Feeling overwhelmed? Addicted to your prescription drugs? There are other alternatives which could be your gateway to freedom. They are presented here, in this definitive guide to natural remedies.

Depressive disorders affect almost 10% of the North American adult population age 18 and older in a given year, and about 25% of adults will have a major depression episode. It is projected that depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020. Conventional medicine is adept at prescribing medications for depression, but not well versed at addressing the causes of depression or preventing this disease. Fortunately, naturopathic medicine has proven to be especially effective and safe in doing do. Healing Depression is an authoritative guide for the naturopathic, conventional, and integrative practitioner, providing comprehensive information about the underlying factors that contribute to depression, how to diagnose the disease properly, and how to safely and effectively treat depression using natural medicines, while weaning patients from medications. Depression is a multifactorial disease best treated by a multifaceted integrative approach. Treating the cause affords the most complete and long-lasting clinical result, while cooperating with the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) is the guiding principle of naturopathic medicine, unifying its multifaceted modalities, from clinical nutrition and botanical medicine to homeopathy and mind-body therapy. Based on the most current research and evidence-based practices, Healing Depression will become a standard text for medical libraries, healthcare practitioners, and patients for years to come. "Living a life without joy is what living with depression is like. Dr Bongiorno has provided an excellent overview of depression as well as a guide to how it is treated in both standard and naturopathic models. His book will help healthcare providers of all licenses raise their patients out of the pit of depression." -- Dr Walter Crinnion, ND, Professor, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

In Depression and the Soul, John Peteet proves the old adage that the best physician is also a philosopher. He considers how to approach the problem of depression within a larger context, and reviews current concepts of successful living relative to the heart (emotion and volition), the mind (cognition and coping), and the soul (the self in relation to transcendent reality). Each chapter goes on to further explore the relationship between depression and the context of a patient’s entire life. This is done through consideration of how the existential struggles of depressed individuals engage their spiritual lives, by reviewing current empirical literature on depression and spirituality, comparing the perspectives of various spiritual traditions or world views, and summarizing ways that spirituality and depression interact.

In The Wisdom of Depression: A Guide to Understanding and Curing Depression Using Natural Medicine, holistic physician Dr. Jonathan Zuess explains how the activation of symptoms such as insomnia, preoccupation with one's problems, soul-searching, and the desire to be alone are natural reactions to our harried lives. The initial stage of depression is designed to enhance our ability to focus inward and find solutions to difficult emotional challenges; in many ways our bodies and minds are forcing us to create a contemplative environment much like the vision quest of native cultures or the monastic quiet of a Western retreat. However, if this process goes on for too long, we can become "stuck," mired in an unproductive, even painful cycle. The gentle, alternative therapies in this informative and practical book help restart the healing work of depression, instead of simply cutting it short. As an example, the herb St. John's wort enhances the dreaming cycle--an intensive problem-solving mode of consciousness--unlike prescription antidepressants. Other therapies covered include nutritional supplements, light therapy, music and play, meditation, and prayer. Dr. Zuess also discusses environmental toxins and drug side effects that mimic the symptoms of depression, as well as how to find a psychiatrist if the depression deepens to a clinical state and antidepressants become necessary. The Wisdom of Depression is the essential guide to the full array of treatments for depression. As a society, we have long misunderstood the process of depression. Depression is not just a chemical imbalance in the brain. It can be our bodies' response to the need to address imbalance in our whole livesand is in many ways about transformation. In fact, when viewed and treated within a holistic framework, the process of depression can become a powerful and potentially creative healing path. "From the Hardcover edition.

Integrative Medicine for Depression A disease that has long plagued humankind, depression is debilitating. Despite the frequency with which they’re prescribed, drugs alone don’t always provide relief, and often have side effects that limit effectiveness. There’s new hope for treatment, as emerging evidence suggests depression can be triggered by biochemical imbalances and nutritional deficiencies. In the newly updated edition of Integrative Medicine for Depression, mental health expert Dr. James M. Greenblatt emphasizes the treatment of depression using an integrative regimen that first seeks to understand the whole person. This book offers fresh new possibilities for those who suffer from depression. Incorporating decades of research and treatment in this groundbreaking work, Dr. Greenblatt explains: ■ The biologic mechanisms that cause depression ■ Why previous treatments may have failed ■ Nutritional approaches to improve mood ■ Ways to minimize the side effects of antidepressants ■ Strategies for a personalized supplement program

Millions of people suffer from chronic depression, and millions more cope with "down days." But diet, natural light, and many supplements can improve.....................

A customized, drug-free program that attacks the biochemical roots of depression -- with a 90% success rate Not all depressions are alike. And despite the attention given to Prozac and other drugs, there quite literally is no magic pill. Instead, writes Dr. Gabriel Cousens, someone who suffers from depression needs a customized, individual program, one that attacks the personal, biochemical roots of the problem. In Depression-Free for Life, Dr. Cousens shows how to heal depression safely by synergistically rebalancing what he calls "the natural drugs of the brain," using a five-step program of mood-boosting substances, vitamin and mineral supplements, and a mood-enhancing diet and lifestyle. Grounded in cutting-edge science, yet accessible and safe, this book shows how to regain your optimism and energy through balancing your own biochemistry. Depression-Free for Life Helps you customize your approach through easy self-assessment exercises Outlines a five-step program for harnessing your own body chemistry Incluedes a seven-day menu plan Features thirty savory but simple recipes