In her newest book, Life is Your Best Medicine, Dr. Low Dog writes “the power to experience vitality and well-being lies within each of us. True healing can only be found in the way we live our lives.” She cites research that shows if Americans embraced a healthier lifestyle – including a balance of rest and exercise, wholesome nutrition, healthy weight, positive social interactions and stress management – 93 percent of diabetes, 81 percent of heart attacks, 50 percent of strokes, and 36 percent of all cancers could be prevented.
“The biggest health challenge facing us today is trying to figure out how to live a balanced life – one that is resilient during change. Resilient people are able to gather their strength and resources to overcome adversity. We’re most able to do this when we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually nourished” she writes.
Her science-based, and spiritually inspiring book, imparts Dr Low Dog’s tried-and-true wisdom for creating health, healing and wholeness at all stages of a woman’s life. Writing authoritatively, and passionately, Low Dog blends her personal stories about life, well-being, and healing with practical, hands-on ways to improve one’s health based on traditional practices and cutting-edge science. From stress reducing exercises and tips on how to get the best night’s sleep, to the healing power of pets, art, humor, touch and social connections, she shows how every aspect of one’s life forms the medicine one needs to thrive.
The book is divided into four parts. Part One, “The Medicine of My Life,” tells Low Dog’s powerful, personal story, from her childhood coping with dyslexia to her first jobs as a leatherworker, a tae kwon do instructor and a herbalist to her becoming a medical doctor and now fellowship director at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Part Two, “Honoring the Body,” highlights the benefits of correct breathing, a proper diet, exercise, sleep and herbal medicine. In Part Three, “Awakening the Senses,” she shares the importance of touch; how to maintain eye health; how to enhance smell, taste and hearing; ways to experience nature; which plants best engage one’s senses; and the healing power of music. Part Four, “Listening to the Spirit,” focuses on humor, relationships, forgiveness, animals, play, meditation and resiliency. Throughout the book, she stresses the importance of treating the body as well as the mind — using both conventional medicine and alternative remedies — as she offers tools, tips and advice on healthy living and maintaining balance and harmony in one’s life.
Dr. Andrew Weil, who has written a foreward for Dr. Low Dog’s book writes “Life is Your Best Medicine” is not only a comprehensive and highly practical guide for women seeking optimal health, it is also Tieraona’s own life story, sparkling with the wisdom she has drawn from it. Women need special guidance about maintaining health as they journey through life. They need to know about effects of lifestyle choices, the influence of diet on disease risks, the importance of regular physical activity, and ways to protect their bodies and minds from the harmful effects of stress. They also need to know when and how to use preventive medical services, when to seek help from conventional doctors, when alternative treatments and natural remedies may be appropriate. This book answers those needs. I can think of no one better qualified [than Low Dog] to guide women to health, healing, and wholeness at any age.”
