Healing Anxiety with Herbs

by Harold H. Bloomfield

More than 65 million Americans suffer annually from anxiety and insomnia, and one out of every two people will experience some form of mild to moderate anxiety for at least a two-week period during their lifetime. More people suffer from anxiety than any other mental health problem, yet fewer than than 25 percent of them receive adequate help. Until recently, the only choice for many was to suffer in silence or take synthetic, often addictive, tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Finally, there is an alternative. In Healing Anxiety with Herbs, leading psychiatrist and bestselling author Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., presents a revolutionary approach that is safe, natural and medically proven. Dr. Bloomfield begins by explaining what anxiety is -- an exaggerated stress response stemming from the brain's alarm system -- and the many forms it can take, from muscle aches and nausea to chronic worry, persistent insomnia and even depression. He provides dozens of quick, easy-to-follow exercises along with his own proven Natural Self-Healing program to help individuals evaluate their own level of anxiety and discover the best way to treat it. As Dr. Bloomfield shows, in many cases the best and safest remedies are natural herbs. Medical studies have shown that kava can relieve mild to moderate anxiety as effectively as Valium-like tranquilizers -- but without sedation, memory impairment or threat of addiction. Hypericum (Saint-John's-wort), which can be just as effective as synthetic antidepressants for mild to moderate depression, can also be used to alleviate anxiety. Valerian extract can provide a good night's sleep without the morning hangover or rebound insomnia of prescription sleeping pills. Gingko biloba is a "brain booster" that is useful as a daily supplement for anyone over the age of 40 who is dealing with the angst of aging. The ginsengs and ashwaganda can help to strengthen the nervous sytem and protect against stress. Hospitals in Britain are using lavender oil aromatherapy to calm patients before surgery. Evening primrose oil and Traditional Chinese Medicinal herbs can help to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Recommended dosages of herbal extracts for anxiety relief are presented. Why go on suffering when you can put an end to your troubles -- the right way -- now? Clear, informative and based on the most up-to-date scientific findings, Healing Anxiety with Herbs offers an eye-opening program that will help you overcome anxiety, insomnia and stress so you can start to live naturally and feel healthy today.

Genres: Health, Psychology

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 1998

About the author

Bloomfield was born on October 8, 1944, in New York, NY to an accountant and housewife. He grew up in New York City and showed interest in becoming a psychiatrist at age seven.

Bloomfield graduated cum laude with a B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh and from the SUNY Downstate Medical Center with an M.D. with honors.

He worked at the Kaiser Foundation's hospital in San Francisco as an intern from 1969 to 1970. He did his psychiatric residency at Yale University School of Medicine from 1970 to 1973.

He received the David Berger Award in 1978 and the Golden Apple Award in 1982. He worked at the Institute of Psychophysiological Medicine in El Cajon, CA from 1970 to 1973 and became its director of psychiatry in 1974. He became a professor of psychiatry at Maharishi International University in 1974. He was adjunct professor of psychiatry at Union Graduate School and director of his own practice called Age of Enlightenment Center for Holistic Health in San Diego, California from 1972 to 1973.

Bloomfield has authored or co-authored 20 books and was a founder of the American Holistic Medical Association. He is the author of Making Peace with your Parents, Making Peace with Yourself, Making Peace with Your Step-Parents, Making Peace with Your Past, Hypericum (St. John's Wort) & Depression, How to Heal Depression, and the bestsellers How to Survive the Loss of a Love and TM: Discovering Inner Energy and Overcoming Stress. According to his publisher his books have sold more than seven million copies and have been translated into over 30 languages.

According to a 1986 survey published in the American Journal of Psychotherapy Bloomfield's book, How to Survive the Loss of a Love, was one of the top ten self-help books recommended by the 123 American psychologists in the survey. Bloomfield received the Theodor Geisel Book Award in 1999.

Bloomfield was influenced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and traveled with the Maharishi in India. He was a candidate for Governor of California in 1998 on the Natural Law Party ticket and received 27,000 votes.

He has appeared in numerous TV shows including Larry King Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, CNN, Good Morning America and 20/20. His work has also been reported in Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Health, Prevention, Cosmopolitan and Forbes.

Bloomfield's book Making Peace with God was published in October 2003.

Bloomfield has received the Medical Self-Care Book of the Year Award and the American Holistic Health Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 1998 , it is unfortunate that this book is now too out of date to be of much use.

The herbs it does suggest are probably good ones but one hopes that more research has since been done on the herbs discussed. What I found most frustrating about this book was the suggestion that many herbs were very safe and had little or no side effects but yet that the herbs shouldn't be taken long term. For example Kava is not recommended for more than 25 weeks. And "Valerian should not be used nightly for more than 6 months." The hesitancy to recommend for long term use is likely due to a lack of research showing long term effects, in which case the author should be upfront about this.

Alas, I will be looking into either more recent clinical research or find a newer book by an herbalist to get any direction on herbs and anxiety.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly helpful. As a person who suffers from anxiety this book not only identified the sources of anxiety and which herbs can help alleviate it but also other ways to reduce stress in our lives. I love this book!

[Caitlin Ponert · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so good, actually found the second half more interesting, all about the natural self healing journey. will def be using some of these

[Mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly outdated, too general, unfocused. Needs case studies.