The first comprehensive guide to oneirogens--naturally occurring substances that induce and enhance dreaming• Includes extensive monographs on dream-enhancing substances derived from plant, animal, and human sources• Presents the results of scientific experiments on the effects of using oneirogens• Shows how studies in this area of ethnobotany can yield a scientific understanding of the mysterious mechanism of dreamsOneirogens are plant and animal substances...

Why is eating chocolate so pleasurable? Can the function of just one small group of chemicals really determine whether you are happy or sad? Does marijuana help to improve your memory in old age? Is it really best to drink coffee if you want to wake up and be alert? Why is a drug like PCP potentially lethal? Why does drinking alcohol make you drowsy? Do cigarettes help to relieve anxiety? What should you consume if you are having trouble staying in your chair and focusing enough to get you...

Revised and significantly expanded, the new edition of this handbook provides full information on the use of essential oils in the field of contemporary aromatherapy, based on the research evidence behind their therapeutic applications.The author provides the historical and cultural context for our understanding of aromatherapy, with an overview of its relationships with Greek, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. She gives a detailed account of how essential oils are created, how and w...

In Your Brain on Food, Dr. Gary Wenk expands his discussion of the effects of specific foods on the brain in a completely updated second edition. From investigations into the benefits and risks of supplements, to the action of gluten in the brain and marijuana's potential for pain relief, Dr. Wenk draws on the latest science to answer a range of fascinating questions such as: -Is your aluminum cookware hurting you? -Can tryptophan supplements improve your mood? -How do fruits ...

People around the world are increasingly working with their own bodies to restore balance. They're using medicinals found in nature to avoid the side effects of antibiotics and turning to traditions that have passed the test of time. The oldest medical system of all is Ayurveda, which dates back 5,000 years to its origins in India. In The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook, Deepak Chopra, M.D., and David Simon, M.D., draw on the forty most important herbs of Ayurveda, from aloe...

An exploration of the chemical, biological, psychological, and experiential dimensions of ayahuasca• Details the scientific discovery of ayahuasca’s sophisticated psychoactive delivery system in the brain and body and its potential applications in medicine and psychology• Includes contributions from Dennis J. McKenna, Ph.D., J. C. Callaway, Ph.D., and Charles S. Grob, M.D., on the ethnopharmacology, psychology, phytochemistry, and neuropharmacology of ayahuasca• Pro...

The ultimate guide to maximizing the healing properties of medicinal mushrooms and lichens—featuring over 300 detailed plant profiles for easy mushroom identification!Noted herbalist Robert Rogers introduces readers to more than 300 species of medicinal mushrooms and lichens found in North America. These fungi have the capacity to heal both the body and—through the process of myco-remediation—the planet itself. Throughout the book, he documents their success in opt...

The most comprehensive guide to the botany, history, distribution, and cultivation of all known psychoactive plants• Examines 414 psychoactive plants and related substances• Explores how using psychoactive plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the nature of reality• Contains 797 color photographs and 645 black-and-white illustrationsIn the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing...

Your brain could be suffering without your knowledge.Most likely your brain is suffering at this very moment and you have no way of knowing or finding out, until you start to notice irreversible signs of decline.Our current diet is leading to all kinds of health problems: obesity, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with increasing evidence that it also triggers Alzheimer’s disease, now seen by some researchers as another form of diabetes, an issue addressed in thi...

Here is a unique handbook for exploring and understanding the rich traditions of healing fungi in Eastern and Western cultures. Author Christopher Hobbs thoroughly documents and details the nutritional and health benefits of over 100 species of edible fungi. Here is the most complete work on the cultural, health-promoting, and medicinal uses of mushrooms ever published.

Synergistic blending is at the very core of aromatherapy practice. This book explores the concept of synergy and the evidence for its presence and significance, and provides practical guidance on how to build aromatherapeutic blends effectively and safely based on research evidence.The author covers new and exciting developments in research into the use of essential oils, explores the merits and limitations of holistic, psychosensory and molecular approaches to blending and suggest...

The Guerrilla diet is the ideal diet for human consumption, one that has been proven to reverse disease and will help you easily and naturally lose weight and achieve optimal health. This lifestyle program is called The Guerrilla Diet because you will have to learn to combat all that you were taught and told to believe is healthy for you. The Guerrilla Diet is based on proven facts that examine human roots and consider all of the genetic and anatomical changes that have taken place in huma...