Nine ways to body wisdom: blending natural therapies to nourish the body, emotions, and soul,
by Jennifer Harper, ND, PhD, Msc
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 London: Thorsons/HarperCollins 1997, 2000. 324 pp. 13 pp resources 5 pp suggested reading $16.99 £9.99 In a very readable and user-friendly style, this unusual book offers many suggestions for health and healing within the frameworks of Chinese medicine, augmented with other complementary/ alternative therapies. For instance, in Chinese medicine various elements and organs are associated with emotions. The Earth Element is linked with worry or sympathy; Wood Element with frustration and anger; Fire Element with laughter and joy; Water Element with fear; and Metal Element with grief. Each of us has natural traits and characteristics that incline us towards the spectrum that is typical for one of these elements. Harper provides a questionnaire that allows readers to identify their element.
… There are five emotions, which are connected to the five elements and to the maor yin organs (the liver, heart, spleen, lungs and kidneys). Anger relates to the liver, you to the heart, pensiveness to the spleen, grief to the lungs and fear to the kidneys. Extremes of emotions can have a negative impact on the organs, especially when they are intense or have been suppressed for some time, just as an imbalanced organ can have a profound effect on the state of our emotions. (p. 3)
Life rhythms are important in Chinese medicine because each organ has a two-hour period during the day or night when it is at its maximal activity and greater sensitivity to treatment. Various foods support various organs and energetic processes. Harper simplifies this complex series of relationships with tables that help to identify the various elements related to organs and feelings and their special times of peak energetic activity. Detailed lists of approaches that can help with problems of each organ – as it is associated with its particular Element – help to identify ways for healing. What I find particularly helpful is the attention to both physical and psychological issues that are often interlinked.
Harper’s nine ways to understand and deal with health issues include: nutrition, herbs and spices, exercise, reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, flower remedies, affirmations, and visualizations/ meditations. While the index is amply detailed, I found that by using the table of contents I was able to identify which organs are associated with which elements – within the frameworks of Harper’s discussion - and then explore which of the nine approaches could be helpful for problems with that organ.
This is a rich feast for therapists, augmented with helpful illustrations, resources and references. Those with little familiarity with complementary/ alternative healing may find the wealth of details a bit overwhelming. Patience and persistence, however, may lead readers to remedies and therapies that are helpful and safe.
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