Your Body Doesn't Lie
by John Diamond
List Price:
Our Price: $2.91
You Save: $4.08 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.82 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: John DiamondEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1989-02-22
ISBN: 0446358479
Number of pages: 208
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Accessories:
- Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)
- RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Book Reviews of Your Body Doesn't Lie
Book Review: Warning for Christians exploring this stuff...
Summary: 1 Stars
In reading John Diamond's "Your Body Doesn't Lie", I wasn't too familiar with Applied or Behavioral Kinesiology and wasn't sure what the whole thing was about. Here's the book in a nutshell:
1. All illness starts as a problem on the energy level; as energy imbalances that ultimately are manifested as physiological illness. (27)
- ""The controlled of energy flow in the body is the thymus gland. Day after day, moment by moment, it monitors and rebalances our Life Energy. If it is not doing its job correctly and an imbalance develops, ultimately there will be physical damage to a particular organ. This is organic disease." (61)
2. Each large muscle relates to a body organ. A weakness in a muscle usually means that there is a problem at the energy level in the associated organ. (32)
3. The manual muscle test is a method of direct interaction with the body, so one can directly engage the body to discover what the problem is on an energy or physiological level. (32)
4. Not only does the body directly diagnose the illness/symptoms (via the manual muscle test), the body also directly prescribes treatment. (33)
5. The responsibility for sickness and wellness now resides directly with the patient. (33)
6. The thymus gland is the organ that regulates the chi flow in the body. (37)
7. "Our Life Energy is the source of our physical and mental well-being, of glowing health, of the joy of living. Throughout recorded history it has had many names. Hippocrates called it the Vis Medicatrix Naturae, the healing power of nature. Paracelsus called it the Archaeus; the Chinese, Ch'i; the Egyptians, Ka; the Hindus, Prana; the Hawaiians, Mana. It is all the same thing." (54)
8. One can weaken their chi via almost anything: thoughts (85), body positions (89), other peoples energy levels (107), sunglasses (123), wristwatches worn in the wrong position (123), high heels (124), ice water (127), fluorescent lights (128), symbols (139), all forms of rock music (160), etc.
9. You can change the way that you live; changing diet and your surroundings, and you can heal yourself from whatever ails you. This will involve using organic bed sheets (127), eating whole wheat bread (169), and generally eating natural foods (171).
As far as literature is concerned, the book is relatively well written and is fairly easy to follow. It's written for a lay audience and tries to refrain from being too technical, as well as offering relatively clear explanations of concepts and ideas. Diamond is actually a decent writer and I imagine that, in person, he's quite a good speaker. But style isn't all there is in a book like this.
What is the merit in Diamond's claims?
Should I buy into his take on whether or not my body can lie?
I have 4 comments:
1. Testimony and Anecdote are not solid evidence.
Diamond completely ignores the critical questions and provides no actual documentation beyond the speculative findings of other applied kinesiologists. He completely ignores the issues of whether or not the meridian system and chi have been shown to exist. If a person is a medical doctor and is exploring this stuff (as if MDs read these kinds of books looking for medical advice...), they'll leave with every question they show up with. Diamond simply assumes all his foundations (the existence of chi and the meridian system, the reliability of the manual muscle test, his infallible interpretations of his experience, etc.) and builds his arguments without any substantiation whatsoever.
2. Chi is neither "bio-electricity" nor electromagnetism, at least according to the eastern worldview from which it springs (and definitely given Diamond's explanation of it...).
That being said, who concept of chi has not been empirically established beyond testimonial and anecdotal evidence. Though many suggest that chi is bio-electricity or electromagnetism, if this were the case it would be relatively easy to detect. Sadly, some of the people who are the most `rational' in other areas throw reason to the wind because of personal experience with chi and eastern medicine. I do believe that people have authentic experiences and are told that what they experience is chi, but as a biblically informed theologian I can confidently suggest that the interpretation of the experience is quite inaccurate...getting into that is far beyond the scope of a book review though.
3. As far as modern medicine is concerned, neither Applied Kinesiology nor Acupuncture have been shown to do what they claim to do despite the claims of both camps.
Although, to be fair, Acupuncture is miles ahead of Applied Kinesiology in establishing that it actually does something at all. There have been clinical studies that have shown how acupuncture does offer some limited anesthetic effects and also limited abilities to relieve pain. (Here's one example of recent clinical research on this issue, from 2009: [...]
Applied and Behavioral Kinesiology don't have any clinical support at all to suggest that they're anything beyond ideomotor function (and yes, I've read and interacted with Scott Cuthbert and George Goodheart's "landmark study" in March 6th, 2007 article in Chiropractic & Osteopathy). Both Applied and Behavioral Kinesiology's bread and butter is testimonial evidence, which is neither reliable nor objective. When it comes to serious facts and clinical study, all I've ever seen presented by the spokespeople for the International College of Applied Kinesiology (and all the sub groups I've explored) is smoke and rhetoric.
4. I definitely know Koine Greek and know a bit of history, and one of his supporting arguments is complete bogus. Diamond claims that the Thymus gland is the regulating agent of the whole chi network in the body, and claims that the ancient Greeks knew this.
He says "Interestingly enough, the word thymus is derived from the Greek thymos, or (greek text), which is untranslatable into modern terms but denotes life force, soul, and feeling or sensibility. As Onians points out, thymos originally referred to the breath. It was the stuff of consciousness, the spirit, the breath-soul, upon which depended a man's energy and courage. Even the earliest origins of the word implied rising into flames, as a cloud, spirit, which relate it to the concept of soul and Life Energy." (page 62)
Diamond is either lying through his teeth here or did some elementary-school level sloppy research.
The Greek word thymos does mean "breath", but every use of the word I've found (i.e. using lexicons and looking up every reference in context) always has to do with an expression of passionate wrath or indignation, and the idea of "breath" is not parallel to "spirit", but with the panting and heavy breathing that accompanies wrath and rage. The meaning is nothing close to the esoteric meaning Diamond gives it, and every Greek lexicon I consulted had the same information.
This also explains the idea of "rising into flames", and not in some `spiritually ascending' way that Diamond suggests, but rather `burning with anger'.
If I was a betting man, I'd simply say that Diamond doesn't know a lick of Greek and got his information 3rd hand, or worse: simply looked up the word and saw "breathe" and "rising into flames" and didn't pay much attention. It sounds deep, and who knows Greek these days? In Christian circles, I see abuse of Greek daily and in much the same way.
Judging by how poorly he did his research on his support for one of his main points (and his talk about the morphology and lexicography of the word "thymus" on page 62 was a supporting argument for a main point; that the thymus gland regulates chi and this has been known about for thousands of years), I'd really question how reliable the rest of his research was.
Your Body Doesn't lie is definitely not a recommend.
Summary of Your Body Doesn't Lie
YOUR BODY DOESN'T LIE! YOU CAN ASK IT WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR HEALTH.A simple muscle test can tell you what stimuli can strengthen or weaken you--how your body responds to stress, posture, specific foods, emotions, and your entire social and physical environments. Based on the role of the thymus gland in regulating body energy, this laboratory-tested method can guide you into a more vital, healthier way of life. Begin benefiting now from Dr. John Diamond's unique, personal synthesis of developments in psychiatry, preventive medicine, kinesiology, nutrition, and music therapy.
Alternative Medicine Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Alternative Medicine Books
Complete Illustrated Guide to Massageby Stewart Mitchell
Element Books Ltd.; Published: 2002-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $71.54
Illustrated Elements of - Alexander Techniqueby Glynn Macdonald
Element Books; Published: 2002-04-02; Paperback; Book
Healing With the Voiceby James D'Angelo
Thorsons; Published: 2001-08-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $135.58
Aloe Vera: Natural Wonder Cureby Julia Lawless
Thorsons; Published: 2000-10-01; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Aromatherapy for Your Child: Essential Oil Remedies for Children of All Agesby Valerie Ann Worwood
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; Published: 2001-03-05; Hardcover; Book
Body, Mind, and Sport: The Mind-Body Guide to Lifelong Health, Fitness, and Your Personal Bestby John Douillard
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2001-03-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.90
Price in other shops:
The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook: Forty Natural Prescriptions for Perfect Healthby David Simon M.D., Deepak Chopra M.D.
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2000-12-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.70
Price in other shops:
Change Your Brain, Change Your Body: Use Your Brain to Get and Keep the Body You Have Always Wantedby Daniel G. Amen
Harmony Books; Published: 2010-02-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.35
Price in other shops:
A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: Improve Your Health and Avoid Side Effects When Using Common Medications and Natural Supplements TogetherThree Rivers Press; Published: 2006-02-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.93
Price in other shops:
Clean LP: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itselfby Alejandro Junger
HarperLuxe; Published: 2009-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.95
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Ultimate Healing System, The: The Illustrated Guide to Muscle Testing & Nutritionby Donald Lepore ND
Woodland Publishing; Published: 1998-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.37
Price in other shops:
The Eye of the I: From Which Nothing Is Hiddenby David R. Hawkins
Veritas Publishing; Published: 2001-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.89
Price in other shops:
The Diamond Color Meditation: Color Pathway to the Soulby John Diamond
Enhancement Books; Published: 2006-04-25; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $11.00
Price in other shops:
Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body's Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, andVitalityUpdated and Expandedby Donna Eden, David Feinstein
Tarcher; Published: 2008-08-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.21
Price in other shops:
Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviorby David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D
Veritas Publishing; Published: 1995-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.99
Applied Kinesiology: Muscle Response in Diagnosis, Therapy, and Preventive Medicine (Thorson's Inside Health Series)by Tom Valentine, Carole Valentine
Healing Arts Press; Published: 1985-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.40
Price in other shops:
Applied Kinesiology: A Training Manual and Reference Book of Basic Principles and Practicesby Robert Frost
North Atlantic Books; Published: 2002-03-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.66
Price in other shops:
Your Body Can Talk: How to Listen to What Your Body Knows and Needs Through Simple Muscle Testingby Susan Levy, Carol Lehr
Hohm Press; Published: 1996-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.97
Price in other shops:
Touch For Health: The Complete Editionby John F. Thie, Matthew Thie
DeVorss & Company; Published: 2005-10-15; Spiral-bound; Book
Best price: $23.72
Price in other shops:
Life Energy: Using the Meridians to Unlock the Hidden Power of Your Emotionsby John Diamond
Paragon House; Published: 1998-04-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops: