The Last Best Cure: My Quest to Awaken the Healing Parts of my Brain and Get Back My Body, My Joy, and My Life

Written by Donna Jackson Nakazawa

Narrated by Karen Saltus

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 readers 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ascent Audio
• Release date: Feb 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781469023953

Donna Jackson Nakazawa

Donna Jackson Nakazawa is an award-winning science journalist, public speaker, and author of The Last Best Cure, in which she chronicled her yearlong journey to health, and The Autoimmune Epidemic, an investigation into the reasons behind today’s rising rates of autoimmune diseases. She is also a contributor to the Andrew Weil Integrative Medicine Library book Integrative Gastroenterology. Ms. Nakazawa lectures nationwide. Learn more at DonnaJacksonNakazawa.com.

Reviews for The Last Best Cure

[martyallen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Nakazawa allows readers into a very personal journey in this book. They will follow her through her life and illnesses on her unconventional road to recovery. It is a journey many will be able to relate to, and one that many will appreciate her revelations on. Readers will be surprised and intrigued at her discoveries, and they will be eager to incorporate her suggestions into their own lives. Fortunately, this is easy--if she can do it, so can anyone. The only downfall to this book is that it is obvious Nakazawa has a science background--some of her sources are a little complicated for the layperson. However, the research is certainly worth including, despite this, and overall, it is an excellent and worthwhile read.

[maryann12_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AWESOME!!!!!!! Such a great book!!! I would DEFINATLY recommend it to anyone!!!A great read. I kept looking at the corner of the pages to make sure I didn't skip a page. If you are into books that reveal the human condition and its trials, this is a must read. Donna Jackson Nakazawa will take the reader on a journey that reveals her raw emotions on how she deals with chronic illness. Emotions that run the gam it both high and low, but forever move forward. As a reader, I was glad she had the courage to share her heavy hearted experience.Donna Jackson Nakazawa did a fantastic job in delivering this story, something that will touch your heart. There were scenes in this book that actually had me in tears. I highly recommend this book, it’s a keeper and I will read again.

[wendy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Written in a way that is very straightforward, and helpful to those that can relate or those that aim to understand someone that has faced childhood adversity. Highly recommend her other book Childhood Disrupted. Last few chapters were more about her daily life and what works for her, skimmed those, overall highly recommend