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His progress was negligible and within a year, he was hospitalized with symptoms of schizophrenia. Upon his release, John was marginally better. Schizophrenia prognosis was dim. What was to become of him?
Frantically I searched for answers. Traditional texts left me feeling hopeless. By sheer luck, I came across a book by psychiatrist, Dr. Abram Hoffer, M.D. PhD., psychiatrist, and a scholar of bio-chemistry. The book (now renamed Healing Schizophrenia) discussed diets with healthy nutrients, free of allergens that could help his condition. (Hoffer is the author of 31 books and 500 research papers.)
Also emphasized were nutrition health benefits of nutrients in supplement form such as Vitamin B3 (niacin) and Vitamin C – both natural and essential to the human body for restoring health along with other nutrients.
Orthomolecular medicine is the practice of optimizing health and treating disease by providing correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids and other substances which are natural to the body’s environment. In other words, find out what’s missing in the body and brain and give it what it needs and wants. Orthomolecular treatments are also safe to use along with medication.
I became excited. I called Dr. Hoffer for advice, and he directed me to the organization which is now known as the International Schizophrenia Foundation (ISF). I learned that the Foundation with over 40 years of research now all online, published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine , not only offers help for schizophrenia, but also for depression, bi polar illness, anxiety, autism, dementia and additional forms of mental diseases as well as other physical disease states. The foundation holds annual conferences presenting the latest research of nutritional and orthomolecular medicine. The 38th Annual International Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference is being held May 1 – 3, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Does Nutrient Therapy Get Good Results? You bet.
According to the Journal and the International Schizophrenia Foundation, if patients are started on the orthomolecular treatment of B3 (niacin) for serious schizophrenia symptoms (including paranoia) those symptoms can be reversed in 80% of cases within the first two years. Hoffer’s findings regarding positive treatments for schizophrenia were unheard of in traditional medical circles, where treatments are usually based mainly on medication. I was directed to a psychiatrist, a medical doctor in Toronto, who combines orthomolecular medicine along with traditional medication.
There are also some naturopaths who treat using orthomolecular medicine. You’re welcome to contact the ISF, www.orthomed.org for a practitioners list. Orthomolecular treatments are used world wide in 39 countries.
So you may be wondering, what about the medications, don’t they work? Yes, neuroleptic drugs can help extreme psychiatric symptoms, but Dr. Hoffer’s research, (cited in Outcomes of Patients with Schizophrenia: A Review, ‘Jobe et al,’ 2005, in The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry), concedes that schizophrenia (only treated with medication) is a “poor-outcome disorder” and warns that more attention must be given to suicide and early death for people with this illness. The cautionary advice regarding antipsychotic drug treatments in this report is not new. Clearly, these neuroleptic drug treatments are not a fail-safe approach to mental illnesses.
Food Allergy Symptoms and Mental Health Problems
As well as nutrients in supplement form being an important part of orthomolecular medicine – so is food. Let’s look at the connection between food allergies and mental disorders. This connection is not widely advocated, yet it’s an important issue that needs to be addressed. According to Dr. Hoffer along with many other doctors who work with allergies, about half of the chemically ill patient population experience allergies to one or more foods. At the hospital where my son had been admitted, I asked for a special diet to meet the requirements of John’s food allergies, but was told dieticians weren’t assigned to the psychiatric ward. I believe this is changing in some medical centres but certainly not all.
While much information exists about food allergies affecting mental health, this doesn’t seem to be common knowledge or is simply ignored by the vast majority of the medical profession, especially psychiatry. Great publications in this area are books by Doris Rapp, M.D. - Is This Your Child? And The Impossible Child, a must read for those with children with learning disabilities and ADHD. Great information abounds regarding rotation diets, - Dr. Mandel’s 5 Day Allergy Relief System and another important book is Brain Allergies by Philpott and Kalita.
It appears certain foods such as gluten allergies can cause cerebral or brain allergies in some individuals. Medication may help control some of the symptoms but an allergic individual will not respond to vitamin therapy alone. In Dr. Hoffer’s words: “If a person is allergic to dairy products, there will be no cure until the dairy products are removed from the diet.” And so too is the case with any food that irritates the brain.
This food and mental health connection is also true for those with autism and a wonderful nutritional healing program from the DAN organization in the U.S. is available. DAN stands for Defeat Autism Now.
My own son was tested for food allergies, and dietary deficiencies. Results of scientific tests showed allergies to most of the foods he had been eating (clear reasons for his ongoing digestion problems), plus vitamin and mineral deficiencies and imbalances. Clinics such as NutriChem in Ottawa, owned by award winning, author and pharmacist Kent MacLeod, tests individuals for these deficiencies or imbalances. Also the Health Research Institute and Pfeiffer Treatment Center , staffed by medical doctors and laboratory technicians in Chicago does intense nutritional testing for mental illnesses. Earth House in New Jersey is a residential treatment center using orthomolecular medicine and other traditional therapies.
John proved deficient in zinc, high in copper levels, low in Vitamin B12 and other nutrients. He was put on Vitamin B3 (niacin or niacinamide; 3,000 mg. to be taken each day in divided dosages), B complex (100 mg. per day), Vitamin C (3,000 mg. to be taken daily) and zinc (50 mg. to be taken daily). A multi vitamin/mineral was also prescribed for my son. Later, digestion aids were added due to poor absorption of nutrients.
Dietary Supplementation Dosages Suited to Individuals
People need to be aware that vitamin dosages depend upon each individual’s tolerance and needs and can often change over time. This is not an overnight process, but people can get better. Regarding niacin - it can cause a flush in the body, but is not dangerous. There are also non-flush formulas available.
Some fear that vitamins in high dosages are unsafe. Yet testimony before the Government of Canada, in Ottawa, 2005 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, by Andrew Saul, PhD, reaffirmed that nutritional supplements overall are indeed quite safe.
Within three weeks of taking the vitamins and changing his diet, there was a noticeable transformation in our son – his thought disorder and paranoia began to subside. Over the years, other nutrients were introduced by his orthomolecular physicians, such as B6, B12, folic acid, amino acids and more progress was noticed. Medication was also continued. This is not a simple process, but it made sense when we saw the positive results. Our son was regaining his balanced mental state before our eyes.
I became so interested in this field I left my music career, (which I loved) and went back to school to study, wellness and health promotion along with holistic nutrition. Since 1998, I have worked as a professional speaker on stress, wellness and nutrition. General well-being is important for everyone, including those with mental illnesses.
Stress Relief Program to Prevent Burn Out
I found that stress can be a forerunner for not only physical problems but also for many mental illnesses, or mental health issues. (See Hoffer’s paper on the Adrenachrome theory.) A healthy eating schedule (with avoidance of sugar, chemicals and white flour products), relaxation techniques, moderate exercise and being happy in relationships and engaging in a social life all help people with stress reduction. Boosted energy and achieving good health are other benefits. In our stressed out society we need to slow down, enjoy life and nurture mind, body, spirit. I recently released my book Frazzled Hurried Women! Your Stress Relief Guide to Thriving… Not Merely Surviving based on 30 years of research and my experience as a speaker and teacher on stress relief, wellness and nutrition. Also, my own personal health has improved using stress relief strategies and healthy nutrients.
In ’98, I became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and consult with patients of various Toronto physicians, one of them the doctor / psychiatrist that treated my son. I presently develop and present food plans to patients, many of whom suffer with varying forms of mental illness, cholesterol problems, diabetes or migraines.
There are many Biological Causes of Mental Illness
Research studies in the American and British Journals of Psychiatry, Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Annals of Allergy, and Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases clearly show that B12 deficiencies, thyroid problems, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, hypoglycemia, high homocysteine, and other ailments such as poor bowel ecology, can all affect mental health. Yet these findings don’t seem to make it into the psychiatrist’s office where it could possibly help patients! Although some patients are now routinely testing for B12 deficiencies - at last. Even low thyroid can cause fatigue, depression, and apathy. Yet many people walk around with thyroid levels that are ‘low normal’ - yet for them - not normal at all. Anemia is sometimes mistaken for dementia.
Let’s look at ‘simple’ hypoglycemia. If a person’s blood sugar is low, they can become depressed, apathetic, get the shakes, become irritable, even black out. If it becomes too high, they can become hyper, manic, with a racing heart, irrational. If that person who has hypoglycemia also has a mental disorder, it can make matters much worse. If they are also drinking a pot of coffee a day or one of those large bottles of cola, the caffeine (and sugar) will also cause their mood to really go through the roof!
Even essential fatty acid deficiencies is said to be a forerunner for mental illness. Our brain needs fats to survive. Extremely low fat diets can predispose people to many ailments and poor mental and physical health. With the vast amounts of research on essential fatty acids available in traditional psychiatric journals today, I believe it’s scandalous that patients with mental illness are not being prescribed simple fish oils – that are available in any health food store or pharmacy. Email me for a list of nutrition and mental health abstracts that appear in traditional journals.
Eating enough protein which supplies vital amino acids for neurotransmitters is also important for proper brain function. I see many vegetarians who take all protein out of their diets and then wonder what happened to their brain. Not only can we get muscle wasting from inadequate amounts of protein, we can also succumb to poor mental health.
But you see, while all these nutritional factors were identified and documented decades ago as probable causes for mental disorders, mental illness is still regarded as a non-organic illness. Doctors or psychiatrists can look up “symptoms” in the DSM IV Manual and prescribe medications without necessarily investigating other physical conditions first. This is a grave mistake.
Dangers of Fast Food and Mental Health Symptoms
What about our fast food craze? Information abounds about the proliferation of chemicals, herbicides and pesticides in our food supply for the past 75 years. Many foods are merely a mixture of chemicals as evidenced by the very writing that’s on the packages of these ‘foods’. Start reading labels or buy natural foods without labels.
The impact of the way we eat in North America is starting to cause a stir. Have a look at the films such as; Fast Food Nation, Super Size Me that point to the ills of our denigrated food supply. Health Canada continues to meet with food manufacturers to produce healthier foods. The book, The Crazy Makers tells a powerful story of food and modern chemicals negatively affecting children’s brains and causing ADD.
A great video called the Impact of Fresh Healthy Food on Learning and Behaviour documents the story of a high school in Appleton, Wisconsin. They actually replaced its cafeterias processed foods – hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers and fries, cola drinks with wholesome, nutritious food and drinks. Before this change, the school experienced massive disruption from students. Kids were being expelled, dropping out and there were weapons and drug violations. After the meals were changed, in just 3 weeks, staff saw improvements in the students. They were more stable and able to concentrate in class, with a considerable decrease in impulsive behaviours, and swearing. Their health complaints also were greatly reduced.
Diet makes a difference. And an allergy free diet is a main component of orthomolecular medicine.
So how did orthomolecular medicine start? In the early 1950’s, Abram Hoffer conducted the first double-blind studies for the treatment of schizophrenia using nutrients. Hoffer headed up a team of 30 researchers in four mental hospitals and three psychiatric wards in Saskatchewan. Tommy Douglas, (Premier at that time) sanctioned the extensive nutritional research for schizophrenia along with financial help from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Initial success with using niacin soon grew into a considerable body of eight double-blind clinical trials. In these early trials, patients’ recovery rates doubled from 35% to an astonishing 70%. Some attempted to repeat the studies and failed due to poor methodology, but when Hoffer’s protocols were followed, as they were in the National Institute of Medicine study, the doubling of recovery rates was confirmed.
Orthomolecular treatments are inexpensive, safe and effective and can be included with medication to optimize outcomes. People can get well, though Hoffer cautions that those with chronic schizophrenia may take longer to show measurable progress. However, they can still improve over time. In his book Mental Health Regained, 18 personal stories of recovery are documented by Dr. Hoffer. Success stories are told from those afflicted with disorders such as ADHD, Schizo-Affective Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Paranoid Schizophrenia.
As for our son John, the next few years after his first episode were an emotionally painful time for him and for our family. He felt sad and angry that this illness had descended upon him. Mental illness stigma is real.
However, he persevered with his dietary supplements and is also on medication. He started to exercise, take Yoga, get out in nature for walks. Because of his steady improvement, the medication dosage has been much lowered. We have also encouraged our son to continue with proper nutrition.
Today, my husband and I are happy parents. Presently, John is thinking clearly with no obvious symptoms of paranoia. He is in excellent mental and physical health. Due to the addition of the vitamins and other nutrients, John no longer has tardive dyskinesia which is characterized by repetitive, involuntary, purposeless movements. Research led by D. Hawkins, MD of 57,000 people taking orthomolecular treatments along with medication showed that none had tardive dsykenesia.
For the past ten years, John has lived in his own apartment. He is a terrific cook, does his own shopping, house cleaning, laundry, and handles his own finances. Presently, he is being retrained for a new career. John has made new friends and has hope for the future.
Initially, we were given little hope by hospital psychiatrists for a positive outcome for our son. Our family is extremely grateful for the research and dedication of Dr. Hoffer and other orthomolecular physicians and researchers world wide.
As for my nutritional consulting work, I am constantly encouraged by people that I counsel or their parents who contact me about their own or their child’s positive progress due to holistic nutrition and orthomolecular medicine administered by physicians. It’s a pleasure seeing people improve.
So you may wonder what progress is being made in nutritional medicine and mental illness. New research is emerging as we speak – some into the earlier work of Abram Hoffer about the high-affinity Niacin Receptor HM74A. A research paper should be released in a few months attesting to the correct nature of Hoffer’s early work in the ‘50’s, showing that a deficiency in the high-affinity receptor is a core feature of many individuals with schizophrenia.
Investigations into many other diseases are also being made - research concerning nutritional or enzyme deficiency states of illnesses such as osteoporosis, M.S. cardio vascular disease, cancer and arthritis.
Unfortunately, at this time in our history, people often have to search for physicians who treat in using nutritional restorative care or find out this orthomolecular information for themselves; it still isn’t taught in medical schools. But it took 500 years until Vitamin C as a cure for scurvy was embraced, or almost two hundred years until it was accepted that doctors washing their hands between surgeries could save countless lives. I don’t know about you, but I’m not that patient! Let’s hope the prejudice against nutritional and environmental medicine is eliminated for the betterment of our society and world. I believe for the advancement of medicine and to truly help people, the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and Journals for Environmental Medicine should not continue to be censored by Medline.
So can people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses recover using orthomolecular treatments? In orthomolecular terms, recovery means no visible signs of mental illness, getting along well with family and community and, if possible, paying taxes or at least being engaged in some useful activity.
There are no instant cures. Nonetheless, my son John has persevered. He now enjoys a far better life, free of former symptoms and I am thankful.
I know from my research, education, and personal and professional experience that the best road to recovery towards an improved mental and physical state is found in orthomolecular medicine which also includes a healthy natural diet. I’ve never regretted the decision to embrace this powerful therapy for myself, my family and for those I counsel.
I urge people to become proactive about their health, to research, to understand their options or seek out orthomolecular physicians. Unfortunately, many scientific investigations (especially on dietary supplementation) take years to reach the people who need it. I challenge you to improve your own health and the health of your family. What will you do to achieve this?
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