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interview with Alan Smith

UnBreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Therapies

Alan E. Smith
Loving Healing Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690361
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/08)

RebeccasReads welcomes Alan Smith, who is going to tell us all about his new book “UnBreak Your Health: The Complete Guide to Complementary & Alternative Therapies.”

Alan Smith’s new book “UnBreak Your Health” is the result of his own medical odyssey in trying to find answers to his own poor health. When even the Mayo Clinic could not help him, he turned to alternative therapies. The success these therapies had on his own health led him to begin cataloguing therapies and eventually compiling them in his new book.



RR:  Wow, Alan. What an exciting result from what must have been a frustrating ordeal. Will you tell us more about what your own health problems were and the difficulties you had in finding a successful treatment?

Alan:  I dislike “organ recitals” meaning running down all of my health problems, but let’s just say it’s one of the many chronic problems that doctors really can’t fix. My particular issue was digestive and in hindsight it was probably caused by more than 20 years of travel combined with the stress of working in a dying industry for too long. It’s not a question of what happens to us in life, it’s how we react that matters. In my case there were subconscious beliefs about work that weren’t helping me at that time. I discovered the PSYCH-K process that provides for direct communication with the subconscious and a way to reprogram subconscious beliefs easily. In my case that helped a lot and got me going in a healthier direction for the first time in years.

RR:  When the medical community could not help you, what event happened to lead you to alternative therapies?

Alan:  After days of testing at Mayo I was told, “We have good news and bad news. The good news is it isn’t going to kill you. The bad news is you aren’t going to like it, and there isn’t anything we can do about it.” I kept waiting for the drum roll and a punch line, but there wasn’t one. When you run out of options you become very, very interested in ANY alternative! Unfortunately most of us wait until we’ve run out of options before discovering all of the wonderful therapies available today.

Fortunately I ran across Bruce Lipton’s book “Biology of Belief” which shows with the latest scientific research that the energy of our thoughts, feelings and beliefs directly impacts our cells. From Bruce I learned about the PSYCH-K process to communicate with the subconscious and reprogram harmful beliefs, in my case dealing with work. One step leads to another and suddenly you’re getting better.

RR: What exactly is defined as an “alternative therapy”?

Alan:  Technically an alternative therapy is one that replaces traditional or mainstream medicine. In contrast, a complementary therapy is one that is used to supplement or complement regular medical treatment. What’s challenging is that the same therapy can be both complementary and alternative depending on the patient and the doctor. The same doctor may even recommend the same therapy be used with his medical recommendations or in place of, depending on the patient’s situation.  It can get very confusing.

RR:  The book also includes “complementary” therapies? Will you give us some examples of these—are they therapies to be used in addition to traditional medicine?

Alan: Every therapy in “UnBreak Your Health” will work for someone, and nothing in the book will work for everyone. Most of the therapies in the book can be used in a variety of situations depending on the person involved.

RR:  Will you explain more about PSYCH-K and how it provides communication with the unconscious to reprogram subconscious beliefs?

Alan: PSYCH-K, originally called psychological kinesiology, is based on muscle-testing. It’s similar to how a polygraph machine determines when you’re lying by uncontrolled physical responses. With PSYCH-K you normally extend your arm to the side and the facilitator presses down lightly on your wrist immediately after you repeat a belief statement. If your conscious and subconscious minds agree, then the nerves and muscles all work normally and your arm stays strong. However if the subconscious disagrees, then there is a momentary hesitation in the nerve response rate which produces a weakness for a second or two so when the arm is pushed on gently it unlocks or goes down easily. It’s only a binary or yes-no communication but it lets us get directly in touch with the subconscious. It’s amazing how our fundamental beliefs in the conscious and subconscious can be so different; no wonder there are conflicts!

There are several basic types of “balances” that PSYCH-K uses to reprogram the subconscious beliefs to support our best life; it depends on the situation. What’s important is that even after a problem belief is isolated, the facilitator still must ask for permission and commitment from your subconscious before beginning a balance. In fact the subconscious even selects the type of balance to use! Unlike some other therapies like hypnosis that simply puts information into your mind, PSYCH-K is a process that works with your mind so it’s a very safe technique.

RR:  How do alternative therapies fit in with PSYCH-K, or is PSYCH-K itself a type of alternative therapy?

Alan:  Once again, PSYCH-K can be a complementary process meaning it’s used in combination with regular therapy or it can be an alternative treatment meaning it’s used in place of traditional therapy. It can be used with almost any other type of therapy because of the required safety protocol.

RR: Alan, I was amazed to read in the introduction to “Unbreak Your Health” that half of Americans, as of 2002, have turned to alternative therapies? Why this growing trend?

Alan:  It’s very simple, because they work, and probably also because people are beginning to wake up to the dangers of prescription drugs. Complementary and alternative therapies, or CAM as we call it, have been around for decades, sometimes even hundreds or thousands of years. Most have been developed by trial and error until they found what worked. They wouldn’t last so long if they weren’t helping people. They’re also more safe than trying the latest prescription drug that may well turn up in the headlines later.

RR:  Why are alternative therapies more safe than prescription drugs, or rather, why might prescription drugs be more dangerous?

Alan: As you’ve probably read in the newspaper lately, not all of the drug trials are included in the peer journals. The public, the FDA, doctors, we’ve all been working under the mistaken belief that the drug companies were honorable folks who presented all information because they were dealing with the health of human beings. Now we’re discovering that they’re in business to make a profit. They slant and skew information in their favor, even blatantly omitting anything negative, in order to sell more drugs.

You may have heard that the drug companies spend $5 billion a year advertising directly to consumers; we’re one of only two countries in the world that allow it. But they spend four times that amount, nearly $20 billion every year, to influence doctors directly.

I’ve had several pharmacists admit they had no clue about the interactions of the drugs today because most Americans are taking so many. We also don’t know about the long-term effects of these combinations. Yet most people don’t hesitate popping another pill in their mouth!

RR: Do people have to be concerned about fakes who claim to offer therapies, miracle cures etc. How does a person know if an alternative therapy is legitimate?

Alan: It’s fascinating that people can be apprehensive about therapies that have been used successfully by so many people for so long but feel completely safe taking a new drug that has almost no large-scale track record of safety whatsoever. Many of the treatments being used by conventional medicine have never been properly tested in double-blind research studies either and the range of therapies used for the same condition across the country can be absolutely scary. But to answer your question I always recommend people do their homework. Check out not only the therapy but also the practitioner. Just as there are good and bad doctors, there can be good and bad practitioners of very valid therapies.

RR: Alan, how did you decide which therapies to include in your book?

Alan: I wanted to include everything possible for it to be a complete resource. Originally I started out with about 60 therapies, which was more than double anything that had been written before so I thought the subject would make a beneficial book. But once I started researching a therapy I’d usually discover one or two more that I’d never heard of before. The list just kept growing and growing until I simply drew a line in the sand at the beginning of 2007 and said “Enough!” I’ve got to stop and get this published. I may have missed some good ones and I’ve already started collecting new therapies for the next edition.

RR:  What therapies do you think will be most popular with readers?

Alan:  I think some of the Mind therapies will be very popular because stress is such a factor in America today. In many cases what’s happened is that our incredible bodies were never built to handle the stress of 24/7 living like we have today. It’s called the Tiger of the Mind Syndrome. We were designed to deal with the tiger in the bushes with fight or flight, both short-term responses to survival stress. Today the tiger is in our minds from job stress, financial stress, relationship stress, and it’s there 24 hours a day, every day. It’s no wonder our bodies break down! There are some amazing therapies today to help people handle everything from extreme traumas to daily stress.

RR:  What do you think are some of the more odd or intriguing therapies included in “Unbreak Your Health”?

Alan:  I enjoy telling the story about the secret Russian military device that was developed for their space program called SKENAR. After Perestroika it was declassified and allowed to go to the West. Or about the Shakespearean actor with chronic laryngitis who created a system of body education called the Alexander Technique to prevent excess wear and tear. PSYCH-K is always fun to talk about because while people can accept the idea of a polygraph machine it can stretch their imagination to hear about how muscle testing can communicate directly with their subconscious.

RR: How does a person use the book? Is it like an encyclopedia or dictionary where you just look up what is troubling you and find the therapy to cure you?

Alan: “UnBreak Your Health” is the book I wish had been available a few years ago after my disappointing trip to the Mayo Clinic. It provides a lot of information easily and quickly, but no, there are no diseases or health problems listed in the Index.  It may sound contradictory to say but by making it harder I’m really making it easier. People who are serious about their health will read the whole book and become empowered. With all of that information it’ll open up their world to synchronicity, coincidence, Divine Guidance, Inner Healer or whatever you want to call it, but it will make it easier for them to find their unique path to healing.

RR:  Should people consult their doctors first before trying the therapies in the book?

Alan:  Absolutely, just don’t be surprised if they react negatively or at least with skepticism. You have to realize there isn’t a rep in the doctor’s office every day with free samples, free food, even free money promoting any type of CAM. Doctors aren’t trained in it, they don’t know much (if anything) about it so they naturally dislike it.

On the other hand there are a few doctors who’re embracing CAM. They practice Integrative Medicine, literally combining mainstream and alternative to meet the needs of the patient.

RR: Tell me what sorts of sources do you have for the therapies in “Unbreak Your Health”? Are they from ancient cultures, or just something the neighbor next door might have stumbled upon?

Alan:  Therapies can come from any place and any time in history. It’s very common to find an ancient healing technique modernized with American imagination, innovation and even technology. For example Cold Laser Therapy is simply an adaptation of ancient gem and crystal therapy for the most part.

RR:  What kinds of responses have you received so far from people who have read “Unbreak Your Health” or tried out the therapies?

Alan: Very, very positive! They like the fact that it’s easy to read, that there are testimonials from people just like them, and most of all that there is hope. I’ve had several say the book answers a lot of questions about why they haven’t found solutions with their doctor too. If you accept the instinctive concept that we are whole beings of body, mind and energy/spirit, then you have to appreciate that your illness or disease is unique too. That means your health solution is like a combination lock that only you can unlock. We all have to take responsibility for our own health and learn what our body, mind and spirit or energy system factors are in our unique health problems and how to correct them. “UnBreak Your Health” provides information to empower readers to find their own path to health.

RR:  It’s interesting that you say our health is like a combination lock. Is the combination different for each person? The alternative therapy that might cure one person’s health issue might not work for someone else, so we have to tailor the therapy to us; is that true?

Alan: Exactly, just like some drugs work wonders for one person but are at best ineffective and at worst deadly for someone else. When you open your eyes and mind to the world of hope offered by CAM you increase your odds of finding the right solution because you can look for the right body, mind or energy/spirit treatment to meet your needs.

RR: Will you give me an example of this combination lock? For example, I have acid reflux, and my doctors have told me they only treat the symptoms. What kind of alternative therapy or therapies would I find in your book that might help me?

Alan:  I would suggest that you read the book and discover your own therapies. I’m not trying to sell another copy of my book; it’s really the only way for you to find your own unique solutions to your unique health problem. Does the combination lock to open your body’s healing abilities have a high “body” number? Then a therapy like Biofeedback, Massage or Yoga might help deal with the problem. Perhaps you have a low body number but a high “mind” number so a therapy like PSYCH-K, Meditation or Humor would be more beneficial. Yes, PSYCH-K can ask if your subconscious has any issues resulting in your heartburn and can even help direct you to a better therapy, but it’s only one step in the path. If you have both a low body and mind number but a high energy/spirit number then a therapy like acupuncture, Pranic Healing or EFT would be the best answer to your problem.

I know it can sound complicated but how can I really know what you’re feeling? You can tell me but I’ll always be working on second-hand information at best. Doctors love to order lots of tests to learn more but it’s still second-hand information because they don’t feel it. We all want somebody else to take care of us but the fact of the matter is, we have to take care of ourselves. By reading the whole book you become empowered to find the right therapy for YOU.

RR:  Alan, before we go, will you tell us about your website so our readers know where to look for more information about “Unbreak Your Health”?

Alan: Absolutely! The website for the book is easy to remember because it’s the name of the book: www.unbreakyourhealth.com. Your readers will find reviews, radio interviews and links to every therapy included in the book. As I said, this is simply the place to start a journey toward better health, not the end.

RR:  Thank you, Alan. You certainly gave us plenty of information to help us start the journey toward a happier and healthier life.
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