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Sacred Medicine

Written by: Lissa Rankin MD, Dr. Gabor Maté - foreword
Narrated by: Subhadra Newton
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Publisher's Summary

Sacred Medicine is a book of inclusion. It does not prescribe nor preach nor proselytize: it illustrates, informs, and illuminates.” —From the foreword by Dr. Gabor Maté, author of When the Body Says No and In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

In 2007, Lissa Rankin left a promising career in medicine to tend to her own health and well-being. Her search to discover why people really get sick and what truly optimizes health outcomes launched a bestselling book, two television specials, and a revolution in the way we look at mind-body medicine. But so many questions remained for this doctor and skeptic. How is it that some people do everything right and stay sick, while others seem to do nothing extraordinary yet fully recover? How does faith healing work—or does it? What’s behind the phenomenon of spontaneous remission—and is this something we can influence? Can we make ourselves miracle-prone?

Certain that, if she looked hard enough, she would find the answers, Dr. Rankin embarked on a decade-long journey to explore these questions and more. The result is Sacred Medicine, both a seeker’s travelogue and a discerning guide to the sometimes-perilous paths available to patients when wellness fads, lifestyle changes, and doctors have failed them.

In Sacred Medicine, you’ll follow Dr. Rankin around the world to meet healers gifted and flawed, go on pilgrimage to sacred sites, investigate the science of healing, and learn how to stay safe when seeking a healer. You’ll receive the wisdom offered by Indigenous cultures for whom healing begins with our sacred connection to Mother Earth, and dive deep into the cutting-edge trauma research that is igniting a medical revolution. Rich with practices and protocols that Dr. Rankin has found particularly effective, Sacred Medicine delivers a thoughtful, grounded exploration of questions around how we heal—and a path of hope for those in need.

©2022 Lissa Rankin (P)2022 Sounds True

What the critics say

Sacred Medicine is a must-read for anyone who respects the importance of conventional medicine and also wants to dive in to the transformative possibilities of emotional and spiritual healing. Dr. Rankin’s healthy dose of skepticism and careful eye for safety make her the perfect guide to introduce the reader to a wide array of healing theories and practices.” —Kelly A. Turner, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Radical Hope and Radical Remission

“Sacred Medicine delivers on the promise of its title, and more. As a wellness advocate who believes that there is no separation between healing and justice, I was delighted to read every one of Lissa Rankin’s words. She has managed to honor both the sacred and the science while illuminating the truth that the two are inextricably linked. Themes of curiosity, compassion, and justice artfully weave throughout the pages in a way that compels the reader to see community as a foundational element of healing. I am so grateful for this expansive, intentional, and incredibly well-researched and well-experienced text on medicine. Brava!” —Rebekah Borucki, mother, author, publisher, advocate

Sacred Medicine takes you on an exciting tour of nontraditional approaches to healing through the eyes of a traditionally trained physician who also carries the heart of a spiritually evolved guide. Ancient and modern healing practices are submitted to the rigors of rational, scientific thought and tapped for their inherent utility and sacred wisdom. Ultimately, you will be the beneficiary of this unique exploration as you navigate your own way through your culture’s confusion about healing and spiritual development.” —Donna Eden and David Feinstein, PhD, coauthors of Energy Medicine

What listeners say about Sacred Medicine

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So much wisdom

I will listen more than once - I have learned so much from it - thank you

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Worth the listen

Will certainly listen again as there is a lot to digest.

Biggest complaint was when I preordered the audio I thought it was narrated by Lissa, but was not. I definitely prefer when an author reads their own work- especially with such an important topic!

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Very disappointing

I approached this book with a great deal of enthusiasm. So enthusiastic that I recommended friends buy it before I read it based on a podcast by Sounds True.

Once I read it I regret it. It is a book that rambles and is boring. It is mostly autobiographically filled with her personal experiences.

She wrote a whole book to make one simple point - more important than the treatment techniques of a doctor is the quality of their care and kind relation to the patient. The rest of the book was just babble to make that one point.

For me, the worst part is when she writes about sexual exploitation by healers and tells the listener they may want to skip the chapter as it can be disturbing. There really was no credible reason to spend a whole chapter on sexual exploitation that can only be titillating for some people and disturbing to others.

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