Andrew Weil, M.D. -  8 Weeks to Optimum Health & Spontaneous Healing
Dr. Andrew Weil, a familiar, bearded presence on PBS, presents his plan  to "integrate body, mind, and spirit into a complete and balanced lifestyle" in this lecture filmed before an attentive audience. Weil begins by talking about how a "quality of resilience" can be developed to prevent the body from "being knocked out of balance." According to Weil, the human body has a natural healing system, and a person can take specific steps to support "natural healing." Though some of Weil's ideas may seem odd on the printed page, his presentation of his theory of "integrated medicine" is pleasant and engaging, and he offers a number of analogies and examples of therapies found throughout the world. Given his background in traditional medicine,  including a degree from Harvard Medical School, Weil doesn't exclude traditional treatments, though he stresses constantly that "lifestyle choices" can prevent serious illnesses. Proceeding through a series of weekly lessons, Weil gives advice about physical exercise (citing, for example, an amount of daily walking one should do), diet (recommending specific organic foods and supplements), and "mental-spiritual" advice (such as meditative breathing exercises).  A second feature on the DVD,Spontaneous Healing, consists of further lectures on how the body's natural defenses can be maximized to provide a better quality of life.--Robert J. McNamara