Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind Body M…

Updated review in response to comments. See comments section for original discourse.Original Review
This only gets 1 star because zero isn't allowed.

I can only assume that this has over 4 stars on average because the typical person who seeks this book out is already prone to believing the nonsense within.

I am a scientist, with a PhD in Materials Science and plenty of quantum mechanics in my background (though obviously, I don't know it anywhere near as well as a dedicated physicist in the area would) - Deepak Chopra does not have the faintest understanding of quantum mechanics.

This is arguably the worst thing I've ever read. It's simply a book of lies.

And those who believe it ought to learn some quantum theories and then reassess this quackery...

I am not part of some world-wide conspiratorial supergroup of scientists hell-bent on discrediting psuedoscience (those snake-oil merchants have already done that). It would be easier to herd cats than to get scientists to organise like that! And if any of this b*llshit actually worked beyond the effects of placebo and greater patient-doctor time, we'd happily accept it.

Rant over.

That seems to be a standard reply from people who believe in Chopra's nonsense, or in whatever spiritual/religious/conspiratorial fantasy that tickles their fancy.

Science shows something is so unlikely that it simply must be treated as impossible and those who beleive in said theory accuse scientists of bias.

Science is simply a system of applied logic to investigate anything. It's not some a club with biases towards atheism or anti-spirituality or whatever else.

Chopra is a bullshit merchant and nothing of his own theories stands up to any scientific investigation. That isn't bias it's simply objective analysis.

In response to a request for my specific problems with the information in Quantum Healing…

Beginning with the title; the use of the word "quantum" in this context makes no grammatical sense. "Quantised healing" might make some sense (redundant but at least logical) or perhaps "quantum mechanical physiology" (which is actually what I thought the book was going to be about, for example the influence of electron spins on the formation of synaptic connections. You know, neuroscience - not nonsense). But "quantum healing" just suggests Chopra hasn't a notion what the suffix "quantum-" nor the word "quantum" actually mean.

On to the central claims of the book: "Quantum healing is healing the bodymind from a quantum level. That means from a level which is not manifest at a sensory level. Our bodies ultimately are fields of information, intelligence and energy. Quantum healing involves a shift in the fields of energy information, so as to bring about a correction in an idea that has gone wrong. So quantum healing involves healing one mode of consciousness, mind, to bring about changes in another mode of consciousness, body" Unremitting nonsense. This is utilising terminology from physics to describe metaphysics in a cynical and/or idiotic attempt to cash in on traditional medicines. If Chopra really believes it works, administer controlled tests and demonstrate that the method or treatment is repeatable and reproducible, just like any other treatment (he was, astonishingly, once an endocrinologist, so this is within his powers). Put some quantification around it. Metrics. Measurements.

What are the energies of the body he's talking about? Everything is technically a form of energy - which I'm certain Chopra and his fans will immediately point out if they have even the most basic of scientific understanding. But what specific forms of energy is he talking about? How are they indicative of health? How are they being measured? One cannot claim any of the already measured outputs of the human body since these are the basis of normal, scientific medicine and so would remove all novelty of Chopra's claims. So, I assume he's referring to something else. Perhaps brainwaves (which are already measured rather well by neuroscience)? If so, how are they of any bearing on human health and how can his "quantum healing" affect them? Again, brainwaves are the result of quantum mechanical interactions just as everything in the universe is if one looks at a small enough scale. So just tacking the label "quantum" on to them means nothing. I could claim, in much the same way, to have a "quantum potato" grown through "quantum farming".

Let’s pick a quote: "...mind over matter performed in the brain...is quite astonishing that with every thought, the mind manages to move atoms." This is indeed astonishing, in much the same way that anything that happens is astonishing. Emergent properties of complex systems are astonishing. The quantum mechanical underpinnings of everything are truly astonishing. But the mind’s influence on atoms is in no way indicative of any unique ability to heal oneself through one's mind, any more than a ganglion's influence on atoms is. Without conscious thought your mind is moving atoms. Your subconscious neural processes control your breathing, which moves your lungs, diaphragm, various membranes, the air around you, candle flames, etc. These things are all made of atoms. They're all moving because of your mind without you even considering it. It's an interesting observation but has no bearing on medical efficacy.

Another quote: "How does a thought defeat a cancer cell?" Indeed Deepak, how does it? At no point in the book does he answer this question with anything more than a stream of pseudoscientific buzzwords. No tests, no measurements, no trials. Just the word "quantum" again and again and again...

Yet another, deeply stupid quote: "...all matter in our bodies...has been designed with intelligence as a built in feature." This sounds great to a certain type of person I'm sure, but what does this mean, really? Nothing... If intelligence is an emergent property of the localised sub-processing of the brain (which currently it is believed to be according to Michael Gazzaniga and Donald Pfaff...) then surely a single cell lacks the necessary complexity for such an emergent property to occur?

I wish I could enter into some debate on thermodynamics, quantim mechanics or even good old classical mechanics, but there's actually nothing in Chopra’s book about these things in any technical way.

Deepak Chopra is an endocrinologist who starts doubting the supremacy of the western approach to medicine. That doesn’t mean he denies his training altogether. But he cannot forget his Indian roots, either. In fact, when he finds out that mind and body are able to cure a person if they work together, or kill her if they work against each other, he returns to the traditional Indian medical approach that they call Ayurveda.

Ayurveda means “the knowledge for long life” in Sanskrit. Because it combines science and philosophy / spirituality, the approach is holistic. Chopra insists that the universe is not a force that surrounds us. Not only is there a whole universe within our cellular body, but we are part of the universe, we are the universe. By accepting this fusion —more, embracing it— chances are we will be able to face disease, fight it, and eventually destroy it. Such is the premise of Quantum Healing.

What fascinates me first as I read the pages of this book is the man of science patiently explaining the intricacies of our physical entrails, so to speak, and telling his readers how intelligent the body is. How when, say, the common cold starts doing its nasty little act, a whole cellular system gets into action, with millions and millions of microscopic little workers transmitting messages to each other, and doing everything in their power to kill the invader. In other words, Chopra states that our organism contains everything that it needs to heal itself.

Then why do we die of cancer? Of AIDS? Of a heart attack? Why do we need medicine?

Perhaps because we are disconnected. Perhaps because western medicine with all its specialization has become disconnected from itself. Chopra has shown us that the body doesn’t understand that language, since cells all over the place never cease to communicate with each other. When a specialist treats a problem, she will look only at a specific area. A satirist could write a piece about a patient sending his eye to the eye doctor through the mail and asking for its return when it’s cured. It sounds absurd, but it’s basically what specialized medicine does these days. Fragmentation. Looking at details without looking at the whole picture. That’s part of the problem. The other part is also about division. We have been taught in western civilization to separate the body from the mind. And yet, last time I checked, I saw my head well attached to the rest of me. There is a reason for this. The mind and the body must listen to each other. We have heard cases of cancer patients who cured themselves with laughter. Scientists have talked about it. Casey, the greatest medium of all times, has talked about it. See? Science and spirit agree here.

Chopra gives examples of some of his own patients who were able to improve their health, or even return to a complete healthy state simply because they had decided they would get better. They changed their mood, their attitude. Pessimism, of course, had no part in this. (Optimism is a healer. Pessimism can be a killer.) Their mind had created antibodies, energized the system so it could fight better.

While deeply spiritual, Chopra doesn’t give up on western medicine, as mentioned earlier. There, too, is his sense of fusion. Denying the extraordinary discoveries of western science would be foolish. But just as foolish is the rejection of ancient practices such as ayurveda, acupuncture, yoga, meditation. East and west must get together here. In some cases, they have, but this fusion needs to be more systematic. Because out of fusion will come balance. And if there is balance, then the door can be locked on disease.

As far as the literary qualities of the book are concerned, I would say it is about eighty percent successful. Sometimes Chopra himself is the victim of that lack of fusion and balance and gets into a vagary of philosophy and spirituality. But the fog goes away as soon as he lets the man of science and the man of spirit within him join forces. And for that alone, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic of healing without reservation.

Deepak Chopra is an endocrinologist, who respectfully questions western medicine, how disconnected it is: mind from body. At the same time, he reaches back to his Indian roots, bringing traditional Hindu system of medicine called Ayurveda, which balances mind and body. He presents his cases in detail, showing how damaging it can be when doctors lack compassion towards their patients. How patients’ mind can be affected and causing further damage to the body. It is a very small percentage of people, who are strong enough to ignore the insensitivity of doctors and who can tap into their deepest core of the mind-body system to heal themselves.

“Quantum healing moves away from external, high technology methods toward the deepest core of the mind-body system. This core is where healing begins.”

In the mind-body system it translates to awareness. “Consciousness is a force that most of us undervalue.”

It is the consciousness that affects the body. “The choices you make today are the key to your wellbeing for life. Every cell in your body is eavesdropping on your thoughts.”

A man was diagnosed with an aot-cell carcinoma – an extremely deadly, very fast-growing malignancy. He refused any treatment. Eight years later, the same man was diagnosed with the same cancer in his neck. When asked what he had done for the earlier cancer. He responded: “he hadn’t done anything – he had just decided he was not going to let himself die of cancer.”

“How advanced the cancer is seems not to matter, either. Both tiny tumors and extremely large masses of malignancy can disappear, virtually overnight.”

“Without anticipating cancer or any other disorder, your chief aim every day should be to maximize positive input and minimize negative input.”

The author presents an excellent 10 key model to self-care:

1. Making happiness a high priority.
2. Making sure your life has purpose and meaning.
3. Living according to a higher version.
4. Expending your awareness in every decade of life.
5. Devoting time and attention to personal growth.
6. Following a sensible regimen of good diet and physical activity.
7. Allowing your brain to reset by introducing downtime several times a day.
8. Getting to know your inner world through meditation, contemplation, and self-reflection.
9. Practicing gratitude and appreciation.
10. Learning how to love and be loved.

As mentioned at the beginning, it is a very small percentage of people that is capable of dipping deep into the core of the mind-body system. It takes time to train your brain to drop old habits and gain new ones. Therefore, Deepak Chopra encourages a fusion of conventional and traditional medicines.

“Everyone’s body knows how to heal a cut, yet apparently only a few people have bodies that know how to cure cancer.”

The first part of the book is to the point. The second part is more technical, philosophical, with some repetition; at least the point of examples is the same as in the first part. The updated version with extended information is unnecessary.

This book blew my mind like 10,000 times!

A super book that explains the science behind the seemingly magical ability to heal yourself with your mind, your thoughts and feelings. Truly insprirational reading. If you're into science, spirituality, or both, you will very much enjoy this book. If you're struggling with a desease, this line of thought is definately worth a try. Lots of case studies inclulded.

Whoa! There is so much bullshit in here! Don't know where to start. If you think you have learned something from this book, write one or two things down and ask a local expert about the subject. Then tell him what you 'learned' in this book about it, prepare to be laughed at!

Very good book. Dr Chopra uses his knowledge as a medical doctor while exploring unconventional healing methods. I like how he shows that important aspects of any cure are within our reach through the power of the mind, meditation and healthy living habits. Explanations can get technical but they are always accompanied by a series of real life examples which make them accessible.

This was a great book. It really is fascinating how our bodies naturally rejuvenate and heal. We have a new liver every 6 weeks; how neat is that! Our minds are such powerful tools and I believe influence our bodies... there is a disconnection and connection between the two and the way we think about things, like illness, the more we will see it in our lives. It's like the person who wakes up in the morning and stubs their toe, then spills their morning coffee, and the person starts focusing on the negative, and sure enough more bad things happen throughout the day. Thoughts become things and we can use our minds to give a hand in our health. Ayurdvedic medicine is very important to me, what we put into our bodies and how we reflect upon ourselves certainly plays a role in our health. The term "think happy thoughts" has a deep rooted meaning and we should all be very aware of how we treat and think about ourselves.(less)
0 minutes ago

Parsimony
Placebo Effect

Too painful for me to explain here. If you believe in this stuff do so after you look up the two terms

Deepak Chopra’s book, long in the tooth now as a passing fad – is interesting for me in what it says about human psychology, especially Americans. And that is, a desperate need to animate their spiritual selves now vacated in a high tech, capitalistic world that increasingly dominates them. Chopra fills that need with a New Age mix of Eastern mysticism, pseudo-science, junk science, and outright snake oil. He uses enough (far too much) science jargon to make those who live in our “science environment” feel better. There are scientists in the field of quantum mechanics who have blasted his book, dismantling any cause-effect relation between the subatomic (spirit) world and large scale health. The result being that Chopra retracted his claims, stating it was all a metaphor. That’s not at all apparent in the book – quite the opposite. Regardless, like the chronic second comings just around the bend, or any number of other wishful hopes, Chopra shows how apprehensive we are, and there's value in that lesson. So much so we would make him rich to give ourselves a moment of relief.

این کتاب اصولا دو مدل منتقد داره یکی منتقد موافق تمام عیار ویکی منتقد مخالف تمام عیار حد نصفه نیمه هم نداره و کل این انتقادات هم ریشه در یک باور داره واون هم متافیزیکه...کساییکه به متافیزیک و قدرت روح اعتقاد دارن کتاب رو دوست دارن و مخالفین متافیزیک هم خب طبیعتا از همون ابتدای کتاب مخالف...من جزو دسته دومم و کتاب رو هم دوست داشتم ولی دلم میخواست یه مقدار مستند تر باشه(سیر تحولی آزمایشات)...از اونجاییکه کتاب رو یه مقدار با فواصل طولانی خوندم،رفت تو لیست کتابهای دوباره خوانش! بنده...تا ببینیم کی قسمتش میشه دوباره خونده شه...

Peace is the norm which we tend to forget. Stress, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, the disease of 'being in a hurry' ..#modernman #arcadefire--our hectic lives has accustomed us to turmoil.we are thoroughly indoctrinated by the idea of a certain degree of internal conflict being normal. We don't need any new medical technique- we need to let our bodies do what they want to do, which is get well. Meditate, eat right, rest-- there are no rewards from our jobs that could possibly outweigh the danger we have put ourselves in. This book is a guide to understanding our true nature. Pay attention, and your problems will correct themselves. We have the best medicine -- it's our own attention. Right now, the quality of that attention is fearful and tense, which is why we aren't getting better, as soon as your awareness becomes settled and Loses its fear, your body will recover. #readytostart #arcadefire

I've been whittling away at this book for some time, ever since I ran into it at a library sale and felt inspired by the compelling title. Quantum Healing! Wow, I thought. What's that? What surprised me is that the author, Deepak Chopra, is an M.D. Every time I had ever heard his name uttered, it was in connection with yoga and meditation, two words whose concepts I barely understood before reading this book. I had no idea he came from the double perspective of his Western medicine training as a doctor and Eastern mysticism from his roots.

I have always been enchanted by Eastern philosophy, and especially when I heard of the Vedic masters who could basically put themselves into comas, buried six feet under for three days, then rise on the third day. The stories told of the ultra-colorful and ultra-sensational world they had occupied for those three days echoed every near-death-experience I had ever read about. I believe this old book, while outdated in some of its "cutting edge" revelations, is still every bit as relevant today. In fact, other books I am currently enjoying--like The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion by Michael A. Jawer and Marc S. Micozzi, M.D., Ph.D, and The Biology of Belief by Dr. Paul H. Lipton--seem to build on these early ideas as they share further research about DNA (not what they told me it was in grade school!) and epigenetics, neuropeptides, and the quantum level of health and human performance.

Possibly because I was reading these other books concurrently, my mind was open to the somewhat mystical 4th dimension discussion Dr. Chopra wanted to have in Quantum Healing. I very much enjoyed his colorful way of teaching through story, and I was moved many times by the humanity he displayed in his practice with real human beings to whom I could relate. I am not a Rishi, but in my own faith, we believe in another dimension that governs this one, one where "spiritual creation" affects the "physical creation." We also believe in the very tangible, yet completely subjective, workings of the Holy Spirit. I have felt its healing power in my life, and I have felt its comforting and knowledge-granting vibrational energy, as well. It often accompanies my deep study as I enter a meditative state when I read. What an incredible blessing it is, just as Dr. Chopra describes, to experience pure bliss, even for a moment, and then to enjoy its lingering effects on peace and health. It was a blessing I felt keenly as I read these true stories of disease, death, and miraculous recovery. This book inspired me to look at my past, present, and future illnesses in a different light, and has laid some wonderful groundwork for my continuing study in neuroscience and endocrinology. Read it with an open mind and an open heart!

Inspirational, mind expanding and really interesting look at the boundary between the body and the mind. For anyone who has experienced the limitations of modern medicine, this is a great exploration of what where medicine finishes and the power of spirituality and the quantum universe picks up.

Ive never been disappointed with a book by Deepak Chopra and the worst thing I can say about this one is that it's way too short.

Deepak Chopra's books are interesting. Some of the points he makes stays with the reader.

[...]Αν με ρωτούσαν ποιος είναι ο ακριβής ορισμός της κβαντικής θεραπείας, θα έλεγα η κβαντική θεραπεία είναι η ικανότητα μιας μορφής συνείδησης (του νου) να διορθώνει αυτόματα τα λάθη μιας άλλης μορφής συνείδησης (του σώματ��ς). Είναι από μόνη της μια πλήρης διαδικασία. Αν μου ζητούσαν ένα συντομότερο ορισμό, θα έλεγα η κβαντική θεραπεία φέρνει ειρήνη. Όταν κατατέμνεται η συνείδηση, αρχίζει ένας πόλεμος στο σύστημα νους/σώμα. Αυτός ο πόλεμος βρίσκεται πίσω από πολλές ασθένειες, δημιουργώντας αυτό που η σύγχρονη ιατρική αποκαλεί «ψυχοσωματικό συστατικό». Ίσως οι ρίσι να το αποκαλούσαν «φόβο που γεννιέται απ' τη δυαδικότητα» και θα το θεωρούσαν κύρια αιτία όλων των ασθενειών και όχι ένα απλό συστατικό τους.[...]

[...]Ο λόγος για τον οποίο αποτελεί θαύμα η ικανότητά σας να θεραπεύσετε τον καρκίν�� μόνοι σας, ενώ η θεραπεία ενός σπασμένου χεριού δεν αποτελεί θαύμα, εδράζεται στη σχέση νου/σώματος. Το σπασμένο κόκαλο φαίνεται να «δένει» φυσιολογικά μόνο του, χωρίς την παρέμβαση του νου σας, αλλά η αυτόματη ίαση του καρκίνου –έτσι πιστεύεται ευρύτατα – εξαρτάται από μια ειδική ποιότητα νου, μια βαθιά θέληση για ζωή, μια ηρωικά θετική προοπτική ή κάποια άλλη σπάνια ικανότητα. Τούτο προϋποθέτει την ύπαρξη δύο ειδών θεραπείας: μια που είναι κανονική και μια άλλη εκτός κανόνων ή τουλάχιστον εξαιρετική. Πιστεύω ότι αυτός ο διαχωρισμός είναι λανθασμένος. Το σπασμένο χέρι «δένει» επειδή η συνείδηση το κάνει να «δέσει» και το ίδιο ισχύει και για τη θαυματουργή ίαση του καρκίνου, τη μακροχρόνια επιβίωση πασχόντων από AIDS,τη θεραπεία με την πίστη, ακόμη και την ικανότητα ζωής σε βαθιά γεράματα χωρίς να γίνουμε θύματα ασθενειών. Ο λόγος για τον οποίο δεν μπορεί ο καθένας να χρησιμοποιήσει τη θεραπευτική διαδικασία, μέχρι εκεί όπου η ίδια μπορεί να φθάσει, είναι επειδή διαφέρουμε στην ικανότητα να την ενεργοποιήσουμε.[...]

I'll preface this review by telling you that I have a bone spur on my left heel, and related plantar fasciitis, and I've had pain when walking/running for the better part of this last year. I have tried stretching, and some very expensive prescription orthotic inserts. I have been very frustrated with how slow the healing process has been. My husband loaned me this book as a possible alternative solution.

Deepak Chopra may be commonly known as more of a "woo woo" spiritual author, but he is also a doctor and has years of experience as a practicing endocrinologist, so his foundations are in medical science.

The book's primary focus is the mind-body connection in terms of regulating the immune system and our health. Chopra hones in on the mind-body connection at the molecular level, and even beyond the molecular level...the quantum level. He explores the mysterious mechanism that turns a thought/emotion (e.g. fear) into a molecule (e.g. adrenaline). There is a gap between the mind (thought) and the physical body (molecule & its affects) that could be the key to a whole new way of approaching medicine.

I took Physics at UC Berkeley in the early 1990s as a part of my Biochemistry degree program, and the quantum section at the end of the semester left me confused and angry. This could be the reason why I write poetry today instead of working in a lab. But Chopra offers an explanation of quantum physics that I was actually able to understand, to the best of my limited abilities. The most reassuring part was that Chopra explains that no one really understands quantum physics.

I found all of the case studies and research results fascinating. For example, Chopra recounts the results of one experiment in which a group of mice was given a chemical known to stimulate the activity of the immune system. Every time a mouse received a dose of the chemical, the smell of camphor was released. After a few weeks, the smell of camphor alone was enough to stimulate the immune system cells.

Chopra includes numerous case studies of patients who were diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 2 months to live, and yet were completely cured after pursuing alternative therapies such as Transcendental Meditation. Admittedly, this was encouraging to me. I figure that if someone can help their body get rid of aggressive lung or brain cancer, I could certainly help my body get rid of plantar fasciitis! It is empowering to consider that the key to our individual health lies within us, and is very much under our control, should we choose to learn how to control it.

My only criticism would be that the last 1/4 of the book was not a compelling as the first 3/4. Chopra veers off into talking about DNA and bliss (?) and that kind of lost me. But overall, I'd recommend this book as a solid, clear, and (mostly) scientifically-based introduction to the mind-body approach to medicine and health.

Fascinating. As the title implies, Dr. Chopra explores the frontiers of the mind/body with the knowledge and limitations of today's medical world and the world of physics, as well as the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda. He explores what is known and not known of people who have spontaneously healed from their terminal ailments. He does this with simplicity, clarity and sincerity. If I wasn't convinced of the many benefits of meditation, I am now.

Dr. Chopra states that much of his time is spent talking, trying to get people not to be so convinced by their disease. In Ayurveda, this is the first and foremost step in healing. "Meditation is so important because it leads the mind to a free zone that is not touched by disease. Until you know that such a place exists, your disease will seem to be taking over completely. This is the principal delusion that needs to be shattered."

Dr. Chopra is showing the way to other options while not closing the door on today's medicine. Most insightful and well written us non-medical folks.

This was my first experience reading a book of Deepak Chopra's and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I appreciate that Chopra has a medical background in endocrinology as well as Ayruveda. It made for a very interesting interplay between Eastern and Western approaches to medicine and attempting to find a balance between the two. What I liked most was that there was never an attempt to discredit one field of medicine, but rather a focus on using both as a means of rounding each other out. There are parts that I think some people could find "wooey" but if you suspend disbelief in those few moments I really feel there is a lot to be gained from this book in an understanding of how we can be active agents in aiding our own health and recovery from disease.

Everybody needs to learn about Quantum Physics. It should be taught in high school along with chemistry and biology. Deepak Chopra is a wonderful teacher of our times. In simple language he explains how scientifically we are all One. He brings proves personal power with physical facts. Although his works would fall into the woo woo shelf, he would be the most down to earth author on the shelf.

This book is totally mind expanding.  It goes into the quantum physics of healing.  Ultimately Deepak means that the more bliss we are able to experience on a daily basis, the more we increase our health and our chances for doing "the quantum leap" ie going from being ill into complete health.  It is the most inspirational and motivational book on why it is so important for us all to meditate on a regular basis.  Fascinating read.

One of the first and best books about the mind-body connection and how our health and well-being are inextricably tied to our thoughts, emotions and beliefs. These concepts are not just critical for those struggling with serious illness. They help all of us understand how to live healthy, happy, energetic lives.

Summarized in one sentence: Happy mind equals happy body. When you are in a state of bliss you have a higher probability that your body will deal will disease in a better way.

Although Chopra has a lot of valid insights, there is a large amount of vagueness in the book with little if any actionable points that the reader can follow through to achieve Quantum Healing.

this book is amazing and potentially life altering. I love that it teaches the benefits of meditation in a tangible way, you can actually alter your chemical make-up(DNA) by spending time in the "Gap"

This was the first book that really showed me the power of perception. Until this I hadn't thought much about perception and how it can really change your life. Quantum Healing was definitely responsible for the start of my spiritual journey!