St. John's Wort - Hardcover

Rosenthal, Norman, PhD

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060183829 ISBN 13: 9780060183820

Publisher: HarperCol, 1998

Synopsis

It's a simple yellow wildflower whose extraordinary properties have been documented for centuries. Hypericum, or St. John's wort, as it is more commonly known, has emerged in Germany as one of the most popular, effective, and safe treatments for a devastating disease that affects millions: depression. Now, for the first time, the worlds of conventional medicine and alternative healing have at last come together to embrace St. John's wort's exceptional powers. In St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good, Norman Rosenthal, M.D., a leading authority in the field of depression and author of the bestselling Winter Blues, shows readers how they can relieve a host of different emotional conditions and difficulties accompanying the ordinary stresses of everyday life by tapping nature's own resources instead of using the pre-scription drugs that are now being taken by thousands of people worldwide.

Written in an engaging, accessible manner and filled with fascinating anecdotes, the latest scientific research, and carefully documented case studies, St. John's Wort examines how extracts of this flower influence not only the brain chemical serotonin, which is also affected by such drugs as Prozac and Zoloft, but other critical brain chemicals as well. In addition, St. John's wort

• is easily accessible and can be purchased everywhere, from grocery stores to pharmacies;

• requires no prescription;

• costs a fraction of prescription medications;

• has no toxic effects;

• shows benefits after two weeks of treatment

Given the widespread availability of this amazing herb and the prevalence of the conditions for which it has been proved so useful, the time is ripe for St. John's Wort, the comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible guide that will show readers how they can feel better quickly, safely, easily, and naturally.

About this title

Review

Almost 18 million people suffer from depression in the United States. Powerful antidepressant drugs are widely prescribed. Yet the bestselling remedy for depression in Germany, with more than 10 times the sales of Prozac and fewer side effects, isn't a drug--it's a shrub: St. John's wort, or Hypericum perforatum. St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good is a comprehensive, reader-friendly guide to assessing whether St. John's wort is right for you, and what you need to know about depression, conventional antidepressants, and this herb to manage your condition effectively.

Rosenthal is a National Institutes of Mental Health researcher and psychiatrist who conveys a great deal of information simply and interestingly. He relates success stories of clients who have benefited from St. John's wort, discusses the research, helps you diagnose and understand your depression, and shows you how to create a personalized plan for using the herb. He also recommends leading an "antidepressant lifestyle" through stress management, exercise, social support, sleep, and adequate light. A history of the herb ("from ancient remedy to herbal superstar") chronicles its 2,000 years of use. This is a must-read book if you or a loved one suffers from depression. (Rosenthal stresses that the herb and his program are not substitutes for medical care, and that anyone suffering from severe depression should seek medical help.) --Joan Price

About the Author

Dr. Norman Rosenthal, M.D., a senior researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health and clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University, is an internationally recognized authority on depression. Widely published, he is the author of Winter Blues, the definitive book on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). He lives and practices psychiatry in Maryland.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCol
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0060183829
• ISBN 13: 9780060183820
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 235