cover image Nature's Prozac: Natural Therapies and Techniques to Rid Yourself of Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks & Stress

Nature's Prozac: Natural Therapies and Techniques to Rid Yourself of Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks & Stress

Judith Sachs. Prentice Hall, $22.95 (384pp) ISBN 978-0-13-243338-9

A smorgasbord of therapies is arranged here for those looking for drug-free methods of relieving stress or coping with psychological problems. Sachs, an HIV/AIDs educator for the American Red Cross and author of The Healing Power of Sex, describes 45 natural healing approaches and techniques, including biofeedback, manipulation, meditation, nutrition and tai chi in an alphabetical format. There are also brief entries on roughly 100 specific mental and emotional problems and longer discussions of 11 major syndromes such as anxiety, depression and phobias. This cross-referenced mix of problems and solutions results in odd juxtapositions: the Alexander Technique is sandwiched between Agoraphobia and Alienation; Breathing is followed by Broken Heart, which in turn leads to Brooding. The book is intended to be consulted, however, rather than read from cover to cover, and the information under each entry is largely commonsensical. Thus, insomniacs are encouraged to forego caffeine and alcohol, enjoy a banana milkshake or an herbal sedative, press on certain acupressure points or practice visualization techniques. The descriptions of therapies are clear and the directions for performing or initiating them easy to follow. An appendix that describes mood-altering drugs (with a section on getting off medications) and a resource guide are particularly useful. For another title on this topic, see note on Natural Prozac below. (Feb.)