The Medical Medium and Celery Juice
This is a book review of the Dangers of Celery Juice. However, it is impossible to write about that book, without first commenting on the the series of Medical Medium books by Anthony William.
I have read Anthony William's first book,Medical Medium, and Thyroid Healing. In an age where it seems everyone is trying to declare how "scientific" they are, Anthony William is unique. Right from the start he explains that none of his ideas are based on research. He is a medical medium who simply recieves information on healing from "Spirit." William does not attempt to manipulate actual research to fit his claims. This is all from ""Spirit" and scientists simply have not discovered these facts yet. While I'm not sure how I feel about someone giving out so much health information based on advice from "Spirit" I do appreciate his honesty.
The good: whole food diet and basic health advice
William gives out a lot of basic health advice. Promoting whole food diets and juices. This is all fine, and I'm sure William is helping people by just giving them motivation to make positive changes. All health books agree on certain points. The most common causes of illness are stress, poor diet, over eating, and lack of exercise. Anyone who improves those problems is going to some good results.
I have no doubt that there are people who have healed themselves following William's advice. But all that proves is basic dietary and lifestyle changes works. It does not prove William's health theories. This is actually an important fact to be aware of in gereral. Just because a health treatment works, that does not mean it works in the way people think it does.
The bad: strange health theorie based on nothing other than "Spirit"
One of William's big ideas is how many diseases, such as hypothyroidism are cause by Epstein Barr Virus. Not only are these claims unfounded (as William openly admits), but it just does not fit what is seen in the real world. Autoimmune disease is multifactoral and can not be reduced down to just one factor, such as EBV. Diet, allergies, gut pathogens, toxic exposure all can play a role.
The ugly: potentially dangerous health advice
So far, even if what he says if theoretically questionable, if it's is just basic healthy lifestyle and dietary changes then what difference does it make if someone really has epstein barr virus causing their hypothyroidism?
The problem is when people start doing questionable treatments, like high dose celery juice.
Over the past 6 years or so, dozens of people have come to me telling me about how they were drinking lots of celery juice. The celery juice phenomena is heavily promoted by William as a sort of universal cure all. But what if high amounts of celery juice, instead of being an amazing medical cure, comes with side effects?
The dangers of celery juice
Hershoff does not directly mention the Medical Medium, although the book is a clear reply to the celery juice fad. He does spend some time differentiating between a food and a medicine. Celery is a medicinal herb and has traditionally been used such. It is ine to use it in reasonable amounts as a food. But juicing celery is not using food as medicine. It's is using a concentrated medicinal herb, as food.
Most of the book covers possible effects of high dose celery. This includes effects on detoxification, drug interactions, reproductive health, concentration of potentially toxic substances in celery, and the cardiovascular system.
He does go over potential benefits of celery. But the point is made that celery is just one plant. There are many other plants with healing properties. There is no reason to put celery on a special pedastal.
Final thoughts
As a naturopathic doctor I'm glad to have this book. So many people were coming to me already on celery juice, or asking me about it. It was something I needed to know more about. Hershoff writes from the perspective of a naturopathic doctor who believes in the tried and true methods of our field, as well as basic naturopathic philosophy. Which is also something I like to see, as this mindset is not universal amongst everyone writing natural health books.