Holger Bornholdt. Schiffer, $19.99 trade paper (96p) ISBN 978-0-7643-6841-7
Vornhold's mediocre debut outlines a holistic approach to mental and physical health based on the ideas of 12th-century Benedictine abbess St. Hildegard. Linking to the guidelines outlined in Hildegard's Book of the Subtle Nature of Things, Vornhold says that nuns encouraged living “in harmony with the universe and nature” and maintaining a “balance of rest, meditation, prayer, and exercise.” Unfortunately, Vornhold doesn't elaborate on what following these principles would look like in practice. The most helpful parts are describing the health benefits of “Hildegard's favorite herbs” and how to grow them. For example, Vornhold recommends planting basil in sandy, moist soil, suggesting that it can soothe “febrile illnesses.” Meanwhile, parsley grows well in “partial shade” and strengthens the cardiovascular system. But Vornhold struggles to explain why readers should take 800-year-old health advice seriously. The book argues that Hildegard's theories “have been widely confirmed by modern food chemistry research and are therefore scientifically supported,” but makes no mention of the abundant evidence that supports this claim. It also feels like an oversight that Vornholt does not explain how he knew about or discovered the information Hildegard conveys. Even readers sympathetic to traditional medicine will want more substantial remedies. (September)
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Review date: 16/07/2024
Genre: Lifestyle
