review of Louise Hay "Heal your body"
If you’ve ever wanted to blame your migraines on unresolved guilt about eating your sister’s Halloween candy in third grade, Louise Hay’s 'Heal Your Body' is the ideal book for you. Packed with a buffet of psychosomatic connections, it promises that a little affirmation can cure everything from an athlete's foot to cancer. No need for medicine—just tell your organs they’re doing great, and they’ll shape up. You can actually skip the redundant explanations and head straight to the epilogue, where Hay serenely admits that even though new diseases have cropped up since the book's publication in 1988, she didn’t bother to revise or add chapters. Why? Because, in her worldview, all diseases boil down to fear or anger. Swap fear for faith—faith in life, in yourself, in the universe—and you’ll live in a "yes" world. Replace anger with love. Love yourself. Love others. And for a quick start, stand in front of a mirror and declare, I love you.
It’s a colorful mix of wishful thinking and spiritual gaslighting: feel bad about your chronic illness? That’s on you for not “releasing anger” or “embracing joy.” Got a cold? Clearly, you’re “too mentally scattered.” It’s like WebMD but instead of medical advice, you get a checklist of emotional failings.
Sure, lots of diseases are psychosomatic to some degree, but reducing them all to fear and anger is overly simplistic. As the Russian saying goes: “All diseases come from the nerves, except syphilis—that comes from pleasure.”
For those who enjoy the idea that positive vibes alone can stop heart disease, this is the gospel. For the rest of us, maybe stick with science and save the affirmations for when you’re already healthy and just need a little pep talk.
So, instead of stressing over Hay’s repetitive affirmations, pair this book with something that actually calms your nerves, like Amanita muscaria (go wild, make it regalis!). Amanita is the only natural remedy that soothes your GABA receptors—those gatekeepers of your nervous well-being—without the nasty side effects of alcohol or benzos. Actually, maybe skip the book altogether. Pick up an Amanita label instead and drift away while it does the heavy lifting. Your brain will work with Amanita to repair your body at night far better than Louise Hay’s affirmations ever could.
I didn't find a funny meme on the subj so the picture is just of the good ol' me healing myself away!