Healing Depression by Dr. Peter Bongiorno

"It is a timely answer to the growing concern on the true efficacy and safety of the popular pharmacological interventions in depression."t;t;

- Michael Murray, ND, co-editor of the Textbook of Natural Medicine

"This book represents a much-needed bridge to integrate approaches to wellness and illness."

- Dr. Julio Licinio MD, Editor of Molecular Psychiatry Journal

"Worldly and scholarly, this book is highly recommmended."

- Peter D’Adamo ND, author, Eat Right for Your Blood Type

"In this compassionate, knowlegeable, and well-written book, Dr Bongiorno offers a sophisticated, scientifically sound, and holistic approach to healing depression – the most comprehensive and compelling approach currently available."

- Lise Alschuler ND, author: Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrated Approach

about the book

Author: Peter Bongiorno, ND LAc with chapters by Pina LoGiudice ND, LAc
Publisher: CCNM Press
ISBN: 978-1-897025-38-3
August 2010 - 398 Pages / Hardcover

Depressive disorders affect almost 10% of the North American adult population age 18 and older in a given year, and about 25% of adults will have a major depression episode. It is projected that depression will be the second most burdensome disease after heart disease by 2020. Conventional medicine is adept at prescribing medications for depression, but not well versed at addressing the causes of depression or preventing this disease. Fortunately, naturopathic medicine is proving to be especially effective and safe in doing do.

Fully referenced and cited, this book is an academic text written in a familiar, relaxed style geared to teach physicians, psychologists and other holistically minded practitioners the basics regarding how to think about and treat low mood and depression disorder. It will also arm patients with all the information necessary support their doctors to effectively use natural medicines.

• about medication use and how and when it is appropriate to avoid unnecessary medication
• how to use natural medicines safely with medications
• laboratory work ups useful for natural medicine treatment
• safe medication exit strategies
• detoxification
• natural choices for pregnancy, post-partum and breast feeding
• depression in children
• naturopathic hydrotherapy
• dietary supports
• Chinese Medicine and acupuncture
• about yoga and massage for depression
• history of depression
• basic definitions about natural medicine
• underlying causes of depression

what the experts say

"Healing Depression moves naturopathic medicine from the fringes to the center of new approaches to this disease. Worldly and scholarly, this book is highly recommmended."
– Dr Peter J. D'Adamo, ND, MIFHI, Author of Eat Right for Your Type

"I am once again impressed by talent and gift of providing clear direction through the diverse medical research on a very complicated clinical entity – depression. Dr. Bongiorno has created the most complete guide to depression available at a very appropriate time. It is a timely answer to the growing concern on the true efficacy and safety of the popular pharmacological interventions in depression. As detailed by Dr. Bongiorno, depression is in most cases a complex multifactorial consideration. That is what I love about Peter’s book – it provides the insightful considerations necessary to construct a more rationale approach to dealing with depression. In short, this book is a marvelous tool in helping the reader become the highly insightful, exceptionally effective healer that their patients deserve."
- Michael Murray ND, Co- Editor of the Textbook of Natural Medicine and author of the Encyclopedia of Healing Foods and How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine

"Readers should be reassured that Dr. Peter Bongiorno has a long-standing commitment to the underlying truth. The concept is now evolving for an integrative approach to medicine in which conventional pharmaceuticals and therapies, which are often needed, are integrated with well-studied natural medicines. This book represents a much-needed bridge to such an integrative approach to wellness and illness. And who would be better than Dr. Peter Bongiorno to build that bridge and author this wonderful book? The material provided here represents Dr. Bongiorno’s heartfelt views on to how to best help people. Peter has done a remarkable job. I hope the book helps you stay well or to transition back from illness to wellness."
- Dr. Julio Licinio MD, Co-Editor, The Biology of Depression (Wiley) and Editor of Molecular Psychiatry (Nature Communications)

"Healing Depression is an outstanding resource for all clinicians whether natural, conventional, or integrative. It is comprehensive, covering both natural and conventional interventions, thoroughly researched, and clinically applicable. This one belongs on your desk."
– Dr Joseph Pizzorno, ND, Co-editor of the Textbook of Natural Medicine

"In this compassionate, knowlegeable, and well-written book, Dr Bongiorno offers a sophisticated, scientifically sound, and holistic approach to healing depression – the most comprehensive and compelling approach currently available."
– Dr Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, Past President, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians , Author: Definitive Guide to Cancer: An Integrated Approach

"Dr Bongiorno's book will help healthcare providers of all licenses raise their patients out of the pit of depression."
– Dr Walter Crinnion, ND, Professor SWCNM, author: Clean, Green and Lean

clinical and educational features:

• Offers conventional healthcare practitioners complementary or alternative therapies to integrate into their prevention and treatment protocols for depression. This is the first book on depression to accommodate both naturopathic and allopathic approaches.
  
  
• Provides the clinician a comprehensive guide to diagnosing and treating depression using various naturopathic modalities.
  
  
• This book is an ideal clinician’s handbook for day-to-day patient care.
  
  
• Directs students of depression to a rich reserve of evidence-based medical literature. This book comprises the largest existing body of medical research on naturopathic, complementary, alternative, and integrative approaches to depression.
  
  
• Attempts to benefit patients with depression by improving their quality of life, allaying symptoms by treating underlying causes, and allowing the mind and body to heal naturally.
  
  
• Healing Depression is an authoritative guide for the naturopathic, conventional, and integrative practitioner, providing comprehensive information about the underlying factors that contribute to depression and protocols for treating depression safely and effectively with natural medicines while weaning patients from medications.
  
  
• Based on the most current research and evidence-based practices, Healing Depression will become a standard text for medical libraries, healthcare practitioners, and patients for yearsto come.
  
  

about Dr. Bongiorno

Dr. Bongiorno graduated with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine (class valedictorian) and a masters in acupuncture from Bastyr University. Before medical school, he researched at Yale University and then as a pre-doctoral fellow at the branch of Clinical Neuro-Endocrinology in the National Institute of Mental Health, at the National Institutes of Health. As a researcher, he co-authored numerous papers in scientific journals such as Nature Medicine, Molecular Psychiatry and Endocrinology.

Dr. Bongiorno is a major contributor to the 3rd edition of the Textbook of Natural Medicine (Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone), he completed the Complementary and Alternative Medicine chapter in the text The Biology of Depression (Wiley) and has recently authored the textbook Healing Depression: Naturopathic and Integrative Therapies (CCNM Press).

Dr. Bongiorno has lectured at Mount Sinai School of Medicine about natural medicine and acupuncture in their Arts and Sciences of Medicine program, as adjunct faculty at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey for their Summer Semester at the Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as well as gives lectures for continuing education at New York University, and is on faculty at the Natural Gourmet Institute School.

He was a featured speaker on the subject of depression at the August 2010 American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Conference in Portland Oregon. He has lectured at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians conference (2007) and Integrative Health Symposium (formerly CAM Expo) in New York City (2007).

Dr. Bongiorno has been interviewed on national television (the Hallmark Channel) and local television (News12 Long Island), radio (on the air with Dr. Fratellone, 1600AM), and national media (MSN.com, Energy Times). Dr. Bongiorno is current Vice-President of the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians, is a member of the American Association for Naturopathic Physicians, and Physicians for Social Responsibility. He is co-medical director of InnerSource Health in Manhattan and Long Island (www.InnerSourceHealth.com).

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