A guide to designing a personal program to break your addictions safely, gently, and naturally
* Shares herbs, supplements, natural remedies, and alternative practices that can help liberate you from habitual substance use, ease the withdrawal period, cleanse the body of toxins, and combat depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress
* Offers specific advice and remedies for individual addictive substances and behaviors, including sugar, caffeine, alcohol, opioids, tobacco, and tranquilizers
* Explores the potential of psychedelic therapy for overcoming addiction and addresses how cannabis can be of benefit for recovery, without being misused
Addiction affects more people than any other disease. Breaking a habit can be -daunting--it's hard to know where to begin beyond quitting "cold turkey." But just as habits can be acquired, they can be broken. Others have done it, and so can you!
In this holistic guide to beating addiction, Brigitte Mars details how to replace negative habits and behaviors with positive healthy ones and safely support your body, mind, and spirit for a successful recovery. The author shares specific herbs, supplements, homeopathic remedies, flower essences, behavioral therapy, and alternative practices, such as meditation and yoga, that can help liberate you from habitual substance use and ease the withdrawal period as well as methods for cleansing the body of toxins and healthy ways to combat depression, anxiety, fatigue, and stress. She looks in depth at individual addictive substances and behaviors, including sugar, caffeine, alcohol, opioids, tobacco, and tranquilizers, offering specific advice and remedies for each. She shows how each technique can be used in conjunction with conventional therapies, such as psychotherapy, methadone, or Alcoholics Anonymous. Drawing on recent research, she also explores the enormous potential of psychedelic therapy for overcoming addiction and, with the spreading legalization of cannabis, she addresses how this plant can be of benefit for recovery, without being misused.
Offering advice on designing a personal program to break your addictions, the author also shows how to use natural remedies to maintain your new energy and vitality as you walk the road to recovery.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"Brigitte Mars, A.H.G., is a highly respected registered herbalist recognized by the American Herbalists Guild. I have been honored to have her as a guest on my radio shows numerous times over several decades. As an author, Brigitte offers well-researched, comprehensive information and protocols involving natural therapies, such as lifestyle and botanicals that are steeped in long-term tradition as well as supported by modern scientific inquiries. Brigitte includes easy-to-use formulas that even a newcomer can safely try--to assist in their quest for wellness and, in this particular * Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D., R.N., A.H.N.-B.C., A.H.G, author of The Cycles of Life * "Sugar. Nicotine. Food. Prescription medications. Sex. Alcohol. And so many more. If you're snared by addiction--and you're ready to change--this is the go-to guide. In it, world-renowned herbalist Brigitte Mars presents natural means for shifting from the disease state of addiction to a life of true health. Full of cross-cultural reflections, she presents more than 22 natural methods for transforming your relationship with yourself and your addictive focus. Readers can make use of herbs, nutrition, supplements, color therapy, essences, and more--to embrace purity and fly free." * Cyndi Dale, author of Energy Healing for Trauma, Stress, and Chronic Illnesses and The Subtle Body * "In these stressful times, addiction is increasing throughout the world at a high rate. Addiction-Free Naturally is a very practical and thoroughly researched work from experienced herbalist, practitioner, and educator Brigitte Mars. Brigitte brings her many years of research and hands-on practice, making this book a must for anyone wanting to begin using more earthfriendly natural remedies and healthy practices to prevent and heal a wide range of addictions right away." * Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac., herbalist, research scientist, and author of Grow It, Heal It * "Mars's compassionate, well-researched book takes the reader by the hand to select the best natural remedies that help break addiction to heal mind and body. She artfully uses simple language to explain how the brain is impacted and provides enough information to design a healing protocol that is based on each type of addiction." * Kathi Keville, director of the American Herb Association * Addiction-Free Naturally is a must-have resource for anyone dealing with any kind of addiction. For some it could very well be life-saving. The material is extensively researched and clearly presented in accessible language. Most importantly, the book is a wide-ranging, generous compendium of solidly reliable and applicable information and guidance." * Christopher M. Bache, author of LSD and the Mind of the Universe * "Brigitte Mars's life-changing book Addiction-Free Naturally shares empowering information to support readers to take charge of their health and recover from their addictions--naturally! Brigitte's wellspring of knowledge goes deep. She shares history, science, therapies, insights, and more and dispels myths by reinforcing truths about the harmful impact of addiction on individuals, their families, and society. Bless you, Brigitte, for sharing your wisdom and giving us the necessary tools of healing to help emancipate ourselves from our addictions." * Anthony J.W. Benson, founder of injoi Creative, creative business strategist, consultant, inspiratio * "Brigitte Mars is an herbalist from a tradition that combines the ancient healing-plant wisdom from the East and the West. Due to her long, rich personal experience with plants and herbal medicines, and having lived consciously close to the earth all her life, her books are abundant fountains of information. As we live in a time of global overconsumption on many levels, Brigitte Mars's book Addiction-Free Naturally is a timely addition to her large collection of herbal handbooks. Presented in a clear and easily assimilated format, this book is a must in every well-rounded natural remedy household library." * Martina Hoffmann, contemporary visionary artist * "She suggests habits you could acquire that may facilitate your healing, like journaling, positive affirmation, prayer, and therapies with light, color gems and crystals, and your choices of food. What you eat on a daily basis can make a difference. In short, there is probably nothing you've heard of that cannot be applied to addiction for positive results...This materia medica--list of herbs in alphabetical order--is an impressive range of herbs from Alfalfa to Yerba Santa. These herbs have a particular affinity for stages of withdrawing from an addiction." * Herbology East and west *
Brigitte Mars, AHG, is an herbalist and nutritional consultant with almost fifty years of experience. She teaches herbal medicine at Naropa University and the School of Health Mastery in Iceland and has also taught at Omega Institute, Esalen, Kripalu, and the Mayo Clinic. A founding member of the American Herbalist Guild, she is the author of many books and DVDs including The Natural First Aid Handbook, The Sexual Herbal, Healing Herbal Teas, and Rawsome! She lives in Boulder, Colorado.
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION
Where We Stand Today
PART ONE
Natural and Herbal Approaches to Treating Addiction
1 Facing the Facts Coming to Terms with Addiction
2 On Your Own Terms Overcoming Addictions with Natural Therapies
PART TWO
Healing Begins
3 Like a Kid in a Candy Store Sugar Addictions
4 The Java Jones Giving Up Caffeine
5 Wake and Bake Woes Cannabis Use and Abuse
6 You Can't Eat Your Way to Happiness Overcoming Food Addictions
7 Up in Smoke Deleting the Nicotine Fix
8 Getting Sober Dealing with Alcoholism
9 Prescription for Success Banishing Addictions to Stimulants, Sedatives, and Opioids
10 Getting Busy Other Addictions and Habits--From Sex to Work
PART THREE
When You've Finally Decided to Quit
11 Jitterbug Blues Making It through the Withdrawal Period
12 Addiction-Free for Life Making It through Tough Times
APPENDIX 1
Herbal Basics
APPENDIX 2
Overdose First Aid
APPENDIX 3
Resources
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
