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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
A must read for the chemically sensitive
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide has been a must read for all MCS sufferers since it was first published in 2000. Now a new version of the book has been released with substantially updated content. Pamela Reed Gibson, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at James Madison University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She is the author of numerous journal articles and regularly presents papers on MCS and environmental health topics. Since 1992 Professor Gibson has sought to better understand environmental illnesses, and multiple chemical sensitivity in particular. Her work has focused on understanding the impact MCS has on a sufferer's life as well as contextualizing MCS within the modern industrial culture in which we in the developed world live. Professor Gibson has written a number of journal articles and delivered a number of conference papers on the impact of MCS on a person's life. MCS and issues of environmental health in general are discussed in all of her classes and she also talks about related illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia. In addition, when time allows, she consults with MCS patients and their helpers and attempts to provide resources to improve their quality of life. For the second edition of the book Professor Gibson draws up on new insights discovered through her continuing work since the first edition was published. The original Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Survival Guide was an essential addition to any MCS sufferer's library and the new edition can only be considered even more so. As the title suggests, it focuses on how MCS affects a sufferers life and offers practical information for improving the situation, rather than getting caught up in what causes the condition and related issues. Of course there is a chapter that outlines various theories about MCS but the remainder of the book is squarely aimed at helping people cope with the condition and improve their quality of life. After briefly outlining the proposed physiological and psychological causes of MCS early on, the book moves on to the more practical information. The following chapters include advice on how to make your home environment safe, how to eat a healthy diet whilst avoiding triggers, how to find suitable medical help, and how to successfully apply for state benefits. The book also contains extensive appendices which include contact information for support organizations and manufacturers of MCS safe products, as well as listing sources for further reading. What really sets this book apart however is the final appendix which comes from one of Professor Gibson's research papers published in 2003 (new for the 2nd edition). Professor Gibson and colleagues surveyed 917 MCS sufferers who had tried a total of 101 different treatments. They then presented data showing the effectiveness of each treatment based on reports given by the sufferers. Given the current lack of medical understanding of MCS and the associated lack of any officially recognized treatment, this appendix is akin to the holy grail for many of those suffering from this devastating illness. The reader can see at a glance the relative effectiveness of 101 different treatment options as rated by other MCS patients who have already tried them. Treating MCS is still very much a case of trying things to see what works but at least with the information in this appendix sufferers can see what has worked most often for others and therefore narrow the odds of seeing improvements. Treatments examined included environmental medicine techniques, holistic therapies, individual nutritional supplements, detoxification techniques, body therapies, Eastern-origin techniques, newer therapies, prescription items, and others. This fantastic addition caps off an already invaluable source of information. This book cannot be recommended highly enough for all those struggling with multiple chemical sensitivity. |
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Mental & Emotional Problems
A comprehensive look at natural antidepressants
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For those looking for alternatives to the standard drug and psychotherapy approach to treating depression, this book is a great place to start. It starts by describing the biochemical dysfunctions that can result in depression including hormonal imbalances, toxicity, and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The book then moves on to the various natural solutions to the treatment of depressive illness. The natural antidepressant therapies are split into distinct categories which makes browsing the book for a particular type of therapy very easy. The categories start with diet and nutritional supplements before moving on to herbal remedies, homeopathy, electromagnetic therapy, exercise, bodywork and sleep solutions, and finally onto a psychotherapy section which includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), meditation, and relaxation techniques. All of the major antidepressant supplements and herbal remedies are covered including 5-HTP, SAMe, and St. John's Wort. The inclusion of non-invasive therapies such as bright light therapy and electromagnetic devices is fantastic and an area that a lot of books on natural antidepressants sometimes overlook. The book is very well laid out and the author does a great job of helping the reader to sort through all the options to determine which natural solution(S) might be the most suitable for them personally. Many treatments are accompanied by bullet lists which help readers assess their applicability to their mental health issues. On a personal note, I suffered from depression and anxiety as part of more extensive environmental illness for many years and tried every type of antidepressant medication going with not a hint of any improvement at all. After trying various natural alternatives including amino acids, herbs, and bright light therapy, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are highly effective and work very quickly indeed. This book is very comprehensive, covering all the available natural options for treating depression so I would recommend it to all who are looking for effective natural solutions to low mood and depression. |
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Mental & Emotional Problems
Expert advice on the benefits of omega-3 on mood
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One of the most exciting developments in the field of mental health in recent years has been the recognition of the vital role that fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, play in maintaining healthy brain function. The brain structure itself is composed of a large amount of fat and the type of fats are very important. The author of this book, Andrew. L. Stoll, is Professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is a major researcher into the effects of omega-3s on mental health. Although Stoll notes that this field of investigation is still in its infancy he presents convincing evidence that omega-3s are vital for mental health and that supplementing them can effectively treat mood disorders. This evidence includes major epidemiological evidence that shows lower rates of depression in cultures that consume large amounts of omega-3s, and Stoll's own studies demonstrating that increasing dietary intake and supplementing pure omega-3 fatty acids can reduce depression symptoms. There is good evidence that this holds true when all conventional therapies have failed. In addition, we learn that omega-3s have shown promising results treating other problems, such as the inability to handle stress, memory loss, and cognitive decline. Although the book goes into a great deal of detail about how omega-3s do what they do and the research that has been conducted to date, the author also writes on a very pragmatic level, offering dietary advice to increase intake of omega-3s, and even providing a number of recipes. This is a great book from one of the leading experts in this exciting area of nutrition and mental health research. A must read for those suffering from mood disorders. *I would also recommend looking into the work of Prof. Basant Puri, another leading researcher on the same subject who has done much to bring the subject to public attention. |
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Mental & Emotional Problems
Exercise has a big impact on mood
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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This book describes how important exercise can be for mental health and is written by A Professor of psychology at San Jose State University. In it we learn that exercise can be used to maintain mood or even to treat cases of clinical depression. The author reviews the scientific research in the area and compares how well excercise relieves depression compared to more traditional treatments such as psychotherapy and drug therapy. Usefully the author provides techniques for motivating oneself to exercise whilst in the grips of depression, which obviously can be a very difficult thing to do. Most of the book is focused on running but the author points out that any aerobic exercise that gets your body moving and breathing hard will help to elevate mood. He does say that drugs and psychotherapy may also be required in severe cases of depression and anxiety but the evidence for the benefits of exercise on mood is very strong. In terms of environmental illness patients this book may or may not be useful, it really depends on the exacr nature of your illness. Those with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and perhaps Gulf War syndrome should be very wary of aerobic exercise as it can do more harm than good and research has in fact shown that mood elevating chemicals do not increase in the braisn of these patients as they do in healthy individuals during and after exercise. Someone with irritable bowel syndrome only however may benefit greatly from aerobic exercise and the stress reducing and mood elevating effects it has. Obviously this is something that each indivual should discuss with their doctor. In conclusion, I found this to be a very interesting and in depth look at exercise and mood but because the recommendations are not suitable for many suffering from environmental illnesses I have not rated it as highly as I would for a healthy audience. |
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Mental & Emotional Problems
A practical guide to using "mind boosters"
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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Mental and emotional disturbances are a major part of Environmental Illnesses and drugs are often not the best option since they add to the detoxification burden of the body and many patients are sensitive to them and cannot tolerate them at all. This book describes natural alternatives that can safely improve mood and mental functioning. Dr. Sahelian has a very sensible approach to using natural supplements in that he always advises starting at the very lowest dose available and increasing very slowly so as to avoid any adverse reactions. He suggests that many product formulations contain too high a dose that really isn't required to get beneficial results. In this vein he starts off this book by offering 10 pieces of advice about using natural mind boosting supplements safely and effectively. The first section of the main text gives a good outline of how the brain works, or doesn't work in the event of various illnesses. This is followed by advice on healthy habits that may help maintain a healthy brain and substances to avoid to achieve this goal. The main part of the book deals with the natural supplements that may help improve brain functioning. These are split into a number of categories including brain fats, amino acids, psychoactive herbs, and methyl donors. Dr. Sahelian draws on research evidence and historical uses in the discussion of each supplement and then describes his own experience with it. He has personally tried every supplement he discusses which I found to be a useful addition to the purely medical and research derived information. Personal and subjective experience has been seriously devalued in modern medicine but I believe most people will find the author's own impressions offer a useful additional perspective. The book concludes with nutrient programs aimed at specific conditions and age groups. I found this to be a well written and well rounded exploration of the use of natural supplements to improve mental functioning and would certainly recommend it. |
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Mental & Emotional Problems
Alternatives to therapy and medication for depress
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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The author of this book is a psychotherapist who runs a community health centre. Importantly, he has struggled with depression himself so has first-hand experience of what this crippling condition actually feels like to the patient. This, along with the experience the author has treating depressed patients in his clinic, means that he has a great deal of wisdom to offer. Medication and therapy are often helpful to many patients either alone or in combination, but Richard O'Conner suggests they are not the whole solution. He offers a wealth of practical advice for the depressed patient themselves, as well as family and close friends, to follow to offer the individual the best chance of overcoming their affliction. Amongst the highlights of this book for me were the section describing the many and varied reasons why people often fail in successfully overcoming their depression. It highlights the common patterns of thinking that depressed patients get stuck in which hinders their efforts to break free of their dark moods. When you are depressed it is very hard to see what is right in front of your eyes so having someone point out what you might be doing wrong is very beneficial indeed. The many case studies that the author presents from his clinical experience with patients is also a helpful addition to the book. This is a very refreshing book on depressive illness by an author with a lot of experience both personal and professional and I would highly recommend it to all. My only complaint is that the book is promoted as a "holistic" approach to depression but neglects to mention alternative/complementary therapies such as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and others that can be very helpful alone or in combination with more orthodox treatments. Ignoring this and taking the book for what it is, it will be of great help to many. |
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Leaky Gut Syndrome
A great introduction to leaky gut syndrome
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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This little book (56 pages) is a great introduction to leaky gut syndrome from one of the leading experts on the condition in the natural health field. Although being so short the book doesn't go into great detail on any one aspect of leaky gut syndrome it does cover all the bases including explaining what the condition is, discussing the various factors that can cause it, giving details of laboratory testing, and describing what can be done to reverse it. The causes of leaky gut syndrome the book describes include antibiotics, pain medications, chronic stress, Candida overgrowth, and food sensitivities. All the major leaky gut related lab testing is covered including intestinal permeability testing, comprehensive digestive stool analysis (CDSA), and testing for Candida, bacteria and parasites. Suggestions for recovering from the condition include the removal of aggravating substances and other factors such as stress, the use of nutrients that nouroush and repair the damaged intestinal lining, and detoxification methods. This is a great primer on leaky gut syndrome for those who are new to the subject and want all the important facts without too much unneccesary detail. If you find this book helpful and want to learn more then I would suggest reading Elizabeth Lipski's much more extensive work Digestive Wellness which goes into more detail on leaky gut syndrome and covers many other related aspects of digestive health and how it affects health in general. |
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IBS Diet/Recipes
A great help for IBS patients in the kitchen
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2 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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The focus of this book is squarely on how nutrition and specific foods affect a person with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is packed with information regarding what causes the symptoms of IBS and why particular foods, such as dairy foods, cause problems for a large number of patients. As well as advice for creating a food diary so you can discover your problem foods, this book contains over 60 IBS specific recipes. For anybody with a digestive disorder, finding meals that are both safe to eat AND tasty can be very difficult and frustrating but this book is a great help in this area. The author goes on to discuss food allergies and intolerances and offers advice on various orthodox and alternatives therapies for the condition. This is just a bonus however as the real substance to this book is in the dietary information and recommendations. A comprehensive diet book that is sure to benefit anybody suffering from IBS. |
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
An easy to read and compassionate IBS book
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If you have been reading a lot of straight down the line medical type books on irritable bowel syndrome then this title will be a breath of fresh air. Without omitting important medical information on IBS it avoids boring or confusing the reader with too much technical medical information and instead focuses on what it is like to have the condition and the simple natural approaches that can be taken to deal with it. The author focuses on dietary advice, including many delicious recipes, and stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, and various relaxation techniques. Their is a compassionate tone throughout the book which is exactly what those suffering from this frustrating condition need. Obviously this book is one sided in its approach to IBS being purely from a natural medicine perspective, but if you suffer from IBS and have had no help from the standard drug/psychotherapy approach, or you simply prefer not to pursue those options, it could be just what you are looking for. |
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Comprehensive guide to orthodox treatment of IBS
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
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This book is written by a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, and a psychologist. As such it is marketed as a guide to coping with irritable bowel syndrome by 3 experts in fields associated with the condition. I think the most accurate description of this book is that it is a comprehensive, well written, and readable guide on the orthodox views of IBS. It covers diagnosis, research findings, and how diet and stress trigger symptoms and affect their severity. As far as it goes, the advice will likely be useful to a lot of IBS sufferers. The obvious downside to this book is that it looks at the condition purely from an orthodox medical perspective and seems comfortable with the limitations that this narrow view brings. There are many effective solutions for IBS in the field of alternative/complementary medicine from the use of probiotics to the use of IgG food sensitivity testing and appropriate elimination diet. These approaches are also backed by research it should be noted and by a considerable number of patient reports. On a personal note, I have found these methods much more effective than the limited advice I received from a gastroenterologist and a dietician after being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome myself. The suggestion by the nutritionist in this book that IBS sufferers should load up with insoluble fibre from wheat is sure to confuse many patients and health professionals alike. It is widely known that celiac disease (gluten/wheat allergy) is underdiagnosed and many patients diagnosed with IBS may in fact have this condition. Suggesting patients consume large amounts of gluten containing wheat and other grains is risky at best in this situation in my opinion. Gluten and wheat are known to be irritating to the gut lining even if celiac disease is not present. In summary I would find it hard to recommend this as the only book an IBS patient should read on the subject. As part of a larger library of IBS titles it may be worth having however as it does present orthodox medical views well. Personally I would suggest readers try a more rounded book first or perhaps buy a book about the alternative/complementary medicine approach to IBS along with this title. |
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