Updated: October 13th, 2020

Ready for greater knowledge, health, and wellbeing in 2016? Thanks to fantastic recommendations from MUIH faculty, we’ve put together this comprehensive reading list for students, practitioners, and community members on topics that range from gut health to herbal medicine to personal memoir and more. So grab some herbal tea, a warm blanket, and make yourself comfy because you might not want to put these books down.

 Joy Andrews

Eating on the Wild Side. The Missing Link to Optimum Health by Jo Robinson

“Learn how the Agricultural Revolution, which brought an end to a more Paleolithic diet, has contributed to a less nutrient-dense and flavorful diet. This book is also a practical guide for selecting the most nutritious varieties of a wide range of fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them so as to maximize their phytonutrient and micronutrient content.” – Mary Fry, N.D.

 

 Rachel Brumberger

 

The Expressiveness of the Body and the Divergence of Greek and Chinese Medicine by Shigehisa Kuriyama

“This book presents two very different views of body. One a body composed of muscles and fascia and the other composed of meridians. It then describes the unique sensory skills used by Chinese physicians to discern health and disease in the body by reading the most subtle cues: to see, to hear, to ask, to feel. Whereas a western physician might check blood pressure and cholesterol, a Chinese physician would look for the color of the face, the sound of the voice, the feel of the pulse and make very fine distinctions.” – Jane Grissmer, M.Ac. (UK), Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)

 Clark Mollenhoff

Clark Mollenhoff

 

Gut Balance Revolution by Gerard E. Mullin and Gutbliss by Robynne Chutkan

“Much of the most interesting research in the field of nutrition is in an area I love: How food affects our overall health and wellbeing through how well our digestive system functions. Gut Balance Revolution and Gutbliss are books that take the most current research in this field and turn it into practical programs that you can use. As far as self-help books, these two, written by integrative gastroenterologists are really tops. If you have brain fog, wish you had more energy, would like to lose weight, have auto-immune issues, or digestive conditions, these books can be really helpful.” – Liz Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, CHN, CNS

 

Staying Healthy With the Seasons by Elson M. Haas

“I think the book does a good job of highlighting that nature is constantly changing in accordance with the cycle of seasons and that our health is optimized by adjusting our lifestyle (food choices, rest, etc.) accordingly. The book gives practical tips on how we can adjust our lifestyles to best align with the seasons.” – Jeffery Millison, M.A., M.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)

 

 Plants and the Human Brain by David Kennedy

“The release of Plants and the human brain has elevated the state of knowledge on the effects of herbs on cognition and brain behavior in general. First of all it provides excellent overviews of the major groups of plant constituents, but in addition it addresses the topic of coevolution of humans and plants, also emphasizing the role of insects in this relationship. This links the roles of common plant constituents, both in the environment and when used therapeutically.” – Michael Tims, Ph.D.

 

Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar

“Sometimes the simplicity of a great book lives in its deep soul, as in this book by Rosemary Gladstar, one of the greatest authors in modern American Herbalism. Perfect for a beginner to herbalism, packed with recipes and practical household uses of herbs, it’s also a wealth of information for even the most experienced herbalist or practitioner. I drank in this book deeply and found many new tips, applications of herbs, and sources of inspiration. Best of all, it’s less than $10!” – Bevin Clare, M.S., R.H., CNS

 

 

Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine by Harriet Beinfield and Efrem Korngold

“This is a great introductory and easy to read book appropriate for anyone interested in AOM, either as a patient or potential practitioner.” – Janet Padgett, Ph.D, M.Ac., Dipl.Ac.(NCCAOM)

 

  Health Promotion Programs: From Theory to Practice by SOPHE, Carl Fertman & Diane D. Allensworth

“This book is put out by the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), an organization which promotes healthy behaviors, healthy communities, and healthy environments through its membership, local chapters, and partnerships along with two experts in the field. It really is the essential book to read for all students who are interested in pursuing health promotion and health education in all its different forms and formats.” – Claudia Joy Wingo, MPH, PGDipTropMed, BSN, RN, DMH, MNHAA, CN

 

 

 

Waking by Matthew Sanford

Waking is Matthew Sanford’s moving personal story of loss, life, and transcendence. Paralyzed at the age of 13, he shares the details of his journey through the medical system and how yoga offered a connection to his body that he thought was lost.” – Lynne Valdes, M.S., E-RYT 500

 

  Whole Detox: A 21 Day Personalized Program to break through barriers in every area of your lifeby Deanna Minich, PhD. (available for pre-order; release date is March 8, 2016)

“Deanna Minich teaches as an adjunct faculty member at MUIH in our nutrition program. I consider her to be THE expert on detoxification. In this brand new book, she takes a whole person approach to help us explore our toxicity in our own lives. This includes poor food choices, everyday chemicals in our environment, toxic belief systems that limit us, toxic relationships and more. Then she provides a 21-day program to help us shed what is blocking our physiology and emotions and helps us to embrace a more healthful way of being.” – Liz Lipski, Ph.D., CCN, CHN, CNS

 

  The Wild Medicine Solution: Healing with Aromatic, Bitter, and Tonic Plants by Guido Mase

“Blending traditional herbal medicine with history, mythology, clinical practice, and recent findings in physiology and biochemistry, herbalist Guido Masé explains how bitter plants ignite digestion, balance blood sugar, buffer toxicity, and improve metabolism; how tonic plants normalize the functions of our cells and nourish the immune system; and how aromatic plants relax tense organs, nerves, and muscles and stimulate sluggish systems. Offering examples of ancient and modern uses of wild plants in each of the 3 classes, he provides easy recipes to integrate them into meals as seasonings and as central ingredients in soups, stocks, salads, and grain dishes as well as including formulas for teas, spirits, and tinctures.” – Michael Tims, Ph.D.

 

  Archetypal Acupuncture: Healing with the Five Elements by Gary Dolowich

“Dolowich uses a wide variety of archetypal images to educate his audience about the Five Elements. Because the images speak to a deep part of us, they cut through our habituated mental constructs and enable us to see our selves and our circumstances in a new way. This empowers what Five Element practitioners refer to as the “art of living.” – Celeste Homan, M.S., M.Ac., L.Ac.