This book review is reprinted with the permission of the National Center for Homeopathy
Prozac Free: Homeopathic Medicine for
Depression, Anxiety, and Other Mental
and Emotional Problems
by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW, and
Robert Ullman, ND
1999, 300 pages, Softcover, $15.95
Reviewed by Todd Rowe MD(H), CCH, DHt
Homeopathy is becoming increasingly popular with mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists). The recent popularity of herbs such as St. John's Wort for depression and Kava Kava for anxiety underscores the need for alternatives to conventional mental health treatment. In the last several years, homeopathy has become a part of the American Psychiatric Association's annual conference and its homeopathic seminars are extremely well attended. The homeopathic approach, however, remains mostly unknown to the majority of mental health practitioners.
Prozac Free is a beautifully written and well crafted book. It is easy to read and non-technical. It is similar in design, scope and format to the authors' previous book, Ritalin Free Kids. There are many books in homeopathy but few bridge that gap between conventional and non-conventional medicine as well as this one.
The first section is an overview of the treatment of depression in the conventional medical world. Here, there is a well researched discussion of the pros and cons of the use of antidepressants. The second section examines homeopathy as an answer for depression. In addition to explaining why one might choose homeopathy, there are suggestions to help individuals cope with depression. The third section relates successful case histories in the homeopathic treatment of depression. These explore various types of depression, in all ages. The fourth section explores the homeopathic treatment of other mental disorders, such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Bipolar Illness, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Premenstrual Syndrome, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychosis. The section on Premenstrual Syndrome is particularly valuable, as this is a much neglected area in conventional medicine. The book ends with answers to common questions about homeopathic treatment and provides information about where to go next.
Prozac Free is designed for those with little or no knowledge of homeopathy. It includes a section for mental health practitioners, which explores the interface between conventional and homeopathic approaches. The book will be quite helpful for mental health practitioners who want to know more about homeopathy or who have homeopathic patients within their practice. It is very well researched and indexed.
The best part of this book is the case studies. When readers see mirrored reflections of themselves in the case studies, it brings them hope. This hope brings them into homeopathic treatment. I have had many patients tell me that when they read Ritalin Free Kids, they finally felt that there might be some hope after years of failed conventional medical treatment. Prozac Free offers the same hope for those with mental health disorders.
My only real criticism of the book is that it tries to accomplish too much. Most of the book focuses on the treatment of depression; other forms of mental illness are given too little attention, especially anxiety which is even more common than depression.
In summary, Prozac Free is an important new book designed for patients with mental illness who are looking for alternatives to traditional care, as well as for mental health practitioners interested in alternative options. This is not a book for homeopathic practitioners to learn more about the treatment of mental health disorders. Although the book will not change the mindset of the allopathic community it will help bring to awareness natural alternatives to antidepressants that are safe and effective. The authors should be congratulated on bringing forth such a well written and useful book.
Homeopathy Today - June 1999