Iscador or Understanding Pain

Iscador: Mistletoe and Cancer Therapy

Author: Christine Murphy

Lantern Books is pleased to present the groundbreaking book, Iscador: Mistletoe and Cancer Therapy, which serves to demystify this eighty-year-old treatment. Shedding light on Iscador, editor Christine Murphy has gathered together some of the work of doctors and clinicians familiar with cancer therapy. Dr. Richard Wagner, a German physician, answers many of the questions about Iscador asked by his patients during his many years of practice as an oncologist in general practice, treating cancer patients with both conventional and alternative therapies. Dr. Thomas Schuerholz, a medical doctor specializing in cancer, offers an overview of the terms, procedures, and different approaches to treating cancer. Ms. Murphy is also the author of Practical Home Care Medicine: A Natural Approach and editor of Lilipoh, a quarterly journal specializing in the anthroposophical approach to health, homeopathy, and naturopathic medicine.

Library Journal

Mistletoe has been used medicinally for centuries for an array of ailments. During the 1920s, Rudolph Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, advocated its use as a cancer preventive. Iscador, as the mistletoe preparation is known, is a licensed drug in Germany and Switzerland, where over half of all cancer patients use it or one of its variations as part of their treatment. Yet it has only recently become known here, in part because actress Suzanne Somers used it to treat her breast cancer. A compilation of mostly previously published works by physicians and clinicians, this work acts as a primer on Iscador, integrative cancer treatment, and anthroposophical medicine. Murphy, who also edits the anthroposophical medicine journal Lilipoh, explains the process of making Iscador and provides an extensive resource section that cancer patients may find especially useful. Because this is the only English-language book on Iscador for the lay reader, it would make a good addition to hospital consumer health collections and larger public library health collections. Valeria Long, Grand Valley State Univ. Lib. at the Van Andel Inst., Grand Rapids, MI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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Understanding Pain: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How It's Managed

Author: Harry J Gould

Most people who suffer from chronic pain assume it's something they must simply learn to live with, but this is just not true. Most pain can be managed or greatly reduced with proper pain management, but the reality is that most pain goes untreated, under-treated, or improperly treated. With proper management, the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of millions of Americans can be improved. Chronic Pain is an essential resource for those who experience the problem and want to better understand the pain they live with each day. Written in layman's terms, this detailed guide explains how pain is perceived; helps patients evaluate and organize information about their symptoms; explores alternative, pharmacological, and invasive treatments; and much more. The book helps patients understand the multifaceted nature of pain and the range of treatment options available, enabling them to communicate more effectively with doctors and other healthcare providers.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Jennifer E Tyrrell, BScN, MN(The Hospital for Sick Children)
Description:This is a guide to help patients and families understand pain. Among the unique characteristics of the book are the suggestions on how to give a complete pain history to a healthcare provider and the emphasis on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, often forgotten in guides/books aimed at patients and families.
Purpose:The purpose is to help the reader develop a framework for understanding pain and become better prepared to manage the life changes associated with pain. This is a worthy objective as everyone will experience pain at some point in his lifetime. The topics in the guide meet the stated objectives well.
Audience:According to the author, the intended audience includes patients and families experiencing or affected by pain. My only concern is that the reading level is too high for the audience. The language and level of detail (e.g., anatomy and physiology) are more appropriate for a healthcare practitioner or highly educated patient/family member (college level).
Features:The book covers many facets of pain management that are important for patients and families to know. However, the design is not innovative and includes a minimal amount of illustrations. The glossary is comprehensive and the list of resources is excellent for patients and families who would like more information.
Assessment:Overall, the book meets a need for many patients and families struggling to deal with this very common condition. I am just concerned that the language and amount of information might be overwhelming for some.