
Cynthia Li, MD, graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and has practiced in settings as diverse as Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Francisco General Hospital, and St Anthony Medical Clinic for the homeless. She serves on the faculty of the Healer's Art program at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, and has a private practice in integrative and functional medicine. She lives in Berkeley, CA, with her husband and their two daughters.
by Cynthia Li
Rating: 4.2 ⭐
• 2 recommendations ❤️
In this revelatory memoir, Doctor Cynthia Li shares the truth about her disabling autoimmune illness, the limitations of Western medicine, and her hard-won lessons on healing—mind, body, and spirit. Li had it all: a successful career in medicine, a loving marriage, children on the horizon. But it all came crashing down when, after developing an autoimmune thyroid condition, mysterious symptoms began consuming her body. Test after test came back "within normal limits," baffling her doctors—and baffling herself. Housebound with two young children, Li began a solo odyssey from her living room couch to find a way to heal. Brave New Medicine details the physical and existential crisis that forces a young doctor to question her own medical training. She dives into the root causes of her illness, learning to unlock her body's innate intelligence and wholeness. Li relates her story with the insight of a scientist, and the humility and candor of a patient, exploring the emotional and spiritual shifts beyond the physical body. Millions of people worldwide are affected by autoimmune disease. While complex conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are gaining attention, patients struggling with these mysterious ailments remain largely dismissed by their doctors, families, and friends. This is the harsh reality that doctor-turned-"difficult patient" Li faced firsthand. Drawing on cutting-edge science, ancient healing arts, and the power of intuition, this memoir offers support, validation, and a new perspective for doctors and patients alike. Through her story, you can find the wisdom and heart to start your own healing journey, too.
by Cynthia Li
by Cynthia Li
This book is about a little puppy named Kloser. Kloser went to a beach camp with her friends. She conquered her fears and learned how to surf. She had a lot of fun playing with her friends together.
Optimize your body’s innate healing abilities! Dr. Cynthia Li, author of Brave New Medicine , offers powerful practices to overcome chronic illness, anxiety, and stress—so you can reclaim your energy and live with greater vitality. Are you one of the millions who suffer from chronic illness? Do you struggle daily with anxiety, stress, and overwhelm? Have you sought traditional treatment, only to have your symptoms return and worsen? If so, you aren’t alone. If you’re looking for lasting relief, this empowering guide offers a cutting-edge, holistic, and synergistic approach—effortless healing.In this highly anticipated follow-up to her popular memoir on chronic illness, Brave New Medicine, Dr. Cynthia Li shows you how to cultivate flow—an inner state of harmony and energy efficiency that is essential for optimal health. Using a blend of techniques, such as the ancient Chinese practice of qigong, you’ll learn how this inner state can activate your body’s innate healing capacity, and even alleviate chronic illness, stress, and anxiety for greater vitality and well-being.Discover how you can do more for your physical and mental health while actually doing less. As you help your body reach a state of coherence, you’ll begin to feel the radical effects of embodied flow, and use this inner state to find lasting health and harmony.Reveal Press is an imprint of New Harbinger Publications.
by Cynthia Li
At night, the fox longs to keep the moon.It gathers reflections, moonlight, even falling stars.But the heavier its pockets grow,the emptier its heart feels.Until one quiet whisper reminds the fox—The moon was never meant to be collected.Its light has always been inside you.A poetic tale of loneliness, longing, and letting go—for anyone who needs to you, too, can shine.
The Little Hedgehog’s New Spine is a heartwarming picture book about growth, self-acceptance, and the courage to be yourself.Deep in the forest, a young hedgehog discovers his very first spine. At first, he feels proud and excited, eager to share it with friends. But soon, as his spines grow sharper and more numerous, the other animals begin to keep their distance. The little hedgehog feels lonely, even wishing he could break off his spines to be loved again.Just when sadness overwhelms him, an old hedgehog appears and gently shares a “Spines aren’t meant to push others away, but to protect you. You must learn when to tuck them in, and when to let them show.”With tender storytelling and beautiful illustrations, this book reminds readers of all ages that what makes us different can also be our greatest strength.Perfect looking for stories about courage, empathy, and self-worthAnyone who has ever felt “different” but longs to be understoodDiscover a touching tale that will warm hearts, spark conversations, and leave readers with a glowing sense of hope.
At the edge of a quiet town lies a forgotten garden.Its gate is tangled with iron vines, creaking softly in the wind.No one remembers that it once bloomed with colors and life.Until one day, a gray-and-white cat wandered in—sniffing the scent of dry leaves,it brushed away the dust and found a seed buried deep in the soil."Were you forgotten too?"A gentle story about memory, loneliness, and the courage to bloom again.May you find your own hidden garden within your heart.
In the heart of the forest lived a young deer,its back covered with strange, scattered spots.The other animals whispered and stared,and the deer began to wonder if being different meant being alone.The deer listened in awe.Each spot was a story — a memory of growth, courage, and kindness.And for the first time, it lifted its head with pride,knowing that those spots were speaking for it. The Spots on the Deer’s Back Can Talk is a gentle picture book about self-acceptance, memories, and the quiet beauty of being different.
by Cynthia Li
In the forest, there lived a little turtle everyone called Slowpoke.One day, the Forest Post Office needed a new mail carrier.When the turtle raised its hand and said, “Can I give it a try?”So the turtle carried the mailbag on its backand began its journey, slow, steady, and full of heart.Along the way, it stopped to help a mouse, comfort a bird,and deliver every letter with kindness and care.The Turtle Postman is a gentle picture bookabout patience, kindness, and finding meaning in every step.
by Cynthia Li
In a quiet forest, there lived a very busy squirrel.There were always things to do,gathering nuts, tidying leaves, and preparing for winter.One day, the squirrel took out a glass jarand began to collect the “tick-tock” sounds of each passing moment.“When I have time,” it said, “I’ll open them all and have more time again.”Day by day, the jars piled up, shining like treasures on the shelf.But the laughter of the forest grew quieter without the squirrel.The Squirrel’s Time Jar is a gentle picture bookabout slowing down, being present, and rememberingthat life is not meant to be stored, it’s meant to be lived.
On a faraway ice field lived a penguin who was afraid of the cold.While others skated and dived into the freezing sea,this little penguin just wanted to stay wrapped in a blanket.To keep warm, it learned to make hot cocoaand built a tiny snow hut with a “Warmth Open to All.”The Penguin Who Was Afraid of the Coldis a tender picture book about kindness, difference, and quiet courage for anyone who has ever felt out of place,but still wished to bring warmth to the world.