Unmedicated: The Four Pillars of Natural Wellness

by Madisyn Taylor

The cofounder of the holistic lifestyle website DailyOM presents a gentle and accessible step-by-step guide to moving from excessive reliance on medications to fundamentally healing yourself through four pillars of natural wellness.

Madisyn Taylor was plagued by depression and anxiety, suffering from chronic physical problems that left her desperate for solutions. Spending decades searching for answers, she first turned to the medical community, which put her on a rollercoaster course of numerous doctors, tests, and an unhealthy reliance on medications that left her numb and lifeless.

With her happiness and future on the line, she then made the decision to become unmedicated, reaching out to the natural, holistic health realm. And after years of practice and research, Madisyn developed an integrative wellness program that put her back in the driver’s seat of her health, and ultimately, her life.

Unmedicated is her thoughtful account of how she broke free from binding mental chains and physical ailments to be happy, healthy, and productive; it is also a guide for you to apply her practical techniques to your own healing journey. Madisyn offers a daily program of easy-to-follow actions based on four pillars that will build a lifelong foundation for clear your mind; strengthen your body; nurture your spirit; and find your tribe.

Whether you want to be happy and stay happy, find relief from depression and anxiety, or heal and create a healthy change, Unmedicated is a gentle, compassionate, and achievable path that empowers you to take back your life and live fully.

Genres: Health, Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Medical, Unfinished

208 pages, Hardcover

Published January 23, 2018

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many spiritual/self-help books in the past and got to a point where everything started sounded the same. There was nothing new to keep me interested. After a few years of break, something compelled me to read this book even though I’m not on any medication. As the author states “this book can serve anybody weather you are medicated or not.”

This is a very refreshing read with some well-known advises as meditation and with such simple steps as taking regular walks and having fun, but the key is to stay motivated and continue practicing all key-points on a regular basis to reach the deep calmness and to be in one with the Universe. Once you reach it, you will know it. And if feels amazing as I’ve experienced it myself before, but lost it. And now I’m looking forward to achieving it again. This is a great motivational book, well-explained why you should take those steps.

The four pillars are:

1. Clear Your Mind – is about meditating and connecting with nature to clear the mind and to be in the present moment rather than worrying about future or stressing over little things.

2. Nurture Your Spirit – is about connecting to a greater source/Universe and opening oneself to creativity by keeping a journal with purpose to reach higher level, developing artistic skills, being kind and of help to others.

3. Strengthen Your Body – is about paying attention to our physical body and its needs, identifying what is good for our body including healthy food and holistic healing (such as acupuncture, massage, reflexology). As simple as it may sound, everyday walking has many health benefits as well.

4. Find Your Tribe – is about having compassionate friends who will lend helping hand and who will listen without judgement and leave you feeling good after a conversation. Maintain friendships by talking/seeing friends on a regular basis. Healthy balance means that you also need alone time for yourself. Have a purpose: hobby, volunteering, whatever makes you happy.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really hate to DNF a book, and it's even more difficult to point out why I didn't finish reading it. But in order to spare my Christian friends from spending the amount of time I did on this book, I will say this: It is not a book for Bible-believing Christians. It is full of Eastern mysticism and New Age philosophy. I think the idea is right - she presents four pillars of wellness - but her temple is not built to Christ. Here are some of the things she talks about:
* declaring to the Universe that you are ready for healing and asking the Universe to be part of your team.
*The idea of meditation (Christians CAN and DO meditate, but in a different way, filling the mind with Scripture and worship, as opposed to emptying the mind, which can allow unholy thoughts to enter)
*Communing with nature by seeing and worshiping the earth as our Mother
*Creating an altar, and communing there with Spirit (not the Holy Spirit) "The day eventually came when my altar signaled to me that it was time that I sit before it...I lit candles and incense and allowed my body to dictate how to sit: cross-legged, with my palms facing up on my knees...A communication was developing, almost as if my altar had become a living being...other times my altar beckoned objects in the house to be placed upon it to charge them with energy. Frequently, all of my gemstones and crystals ended up on my altar at the same time to be renewed or reprogrammed, and then the knowingness would be placed in me to disperse the gemstones throughout my home. My altar loved to be fed...
*Creating, discovering, and experiencing places of power gifted to us by Mother Earth.
* Healing modalities - including Native American shaman healing, Past-life regression, Chakra-light crystal bed, channeling, full-moon rituals, psychic and psychic-medium readings, tarot card readings, etc

Again, I think there are some good things in the book - she talks about nutrition, diet, exercise, sleep. But a philosophy built on a foundation of Eastern religion is one that is not for me as a Christian. I'm sure there are Christian-based books that will cover the same ideas from a Christ-centered point of view.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 STARS
​(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY​)​
(Review Not on Blog)

Mental health and wellness are subjects that I am personally invested in as I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I do take medication for my disorder as well as going to therapy, but I also look for other ways to maintain mental wellness. I am finding that having more than one "treatment" is a better balance for me. I also think it is best to go over any new treatments - even those naturally - with both my doctor and therapist.

It was hard to rate this book. I decided to rate it on how easy it was to read - in language and engagement. Whether the philosophy, or ideas in this book work for you, is something each person will have to gauge on their own. I liked that this book wasn't preaching one thing or another. This is not a book on debating medication, medicine or science. This book provides another way for wellness - and something that has worked for the author, Madiyson Taylor. I would say this book is like a memoir of one woman's journey rather than a "guide". I would recommend Unmedicated to anyone interested in the subject matter as it is easy to get into and read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am aligned philosophically with the author. I want to cope without using medicine if at all possible. There were lots of good reminders in here about the basics of good health and they were broken down into four areas: mind; spirit; body; tribe.
The author has "walked the talk" so it is helpful that she is sharing her knowledge, insights, and thoughts with us. Thank you.

[Christine Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

What quick read with just the right balance of narrative and action items. This information is nothing new, meditation, journaling, exercising and finding a tribe, all things we know we should do BUT we aren’t always so consistent.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

The program pillars are strong, but the writing style, anecdotes, and author self-promoting are not my cup of tea.

[Alexis DeJonge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The universe is telling me I need to journal. Didn't realize the author is the same creator behind the DailyOm affirmations that I follow on Instagram.

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

The content was reasonable, but the writing felt amateurish.

[Leeza Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unmedicated: The Four Pillars of Natural Wellness Review and Recommendation.

Full disclosure, when I picked this book up via #Netgalley I knew this book wasn’t for me. Which was sort of the point, I knew this book could possibly be a very useful tool for my clients and students. I was correct on all fronts and have already recommended this book to 3 of my personal clients.

Here’s why.
This book is for those who are just starting their healing journey. They have just put their feet down on the first few pavers of the very long road known as healing. The start of the healing journey is confusing, overwhelming and is often filled with failure and a lot of trial and error. The path is filled with people who think they know better than you and want to give you all sorts of unsolicited advice. Most of which only makes you want to turn your back on the journey itself. But if you read this book, I promise you, it will steel your resolve and give you the confidence to take the next step and then the one after that and the one after that.

I actually like the 4 pillars mapped out in this book and through they were explained incredibly well and are very user-friendly. Each one offers real guidance and practical real-life suggestions.

The 4 pillars are as follows
1 - Clear your mind
2 - Nurture your spirit
3 - Strengthen your body
4 - Find your tribe

Madisyn’s personal story not only shows the lifelong commitment one has to make to their healing journey, but it also illustrates many of the confusing and frustrating situations and circumstances that one will face once they begin to walk towards health and well being. I know I will be recommending this book to many more people over time, it is just one of those rare gems.

[Squishy Bubblesnog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This an easy read and one in which I think most people could find something useful. There’s no wowing revelations of something new, just a re-statement of things most of us know we should be doing but don’t make the time for. I think the writing works well for the subject matter. There were some things that go beyond the average self-help kind of book into a spiritual area that doesn’t necessarily mesh with all belief systems. I can work with it “get it” but I know some folks whose personal faith systems may not allow for integration of all the ideas presented. That said, this is the author’s personal story and her own routine that she found helpful and chose to share with the rest of us. When someone is looking to connect to a non-medicated way of life, it can be daunting and I applaud the author for sharing her story and what she feels is helpful to maintaining her health.

[Candace Haskell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a terrific memoir and new age prescription for incorporating spirituality and practical commonsense tools to improve one’s life and live without medication. The author, Madison Taylor, writes a daily mediation for her phenomenally successful newsletter, The DailyOm. I have read, and re-read, the meditations, for years. She is well-qualified to write this prescription and has the personal suffering journey and the mediation chops to do the job. Well-done.

[Dave Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madisyn Taylor did a nice job of explaining the 4 pillars of developing better health through meditation, self-control, goodness, and better interaction. The fact that we as humans try to sabotage our very own path to health and happiness is evident.

Clear your minds and get ready to take control of your life. A very nice read that will leave you with a sense of peace and tranquility.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was OKAY, I guess.I thought it would be more fact based than spiritual based and that was somewhat disappointing. It was definitely more of a spiritual guidance rather than a " how to " or medical " why you should " stop taking medications.

The cover is beautiful though!

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for anyone wanting to heal

It was very insightful and a story very close to my own. I love the Daily Om web site and I loved this book

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Very inspiring and makes you truly want to stop what you're doing and get to work on yourself for you highest good.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There is so much we are neglecting in our own care and this book reminds you or shows you the basic pillars you need to heal or feel great naturally, in balance.

[Jasie Farewell · Rating 1 out of 5]

There should be a clear disclaimer on the title page of this book, as it strongly promotes the author's spiritual beliefs and practices. These beliefs will likely be problematic for the rational and/or those who follow Christian, Jewish, or Muslim traditions. The author frequently emphasizes her personal spiritual perspectives, making the content less inclusive for all readers. Many parts of the book are based on her opinions and beliefs rather than research or evidence. For example, on page 71 she says, "Billions of people are living out and trying to navigate their lives... For some it may be their first life on earth and others may have had many lives." To state something like this as if it is a fact in the middle of her recommendations for how to forgive people just feels like she is pushing her beliefs on her readers. I tried to glean useful insights from the book to work on healing depression and anxiety but was constantly distracted by the author's insertion of her personal beliefs as truths. Considering the predominantly Western audience, the author should recognize that most readers may not adhere to paganism, Hinduism, or other Eastern philosophies. It is disappointing that she chose to potentially isolate a significant portion of her audience who likely seek rational, evidence-based guidance or follow Western religious traditions. While everyone should be free to practice their beliefs, authors need to consider their audience and the impact of presenting beliefs in a manner that may not resonate with all readers, especially in a book intended to be universally accessible for individuals struggling with mental health.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I filled the prescription immediately, and as soon as I got home, opened my first bottle of little half-green, half-cream capsules. I took one and forgot about it, looking forward to day thirty when perhaps I would be cured. What happened next was incredible: I didn't have to wait thirty days or even thirty minutes. In just about twenty minutes after ingesting my first Prozac, I felt my brain "turn on." I felt alive, and I felt strange surges of electricity in my head. No doctor except my current one believes me when I tell this story. "Impossible!" the others say. "It takes weeks for the medication to work!" They thought it was "all in my head"--and it was. My brain was finally waking up from a long slumber. Feeling alert and turned on for the first time in my life, I told Scott, "Let's go to the movies!" I think his jaw hit the floor, because I had been housebound for so long. In retrospect, I believe my brain was so lacking in neurotransmitters that it was like a sponge soaking them up; and when it finally got what it needed, it performed the way it should" (xxx-xxxi).

[Ketekun Phanith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unmedicated - Madisyn Taylor

Rating: A Perfect 10 out of 10 💙💙💙

As an individual who has been taking daily medication for my mental health issues for years, I personally find this book extremely groundbreaking and life-changing. Although the tips and advices mentioned in this book might be familiar to all of us (Ex: meditating, journaling, etc.), the way the author divides them into different pillars and explains them in various steps are indeed very convincing and seem very effective. I love reading this from a first-person perspective so much that I finish it in less than a day.

All in all, I hope that this book will contribute in changing my life to an even better one. Lastly, I absolutely recommend this book to those who have been struggling with their mental health, especially those who take medications to alleviate their mental health problems. 💙💙💙

[Karen Rocelle Paelmo · Rating 3 out of 5]

“We all want to be heard; it is human nature at its most basic level to want to be validated and witnessed by another.” 🥹


We all do want to be validated. That what we are feeling is valid and real. And it is acceptable to be not okay always.


This book helps me reflect and meditate about myself. What I feel at the moment, feelings I felt in every event or action that happened, feelings I have about the future and feelings I’m having. This book helps me have ideas on how to cope up and express these feelings inside of me without medication. How to heal naturally.

It made me realized the things I’m doing wrong and how to change that. 🥹

[Elizabeth Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, easy read - good for anyone wanting to be more at peace in their own body/mind. Not limited to those wanting to get off medication...and the author does stress working in conjunction with medical professionals when making changes to medications and supplements, which I cannot stress strongly enough. I found the section devoted to nurturing your spirit to be especially helpful in dealing with issues from the past.

[Dawn Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Very brief and not very revelatory. I guess it's good that the author acknowledges there is not one recipe for each person. I would have preferred more depth and more resources.

I recommend starting at the back with the Program Review that summarizes the books main points in a few pages. From there, you can decide if it's worth further reading.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half started strong with authors background story and facts about the failure of medications for depression and anxiety. Ended up skim reading the second half. I work in mental health and agree there are many good ideas here but it didn’t feel new to me and second half couldn’t hold my interest although I appreciated her flexible and accessible approach to meditation.

[Kathy Damron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful overview of simple steps everyone can take to enhance their wellbeing. Like most in this genre, some of the advice will resonate and some not as much. But it all makes good sense and I particularly liked the specific examples included.

[Aislynn Finnegan-Kilgore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me of a very condensed version of The Power of the Now. I enjoyed this book, however, do believe there could have been more explanation into what she was saying where the ultimate healers, as after I finished it felt almost unclear.

[Michelle Fettig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was odd to me at first, the tone was more casual than I am used to. As I continued reading, the tone was similar but less annoying and more eye opening. Some of it resonated with me and I look forward to adopting some of the habits discussed in the book.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is really written to be followed and assuming that you are willing to try everything suggested (at least to some extent). I liked the premise of it but didn't enjoy the actual reading of it.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful book for anyone that lives with anxiety/depression. Easy read and I highly recommend it.

[Renée W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy the writing style or content.

[Jesse Bustos · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book. Nothing special only stuff that was known already. Quick read and easy to understand.