Like most 60-something, the thought of losing our mind pops in often. In this book, the author, a respected Physician, shows how to increase our brain-power and brain-health, without chemicals! He directs us to the humble herbs that we use every day, and their value for out brain health.

I can't believe there aren't more rave reviews here. I had to jump up and down when I realized that 10 years of discomfort, allergies, forgetfulness, and other annoying symptoms had a chance to finally be resolved.

Of course, one cannot make any medical claims. Its just a window into what could be an answer for you.

After taking the test (questionnaire in beginning of book), and reading about my Dominant type, Deficient type, and other personality/physical characteristics of the 4 neurotransmitters ... I put the book aside for a bit. I found just that knowledge had given me alot to ponder. Why do I procrastinate, why do I love to be creative... Is it good for my type to drink caffeine...? Well its alot of questions no one ever asked me, and it made me take a second look at what I do and when I feel sick.

I did quite poorly on the deficiency scale. My most severe defiencey being GABA, and hence I have had chronic hives, Irritable bowel, anxiety and other things. But could GABA have anything to do with it?? Well I have taken many credits in Neurology-- this never came up. I have been to Neurologists, Dermatologists, Allergy Specialists-- why has no one given me a GABA promoting drug (atleast)?? Guess there is a disconnect between wellness and typical medical protocols.

I followed the GABA promoting diet (Almonds, oranges, bananas, oats, whole wheat, broccoli, spinach, fish, eggs, and much more...). No drugs. It made a huge difference. I also drank an herbal tea (passion flower, valerian), that helps promote GABA. I decreased caffeine. I focus on what's good for my body to make and store enough GABA to keep my body relaxed. It made an impact-- big enough, that I finally feel my health can be great again.

Thank You Dr. Braverman!

The other reviewer is correct. You cannot get all the lab tests you want run by your MD. Its not considered necessary. You will have better luck with a Chiropractor, or just going on faith and following the diet to see how you feel.

The diets are not hard-- they might include alot of foods you crave since you need building blocks of that neurotransmitter most.

One thing that alot of health enthusiasts may be weary of, is his notes on aspartame containing the Dopamine promoting element phenylanaline... since fake sweeteners are typically considered toxic. I do not know what to say on this. I guess in certain situations your body can make use of it.

I still give the book 5 starts because the advice outweighs the drugs and artifical stuff. Many books I've reviewed showed me weak points in my health and toxins in my environment... but few have given the remedies to fix the problem. Check out this book!

This book is about achieving total health by balancing your brain chemistry, based on a quiz you take (in the book) to determine your dominant neurotransmitters. Once you take the quiz and find out which of the four major neurotransmitters is dominant, you can take supplements and eat foods that supposedly restore your brain's normal biochemistry (normal meaning how it was before you started having symptoms of disease).
The author says everyone is born with a dominant neurotransmitter that determines their health and their personality, and when this gets out of balance, signs of illness begin. He lists the supplements you should take and the foods you should eat to get back in balance again, and also recommends some exercises, both physicla and mental. At the end there is a section of exercises you can do to improve your memory.
In his private practice the author claims to have healed many people by simply balancing their brain chemistry, and this is a wonderful thought, but he doesn't say where you can find a doctor to work with who would be into this type of treatment. Most doctors would not agree to do some of the tests he recommends, and would not be open to his ideas. He claims you can do it on your own, but I am concerned that the high doses of some of the supplements may be harmful. On the other hand, I'm a bit of a risk taker and decided to start the supplement and diet program to see what will happen. If anyone else has tried this program, I'd like to know their results and whether they would recommend it. This book has a very interesting and believable theory, but I think is too new to be accepted by mainstream medicine, so you're pretty much on your own if you apply it.

Came in great shape, will use this service again. Recommend this seller to anyone looking for clean, great shape material.

I found this book very interesting and helpful regarding some health problems I was having. Makes sense to me. Highly recommend it.

Eric Braverman MD in this just released book "The Edge Effect" (Sterling) believes that "singing or playing an instrument yourself is an active way in which you can increase GABA."
Dr. Braverman, also the force behind creating The Place for Achieving Total Health (PATH Medical in NYC and Penndel, PA) describes the biochemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) as having "a calming stabilizing effect on the brain" that "prevents us from being to `juiced', too quick, and therefore ineffective." Other "natures" as he calls them, are "Powerful Dopamine", "Creative Acetylcholine" and "Playful Serotonin".
Listening to Eric Braverman's explain his "Head-First Medicine" approach sounds like the revolution medicine needs is here as does his extending the concept of menopause to the entire body by naming how the brain ages as "pauses": "Electropause (slowing of brainwave activity), Biopause, Pituitarypause, Sensorypause" or "Psychopause (changes in mood) and how the body ages as: "Thyropause, Thymopause, Cardiopause, Vasculopause, Pulmonopause, Adrenipause, Somatopause, Osteopause" and "Dermopause".
The complete program that explains how the brain controls the body's functions and how you can adjust and even augment its capabilities he's titled the "Edge Effect". First identify your own brain-dominant nature with the Braverman Nature Assessment (pages of multiple choice True or False questions), address your differences, focus on making the most of your primary nature then use the "Edge Effect" to experience higher performance - all in 270 pages! Another enlightening book I read is called the T_r_u_t_h about C_a_f_f_e_i_n_e. After finishing it last night I woke up the next day and made an important decision. I decided that I did not like how coffee made me feel or what it could do to my fertility, and that was the end of a decade-long love affair with coffee. I told my body that it was free of all chemical addictions and that it would feel healthy and balanced without it. It worked.

Very informative and easy to read. Gets you up to date on the latest research in brain chemistry and it's effect upon body, mind and spirit. I found it iteresting, useful and uplifiting in terms of explaining behavioral psychology in a new light. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a cause of unexplained health or behavior problems.

Very informative and easy to read. Gets you up to date on the latest research in brain chemistry and it's effect upon body, mind and spirit. I found it iteresting, useful and uplifiting in terms of explaining behavioral psychology in a new light. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a cause of unexplained health or behavior problems.

This is a very excellent book for those of you out there looking for the next level of achieving optimal health. It is easy to read and understand. It contains a questionaire that helps you to zero in on your needs for specific amino acids. Highly recommended!

The connection between personality and mood on the one side and neurotransmitters on the other side is a young subject.
This book is definitely worth owning and reading to get some basic popular orientation in the field, to play with the questionaire and to experiment with medication or alternative supplements to balance your own mood states. It is very readable.
- It is not an in-depth treatment, the last word on the subject or your essential reference tome.

Words of caution: it's important to remember that the health of other organ systems also impacts mood and personality. Not to mention life events! We are not just wandering brain chemistries ...
The supplements suggested are very high. I have effects with about 1/10 of the dosages recommended in the book, and at about 1/6 of recommended dose I start to get overdose symptoms - so get professional advice about dosage (and a general health overview if you don't already have one) if you decide to try the supplements.
The author also has a website and an organisation that sells supplements and is good about giving advice on email exchanges.

I enjoyed this book very much. After reading the first few chapters, I was sure I knew my dominate nature and then after taking the test it showed different results. I now do agree with my new dominate nature. This book will stay on my shelf as a good reference book and one I would recommend...

This book is pseudoscience at its worst. What makes this the most disheartening is that it comes from a seemingly appropriately trained physician. If any reader thinks that neurotransmitter levels can be ascertained by a yes/no checklist... (insert eye rolling here). However, I urge you not to take my word for it... Instead ask yourself, "where are the citations to the the empirical research that would support any of this?" This answer, of course, is that there are none to be found.

Book arrived in excellent condition. Exellent book with lots of self-analysis tests.

Your book has helped solve the ongoing health problems I have suffered for years. I read the book and identified my nature, followed the recommendations and my illness has improved tremendously. I am now able to enjoy my life without the nagging pains I used to have. It is truly amazing all the other doctors I have been to over the years haven't caught on--The Brain does control the Body's Health. I am on my way to good health. Great Book.

I read this book with great interest as I am always looking for better health. What confused me about the book is the following: if I followed all the regimens discussed in this book, it appears that I would be taking more pills than I care to....in addition to the vitamins I take. And will one of these pills (nutrients) offset another one....in other words, could they be counter-productive. He also suggests using a sugar substitute which, by all accounts, is a toxin. Why would he suggest that you use Splenda or Aspartame if it has been found to be a cancer-causing agent? Because of this alone, I become suspect of other suggestions.

He makes certain protocols seem so easy, but yet you would have to keep on top of the effects of these protocols every week or so to make sure they are working. It just seems way too complicated....maybe I am not willing to be on top of my game in the neurotransmitter arena.

I saw Dr. Braveman being interviewed on TV and decided to buy his book. I was not disappointed. Dr. Braverman explains how to get the most out of your brain from a neurological/nutritional perspective. His information about "Brain balance" is excellent and should be a welcome addition to your bookshelf if you seek understanding about brain function and its impact on your life.

I recommend Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self to be read along with this great book to discover how to achieve emotional mastery, be your best and achieve the best results in all circumstances.

Eric Braverman MD in this just released book "The Edge Effect" (Sterling Pub Co.) believes that "singing or playing an instrument yourself is an active way in which you can increase GABA."

Dr. Braverman, also the force behind creating The Place for Achieving Total Health (PATH Medical in NYC and Penndel, PA) describes the biochemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) as having "a calming stabilizing effect on the brain" that "prevents us from being to `juiced', too quick, and therefore ineffective." Other "natures" as he calls them, are
"Powerful Dopamine", "Creative Acetylcholine" and "Playful Serotonin".

Listening to Eric Braverman's explain his "Head-First Medicine" approach sounds like the revolution medicine needs is here as does his extending the concept of menopause to the entire body by naming how the brain ages as "pauses": "Electropause (slowing of brainwave activity), Biopause, Pituitarypause, Sensorypause" or "Psychopause (changes in mood) and how the body ages as: "Thyropause, Thymopause, Cardiopause, Vasculopause, Pulmonopause, Adrenipause, Somatopause, Osteopause" and "Dermopause".

The complete program that explains how the brain controls the body's functions and how you can adjust and even augment its capabilities he's titled the "Edge Effect". First identify your
own brain-dominant nature with the Braverman Nature Assessment (pages of multiple choice True or False questions), address your differences, focus on making the most of your primary nature then use the "Edge Effect" to experience higher performance - all in 270 pages!

Actor Ben Vereen is quoted on the back cover suggesting, "Everyone with a brain must buy this book,"

Daniel Kassell
June 5, 2004