Former Marion resident writes self-help book about attaining optimal health; public appearance, book-signing is Saturday at Marion City Library
Staff writer
Jane Hendricks of Phoenix, Ariz., is the daughter of Nancy Marr of rural Marion. She has a degree in naturopathic medicine, and recently wrote a book, “Feed Your Body, Energize Your Life!” on how to achieve a healthy mind and body. It’s subtitle is: “Creating Abundant Health with Chinese Herbal Foods.”
Hendricks will be appearing for a book signing at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Marion City Library.
Hendricks’ struggle to overcome health problems led her to where she is today.
She was born in Wichita and moved with her parents and twin sister to Marion County in 1974 at the age of three. She attended grade school in Marion and middle school in Florence.
Hendricks graduated from Fredonia High School, where she lived with her grandmother.
While a student at Kansas State University, she struggled with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. She also struggled to find her way in life.
She graduated cum laude with a degree in business management but still was confused about what direction to take. She traveled for a while, worked at various jobs, and ended up in Arizona in 1997.
She was introduced to the principles of naturopathy by a friend.
‘It just jumped out at me,” she said.
She attended the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ariz. It is one of only three such institutions in the country. She was certified as a doctor of naturopathy in 2002.
Every state sets its own limits as to the scope of the practice of a naturopathic doctor. In Arizona, Hendricks operated much like a primary care physician while also providing intravenous therapies, supplementation and nutrition, chiropractic, medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and Chinese medicine.
Through the study of naturopathy, she learned to eat mostly fruits and vegetables, rather than the popular modern diet which is high in meat, dairy, sugar, and processed grains.
She said it wasn’t until she started eating Chinese herbal foods with concentrated nutrition that she began experiencing optimal health.
After a year of medical practice, Hendricks closed her practice and began to teach classes on how to heal oneself and feel good mentally and physically and how to optimize one’s health through eating live Chinese herbal foods.
She gives lectures and provides consultations on health throughout the country.
The book
Hendricks’ book was published in 2007. The first chapters describe the major organ systems from both the East and West perspectives, to give an understanding of the body.
The book provides an explanation of why disease and symptoms occur and how knowledge and daily practice of that knowledge can liberate a person from the ailments of disease.
Live food is compared to taking supplements in how the body assimilates nutrients.
Hendricks discusses the four causes of disease and gives readers the tools to empower themselves to provide for their own health.
She concludes by encouraging readers to live from their soul or “higher self” rather than their ego or “lower self” in order to be successful in procuring and maintaining healthy bodies.
To order the book online, visit Hendricks’ website at communityofhigherliving.com.