Dr. Judith Orloff's Guide to Intuitive Healing: Five Steps to Physical, Emotional and Sexual Wellness

While holistic medicine has recently gained wider acceptance and inspired a slew of books, rarely has it been examined so thoughtfully and engagingly. Orloff, a psychiatrist, ""practicing intuitive"" and author of the memoir Second Sight, approaches her medical practice with unusual insight into human nature. Defining healing much more broadly than the eradication of illness or temporary avoidance of death, Orloff optimistically sees the future of medicine as ""a holistic art and science"" in which ""intuition, spirit and technology will be seamlessly integrated."" Revealing more of her personal experiences than many professional authors, she offers a clear, detailed manual for tapping one's intuition, which she variously characterizes as ""a potent form of inner wisdom,"" ""a still, small voice inside"" and ""a truth-teller committed to our well-being."" To assist readers in developing and maintaining their physical, emotional and sexual health, Orloff presents five steps: ""Notice your beliefs, be in your body, sense your body's subtle energy, ask for guidance and listen to your dreams."" Although she repeats this five-step process in every chapter, she manages to maintain a fresh, vital discussion throughout. With her frank treatment of such topics as death and sexuality, Orloff will no doubt win over many new fans. Agent, Richard Pine. 15-city author tour. (Mar.)