TOXIC WORLD, TOXIC PEOPLE

As you can see from the number of pages, this book – 'the essential guide to health, happiness, parenting and conscious living' – is in fact three books in one and arises directly from the author's own life experience, initially with lead poisoning but also many other toxic substances. In our time we are exposed to unprecedented levels of (mainly chemical) toxicity, and these gradually accumulate in our systems to produce an overload manifesting in a variety of unpleasant conditions. The book is divided into four parts and 54 chapters: toxins and the world we live in, the path to health and happiness, rethinking they way we parent and living green in our toxic world. It is full of facts, figures and sensible recommendations for life and living.

Anna begins with a catalogue of common deadly environmental toxins such as lead, aluminium, mercury and cadmium, detailing their effects. She then moves on to poisons in beauty products, the lack of regulation of chemicals, the deadly effect of microwaves, 'cookware that kills' (Teflon), toxic scented candles and the hazards of air fresheners – in each case she provides a safe alternative. Then we get on to a chapter on excess stuff cramping your mind as well as your house. The New Year is always a good time for a clear-out of clutter. As many readers will know, there are all sorts of nasties in our water supply, as Anna spells out in graphic sections (backed with references) on the effects of chlorine and fluoride. A ten-minute shower gives you the equivalent amount of chlorine to drinking 10 litres of water! Next comes food, one of the biggest poisons of all, for instance high fructose corn syrup, MSG, the unpublicised side effects of GMO foods and toxic accumulation in fish. Prescription drugs come next; here Anna summarises the deceptive practices of big pharma and the many fines entailed as a result. Legal drugs like alcohol, coffee and tobacco come under scrutiny next. Logically, the final chapter of the first part is on the vital importance of detoxing, with many sensible recommendations.

The second part changes gear to deal with happiness, an element of which can be related to toxic overload in the brain and lack of sunlight. Anna exposes the dangers of psychiatric drugs – happiness in a pill – and has chapters on nature and exercise, before moving on to spirituality and the importance of kindness and forgiveness. This involves exploring one's sense of purpose, finding contentment and realising that we can change our lives by changing our thoughts. Nor should we neglect the quality of our relationships and the possibilities of healing. There is an excellent chapter on natural alternatives, supplements and healing tips. Not all supplements can be recommended in terms of their content and Anna considers Touchstone one of the best. This section concludes with inspiring stories from those who have turned their lives around by following some of the principles outlined.

In 1914, Henry Lindlahr first published Nature Cure, some extracts of which appear here, including in this next section on parenting. Soaring mental health issues make this a vital topic, not to mention the lowering of immunity and increased susceptibility to infections. Here we have chapters on attachment parenting, breastfeeding, safe home environment, building self-esteem, immersing kids in nature, creativity and education, the lack of quality time, the importance of discipline and learning one's child's love language (the work of Gary Chapman). The chapter on vaccinations extends to 100 pages – almost a book in itself. As readers will be aware, this is a highly controversial area and highly profitable for the pharmaceutical industry. Vaccines contain toxic additives to stabilise the virus and the recommended schedule for children has increased from 10 in 1984 to a staggering 36-38 as of 2010; and some of these are 3 in 1 or even 5 in 1. On p 551 there is a one-page list of the most common ingredients including aluminium hydroxide and phosphate, ammonium sulphate and phenoxyethanol (antifreeze).

Anna includes a number of case histories, but the most interesting part of this chapter is the story of Dr Jayne Donegan, who set out to undertake independent research on the efficacy of vaccines. She found out that even children who had received two doses of measles vaccine might need a third when the epidemic came! She set off to the Office of National Statistics to establish for herself the shape of graphs of deaths from vaccinated conditions and in every case found sharp declines before the vaccination was introduced – for example, deaths from measles fell by nearly 100% in under 15-year olds between 1905 and 1965, three years before the vaccine was introduced. Vaccination rates are maintained by fear mongering, and we misunderstand the nature of many infections as periodic clean-outs. Donegan then became involved in a lengthy court case on the side of a parent who did not want their child vaccinated. As a result, she was hauled up before the General Medical Council and told in court that her evidence was 'junk science' and that her unprofessional behaviour was likely to bring the medical profession into disrepute. In the end, she was completely exonerated by the GMC on all charges, and the story should have been headline news – which it was when she was originally accused!

The final part gives a wide range of practical advice on how to live green in our toxic world with a variety of living examples about growing food, making your own cleaning materials and establishing congenial communities. There is also a further extensive list of resources in addition to those mentioned in specific sections. The sheer length of the book makes it a daunting read, but it is well signposted in short sections, although there is no index. Another minor issue is the lack of copy editing, which means that there are occasional glitches and some unusual spelling – exhorbatant for exorbitant. As a whole, though, the book lives up to its subtitle as an essential guide to health, happiness, parenting in conscious living and I will certainly be consulting it frequently in the future.