The Last Best Cure

My Quest to Awaken the Healing Parts of My Brain and Get Back My Body, My Joy, and My Life

By: Donna Jackson Nakazawa

Narrated by: Karen Saltus

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

One day Donna Jackson Nakazawa found herself lying on the floor to recover from climbing the stairs. That’s when it hit her. She was managing the symptoms of the autoimmune disorders that had plagued her for a decade, but she had lost her joy. As a science journalist, she was curious to know what mind-body strategies might help her. As a wife and mother she was determined to get her life back.

Over the course of one year, Nakazawa researches and tests a variety of therapies including meditation, yoga, and acupuncture to find out what works. But the discovery of a little-known branch of research into Adverse Childhood Experiences causes her to have an epiphany about her illness that not only stuns her - it turns her life around.

Perfect for fans of Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, Nakazawa shares her unexpected discoveries, amazing improvements, and shows listeners how they too can find their own last best cure.

©2013 Donna Jackson Nakazawa (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

“Donna Jackson Nakazawa has written a moving account of her recovery from severe autoimmune disorders and her success with innovative mind/body therapies. It will certainly inspire others suffering from chronic illness to use integrative medicine to activate their innate healing potential.” (Andrew Weil, M.D. author of Spontaneous Happiness)

Oh my! This is incredibly helpful.

What did you love best about The Last Best Cure?

I liked the fact that this was the authors own experience, delivered with grace and kindness. I've suggested the book to several friends (one with an ACES score of 6). I could enter into several of her "mom" moments with her children.

What other book might you compare The Last Best Cure to and why?

I have not read a comparable book at this time.

What does Karen Saltus bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Karen Saltus read as if it were her own experience; the emotions, sighs, frustrations, sadness were well expressed vocally.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One particular moment in the book that moved me? There were several - but the part that resonated over the course of weeks after the book was the need for self kindness. My aging mother lives with me - listening to her talk about herself - and seeing how her negative brain paths have hampered her joy for years was both sad and enlightening. Being kind to other is easier than being kind to myself - and now I see where that pattern started.

Any additional comments?

Thank Donna for writing this book she way she did. Beside her personal story she also included the research studies and specific scientific details that support the benefits, reasons, and expected outcome of the many therapies used. The mindfulness and meditation have helped me with focus, and the yoga is already assisting my husband and I with several "age related" issues.

Loved this book

A total eye opener... completely revolutionized the way I think ... or should be thinking ... I'm suggesting it to all of my friends!

Amazing book, but struggled with the voice.

What did you like best about The Last Best Cure? What did you like least?

This book in incredible and I highly recommend it for anyone suffering chronic illness and/or anxiety.

What didn’t you like about Karen Saltus’s performance?

I hate to write a bad review on anyone - but it was really difficult to get past the reading. It was like listening to a pharmaceutical commercial for 7 hours. Like a voiceover robot. From the first second of listening, I was constantly distracted by the fact that the voice didn't go with the book. The voice didn't sound genuine or from a real human. Does that make sense? Just like a really really long commercial.

Fascinating Material

We live in a world filled with people dealing with immune disfunction, emotional trauma & depression. The current medicines may blunt the symptoms, but many people get progressively worse. The scientific data & healing techniques presented in this book are vital information that can help many people to feel so much better & to heal.

Excellent

I would recommend to anyone suffering from any illness. This is an amazing balance of proven scientific research and personal story!

Thank you for the encouragement and motivation to continue with meditation, yoga, walking and maybe even to try acupuncture. I could relate to so much of Donna's story -my name is even Donna and I am also 51 (the age Donna was when she wrote the book)

Interesting and thought provoking

The story and scientific data shared was quite compelling. I realize how important positive thoughts and actions can be in my heali g process

Life changing!!

I have been on my own chronic illness healing journey these past few months, and I have implemented many of the strategies mentioned in this book. I am calmer, notice fewer symptoms arising, and have reclaimed my life. If you are willing to put in the work to actually follow through with Donna’s teachings, you can experience these changes too. Thank you Donna!

Insightful, Helpful & Inspiring

This book is packed with solid research on the impact of alternative approaches to healing. The positive upbeat approach and excellent narrator made it a joy to listen to, and I know I’ll return to it again and again whenever I need to get re-inspired to maintain my own alternative healing practices.

Terrific book on healing; smartly written

This book highlights how bringing mindfulness and mindful practices, such as meditation and yoga, into your life can have profound effects on your physical well-being. This is not just a book for people who are ill. This is a book for anyone going through a period of heightened stress or suppressed health who wants to get to a better place emotionally and physically. Donna Jackson Nakazawa, a science writer and sufferer of multiple chronic illnesses, discusses how your Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) score can make you more prone to chronic disease and health issues later in life. The score is based on emotional or physical abuse or other factors (death in the close family, separation from a parent, etc.) experienced as a child. The theory is that the higher the score, the more likely you are to eventually suffer from illness. By expertly treating herself as both journalist and subject, the reader gets up close to Nakazawa's story (giving each chapter pace and momentum) while avoiding sentimentality and learning about some important practices and mindsets for healing.

Gave me hope.

I have been doing what this author suggest but I made me see I need to persevere with more consistency.