The result of a photojournalism quest to compass the essence of healing. Compilation of articles and large photographs taken by over 100 photographers throughout the world. Examines the feelings, mystery, and diversity of approaches to health and healing.

Seeing "life-changing" photographs. The sight of bone-broken boys comforting each other. [105] The adolescent mother confronted by a screaming infant. [109] Reading the accompanying transformational facts. "About 3000 adolescent girls become pregnant each day in the US, where teen pregnancy is the highest in the industrialized world."

From the use of precious stones in Tibet to army ants to replace sutures in central Africa, and from the battle for healing to the acceptance of death, in a wide range of ancient and modern forms.

Dr. Crichton says "What all this means is that our present concept of medicine will disappear".{192}

Concludes with "Challenges that Remain": {as of 1990}
→ AIDS infects 10,000 per month
→ Malaria150 million annually, causing 2 million deaths
→ Influenza, 40,000 deaths in US/year
→ Infant Mortality, US ranks 21st in world
→ Tobacco kills 400,000 in US annually
→ Health Insurance, 1/8 have none in US
→ Sickle-cell+Tay-Sachs+cystic fibrosis - genetic incurable
→ Heart disease, in US 1 million die annually
→ Cost of Health: Average Hospital stay in 1984, $4657; by 1990, $9220+
→ Treatable diseases: Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Measles - kill ~ two million annually.
→ Cancer, 1 in 275 in US, increase of 14% since 1973.
→ Black male in Harlem is less likely to reach 65 than a man in Bangladesh.
→ Cocaine in US, 900,000 use 1x/wk.
→ Hunger/malnourishment - globally, 1/5 each day.
→ Cataracts. 20 million are blind, for lack of surgery.
→ Alcohol. 105,000 annual linked deaths, 8000 damaged babies born each year in US.
→ Tropical diseases: Incl Malaria, leprosy, sleeping sickness -- half a billion a year suffer.
→ Care for Aged: In US, 600,000 over 85 require nursing home care; expected to be four million in 50 years.
→ Still no cure: arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Alzheimers, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig), lupus, common cold. ( )

History of healing... ( )