The Cure Within: A History of Mind-Body Medicine Reprint Edition

Professor Harrington provides a masterful synthesis of Mind-Body Medicine. I was a skeptical chemist who spent most of his working life in the midwest before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area. For five years I looked askance at the smorgasbord of alternative healing that flourishes here. Eventually a new wife persuaded me to try acupuncture for tennis elbow. I have not looked back. I claim no miracle cures but do now have the glimmerings of understanding my mind-body as a marvellously inter-connected system with endless possibilities for feedback from every sensory modality. Harrington has great understanding of the mind-body system. The rigor of her approach and the clarity of her writing style make The Cure Within both thought provoking and a delight to read.Lance ReynoldsAlameda, CA

Whenever a first-class scholar, like this one, writes a careful, data-based book, which is at the same time accessible to the intelligent lay person, we must be grateful.This volume tells us much of the history, in the United States, of the various mind-over-body schemes: psychoanalysis, Transcendental Meditation, bio-feedback, Christian Science, and others. Nobody interested in modern American history can afford to ignore this story.But I also found the book profoundly confusing. The author wants to tell us about these movements and how they were received by the public, but she has little interest, it seems, in the truth value behind the claims of these popular movements. Does bio-feedback, for instance, really help in reducing stress ? For that matter, is there such a thing as "stress" in the sense that the proponents of these movements have in mind ? Truth or untruth are things that hold little interest for this author.Harrington generally tells the story of the beginnings of these movements as a series of successes, and then, for some reason, time and again, "things begin to unravel," as she has to state time and again. With all her sympathies for "mind-over-body," sympathies that dominate her "narratives" (a favorite phrase of hers), it turns out, generally, and in stark contrast to her enthusiasms, that things don't work out after all, and it would seem -- though she never says this -- that it's probably best to be cynical about the whole lot of these movements.

This is not a self-help book but an objective analysis of the history of mind-body holism. The author is not overly critical but rather thorough and incisive. I think at heart, Dr. Harrington is a proponent of mind-body holism.

Well documented and fair book. The author does a lot to balance both sides of the issue. Having had 6 orthopedic surgeries in the last two years following an accident, I have managed better with meditation than anything the doctors could offer me. This book and I agree that there are other options out there, and no universal perfect fit, but if you are dissatisfied with care you are getting it is your responsibility to quit complaining and explore your options. It is your body and your life, after all.

The reviews of the book or for nominal but unfortunately over 50% of the book is simply references. I have personally studied mindbody medicine from many years at the #Harvard Medical school in person with Dr. Herbert benson Dr. zinn and his whole staff and have certificates And I have a practitioner of mindbody Madison. It does give a history but I can go to history from the #Harvard Medical school website it’s pretty disappointing it’s not what I expected at all I’m going to pass it on to one of the doctors that I work with but it’s really of no use to me whatsoever. It’s not what I call exquisite riding I expected a more comprehensive overview of things that I didn’t know it didn’t really tell me too much of anything it’s a good book for somebody who wants Rita overview but I would recommend they simply study under masters of mindbody Medicine and maybe even take some of the coursework

I love this book! Anne Harrington offers an insightful and beautifully written history of human effort at healing. She has identified six narratives, which have deep cultural roots, as well as ties to science. These narratives are sometimes intertwined with scientific endeavors, and sometimes they survive simply as part of the popular culture. Anyone interested in mind-body healing will value The Cure Within.

Harrington's book is well researched and provides a wealth of information. Her narrative approach to the history of mind-body issues works better in some places than others. I adopted this book for a senior seminar course on mind, body, health and medicine. The students found it to be a tough read and complained chapters contained too much information. Nevertheless, those who are interested in a historical view of mind-body approaches to healing will find this book a valuable resource.

I was disappointed by the book. It fails to measure up to the importance and promise of its subject, and reflects a narrow viewpoint. It's not too well-written either

The previous review encouraged me to read this book. I was not dissapointed. In fact after having read this thought provoking and fascinating study of mind-body medicine and it's historical roots I would suggest this should be essential reading for any fledgling or experienced therapist or complementary practitioner and academic in these fields. The reason? Well the book revolves around a number of central narrative themes or 'stories' and elegantly unpacks the historical background, evidence base and assumptions folded into the tropes. Certainly the book invites you to critically evaluate and 'think' about concepts that are often uncritically 'taken for granted' and unquestioned. Anne Harrington takes you on a refreshing journey through the concept of 'suggestion' and it's developments and origins through Exorcism, Mesmerism and Hypnosis in the first chapter...old ground I know but having read heavily in this field the author provides a fresh touch and explores the development of the 'placebo'. The second chapter is an exploration of the hermeneutics of psychoanalysis and the assumptions that 'the body speaks' through it's symptoms. This is followed by a fascinating chapter of 'positive thinking' looking at it's religious christian origins and it's secularisation in the capitalist secular social context of America. Other chapters include the origins and research that led to the belief about the benefits of 'social support' and 'community' for mental and physical well-being, the development of research that 'fuelled' the modern concept of 'stress' and it's dissemination into popular and social culture and lastly 'journey to the east' traverses the influence of Transcendental Meditation, Qigong and other 'oriental' practices including the current vogue for 'mindfulness' and western courtship with the Dalai Lama.It's a great book that gently and thoughtfully explores the religious background to many of these secularised western therapy beliefs and the resulting assumptions that have become part of the general discourse and language of health, therapy and 'healing' and the role of 'self help' books and other popular media in promoting these ideas. In addition the book provides a selective critical evaluation of the research that was used as a platform for these ideas.

本書は、心理学や精神医学でも、特に、「心身医学（Psychosomatic Medicine）」に興味を持つ読者向けの良書で、一般書というより、学術書です。心身医学が成立する過程が、フロイトをはじめ先人達の知見を交えながら体系的に、わかりやすく解説されています。際だっているのは、現在、医学で興隆している「陽性心理学（Positive psychology）と健康」のトピックを、”霊性・宗教性（Spirituality/Religiosity）”との兼ね合いから、中立・公正にまとめており、「心身相関」を研究する専門家なら必読の書と言えます。

Good references. Confirmed much of the stuff I've read in the past Didn't get any new revelations. Be ideal as a first read for someone wanting to strengthen their mind to deal with health issues