures, the importance of our connection to nature and Earth, she evens share insight into shadow work as a means of healing.
I think what I like most about this book is the information is not presented as an either or, instead, healing combines allopathic medicine with alternative medicine and it’s not one size fits all.
As a medical herbalist married to an allopathic physician, this is definitely one I will buy for myself and will recommend.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially I expected this to be mainly and only about spiritual alternative healing modalities. I listened to it on audiobook. Towards the end there is a section about EFT, biofeedback, EMDR, and other trauma healing practices.
While I understand environmental and societal things such as racism, climate change, poverty and so much more, an and does affect a person's health, I can do without the politicized content. There are a lot of negative things in the world and unfortunately we can only do so much. I would've preferred to hear more about other aspects of healing and how trauma, stress and such manifest in the body instead of activism content.
Having said all that, I do appreciate the step by step guides for readers to try the modalities. I also liked the open mindedness and learner approach the author took when seeking practitioners around the world. She approached cultures with respect and it shows in her narratives of her experience. It is because of these things I gave the book 4 stars.

[Rubi Valentin-Jaranson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly opened my mind about new concepts related to healing. I appreciated the scientific perspectives and her skepticism, paired with an open mind to what’s been observed and practiced by many cultures for thousands of years.

While I agree with the author’s views on the state of the country and the realities we’ve been living, I thought they should not have been included in this book.

I appreciate that she understood readers would take some things from the book and not others. The trauma portion of the book was eye opening. Having said that, it was one of the parts I was not convinced and have a feeling there’s more to the diseases and healing. However, I respect some of the described practices have worked for many people.

[Richard Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing" is my introduction to the world of Lissa Rankin, MD, a New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed physician, activist, speaker, visionary, and mystic.

"Sacred Medicine" is built upon key questions that I believe most of us, and certainly the healers of the world and those who seek healing, ask on a regular basis - When it comes to healing from illness and injury, how is it that some people do everything right and stay sick, while others seem to do nothing extraordinary yet fully recover?

How does faith healing work—or does it?

What’s behind the phenomenon of spontaneous remission—and is this something we can influence?

Can we make ourselves miracle-prone?

Dr. Rankin spent the better part of a decade exploring these questions and the world of sacred medicine at large. The result, this book called "Sacred Medicine," transcends the description that it's been given and become a rather unusual beast of a book. "Sacred Medicine" is simultaneously a rather stunningly nurturing book while also, with equal passion, being relentless in its confrontation of those who would do harm in the name of sacred medicine.

There are moments when it practically feels like Dr. Rankin is cooing in your ear. There are other times when you can't help but feel like she's tearing down the idolatrous temples of sacred medicine where those who heal often stroke themselves with cult-like adoration and self-interest.

The truth is that "Sacred Medicine" is not the book that I expected and the truth is I think it's even better than the book as it's currently marketed and that I expected.

Dr. Rankin is refreshingly honest about a variety of things that for me enhances her credibility.

For example, Dr. Rankin writes openly about her own privilege and ability to travel the world exploring the many types of sacred medicine. Dr. Rankin has both the time and financial means to globe-hop, a privilege that gives her access to a deeper, more immersive exploration of these issues.

It reminded me of a feature doc I once viewed that was your usual inspirational healing doc about a young man who'd been diagnosed with ALS and who worked hard to maintain a quality of life. However, as the doc continued I became troubled by simultaneous images of his ability to travel the globe seeking out gurus while also applying for Medicaid. Given the extensive nature of his medical bills, I didn't doubt his financial need. I just knew that he came from a family of privilege and this family afforded him the opportunity to do things your usual Medicaid recipient couldn't possibly do. I desperately wanted that acknowledged in the film yet it never was acknowledged.

Rankin, on the other hand, is fully aware of her privilege and yet, also refreshingly, not apologetic about it. It's an important part of the foundation of this book and I appreciated that Dr. Rankin acknowledged it.

While the word "privilege" is often used condescendingly or even as a weapon, in Dr. Rankin's case it provides access to a world provides the roots for contemporary sacred medicine. Dr. Rankin's ability to access the very people, places, and things that are the roots of these practices helps to shed light on the benefits and risks, the wonders and the flaws of these practices, those who develop them, and those who practice them.

Dr. Rankin seems acutely aware of the extraordinary vulnerability involved in a person's having reached a stage with illness where there is seemingly no sense of tangible hope. There are a myriad of times here when Dr. Rankin comes off as that friend we all want to have - the fierce protector who both nurtures and challenges, nurtures yet empowers with knowledge and practical tools and skills.

"Sacred Medicine" strikes me as a bit of a literary cousin to the more evangelical-tinged Kate Bowler book "Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel." Both authors have a remarkable ability to weed out fact from fiction and to discern truth amidst a sea of illusion. Both authors are neither completely dismissive nor utterly embracing of the worlds they explore and, as a result, both authors write with exceptional intelligence yet also tenderness.

Tenderness. If you know me, you know that's my favorite word. It's a word I thought of often throughout "Sacred Medicine." As a paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida, and one who recently lost even more of my left leg, my life has been devoted to creating a world of tenderness through my own work in creating a more peaceful world for every child. I've long associated trauma and illness, a relationship that is explored by Dr. Rankin in ways that are surprisingly devoid of victim-blaming and judgment.

I will never forget going to a faith healer and being told that if I "believed" enough, my feet would grow back.

Obviously, they never did. I did, however, get restored my sense of wholeness...a miracle itself that seemed to completely escape this agenda-driven, abusive faith healer.

At times, I felt like "Sacred Medicine" detoured away from its stated mission as certain sections are immersed more in biography/memoir than a quest to unravel the mysteries of healing. Yet, I also can't deny that by book's end I was appreciating the ways in which Dr. Rankin was able to cohesively quilt a tapestry of personal experience, intellectual pursuit, and wellness advocacy.

With "Sacred Medicine," Dr. Rankin takes us around the world to meet the healers, gifted and flawed, and to explore their practices and their worlds. She takes us on a pilgrimage of sorts, providing us a glimpse into a world that most of us will never experience directly. Dr. Rankin accessibly investigates the science of healing and dives into very cutting edge of trauma research with precision and clarity. She explores indigenous cultures with a reverence and respect rarely found among trained physicians and illuminates certain practices she herself has found particularly effective in empowering our own capacity to heal.

She does all of this with, well, tenderness.

"Sacred Medicine" is a remarkably hopeful effort yet not in an "I've got your answers" kind of way. In fact, Dr. Rankin makes a remarkable effort to avoid such an approach. Instead, Dr. Rankin serves as a guide as she helps us unravel the mysteries of healing and gain better skills to protect ourselves in our healing journeys and to explore the healing practices that will most empower our lives whether we're perfectly healthy or considered terminally ill.

"Sacred Medicine" may not be the book I expected, but it's much more and I'm incredibly glad I read it.

[Sophie Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Main stream medical literature has concluded somewhere between 60-80% of diseases have stress related emotional underpinnings.” It’s clear Western medicine needs to restructure how it treats illness, and this book is a good survey of other effective and empirically tested modalities of healing that could potentially be integrated. For now, it’s up to the individual to navigate these.

[Zana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am definitely the target audience for this book - which surprised me because it’s always seemed like the world wanted me to choose between conventional and alternative medicine and that there wasn’t room for anyone who’s interested in both.

The book lists its trigger warnings up front and in each chapter, which I appreciate - this rarely happens even in books on trauma.

If there’s a flaw it’s that this book went broad instead of deep. From reading Dr Rankin’s blog I know she can go deep on these subjects; there just wasn’t room in this particular book to do so with so much ground to cover.

[Doria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched book on holistic healing.
Author is an astrologist, too many references using astrology. My opinion

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author reports on 10 years of world travel to study sacred Medicine in part one, 128 pages. In part two she tells us that what she was really doing was seeking bliss rather than embracing her shadow. So part one is similar to a travel log. The author goes to Africa, Bali, China, Australia, Peru, Hawaii, etc. She admits she was able to do so only because of white privilege, but couldn’t a wealthy Asian, Black or Hispanic have done the same?
The problem I have with this book is that the authors liberal indoctrination shines through intensely. She tells us that when she returned from Bali, Trump was president. She was infuriated at this pussy grabbing womanizer and marched with her daughter in pussy parades. Did she think that the alternative candidate, a woman who stood by her man who was accused of numerous infidelities including rape and made many trips to Epstein Island, was found guilty of inappropriate sexual activity with a young intern in the Oval Office, was a better representative of woman’s rights?
Dr Rankin later tells us that all forms of healing and all people contain shadow and light. As a physician, though she did not give recognition to the light side of Donald Trump which included improved healthcare for vets, decreased cost of insulin and other prescription drugs, giving terminally ill patients the right to try non FDA approved therapies and forcing hospitals to reveal their charges. Plus many other humanitarian things like the Abraham accord, allocating funding for apprenticeship training, bringing our political prisoners home, etc.
The author addresses cultural appropriation and tells us that white folks who teach yoga and martial arts without acknowledging their cultural origins are appropriating culture. I have never known anyone involved with yoga or martial arts to not know and acknowledge their source. Does a white acupuncturist need to tell her patients the source of the therapy or do they already know?
Dr Rankin tells us she didn’t include a healer because she had a strong aversion to her then later learned that this healer had been seduced by Qanon conspiracy theories. Are conspiracy theories always wrong? What about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment on black men? Or the Kennedy assassination?
I’m glad to see that Donna Edens energy medicine was included in this book, as it has been effective for many and the material is easily available online. Her book ENERGY MEDICINE is an information packed resource for all interested in alternative healing. The author also acknowledges muscle testing which has been around since the 70s, before she was born, and greatly promoted through the Touch for Health programs initiated by John Thie, DC. Muscle testing is very effective in diagnosing and in energy testing, but using it to test whether one should go out on a date with the sexy surfer as the author did, is not as reliable because desires and expectations can influence the results.
The chapter on energy psychology is excellent and the concept of spiritual bypassing of great importance in an age when there are many self appointed spiritual teachers teaching that one must just substitute positive beliefs for negative beliefs to lead a happy fulfilling life, as though life happens only on the mental plane.
On page 183 Dr Rankin tells us that those who did not wish to wear a mask or get vaccinated to prevent Covid lacked critical thinking. What about Sr Simone Gold, Dr Robert Malone, Robert Kennedy Jr., all the Frontline America physicians and thousands of scientists? Do they lack critical thinking also?
I gave the book 2 stars because there is some good information and because organizing one’s thoughts in a readable manner deserves some acknowledgement. If the book was more objective without the liberal dogma, I would have given it 3 stars.

[Chandana Watagodakumbura]

In "Sacred Medicine: A Doctor's Quest to Unravel the Mysteries of Healing", the author, Dr Lissa Rankin, guides readers in using a whole-health-intelligence approach to healing, especially when faced with challenging health situations. In this approach, data and information from many domains such as physical, mental, emotional, somatic and spiritual are used for the healing process. As a medical officer trained in conventional medicine, it is admirable that Dr Rankin encourages and provides guidance to readers to consider many alternative approaches available for healing in addition to conventional methods. Interestingly and importantly, her advice is based on her personal quest for many years for her own healing.

While appreciating the treatments offered by conventional medicine, many other alternative approaches to healing are suggested in the book under the umbrella of sacred medicine. They include practices such as ancient and more recent wisdom healing methods, meditation, energy medicine, medical intuition, rituals, engaging in creative acts of art, dance, music and writing, visiting spiritual places and healing community gatherings. Trauma and cancer histories are two common causes for clients to seek healing services. While Dr Rankin warns that every alternative healing service available may not be genuine, many instances of miraculous cure and remission were presented in the book.

Conventional medicine treatments and alternative approaches suggested under sacred medicine appear to be based on two distinct ways of practice. The former follows a reductionist approach to diagnosis and treatment, while the latter follows a holistic approach. Further, conventional medicine practices are based on measurement-guided scientific techniques, while alternative methods depend on the healer's intuitive and holistic pattern recognition skills. We can conjecture that many alternative healing practices were developed when the scientific instruments and technologies required for precise measurements were unavailable. Thus, our ancestors had no option but to look for holistic patterns within our bodies and beyond for healing through directly experiencing. Consequently, the alternative healing methods appear to follow a systems approach to healing directed at the whole person. In contrast, measurement-based conventional methods are more precision-oriented, targeting a specific symptom.

It is admirable that Dr Rankin advises readers to seek healing solutions through collaborative approaches of both conventional and sacred medicine practices. Each provides complementary information to the other, enabling enhanced healing solutions. Verifying every alternative healing method scientifically may not be forthcoming in the immediate future due to many constraints such as funding, even though we have seen some progress in this direction. But we can rely on the ancestral wisdom of thousands of years in many cases to be more inclusive and informed in critical decision-making. Sometimes surrendering to the divine powers may become the healing solution. It may relieve stress, relax the body and activate the parasympathetic nervous system while unblocking and distributing the energy flow evenly within the body to be absorbed by mother earth.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook. It is a minor miracle that I finished it.

I gave this book a rating of three. I both loved it and found it really frustrating.

I am not Lissa Rankin's target audience. There were so many times in listening when I was bowled over by her condescension and judgmental attitudes toward those that do not agree with her. However, her vulnerability about her traumatic past helped me have compassion and understand where these vehement attacks might be coming from.

There was one point when I said, "Okay, Lissa, you need to bring it right now or else I'm going to stop listening." Right after that was her 100% on point chapter about the Bengston Method, which contains powerful and important information about cancer healing probably not found in that much depth anywhere else. That chapter should be required reading for every human! I'm grateful for the information and I'm going to connect a friend with a Bengston Method practitioner. This would not have happened if I hadn't read the book.

Similarly, I found the information she provided about Developmental Trauma to be very relevant and healing for me. I'm really grateful for that.

In the end, I realized that perhaps the reason she rubbed me the wrong way so often was that I am so similar to her. This book was an invitation to me to share my truth plainly whenever I write or speak. I can be just as opinionated and judgemental as Lissa. And after reading this book, I understand the hurtful (though certainly unintended) impact of not keeping that in check.

Also this is minor but seems important: the audiobook reader pronounced "chakra" wrong. That word comes up many times in this book. For all her rants about misappropriation....seems like it would have been worth it for Lissa and / or the publisher to notice that gaffe.

So sure, read this book. Definitely read the Bengston Method chapter. If come from a more conventional medical background than I do, it will probably go down pretty easy and bring you a lot of new information. If you don't 100% agree with the mainstream medical establishment, brace yourself.

[عدنان عوض · Rating 5 out of 5]

أحدث اصدار للطبيبة الأمريكية ليسا رانكن، والتي تستمر في استكشاف وتجريب ودراسة وتطبيق كل علوم وطقوس وممارسات العلاج والتشافي.
وفيه تتحدث عن رحلتها التي استمرت عشر سنوات في بحث واستكشاف وتجربة طُرق التشافي المختلفة التي لم يصلها مجهر (العلم) بعد. سواءاً كانت ممارسات قديمة عند مجتمعات مختلفة حول العالم، أو كانت طقوس دينية مختلفة أو حتى وسائل تجريبية في علم النفس.
وتؤكد على احترامها لحدود الطب الحديث ومكانته وانجازاته والحاجة له.

وقد حددت اسم (الطب المقدس) لهذه الطرق لعدة أسباب منها: أنها ممارسات لا تعتمد في أساسها على المنهج العلمي الطبي.

هذه الممارسات منها ما يحقق العلاج بالمعنى الطبي العلمي، ومنها ما يحقق التشافي وإن بقيت العلّة/المرض. وتقسم رانكن بحثها إلى ثلاثة أقسام رئيسية:
١/ ممارسات تمدنا/تنقل إلينا طاقة الحياة
٢/ قسم خاص بالكشف عن الجانب المظلم في عالم الطب المقدس.
٣/ ممارسات تصل إلى جذور المشكلة لعلاجها

ما يميز الكتاب أنه ليس فقط عرض وتعريف بممارسات مختلفة، ولكنه مذكرات شخصية لرانكن مع هذا العالم، وما تعرضت له من تجارب حسنة غيرت حياتها وأخرى سيئة كان لها أثر ضار عليها. كذلك فإنها تستعرض تجربة عدد من أصدقائها ومراجعيها مع هذه الممارسات، حيث أضاف ذلك لمصداقيتها. ودعمت الكتاب بتمارين عملية تمكن أي شخص من تجربة بعض هذه الطرق، وذلك سعياً منها لتحقيق أحد أهداف الكتاب وهو تمكين كل فرد من مساعدة نفسه على التشافي.

في القسم الأول:
تعرض رانكن لمجموعة متنوعة ومختلفة من الممارسات الدينية وغير الدينية والتي تؤدى بشكل جماعي في أغلبها. وتمدنا بطاقة تخفف علينا من المعاناة وتساعدنا على التشافي. فمن ذلك رحلات الحج المختلفة للأماكن المقدسة وما يحدث فيها من معجزات وتسامي معنوي وانفتاح لدواخل الانسان على عوالم مختلفة.
وتعرض كذلك للعلاقة المقدسة بين الانسان والطبيعة عند مجتمعات عدة من خلال طقوس القربان والاحترام وحفظ الطبيعة.
كما تستعرض دور أنشطة انسانية مختلفة كالرقص على أنواع معينة من الموسيقى في بث مشاعر جديدة منشطة ومحفزة للانسان، وأيضاً ما للخلق الفني من دور في تفريغ طاقات ومشاعر وحمل طاقات ومشاعر مختلفة تخلق التعاطف والتواصل بين الناس.

في القسم الثاني:
لا تكتفي رانكن بعرض هذه الممارسات فقط، بل تقدم مجموعة قيمة من النصائح لمن أراد تجربتها. حيث تقول بأن هذا العالم مليء بالانتهازيين والفاسدين كغيره من مجالات العلاج. وما يجعله كذلك هو اختلافه عن الطب الحديث بعدم وجود جهات تنظم عمل الممارسين وتقيّم كفاءاتهم، وبالتالي سهولة وقوع الناس فريسة لهم.

في القسم الثالث:
تنطلق رانكن من مسلمة أن الصدمات التي نتعرض لها في الطفولة وعند الكبر لها دور أساسي في الاضطرابات والأمراض، وأن التعرف عليها والتشافي منها أمر جذري في رحلة العلاج والتشافي الشخصية.
حيث تستعرض عدد من التقنيات وأساليب العلاج التجريبية الجديدة في علم النفس والطب النفسي، والتي لا يتم تدريبها في كليات والبرامج التدريبية. حيث تعرض لتجربتها والتجارب الإيجابية للعديد من معرفها ومراجعيها.

...

هذا الكتاب ينتمي لفئة الكتب التي تنظر للصحة والمرض - الطب والعلاج من منظور مختلف، ومقاربة أخرى.
ومن فئة الكتب التي تحتفي وتقبل الممارسات الانسانية المتنوعة التي تدعم الناس في رحلة معاناتهم وتشافيهم، ينتمي للمنظومة الفكرية التي ترى الانسان كائن كل مركب وليس جسد مفصول عن بقية العناصر المكونة له. وهو بذلك كتاب شامل لا اقصائي ومنفتح لا منغلق وكُلي لااختزالي.

[Sophia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading this book because I was curious what she was going to say as a doctor. I've read books by doctors that were extremely rigorous and on the other end of the spectrum extremely zweverig. Being a doctor lends a certain amount of academic capital to a work (and a non medical job: think of Ben Carson) that I don't think should be implicitly granted.

In summary: I wasn't at all impressed with this. She referenced some sources that were very rigorous and scientific that I was familiar with. I don't disagree with her premise that there is still a lot that science doesn't know and that science is only one way of understanding the world. But I didn't click at all with a lot of what she was saying or how she organized information, which is a pity. I also didn't necessarily agree with certain practices like muscle testing... sounds kinda silly to me. Also she tread the line of cultural appropriation too closly for me. I respected her attempts to respect other cultures and I agree that we can learn from people without adopting their practices. But sometimes her discussion of practice lay a bit too close to new age for me and didn't delve deeply enough into what /respect and /culture mean.

[Mary Thatcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who politically is pretty middle of the road as I have beliefs on both sides, this book would've been so much better if she had just left politics out if it. It really took me out of the healing arts being discussed when the author decides to go after "white people" & cultural appropriation. I've really tried to find non-white Yoga & martial arts teachers here in Northern California. I have used Korean , Thai & white acupuncturists unable to locate a Chinese. Guilt for feeling white and what "your people" did to native Americans? My people weren't here yet. Health equity & DEI? I want the best health provider, no matter who or what they are, not someone pushed through who is unqualified but checks a box. My best providers have been Asian & Hispanic & Middle Eastern. If we let healing practices "die out" because someone didn't want to "culturally appropriate" something, then we all lose. Many healing practices have been improved on by sharing with others. Give love & light, too much hate in this book. Didn't finish it as the negativity got too bad.

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacred Medicine acts as both a memoir and guide through the middlegrounds between both science and spirituality, linking these often divided areas up to create a more well rounded idea of what it is to truly take one's health and well-being into one's own hands and create a balance that works for all facets of who we are. I happen to have appreciated this book for its honesty, education in many facets of healing and spirituality I hadn't been aware of, and clear calling to church of certain areas of both spirituality and modern medicine which catch us up and limit our healing such as spiritual bypass and the lack of integrated medicine. I would recommend this book to people interested in the serious work of healing but uncertain about where to begin, it can connect you with a lot of facets of self-work and discovery and offer some clarity on a world that can be very confusing.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re listening to the audio book it took me quite awhile to get used to the readers voice
which sounded like a young woman in her 20's and not like I thought the author would
sound. But I hung in there thru the first few chapters which I thought were pretty basic
and it got better as it got more personal. I especially liked the chapters on Energy Medicine
and Donna Eden (who I'm quite familiar with). Lissa really did a LOT of research which
must of cost her a lot of $. I knew about a lot of these modalities but not all of them so
I was happy to be turned onto some new ones. She was skeptical re the misuse of muscle
testing which I could understand. I think she tried to be fair minded and not overly critical
of all the things she studied. The group ritual with other doctors she did was profound too.

[Erika Christiansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoying the information in the book. It's nothing different from what I've had faith in since the 70s, but it's nice to hear an MD express alternative medicine so clearly and appreciatively.

The narrator, however, is almost insufferable. Her affected, inconsistent lisp is cringworthy. Over two hours into book, it still disturbs. She mispronounces simple words like "devotee." At the beginning of book, she pronounces that difficult affected "t" that often goes with affected lisps. Fortunately, she soon lets that go--for the most part. She speaks VERY breathily, imparting mystical meaning, though slightly less as book progresses. She commits the periodic glottal fry. Please, Tammy and powers that be, hire professional narrators. Not sure how this woman got through tryouts.

[Charles Reed · Rating 1 out of 5]

26%

Rarely have I ever come across a scientist that does so much irresponsible unproven claims that she knows she can explain with science and intentionally does not do it.

We could have talked about the placebo effect, we could have talked about the healing powers of meditation and positive thoughts, but instead we go off and decide to talk about unfounded claims that can be explained away psychiatrically, and using Western medicine styles, this book promised to meld science and metaphysical healing, and completely destroyed that on delivery.

Really disappointed about Lissa's publication on this.

[Liliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I classified this as non-fiction, it's more speculative and self-helpey than that. There is a legitimate exploration of alternative therapies, especially in the beginning of the book, but the writer does not approach this scientifically. Not that this has to necessarily detract from the validity of these alternative therapies, as they do seem to work for some people. Just be cautious going into this that it uses the sort of argument of "your illness can be caused by blocked emotions or your resistance to life", which has its dangers.

[Cristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Dr Rankin for this beautifully conscientious compassionate sharing of your journey. It helped me answer a lot of my own questions as a healthcare provider practicing to bridge the science and the sacred. It also helped illuminate and allow me to accept the answers I don’t have questions to. I wish all my patients would read it!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone on a spiritual journey or searching for healing beyond the conventions of modern medicine. It is also a powerful read for all healers as well.
Lisa shares the good and the bad in an incredibly powerful way.

You will walk away from this book with a depth of understanding around the world and our connections to each other.

[Robert Sojourner Worlds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written but the story elements get old. Even the title gets old when one person early on in the book says they don't conduct "sacred medicine," so each time it is restated, my mind immediately goes back to that moment. At most, the book is a story of how hubris looks when going on a "global" trip to certain healers she heard of (Africa is mentioned passingly a few times and addressed as one paraphrased folktale.) Doesn't feel like much research was done regarding the premise, more of a reaction to feelings and justified later. The grand realization is go to therapy that is respectful to other forms of traditional/metaphysical practices.

[Sam With Veggies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really lovely book with lots of very ‘out-there’ concepts through the lens of an MD. I appreciated the repetitive reminder that energetic medicine is not a substitute for contemporary medicine, but a complimentary method, needed to fill the gaps of what modern day science misses.

[Leifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much appreciated the chapter on trauma. It was eye-opening. I had a hard time connecting with much of this. She has a foot clearly planted in the medical health care system, still. I lost track of the number of times she suggested that a listener “titrate” between two options.

[Mya Longacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most profoundly impactful reads of my life, & has forever expanded my awareness physically, professionally, and spiritually. This book is a gift to all those who have been wishing and seeking to heal for a long time, thank you Lissa 🤍

[Miles Row]

Difficult to rate as potentially worth listening to for those already interested in the eclectic spiritual complementary medicine so I was not intended audience but did also highlight some issues within the complementary medicine world so better than some self help books.

[Arash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved her previous book, Mind Over Medicine, and thought this book would be similarly engaging. I found it to be an ok read. Nothing spectacular and there were some interesting takeaways but it wasn't nearly as successful as her other book.

[Rebekah Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to everyone looking into holistic healing. It is such a wonderful resource book, so many different styles, exercises and techniques in it.

[Valerie Mahaffey · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the treasures I enjoyed:

These four horsemen may also be riding the steed of inflammation:
Diabetes
Coronary artery disease
Cancer
Alzheimer’s

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely made me think about trauma and healing in a completely different way. It's a good place to start if you've been to therapy and taken medications and still have the same issues.

[Lisa]

audiobk

Found part two to be especially valuable for my developing practice