Self-Recovery: Treating Addictions Using Transcendental Meditation and Maharishi Ayur-Veda

By David F. O'Connell and Charles N Alexander

Book Overview

Nearly 40% of americans saw an alternative healthcare practitioner last year. Interest in Yoga--an aspect of ayurveda--is growing nationally and is starting to become part of more progressive treatment programs. Patients want more. Providers need to offer more. And choices need to be based on sciencetific research on complementary/alternative medicine, which is under-researched in the addictions treatment field right now. Their has been a flurry of interest in Trancendental Meditation (TM) the past few months, mostly due to very impressive research on lowering blood pressure--especially in African Americans. This groundbreaking, scientifically based book shows how TM can have profound health-promoting effects on addictions as well, according to recent research on profound brain changes caused by TM practice.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1560230444
• ISBN13: 9781560230441
• Release Date: March 1995
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.0" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Very inspiring

Charles Alexander's book, Self Recovery is particulary helpful because it includes many different experiences with recovering from drug abuse. In some, the recovery is simple and immediate with beginning the regular practice of TM. He also gives examples of more difficult cases where recovery is interrupted and regained several times before self recovery is achieved. The study imvolving alcoholics living on the street was especially important as it showed that by adding a stress management strategy to a traditional treatment program, some actual progress was made where progress is not usually seen.That there is a stress management technique effective enough to break the grip of drug addiction is exciting. That it is sometimes challenging to keep people on the program is realistic. That it is sometimes incredibly easy and immediate is corroberated in the prioneering work on TM that Dr. Herbert Benson and Dr. Keith Wallace did at Harvard in the early 70's. It is described in Benson's book, The Relaxation Response.Dr. Alexander's book is timely. The only real way to win the war on drugs is to reduce the demand for drugs. TM is a useful tool in establing self sufficiency, clear thinking and success in life.