Bernie Siegel, a New Haven, Conn., surgeon, writes that disease results from chronic stress, life crises, depression, suppressed anger, poor self-esteem. Other factors contribute, but these dominate. "Happy people generally don't get sick." Having provoked their disease, patients must play the major role in curing it by adopting a positive, life-affirming attitude, achieving inner peace, learning to give love unconditionally while not slighting their own needs. They must also take control of therapy, never submitting passively.
Treating mostly cancer patients, the author uses whatever surgery or chemotherapy is appropriate--unless a patient prefers something else. Siegel believes that any therapy works if a patient believes in it. He states this so baldly that I wonder why he continues to operate when carrot juice plus his own enthusiasm would work as well. And his enthusiasm is overwhelming.
