Optimal Wellness

Prevention and self-care are the watchwords for this hefty health manual by a Seattle physician whose practice combines conventional and alternative medicine. Golan examines the underlying causes of chronic ailments, which he dubs the Ten Common Denominators of Illness. Dietary hazards and nutritional deficiencies receive the greatest attention; most of the other sources of illness he lists are also diet-related, e.g., toxic bowel, food allergies. In another section, he offers an alphabetical list of 100 common ailments from abscesses to water retention, identifying symptoms, common causes and suggested treatments and preventive measures for each. While approaches to wellness occasionally include conventional medical treatment, most are recommendations for dietary changes, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. Although Golan, who teaches naturopathic medicine, slights other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic and massage, his holistic approach will appeal to those frustrated by the disease-oriented approach of conventional medicine. (Nov.)