The New England Journal of Medicine lauds Dr. W. Grant Thompson as "a gifted teacher and clinician with a talent for clear exposition." In the spirit of the highly acclaimed Gut Reactions, Dr. Thompson shares his expertise on how to cope with two widespread and debilitating diseases - colitis and Crohn's disease. These two chronic, nonfatal yet devastating ailments typically strike the young and may develop into a lifetime burden. Most patients are traumatized by their diagnosis and become frustrated and depressed by the recurring nature of these illnesses. As a result, caring and open...

Since the days when doctors routinely made house calls and sat by the bedside offering comforting words along with medical care, the doctor-patient relationship has become increasingly impersonal and superficial. As medical technology and treatment have improved, and time constraints have become more demanding, the beneficial effects of meaningful doctor-patient interactions have too often been overlooked. Nonetheless, objective clinical trials have repeatedly shown that real, measurable benefits to the patient occur through the "placebo effect," the positive effects of the doctor's presence...

How best to deal with such benign problems as the irritable bowel syndrome, diverticula, heartburn, non-ulcer dyspepsia, and gas, among other ailments. For a general audience.