Book Review: Heal (2023) by Randall S. Hansen

I received a review copy of this book via Booktasters for which my thanks.

Heal: Wholelistic Practices to Help Clear Your Trauma, Heal Yourself and Live Your Best Life (2023) is, as the name suggests, a book about healing based on the idea that true healing cannot take place unless one is holistically healed and that conventional (mainstream Western) medicine focuses on healing symptoms rather than the problem thereby failing to really ‘cure’ people. Illness or other types of trauma, even the stresses and pressures of present-day life leave imprints on us preventing us from living healthy, full lives and it is by focusing on physical, emotional and spiritual health that we can start to heal.

This is not a DIY guide by any means even though there are several helpful suggestions, rather it discusses different approaches and therapies that may on their own or in combination help in one’s healing journey. From the basics—proper nutrition over the junk one tends to veer towards and exercise to meditation and gratitude practices, sound and forest therapy to the more controversial though scientifically backed use of psychedelics, the book covers plenty of ground.

Divided into five sections, after the first which introduces us to these different tools and possibilities for wholeistic healing (also discussing how these are backed by research), the second has a collection of contributions by practitioners of some of these therapies to bring more awareness and enable the reader to pick the right guides should they choose to adopt any one or more of these. Another part is devoted to various individuals who share their personal journeys of healing (using one or more of these tools) after having experienced trauma in different ways, whether abuse or the loss of a loved one or illness or even the tolls of current living. While many did turn to the use of psychedelics, some healed by other methods whether forest bathing or exercise and meditation, getting results that conventional methods did not give them (I should mention that it isn’t that they didn’t turn to these at all). There is no end point here, rather a continual process which enables those following it to live better, healthier lives.

The second last section gives readers helpful ideas for different aspects of the healing process whether it is forgiveness or gratitude practice, self care or exercise, better sleep or cultivating joy in one’s daily life. One may adopt whichever of the ideas that appeal or that seem suited to one, but the basics—food, exercise, sleep—of course apply to all for without them nothing will be truly effective. The process involves intention and consistency but also grace and forgiveness.

What I felt appealed to me most about Heal and what I think will also make it resonate with a wider audience is that it doesn’t suggest a specific system or set of steps for a healing journey. Rather it discusses a range of ideas/tools/therapies (however one may choose to describe them) and their benefits from spirituality to somatics and breathwork (with various possible practices under each, for instance, different types of breathwork practice, tapping and sound therapies, spending time in nature to forest bathing) leaving the choice to the reader to adopt those they wish (barring as mentioned the basics of nutrition and such). Prayer and meditation are part of the process but need not necessarily have a religious bent. The book also acknowledges that everything may not be for everyone. And I appreciated that it takes into account practical considerations like cost, suggesting both ideas which may involve some expense but also others (like breathwork) which can be started right away.

What one comes away with is a range of ideas—known and new—which one can, should one choose to adopt in one’s own life/journey and tools to help us on the right path from print and film resources to advice from practitioners to help choose the right guide on whichever of the therapies one might decide to explore. While the book gives a wide interpretation to the idea of ‘trauma’ and who might be suffering from or affected by it, it is one that can be of benefit even to those leading relatively ordinary lives by weaving in practices for better physical and mental health and well-being and also more connection with nature which is indeed so very important yet one that we seem to get further away from in our daily lives.

The one thing I felt the book doesn’t necessarily clarify for me is the place of conventional medicine in the scheme of things—while the book doesn’t discourage its use, rather just highlights its limitations and explores the idea that healing has to be holistic, yet I felt there should have been more clarity on its use and reliance.

The author is an educator and writer, among other things (not a medical practitioner, though), and has written this book in part based on his own experiences of healing but also highlighting the research available on the issues covered. Interspersed in the chapters are inspirational quotes, fun facts, healing hints and insights from the author.

An interesting read from which I think almost every reader would be able to pick up something beneficial for their own lives.