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1. Michael Ortiz Hill Says:
   August 4th, 2010 at 3:52 am

   Review of HOW TO USE HERBS, NUTRIENTS AND YOGA IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE by Richard P. Brown, M.D. , Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D. and Philip R.Muskin,M.D

   As a young man I wrestled with the extremes of a bipolar mind. As an RN, I was trained during the dark ages of “medicalized” psychiatry. And, as a scholar, I studied cross-cultural medical epistemologies. I can only give highest praise for the work of Drs. Brown, Gerbarg and Muskin. Praise plus a feeling of gratitude and relief that this book was written.

   My history and perspective on alternative mental health is peculiar. During my teenage years I was sleepless, delusional, ate garbage, and knew that my psyche was split open. Somehow, I was canny enough to avoid the depredations of a mental hospital. But I lived alongside its victims, those lost souls who shared the street with me, the walking wounded, staggering with tardive dyskinesia (TD) from dangerous medications used to “treat” them.

   The authors describe TD in their chapter on possible side effects of antipsychotic medications…..”TD consists of involuntary movements of the tongue, jaw, trunk, or extremities that can occur as choeiform (rapid, jerky, non-repetitive), or athetoid (slow, sinuous, continual.)” What they write of is my experience.

   The authors also write about Buddhist and Hindu modalities of meditation in great detail, and include healing breath practices as well as Hatha yoga. Their evidence-based reflection is refreshing. CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) ceases to be “mere” folk medicine and takes on professional credibility. I understand. My bi-polarity resolved itself with Zen meditation, my daily practice for over 30 years, plus, learning the language of feeling.

   I did my psych rotations as a nurse in 1S San Jose Medical Center, affectionately known as the “dungeon” by staff and patients in the 1980’s. It was the place where people in full psychosis were “controlled on meds” so they could be sent to the general psych population or discharged. I’d imagined becoming a psych nurse because I enjoyed the company of the mad, but then I had to face the simple violence of what we were doing in the name of “healing.”

   The book speaks openly about the potential side effects of psychotropic drugs, as well as alternatives and neuroprotective gestures when meds are used. “The study of substances with known neuroprotective effects in patients who require antipsychotic medications is an emerging area in CAM research.”

   This book as an encyclopedia rich in revealing details. I am not exaggerating. Page by page, you’ll learn how to protect yourself and others who could be vulnerable from the darker consequences of some treatment.

   Following my RN training, I studied alterative ways of medicine and healing. For a couple of years I studied the Navajo language and read about the “singway” ceremonials. After the LA race riots in 1992 I began exploring the African origins of African-American culture and was initiated into the tribal medicine and peacemaking of the Shona and Ndebele people of Zimbabwe in 1996.
   
   It is through the lens of being a nganga (medicine man) that I most appreciate the epistemological and paradigmatic shift that the text of HOW TO USE HERBS, NUTRIENTS AND YOGA IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE represents.
   
   Three things immediately strike me related to this remarkable book -
   
   The epistemological split between body and mind is by no means a cultural or medical universal among the various medicine traditions on the planet.
   
   The split between spirit and medicine that has pertained in the West since the renaissance is likewise hardly universal.
   
   The “war metaphor” (war on cancer, war on AIDS, war on mental illness) from my point of view is a diseased perspective that western allopathy succumbs to.
   
   In the ngoma tradition in which I practice medicine it is said that ancestors visit certain illnesses upon people who they are calling to a deeper understanding of medicine. When I arrived in Africa I knew most all the symptoms of water spirit disease (bipolarity is common among water spirit people) and the only cure for this is to be initiated as a nganga of the water spirits.
   
   When I returned from Africa peripheral neuropathy was ultimately diagnosed as multiple sclerosis.
   
   With sacred illness first one prays “thank you” and then “teach me how to listen.” The way of this medicine tradition is that one allies with the spirit of the affliction to stand alongside it in the healing of others.
   
   The ngoma of the water spirits is simultaneously a healing and a peacemaking tradition.

   Drs. Brown, Gerbarg and Muskin are creating a healing and peacemaking tradition too.

   In the holism of their encyclopedia one is not splitting body from mind but seeking the skillful means of reconciliation. One is not fighting the anxious, the psychotic, or the marginalized addict, but is inviting them back into the human community.

   Michael Ortiz Hill, author with Mandaza Kandemwa of The Village of the Water Spirits: The Dreams of African Americans and Twin from Another Tribe: The Story of Two Shamanic Healers in Africa and North America.
   
   Dreaming the End of the World: Apocalypse as a Rite of Passage, Also with Deena Metzger Meeting Sacred Illness and Sacred Illness, Sacred Medicine.
   
   A Conspiracy of Kindness: The Craft of Compassion at the Bedside of the Ill, is a work in progress.
   
   .
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Andrea Garrison Says:
   August 4th, 2010 at 6:19 am

   How To Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga In Mental Health Care By Dr. Richard P. Brown, Dr. Patricia L.Gerbarg and Dr. Philip R. Muskin

   A Review by Andrea R. Garrison – onlinewithandrea

   How To Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga In Mental Health Care is a thorough practical guide on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It gives a comprehensive listing of specific medical conditions and the alternative methods that have been successfully used to help them. Whether it is the use of Yoga – mind-body practices that relieves anxiety, stress while relaxing the body, Bright Light Therapy during pregnancy: Antepartum depression or the use of Melatonin for anxiety disorders and insomnia, this book outlines every thing specifically and in great detail. It is a great resource for any one in the medical profession and it is a handy insightful guide for patients when they are consulting with their physicians on alternative approaches. What is so great about this book is that Dr. Brown, Dr. Gerbarg and Dr Muskin did the research and the hard work and included all of this information in a one source book. Now it is up to you to buy it so it is handy and within reach so you can refer to it when needed. I highly recommend that you add it to your medical resource library. To learn more about How To Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga In Mental Health Care read the book and visit their website and listen to the interview they had onlinewithandrea.

   Andrea R. Garrison
   
   Producer/Host onlinewithandrea
   
   Author of The Crossing Over Of Mattie Pearl
   Rating: 5 / 5

3. G. A. BRAVO-CASAS Says:
   August 4th, 2010 at 8:54 am

   This book is a most valuable source of information for those who would like scientific evidence of the benefits of yoga as a component of a mental therapy. The three authors are regarded as leading authorities on the application of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to mental health treatment. They have outstanding academic credentials as researchers and psychiatry professors and clearly affirm through the entire book that CAM procedures, particularly yoga, are mainly complementary, rather than alternative strategies. The book is organized in ten chapters dealing with specific mental health conditions ranging from anxiety and mood disorders to schizophrenia and substance abuse, and has a general introductory chapter about the basic principles of integrative mental health care. Their major focus of attention is on those CAM treatments that the authors have found helpful in clinical practice, are easy to administer, and have low side effects. Each chapter has a comprehensive presentation of the mental condition under consideration and the most common treatments used by specialists, as well as the research evidence and clinical experience in applying both traditional and CAM treatments. This encyclopaedic book is a rich source of information on the positive contribution of CAM procedures, including yoga practices; it has an abundant bibliography and has many case examples illustrating the complementary results of traditional and CAM approaches. There are also well-prepared summaries, charts, tables, ‘clinical pearls,’ a selected list of websites, and appendixes about finding safe and effective nutrients and herbal products. This review is limited to the yoga contribution to the management of mental health issues.

   From a yoga perspective, the authors take a holistic approach that incorporates not only various Asanas, but also precise breathing and relaxation techniques, meditation, and yoga philosophy. Their major source of inspiration comes from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, and creator of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY). This yoga school gives particular emphasis to various Pranayama (’breath control’) practices that include Ujjayi (’victorious breath’), Bhastrika (’bellows breath’ or ‘breath of fire’), and Nadi shodanam (’alternate nostril breathing’). The authors say that SKY calms the sympathetic nervous system, activates the parasympathetic nervous system and elevates serum levels of brain-derived neurotropic factors, which is an indicator of increased neuroplasticity. In one of their ‘clinical pearls’ (page 113), they conclude that yoga can enhance psychotherapy because it may reduce the need to avoid emotions through repression, suppression, denial, numbing, and dissociation; it reduces anxiety, over reactivity, and sleep difficulties; it improves cognitive-emotional integration; and it reduces trauma-related somatic experiences, and strengthens the therapeutic alliance through patient empowerment and collaboration. This book is necessary read, not only for mental health care clinicians, but also for anyone curious about the assistance provided by yoga and other complementary and alternative approaches.

   Dr. Richard P. Brown is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University. He has been practicing yoga, Zen meditation, QiGong and Aikido for more than 30 years. In addition to his training in psychiatry, psychopharmacology and psychobiology, his personal interest in the therapeutic use of herbs prepared him to become a leading authority on CAM treatments for mental health. Dr. Brown has played a major role in offering workshops and guidance to members of the September 11 Community (Serving those Who Serve – STWS). Dr. Patricia L. Gerbarg, is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College. With her husband, Dr. Brown, she wrote about the use of Rhodiola rosea to combat stress. And Dr. Philip R. Muskin is Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and a specialist in geriatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. He has written about the uses of yoga and CAM in psychiatry, and founded the Comforter Program at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to provide emotional support to families of patients in intensive care units.
   Rating: 5 / 5

4. Allbooks Review Says:
   August 4th, 2010 at 11:26 am

   Genre: Health/Psychology

   Title: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients & Yoga in Mental Health Care

   Authors: Richard P. Brown, MD Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD Philip R. Muskin, MD

   This impressive, essential guidebook made me really take the time to read. As someone with a health care background and a person that suffers from some of the problems discussed, I learned and absorbed a great deal of useful and new information.
   
   Striding along with today’s world of knowledge, where the consumer has the option of taking care of their own healthcare choices, these doctors/teachers have collectively researched, shared their outstanding knowledge, added a large dose of experience and produced an encyclopedia style, resource book. Their work instructs us on the integration of herbs, hormones, vitamins and Yoga with Western Style pharmaceuticals. The empathy is directed towards Mental Health Care.
   
   Instead of just suggesting the herbs are good for a certain affliction, they systematically explain how each one works and why. They are not shy about the possible adverse effects, especially when mixing with medications or physical problems. I now have further insight into many subjects such as Alzheimer’s disease and what really happens to the brain. Using concise points, called Clinical Pearls, Case Studies and Tables, we learn how an herb like Rhodiola rosea can be taken alone or in combination with other medications. I believe I now truly understand how long term effects of continuous trauma or stress can physically affect our brain.
   
   Ultimately the goal is complete remission, but even if the amount of prescription chemicals consumed could be cut down or the benefits enhanced with fewer detrimental side effects to the physical body, a huge benefit would be achieved. Am I passionate about the possibilities? Yes! I watch someone close to me deteriorate on a daily basis, her condition now being blamed on the adverse effects of years of the ingestion of pain medications, after multiple invasive surgeries.
   
   Written in understandable layman’s terms, it is precisely detailed and should be an addition to the library of all mental healthcare providers, educators and health resource facilities. Many subjects are covered including ADD, Menopause, Cancer, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis and more. With textbook accuracy, the authors include a resource guide, glossary and index.
   
   Dr. Brown is an expert in herbal medicine, first learning about plant medicine from his grandfather, in the hills of Kentucky. He teaches full-day courses on Integrative Psychiatry.
   
   Dr. Brown has participated in yoga and meditative practices for over 30 years and is a certified teacher.
   
   Dr. Gerbarg has lectured on a range of topics in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. She has become increasingly involved in research and writing about alternative and complementary medicine as well as the health benefits of mind-body practices.
   
   Dr. Muskin’s specialties are psychosomatic medicine, psychopharmacology, and psychological aspects of medical illness. He teaches subjects such as mood disorders, AIDS, panic disorder and much more.
   
   It is with applause, that I Highly Recommend this book. Reviewer: Cheryl Ellis, Allbook Reviews [...]
   
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. BL Says:
   August 4th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

   An excellent book on evidence-based CAM treatments that serves to provide an educational foundation for both the patient and the mental health provider. The book’s target audience is mental health professionals seeking that foundation for CAM treatment. Its value to laymen like me is that it really helps in showing clinical trial and clinical practice support for CAM treatments so that I can make more informed decisions, partnering with a mental health professional when various agents are used for treatment (therefore, it isn’t meant to serve as a completely self-driven self-help book). On the other hand, the information on mind-body practices is not only excellent but was enough to get me to get trained on those practices that have shown great effectiveness. The non-demonization of pharmaceuticals as well as the use of CAM for supplementing them (and, of course, replacing them) was very helpful; I had some misinformation about clinical trials that the authors greatly helped with. A very strong element of the book is its openness — grounding in science and a desire to get it across that mental health professionals need to take the responsibility to educate themselves on the mechanisms of these agents and practices (that’s why the book tries to avoid a cookbook recipe for prescribing specific protocols for symptoms and disorders).

   If the authors are reading this, here is some feedback on improvements: 1. Dr. Brown has commented elsewhere on the use of Tianeptine, Reboxetine, Picamilion, and Piracetam for depression but these aren’t discussed in the mood disorders chapter (Tianeptine is mentioned in the DHEA discussion; Picamilion, and Piracetam are discussed in a different chapter). 2. I think it’s important to emphasize the value of CBT/ExRP therapy (esp. given the numerous clinical studies showing its effectiveness) and the need to get a well-trained CBT therapist (someone who knows Beck or Barlow methods). 3. It would have been helpful to get at least clinical experience regarding the effect of diet changes for the disorders. 4. Inositol should have been given more discussion in the anxiety chapter esp. given that the authors cite the clinical trials done in Israel on its effectiveness for OCD. Note: from what I’ve read, the dose for depression for Inositol (12-20g) is incorrect. Note that the studies showed high effectiveness with 12g for anxiety and 18g for OCD. Also, anti-agingsytems.com doesn’t carry Inositol. 5. I felt that Shannahoff-Khalsa’s studies on left-nostril breathing for OCD should have been delved into more. 6. Other integrative doctors (e.g. Dr. Podell -[...] and Dr. Schachter – [...]) take a ‘targeted amino acid’ therapy approach (e.g. test blood/urine for hormone, neurotransmitter deficiences & then prescribe supplements/treatment based on that). I would have liked a discussion on whether this testing and specific targeting based on the results of this testing has value. 7. Nutrients (e.g. B vitamins, etc.) and clinical studies supporting their effectiveness in anxiety disorders would have been helpful in the anxiety section (nutrients are given slim discussion there). 8. I nkow these are guidelines but … pg 342 (’Impairment of Cognition…’) was unclear: should one use ALL of these agents or try them one at a time? 9. I was confused w/ the list of asmple meds for depression & severe anxiety on pg. 135 – I thought tricyclics have been largely replaced by SSRIs and SNRIs, no?

   The above ‘improvements’ show how much I value and digested this book because the information in here is VERY valuable & needs to be given strong and diligent consideration. It’s very reinsuring that there are people like Doctors Brown, Gerbarg, and Muskin as well as Podell and Schachter who come from prestigious medical schools and facilities & who see the value in CAM.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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