Dr. Howenstine breaks down his book into specific sections -- the first chapters discuss how certain foods and additives have affected our body's health. The remaining chapters discuss common diseases/ailments and holistic approaches to dealing with them. Topics covered include immune illnesses, heart disease, malignancies, mental disorders and men's/women's health issues. The final chapter deals with how to take natural products effectively. Throughout the book, Dr. Howenstine cites some interesting ancedotes from his personal practice to back his claims. He also suggests some great holistic alternatives to medicine, conveniently offering several companies which sell the products, including his own company, Natural Health Team.

I was intrigued by many of Dr. Howenstine's insights and was alarmed over how much our society is rife with harmful, overprocessed food. ("Nearly everything in a can, box, bottle or package has artifical fat and sugar.") Since reading his book, I have switched from using margarine to butter (the chemical contents of margarine are like a chemistry experiment gone awry), cut back on frozen convenience foods and take daily Flax Seed oil supplements.

The one downfall to this book is its editing. The book isn't as cohesive as it could be -- at times it jumps from subject to subject without solid transitions, making it a choppy read. Moreover, I wanted to read some of the literature Dr. Howenstine used in his research and was disappointed to find the lack of a bibligraphy or works cited section at the end of the book. However, the information Dr. Howenstine conveyed in his book was interesting enough for me to overlook the book's editorial flaws.

Overall, "A Physician's Guide" is good for someone wanting a crash course in the primary diseases/ailments today, and what you can do to prevent or mitigate them from a sound holistic perspective. Tired of the medical industry pumping drugs through our veins to solve everything, I found this book to be a refreshing alternative.

18 of 18 found the following review helpful:

A Spectacular Investment in Good Health  Jan 08, 2004
By Thomas Smith
Submitted by: Thomas Smith, author of the book: Insulin Our Silent Killer.

Dr.James Howenstine's new best seller A Physicians Guide to Natural Health Care Products That Work is a spectacular investment in good health. Every page is loaded with scientific insight on exactly how the body works and precisely what is wrong and what to do about it when it doesn't work right. From the clear cause and effect tie-in between abortion and cancer, to the obesity-CLA deficiency connection, to a thorough scientific discussion of the vaccination issue, this book is loaded with eminently workable insights to staying healthy in a world that is chronically ill.

The book is information rich and contains an extensive indexing system to facilitate
the rapid recovery of information when it is needed. The table of drug induced nutritional deficiencies is a gem. Suggestions on ways to take natural products is the sort of classic good medicine we'd like to always find when we visit the doctor. All along the way, Dr. Howenstine provides not only the name and explanation of the natural products needed to restore a myriad of health disorders, but also provides two alternate suppliers for the product, along with insight to how to buy it without being deceived.

Dr. Howenstine writes in plain English for the intelligent layman. He avoids the medical language constructs that often effectively prevent many laymen from doing their own research. Where technical medical terms are unavoidable, Dr. Howenstine takes great pains to make them abundantly clear. His thirty four years of clinical experience, together with his compassion for the sick, shine through his recounting of examples from his many case histories. This book, far from merely finding a place in my library, has quickly become one of my most valued references.

16 of 17 found the following review helpful:

Review on "A Physician's Guide to Natural Health"  Dec 14, 2002
By Harvey Lifsey, Ph. D.
Here is the premier book on natural solutions for major health problems. Encyclodedic information in everyday language has clear and simple guidelines for using nature's own products that help to both cure problems and maintain optimum health. An invaluable resource book that should be in every home library.

12 of 12 found the following review helpful:

Overlook the minor editing glitches - It's worth it!  Oct 20, 2004
By L. A. Wolfskill
Minor editing issues notwithstanding, this book has a place in my "ready reference" section. I keep coming back to it. Read it straight through cover to cover, then go back with a highlighter to the sections that currently impact your life. Then later, you'll be back in a new section, with the same highlighter! It's that useful.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

GET THE NEW "2ND" EDITION, NOT THIS ONE!  May 02, 2010
By Windy Dankoff "solar power pioneer & educator"
Dr. Howenstine a fine author and authority but this first edition should be removed because it's outdated. You'll find the newer edition here on Amazon, twice the length, updated and expanded. Don't buy this one by mistake.

See all 13 customer reviews on Amazon.com