The Last Best Cure

Book Review

When I say that this book was life changing for me, I don't use that phrase lightly.  Reading this book was one of the most impactful steps in reversing my Autoimmune disease. I've designated it as the first of three books in my “Healing Trilogy”.

Prior to discovering this book, I was on my last straw.  I had made all of the dietary changes possible - and while I did see some improvement, I was still really sick.  I had even resorted to taking homeopathy drops recommended by my Naturopath - with the hopes that something would help me.  Nothing did.  My body had had enough and I was out of options.  I became acutely aware that my mast cell disorder was out of control.

Since I was willing to try almost anything, I forked over the money for an online webinar series led by a woman who had experienced the symptoms of a mast cell disorder and histamine intolerance.  In the webinar, she made a casual comment recommending the book The Last Best Cure.  I ordered the book and dug in.

As I scanned the inside jacket of the book, my eyes began to well up with tears.  FINALLY!  Someone else understands what it’s like to have your life hijacked by autoimmune issues!

The author, Donna Jackson Nakazawa, totally spoke my language, and was articulating things that I had felt, but did not have words to describe. She was able to capture the sense of loss and hopelessness that I had felt so acutely. She understood.  Over the next few weeks, I read about the author’s journey “to get back her joy and reclaim her life”.

To summarize, Donna spends a year under the guidance of her doctor, exploring the best of traditional and alternative medicine treatments with the goal of activating the “healing parts” of her brain.  Her approach includes dietary changes, acupuncture, and addressing unresolved grief and trauma from her childhood - something that Donna had been desperately trying to push away.
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In the book, Donna displays the courage to “walk through” and not “around” the mental and physical pain, and as a result, begins to notice her body heal.

Reading this book was the first time that I had become aware of how unresolved grief and trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can manifest as health issues later in life.

This realization was hard to digest, but since I was willing to do almost anything to take back my life, I chose to continue to work through this - eventually working with a therapist to get to the root of the unresolved grief and trauma that was causing my own health issues.

The possibility that unresolved grief and trauma may be at the root of many autoimmune and chronic health issues can be heavy stuff, but it is what Living Bravely is all about.

To find true healing, it’s important to do the hard work and get to the source of the struggle our body is experiencing.  The Last Best Cure is a great book to find the inspiration and hope that healing is possible.  

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