Health Movie Reviews

For those struggling with insomnia, this thorough DVD offers short-term solutions to use on a sleepless night, and long-term lifestyle changes designed to eliminate the problem. Dr. James Rouse, an M.D. with another degree in natural medicine, outlines the need to increase serotonin by day and melatonin by night. Under short-term solutions, he offers guided relaxation, self-massage with simple yoga, and suggestions for sleep-inducing snacks. In the long-term section, an expert leads meditation and guided relaxation and Yoga guru Rodney Yee provides a daily yoga practice, with another specifically geared toward sleep at night. Then Rouse weighs in on daily diet ideas to increase readiness for sleep. Recipes and nutritional information are provided in an accompanying booklet. Clocking in at 110 minutes, it would be hard to find a more comprehensive natural sleep program. This DVD contains information similar to--and, in some places, the same as--the info in Health Solutions: Stress Relief. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Using diet, gentle exercise, and relaxation techniques, Dr. James Rouse leads viewers on a journey to naturally increase their tension-fighting serotonin levels. This well-organized program offers short-term solutions from Rouse, an M.D. with another degree in natural medicine, involving healthy snacks, guided relaxation, self massage, and restorative yoga poses. For long-term solutions, he calls upon yoga expert Rodney Yee to demonstrate a daily meditation for focus and a yoga meditation to relieve stress. Yee also provides voice-over for a daily yoga practice and an evening practice to calm and unwind. Rouse suggests a menu to capitalize on foods to boost serotonin and fight the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Recipes and additional information are provided in an accompanying booklet. With 110 minutes of information at their disposal, viewers can easily create a personalized routine. This DVD contains information similar to--and, in some places, the same as--the info in Health Solutions: Sleep. --Kimberly Heinrichs