Nexus - 0706 - New Times Magazine-pages

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& REVIEWS Bach flower remedies, oriental medicine (including ayurvedic treatments, Chinese herbs, shiatsu, yoga and meditation), herbal medicine, homoeopathy and reflexology. Meek also places strong emphasis on appropriate diet and exercise, and includes many case studies that speak reams for the benefits of a natural approach to menopause. She also has a lengthy section summarising common menopausal symptoms and a selec- tion of appropriate holistic treatments. This is an easy-to-follow, practical guide- book that will be appreciated by women who object to the indiscriminate use of syn- thetic hormones and are seeking natural alternatives to ease their transition. Greek, Minoan, Roman, Celtic, Chinese and Scandinavian civilisations. One famous example, the Layard lens held in the British Museum, was found in an 8th century BC Assyrian tomb and was purpose-shaped for an important person who was short-sighted. Not only are there these exquisite exam- ples, there are also artworks, texts and leg- ends that describe the uses of lenses as eye- glasses, telescopes, microscopes, surveying tools, water-filled glass globe magnifiers, and light-focusing mirrors to make fire and fight wars. Archimedes' idea that saw the Roman fleet burn at Syracuse in the 3rd cen- tury BC was even recreated in 1973. So why does science seem so blind to the idea of sophisticated technology existing in antiquity? Robert Temple is still answering that, but he suggests that past scholars made things worse when they mistranslated classi- cal texts which they did not understand or whose contents did not fit with their world view. His book really is an eye-opener. Bach flower remedies, oriental medicine Greek, Minoan, Roman, Celtic, Chinese and B oO oO K S (including ayurvedic treatments, Chinese Scandinavian civilisations. One famous herbs, shiatsu, yoga and meditation), herbal example, the Layard lens held in the British WELLNESS IN MENOPAUSE: medicine, homoeopathy and reflexology. Museum, was found in an 8th century BC A Guide to Holistic Healing Meek also places strong emphasis on Assyrian tomb and was purpose-shaped for by Marylyn Meek appropriate diet and exercise, and includes an important person who was short-sighted. Publisher: Newleaf, Ireland, 2000 many case studies that speak reams for the Not only are there these exquisite exam- benefits of a natural approach to menopause. __ ples, there are also artworks, texts and leg- She also has a lengthy section summarising _ ends that describe the uses of lenses as eye- common menopausal symptoms anda selec- _ glasses, telescopes, microscopes, surveying ISBN: 0-7171-0064-2 (288pp tpb) Price: £10.99 + p&h Available: lreland—Newleaf/Gill & . . tion of appropriate holistic treatments. tools, water-filled glass globe magnifiers, Macmillan, Dublin, tel +353 1500 9500, This isan easy-to-follow, practical guide- and Tight-focusing mirrors to make fire and fax +353 1 500 9599, website www. book that will be appreciated by women fight wars. Archimedes’ idea that saw the gillmacmillan.ie who object to the indiscriminate use of syn- | Roman fleet burn at Syracuse in the 3rd cen- Ra than being a time of physical and _ thetic hormones and are seeking natural tury BC was even recreated in 1973. emotional distress, menopause—that alternatives to ease their transition. So why does science seem so blind to the transition in a woman's life when she moves idea of sophisticated technology existing in beyond her reproductive years—can be a THE CRYSTAL SUN: Rediscovering a antiquity? Robert Temple is still answering time of coming into a greater understanding —_Logt Technology of the Ancient World that, but he suggests that past scholars made of personal power and wisdom. by Robert Temple things worse when they mistranslated classi- UK author and spiritual/holistic healer Publisher: Century, UK, 2000 cal texts which they did not understand or Marylyn Meek, in Wellness in Menopause, ISBN: 0-7126-7888-3 (558pp hc) whose contents did not fit with their world encourages women to participate in their Price: A$49.40: NZ$69.95: £20.00; view. His book really is an eye-opener. own healing and reconnect with their true NLGfn/a , “ee self. She acknowledges that while each Available: Aust/NZ/UK— Random House: woman experiences menopause in her own Eur—NEXUS Office, tel +31 321 380558 , way, every woman should aim to understand ‘undreds of examples of crystal and the process, treat it as a shared experience, Hass lenses have been dug up from try to accept it, take steps to ease the symp- archaeological sites and are on show at toms, pass through it—and emerge with a museums, yet scientists and academics tend positive mental outlook, a healthy, active to ignore them. That would mean admitting body, enhanced emotional awareness and that knowledge of optics and lens-grinding greater knowledge of the whole self. . technology existed in antiquity—which is at Meek's emphasis is on natural therapies to —_ odds with textbook explanations of their dis- help the process. While she does discuss covery in Europe in mediaeval times. hormone replacement therapy (HRT), she Robert Temple, author of The Sirius cautions against using synthetic drugs: not Mystery, has spent 33 years on and off only do they have adverse health effects, but researching this underplayed part of history ultimately they are disempowering. for his new book, The Crystal Sun. He has ERT TE h IP L = The alternative treatments she describes found examples of these lenses unearthed 4 i = include natural progesterone, aromatherapy, from Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, NEXUS +73 OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2000