A colleague of mine left this book lying around at the hospital. Since it was a slow night, and I happened to be looking after a patient whose primary physician was a naturopath, I thought I would take a look. It took me most of the night to get through the book, and I came away from it with strong feelings, and I thought I would share some of them with you.

I should probably make you aware that I come to this book with the background of being a critical care nurse in a traditional medical hospital. While I am hugely in favor of people taking care of their bodies and being good to themselves, I have no personal experience of naturopathy in the environment in which I work. I am, however, extremely, indeed intimately familiar with almost all of the diseases and ailments that Trudeau presents in this book.

This book is loosely based on the principles of naturopathy. Naturopathy is a philosophy of care and health maintenance which seeks to use organic therapies to entrain the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Naturopaths believe that we are born in perfect health, and deteriorate only when living out of step with natures principles. Indeed, naturopaths believe that even if you are not born with perfect health, by harnessing natures own therapeutic potential you can overcome any morbidity.

It is important to understand something at this point regarding the author. It may be the case that you are approaching this book because you are attracted to the naturopathic philosophy. If that is the case, you should be aware that the author has no qualifications as a naturopathic practitioner.

In the United States, Naturopathic Physicians must complete a four year post graduate training program during which they are educated in all the same science principles as traditional physicians, but their training includes a much greater emphasis on such multidisciplinary aspects as acupuncture, holistic medicine, homeopathic medicine and psychology. They are licensed and governed and disciplined by an elected professional body of their peers, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Trudeau has no association with this body, no qualifications, and thus, no particular recognizable claim to expertise in naturopathic healthcare, something you may have been led to believe was otherwise.

This said, what is the content of this book? Firstly, Trudeau begins by giving the reader an introduction to the basic principles of naturopathy, and illustrations of some of its techniques. This includes such practices as fasting, colonics, and mud baths and more. I feel that you may read the material in this first introductory section for your own interest, but as a healthcare practitioner I can tell you most resolutely that you should under no circumstances consider doing some of these things to yourself without some serious forethought, particularly if you have health problems. An example is given for example of a wet cold wrap, wrapping the entire body in a cold sheet. Ever seen a sick person wrapped in a cold sheet? Ever wrap your children in a cold sheet when they were sick? Of course you haven’t. It shuts down the circulation tight as a fist. Its grossly uncomfortable. Etc etc. This was one of the first examples that I could see in this book that could plainly cause as much harm as good.

Trudeau is in my opinion irresponsible in telling people to do these things. Another example that shocked me was the advice that the administration (self-administration? There is certainly no caveat to seek out a professional) of cold water enemas is beneficial.

I will tell you right here and right now, the most likely outcome of a cold water enema is a vaso-vagal response, a crashing reduction in the heart rate and then blood pressure. Should you have undiagnosed cardiac disease, or poor cerebral circulation, this could cost you your life.

So much for the introduction.

The body of the book, discussion of therapies and more so the ills of modern medicine (no pun intended) is likewise riddled with strange advice, philosophical contradictions and illogical conclusions.

Consider the attitude consistently displayed toward traditional medicine by the author. It is apparently his opinion, odd and extreme as it seems that the FDA is in fact conspiring to prevent the simplest natural cures to become prevalent amongst the public because they don’t make any money for them.

I am not a member of the FDA, and have no connection with it. But I will tell you this. I work in a medical hospital using high technology, lots of medicines, and lots of machines, all things that Trudeau says are a self-perpetuating system. I am surrounded by other healthcare providers, physicians and therapists. I think I am a fairly good judge of character. I don’t know anyone who went into this trade, or is currently in it, simply to make money. Expressly, and most importantly, I don’t know anyone in this trade who wouldn’t wish that cures could be found for all the diseases we see every day.

The problem with placing oneself, as Trudeau seems to do, on only one side of an argument (in his case, “medicine is bad, and medical care is a conspiracy”) is that one fails to notice that the people on the other side of the argument (medical staff, FDA board etc) also have wives, children, uncles aunts and friends who get sick and die of the very same diseases! Does he seriously suppose…indeed, could anyone seriously suppose that anyone would work in perpetuation of a system that would accelerate their own demise knowingly??

Where am I going with this? This is not, I promise you, a rant. The point I am reaching toward is this. The answer is a big “No” to the question I ask at the end of the last paragraph. For Trudeau included. Thus, this book must be a disingenuous manipulation, a fabricated confabulation. A money spinning attempt to get the many people who would be driven to buy such a sensationalistic book to cough up the necessary dough.

There are no wonder cures in this book. There are some wonderful fantasies in this book. Consider that the author advises the reader at one point to come to his web site (indeed this invitation is extended a startling number of times) where they can buy a kit to test their body’s pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity.) Don’t bother, I’m going to save you ten dollars right now. I confidently inform you, dear reader, your body's pH is between 7.35 and 7.45. What am I, a magician? The fact is, every normal person has a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. If you didn’t, there would be no way on Earth you would be sitting comfortably reading reviews of this length on Epinions…the first time you could get enough breath together, you’d be telling someone you felt really really sick and what should you do about it. If you’re lucky they will call a physician (of any licensed kind!)

The author constantly says that organized Western medicine is a sham and a terrible thing, but also consistently quotes studies from top US medical schools to support his own arguments.

One last Gem before I tire of trolling through this sewage…….I have a prediction for you……Trudeau, despite all the spouting he does about naturopathy, smokes. Why do I predict this? Here is a line from the section on arteriosclerotic disease…naturally this is after the part where he says Western medicine is sucky.

”Smoking, if habitual, should be given up”

If habitual??!

I rest my case against this hypocritical clown. I would happily spit in his face. He could stand right next to the jerks who feed on the bereaved by pretending to hear the dead.

Save yourself some money and some grief, and exercise three times a week and wait for the rest of the changes to spring naturally into your newly invigorated mind. If you see Trudeau coming, consider what I have said for at least a moment while you look into his eyes.


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