Marc Bonnard is a psychiatrist specializing in sex therapy. Interestingly, he was an investigating physician for the premarket Viagra clinical trials in France and he regularly lectures throughout Europe on erectile dysfunction.

The first chapter of the book explains all you need to know about Viagra, particularly the side effects.  Bonnard is at pains to point out that Viagra is not an aphrodisiac – it has no affect on libido or sex drive, acknowledging that a healthy sex life is impossible without being healthy physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.

Remember though, that Bonnard is primarily a sex therapist and he encourages relationship therapy as a method of avoiding unnecessary chemicals or supplements. Keep an open mind; not everyone will be interested in yoga, aromatherapy and herbs as a treatment for impotence – most men just want their normal sex lives back as quickly as possible, whatever it takes. However, if you already have an organic lifestyle and the thought of a dangerous little blue pill makes you cringe, then this is a well written book with some excellent suggestions.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction, then this book is worth a read, simply to see how you can change your sexual routines holistically. However, do see your doctor for advice on all the treatments available – it may just be that for you, Viagra is the only cure.

Detailed throughout the book are 20 Tui Na hand techniques with helpful diagrams, some of which you can easily pick up and other you will have to practise. There is also section on making your own rice bag to practise on instead of your unwitting friends and family.

At the end of the book the author gives some helpful Tui Na techniques for various common ailments such as muscle pain and headaches and a list of recommended reading for those who want a more in-depth look into Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The Chinese Massage Manual is a great beginner’s guide to Tui Na techniques and gives you an insight into this traditional form of healing.

The author, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, has compiled a comprehensive list of simple recipes that not only take minutes to prepare, but will also add to a balanced and nutritious diet. Working mainly as a writer and broadcaster, Fearnley-Whittingstall’s “River Cottage” series has earned him countless awards including the Michael Smith Award for Work on British Food at the Guild of Food Writers and, on three occasions, the Andre Simon Food Book of the Year.

What makes this book even more appealing is that the majority of recipes listed are geared towards the budget-conscious, and there is some invaluable advice on how you can eat healthy without paying a high price. But the author also covers what you need to know away from the cooker and there are also some tricks and tips for finding time to spend in the kitchen. However, the key ingredient is always fresh food.

“River Cottage Every Day” takes care of every meal you could think of – family dinners, breakfasts, quick snacks are all included – and there is also useful advice for what to put in the kids’ lunch boxes. Whether you want to have a more balanced diet or are looking for easy-to-cook and budget-friendly recipe ideas, this book comes highly recommended.

For those who are becoming sceptical about the latest media frenzy about health, Ben Goldacre is the perfect antidote. His book Bad Science, published in 2008, is an extended and revised compilation of the weekly columns he writes for The Guardian newspaper, in which he insists on using sound, scientific fact to debunk and refute spurious claims and unnecessary panic. In these articles you will find Goldacre’s forensic analysis of the distorting effects on real science of consumer product marketing, the pharmaceutical industry’s often far too cosy relationship with some prominent medical journalists,  and of pseudo-science and plain quackery masquerading as fact. With the satirical astringency of a radical pamphleteer, he famously exposed the scientific limitations of a certain celebrity ‘health expert’ by obtaining a ‘certified professional membership’ from the American Association she claimed membership of – for his pet cat.

Goldacre is not merely an amateur sceptic – he knows what he is talking about. Working as a junior hospital doctor in the NHS, he is also a qualified psychiatrist. Having won numerous awards for his medical journalism, Goldacre substitutes the voice of truthful reason in place of fear, inaccuracy and, on occasions, sheer falsification.

The Natural highs book is written by Patrick Holford and has a ISBN number of 1583331336.

First released in 2002 by Avery.

Customer reviews of the herbal high book on amazon 4.5 out of 5  which isn’t often seen, making this book a definite hit and valuable buy.

Here is a clippet from an amazon review

“I’ve known Dr. Cass’s work for a number of years now and so, expected quality. But this book is even better than I expected, in terms of the breadth and depth it covers.”