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Herbal Medicine, Psychological Disorders, Depression & Mood Disorders, Alternative Medicine - General & Miscellaneous
St. John's wort by Norman Rosenthal — book cover

St. John's wort

by Norman Rosenthal
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Overview

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.

"'Natures prozac', St. John's Wort, has captured the attention, fascination, and praise of lay people and health-care professionals alike...explains how users can develop a game plan & make the herb a daily part of life."

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The fuzzy subtitle doesn't do justice to this comprehensive and authoritative work on depression and the alleviating effects of treatment with St. John's wort. Rosenthal (Winter Blues, 1993), an expert on depression who has appeared frequently in the media, describes how the herb St. John's wort (SJW), known since ancient times and available without a prescription, "may emerge as one of the most popular, effective and safest antidepressants." Part I features SJW "success stories," anecdotal reports of the herb's role in successfully reducing symptoms of such conditions as subsyndromal depression, PMS and anxiety disorder. Part II gets down to the nitty-gritty: how to diagnose one's depression; involve (or get rid of) a doctor in treatment; and develop "an antidepressant lifestyle." The history of the herb's use and reputation and its current scientific, government and economic status are considered in Part III. Rosenthal evenhandedly details what research has and has not been proven about SJW, and offers notably clear explanations of depressive disorders and pharmacology. Although he advocates appropriate use of SJW, Rosenthal repeatedly points out that those suffering severe depression should seek immediate professional help.

Library Journal

From a doctor at the National Institutes of Health with a good TV track record comes this account of the new miracle plant.

Book Details

Published
August 1, 1998
Publisher
New York, NY : HarperCollins, c1998.
Pages
235
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780060183820

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