Mental Health, Naturally The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body by Kathi J. Kemper, MD, MPH, FAAP

Mental Health, Naturally The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body by Kathi J. Kemper, MD, MPH, FAAP

Kathi J. Kemper writes an overview of different actions a person can take to maintain physical and mental health. Her book is very practical. She reminds us to get enough sleep, exercise for 45 minutes to an hour every single day, take a complete vitamin and mineral supplement, reduce exposure to environmental toxins like lead, mercury, and pesticides, eat a healthy diet consisting of mainly plants, and actively seek ways to reduce stress.

The sections on relieving stress and communication give many suggestions on how take care of yourself. For example, there are numerous short meditative exercises and examples on how to talk to yourself positively. She also describes how prayer, music, and art improve mental health. The descriptions were basic and exact.

The book has sections on alternative medicine. Kathi J. Kemper does not automatically endorse different therapies. She describes what the medical research shows on different treatments. There is a section on herbal supplements where she states several of the popular herbal supplements for improving moods are not effective. She also discusses how to use vitamins safely. She cites the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://nccam.nih.gov/  as a reliable source of information on alternative treatments. She also describes the training process for homeopathy and acuptuncture.

As a book on mental health, the author focuses on five different areas; interpersonal communication, stress, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, and depression. She does not attack the medical profession in the book. She reminds people to see a healthcare professional. In the reference section of the book, there are numerous citations from recognized psyhchology, psychiatry, nutrition, pharmacolgy, and alternative medical journals. The book is very much a book on integrative medicine.

I found Mental Health Naturally to be a very easy book to read. It was extensively referenced with lists of professional associations, a bibliography of recommended book titles, an index, and extensive notes for each chapter. It is one of the better books I have read on integrative medicine.
Dr. Kemper is nationally recognized pediatrician, doctor, and specialist in holistic medicine. This is a link to her biography. http://www.wfubmc.edu/Center-for-Integrative-Medicine/Media-Information/Dr--Kathi-J--Kemper.htm

Daily Thoughts 8/9/2010 ( Mental Health Naturally, Geek The Library, Smart Start Ups )

Astronaut Reading

Daily Thoughts 8/9/2010

Today has been a quiet steady day.  Worked on a bookmark, distributed some fliers for the Brown Bag Book Chat, and shifted some holiday books to a new location in the storage area.  I also have the requirements printed up for a Preservation/Conservation grant printed up from New York state.  It is kind of interesting to look at.




I have been looking at a few different programs.  In September, the Women's Enterprise Development Center is coming to do a set of programs on entrepreneurship.  They have come once a year for the last four years.  Also, a gentleman called about doing a program for disabilities law which could be quite interesting.  The schedule for September and October's programming is coming up soon.  I will probably continue doing the Graphic Novels Club which is working out fine.  One of our regular patrons asked me to continue doing a book chat.  He liked it.  The preparation for the literary tea is moving along nicely.




Sometimes, you don't get to finish things.  I'll probably work on the shelf talkers tomorrow.  I also have to look over my ordering for Wednesday's ordering meeting.




Another book came in for me to read, Smart Startups How Entrepreneurs and Corporations Can Profit by Starting Online Communities by David Silver.  I got this through interlibrary loan from a local college.  Nobody had it in the public library system.  I am also looking at Problogger Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six Figure Income, Second Edition by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett.  I read the first edition.  Most of it is very commercial.




This morning, I finished another section of Mental Health Naturally by Kathi J. Kemper.  The focus on this section was different means of reducing stress.  It went over meditation which they described as focusing your awareness with intent.  It is an excellent description.  There were also bits on affirmations, changing the language which you talk to yourself with, listening to music, imagery and biofeedback.  The main focus was how to reduce and limit stress.




In a bit of good news, The Camden, New Jersey Library System may be saved by joining the county system.
http://www.lisnews.org/hope_camden039s_libraries  There seems to be a pattern where there are threats of closures and compromises all over the United States for libraries.




I am reading Smart Startups How Entrepreneurs and Corporations Can Profit by Starting Online Communities by David Silver.  The book describes some new ideas for me to get a grasp on, user generated content is a big one.




Geek The Library is one of the more entertaining library advocacy groups. http://www.geekthelibrary.org/

Daily Thoughts 8/8/2010 ( Copyleft, Mental Health Naturally, Book Review Blog Carnival, Iron Yoga )

Ex libris Siegfried Bresler, tecnica: acquaforte, Titolo: "L'angolo del fotografo", misure, mm.58x62, anno di produzione 1997, autore: carla Fusi. This image is copyleft. Copyleft: This work of art is free; you can redistribute it and/or modify it according to terms of the Free Art License

Daily Thoughts 8/8/2010

I have been reading a little bit more of Mental Health Naturally. The section I am reading right now is on exercises on feeling gratitude, hope, compassion, and other positive emotions.  The book is very much focused on people who want to live a natural lifestyle:  wear natural fibers, be careful about household chemicals, use natural cleaners, eat locally, take vitamin supplements, and practice meditation.




The 49th edition of the Book Review Blog Carnival has been published at Proud Book Nerd.

http://proudbooknerd.com/2010/08/08/introducing-blog-carnival/




I finally got around to buying some 3 pound handweights.  This is for me to try the exercises from the book Iron yoga : combine yoga and strength training for weight loss and total body fitness by Anthony Carillo with Eric Neuhaus.  I had read it earlier.  I am going to read it again.  There is also an Iron Yoga dvd which runs for about an hour which I'll watch.

Daily Thoughts 8/7/2010 (Mental Health Naturally, ebooks, Friend or Follow )

[Men and women in overcoats and hats carry packages while walking through snow], The Bookman, February 1899
Daily Thoughts 8/7/2010

I am reading Mental Health Naturally The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body by Kathi J. Kemper, MD, MPH, FAAP.  The approach of this book is very much complementary medicine using both holistic approaches and contemporary medical approaches.  It reminds us to exercise regularly, sleep for at least seven hours, and eat locally grown food preferably that is organically harvested.  Right now, I am reading about the benefits of taking different vitamins.  The author reminds us that the vitamin industry is not as well regulated as the food industry and claims are not always accurate.  I am finding the book to be fairly practical. One of the reasons I am reviewing this book is that there are not a lot of reviews for books focused on psychological health.




Last night, I tried the website, http://www.friendorfollow.com/ for Twitter which allows you to look at different ways people are following you on twitter.  It helped me identify who I was following me that I wasn't following.




I learned that Dorchester Publisher is going digital for most of its paperbacks.  The article is a little misleading.  It says the paperbacks will now be available for print on demand as well.  This is very much the wave of the future.  The book starts as a digital document, then if you want a hardcopy, you request a printing of it on demand.  It makes sense.  Dorchester makes one of my favorite series, the Hardcase Crime paperback imprint for hardboiled mysteries.  Hopefully we will still be able to get this as print on demand.  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html?mod=wsj_share_twitter




Cherie Priest has a new steampunk novel called Clementine coming out which should be enjoyable.  I liked her last novel, Boneshaker.  The pace of her novels is very fast with lots of action.




Camden New Jersey will be the first library system in the United States to close all its branches. http://networkedblogs.com/6BRxP  It reads like the barbarians at the gates.  We have to sell all the books because they are a fire hazard.