Title: The Origin of Disease: The War Within
Authors: Carolyn Merchant, JD & Christopher Merchant, MD
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1546259817
Pages: 614 Genre: Medical Books
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
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Physician and co-founder of Johns Hopkins, Dr. William Osler once said, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” In the book The Origin of Disease: The War Within, authors Carolyn Merchant, JD and Christopher Merchant, MD, use their vast knowledge to show a new way of approaching various illnesses.

In the book, the authors delve into their respective family histories and their own personal experiences and studies that make them experts in the field. They then dive head first into the analysis and study of how chronic illnesses are linked to several different ailments that modern day doctors treat only for the symptoms, and not the root cause of the problem. The authors command over the medical expertise they bring to the writing is both technical and yet relayed easily enough for patients and doctors alike to understand. It is a new perspective that is interesting to see, as the authors relay various chronic illnesses such as toxoplasmosis and chlamydia pathogens as possible root causes for things including endocrine illnesses, reproductive illnesses and even mental health illnesses.

This is definitely an interesting book that patients suffering from illnesses as well as doctors seeking new answers or medical researchers alike will be fascinated by. As someone who suffers from autoimmune diseases myself, as well as mental health struggles, as well as several family members, the book spoke to me in a personal way. While the new studies and theories presented by the authors were fascinating to read about, from a personal perspective I couldn’t help but wonder how the author’s chronic illness theory would explain patients who inherit genetically various illnesses (mental or physical) from parents, grandparents or any other family from previous generations, (speaking as someone who inherited RA and other illnesses from my mother). Also in the book the authors make mention about certain theories regarding links to mental health illnesses and diseases like toxoplasmosis, sometimes caused by cats. They link the possibility to some of the horrible mass shooters in recent years, considering the shooters all appeared ill and theorized some may have come into contact with the disease (as well as dangerous psychiatric drugs) that led to their violent tendencies. Yet what I wonder as a reader was if this were the case, why doesn’t everyone with a mental health disorder, if contracted from toxoplasmosis or other diseases, become or lean toward violent tendencies?

The book, whether or not you agree with the author’s theories and analysis of these various illnesses, does a great job of creating a conversation. Anything that extends the readers knowledge of health overall and forces us to question or debate the cause of various illnesses is a positive thing. It is a detailed, knowledgeable and thorough book filled with fascinating theories that no matter what, all readers should have the opportunity to explore themselves. If you enjoy medical books, suffer from an ailment or are curious about health overall, then you’ll want to grab your copy of The Origin of Disease: The War Within by Carolyn Merchant, JD and Christopher Merchant, MD, today!