DEALING
WITH
DEPRESSION
Naturally
COMMENTS
& REVIEWS
Abram
Hoffer, MD, PhD,
author,
and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal
of Orthomolecular Medicine:
There are very
few good books which describe in any comprehensive detail the connection
between depression and the host of environmental factors which impinge
on it. In my opinion, this book does it better than the others. . . .
The book is informative,
easy to read and not dogmatic. . . .All physicians ought to have it on
their shelves.
Dealing with Depression
Naturally contains valuable information for the general reader - with
or without depression. It is also a useful textbook for medical and psychological
students.
Melvyn
R. Werbach, MD, author,
and Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA School of Medicine:
Syd Baumel has
done a superb job of digesting and summarizing a massive literature in
a style light enough for enjoyable reading.
Harvey M. Ross, MD,
author of Fighting
Depression:
This book is
an eye opener for those psychiatrists who are stuck in a narrow model of
depression. However, they will probably not read it unless it is given
to them by their patients! Any professional who does read it will be impressed.
. . . .Syd Baumel is
to be congratulated for the work he has done in bringing this important
information together. It can be of great benefit to those with depression,
their families and friends, and to the professionals treating them.
The
Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Vol. 10, No. 3 & 4, 1995:
This valuable
book addresses the wide spectrum of conditions which cause depression.
. . .During my 45 years of practice I have seen many examples of every
one of these conditions, and have seen how successful these carefully aimed
treatments can be, when the use of drugs alone has not been of any value.
I have found that the best way to treat depression is to diagnose accurately,
treat the causes, and use aids such as drugs when having done the preceding
has not been effective and when an additional push is needed. Many patients
do need these drugs, but they always work so much better and are required
in lesser doses when the other causes of depression are treated. They may
not be needed for as long periods of time.
This is a very good book.
I wish every therapist, every medical columnist, and every expert in this
field would read this and similar books, and take to heart the important
messages contained therein. . . .
The Speaking Tree,
issue #99:
. . . .[T]he
front cover . . . states boldly, "The drugless approach to the condition
that darkens millions of lives." This logline is not precisely true, as
Mr. Baumel spends some time discussing the drug-based treatments that are
currently available (he also discusses Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)
in as reasonable a way as I have ever seen.) The majority of the book,
however, does discuss alternative methods of treating depressive states.
In my opinion, this is
a valuable resource for people suffering from any sort of depressive state,
and a valuable reference tool for counselors of all stripes. . . .Before
committing firmly to any one approach, seek out and read this book. It
may well be the first step to a complete solution.
Reviewed
by Steven McDonald, Editor
Alive
Magazine, January 1997:
The author too
has struggled with depression for years and knows that, because of the
individual nature of this condition, not every solution will work for every
case. For that reason, Baumel offers a great variety of alternative treatments.
. . .This is the definitive source of natural alternatives for anyone dealing
with depression.
Reviewed
by Helene Meurer
MidLife Woman,
August, 1996:
This well-documented
book looks at depression from a holistic perspective as a mind/body disorder
that has many factors. . . .There are research citations with every chapter,
so those wanting to explore these connections to depression further may
do so. The self-help strategies may be useful for those dealing with depressed
feelings.
The
Townsend
Letter for Doctors & Patients, #148, November, 1995:
Not too long
ago, depression was considered to be simply an exaggerated reaction to
one's problems. Today, the conventional wisdom is that depression is "nothing
but a chemical imbalance." That neither of these is the whole story is
amply illustrated in Dealing With Depression Naturally.
. . . .Dealing With
Depression Naturally is an outstanding compilation of drug-free treatments
for most depressions. . . .[A]nyone who suffers from depression can help
themselves greatly with the programs outlined in this book, and I highly
recommend it to all psychiatrists to further their education.
Reviewed
by Irene Alleger, Editor
Hey, Syd!
I carry your
book around with me. I refer to it during visits to my therapist and my
psychiatrist. I recommend it to people on the internet. It's the sanest
thing I've seen on depression because it actually gives practical advice
for coping with the multi-faceted face of the Beast.
Donna,
alt.support.depression
"5 out of 5 stars"
- the best presentation I've seen of antidepressant research
This book has
helped me a great deal. If you're taking prescription antidepressants and
have gotten inadequate relief or if you think that you've "tried everything,"
think again, buy this book, and prepare yourself to be surprised. A vast
amount of research over the past three decades has been done to establish
the solid antidepressant effects of a variety of free-form amino acids
and amino acid derivatives and vitamins and other nutrients. Syd Baumel
has read the full-text journal articles, and he takes the reader through
all the details in an objective, systematic way, and every "assertion"
he makes is rigorously referenced. The book is really a classic because
it unveils the sheer number of possibilities that exist for a person with
depression. You will believe that depression is very treatable.
I used the references
to get journal articles on topics I wanted to read more about, and doing
this has shown me that there is really no error in the entire book--not
even an error of omission or an exaggeration. And Syd writes with style.
Furthermore, he doesn't take the stand that many alternative medicine writers
do - he doesn't dismiss prescription antidepressants as worthless with
a few sentences and then claim that nutrients are somehow fundamentally
safer or superior. His writing is scientifically accurate and unbiased.
Erik
Alexander Hanson, Minneapolis
. . . absolutely
fab! It discusses in a non-biased way all the different causes and treatments
for depression. . . .It's very easy to read and has a lot of information
with references!!. . .
And don't worry - it's
not one of those books that tells you to drop all your meds and start taking
vitamins. It is a great book and VERY interesting with references to studies
and such. I urge everyone to get it and read it!!
Jerry,
soc.support.depression
I want to say
that your book Dealing With Depression Naturally is probably the best,
most complete source of information I've seen, and I've basically been
reading about neurobiology and psychopharmacology for most of the past
three years. . . .I'll continue to recommend your book to people, whenever
I'm presented with the opportunity to.
The thing I like about
your writing is that you consider all sides of an issue, and you never
miss anything. . . .This is a rare kind of intelligence. . . .
Erik
Alexander Hanson, personal communication
I strongly recommend
the book Dealing With Depression Naturally, by Syd Baumel. . . .The book
helped substantially with my own decision to treat my depression naturally.
. . .I have absolutely no association with the author or the publishing
company - my career is in computer science. I just think it's a great book.
. . .
Daniel,
misc.health.alternative
. . . absolutely
fascinating. . . .I am a big believer in a natural way even though I am
currently on Paxil. . . .Your book is so good I am reccomending my husband
read it as well. Thank you for such a valuable book.
Teresa,
personal communication
For those of
you interested in using nutrition to help deal with depression get the
book titled "Dealing with Depression Naturally" by Syd Baumel. I have found
this to be a very informati[ve] book on dealing with depression by using
natural methods and not prescription medications.
"GreeneRK,"
misc.health.alternative
Don't worry
this isn't one of those offensive books that minimizes your struggles and
tells you medication is evil.:) It is a very comprehensive book that offers
a lot of insight into all the factors that can be contributing to your
depression or have developed because of it and explanations of different
methods that may work for you particularly. It also takes into consideration
the effects certain advice will have on manic-depression (that has been
my main problem with literature dealing with natural methods, plenty that
talk about depression, but none that take into consideration that you have
to worry about triggering mania also). So anyways it's definately worth
checking out. . .BTW the author is not a doctor (just one of us). . .in
my opinion this made it more pleasurable to read.
"Harmony,"
alt.support.depression.manic
Dealing with Depression Naturally
Amazon.com
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