MENTAL ILLNESS
by Walter Last
Schizophrenia - Mania - Depression - Paranoia -
Neurosis
Serious
mental diseases are much more common than generally suspected. Up to 3% of the
population may develop schizophrenia and another 1% manic depressive psychosis.
In addition, there is a widespread incidence of serious depression, anxiety
neuroses, paranoia and dementias. It has been estimated that about 10% of
Australians require institutionalised psychiatric treatment at some time during
their lives.
In
conventional medicine and psychiatry there is no real understanding about the
causes of mental diseases, and the commonly used treatments with sedatives,
stimulants, electro-shock and psychotherapy are purely symptomatic and of
limited value.
In
contrast, natural medicine offers important insights into these conditions, and
is usually able to offer genuine help. As a general rule, the two main
influences on the development of mental diseases are nutrition and stress, in
particular emotional stress. In most cases there are combinations of different
nutritional factors and varying amounts of stress.
However,
in general the nutritional factor has the more decisive influence. On a
high-quality diet and without any allergies or vitamin, mineral and enzyme
deficiencies, we are able to regard even serious problems in our lives as
challenges, which help us to grow mentally and emotionally. On a poor diet, on
the other hand, even minor problems can become insurmountable obstacles and
cause extraordinary stress. With correct nutrition it will be so much easier to
overcome the remaining non-nutritional factors.
NUTRITION
AND YOUR MIND
The
two most basic requirements for the normal operation of our brain are a
sufficient energy supply and an optimal presence of biochemicals involved in
transmitting messages.
The
most common brain fuel is glucose, but in addition also the amino acid
glutamine can be used. Furthermore, the brain uses a massive 20% of the total
oxygen supply of the body. This demonstrates the importance of having a good
blood circulation to the brain as well as efficient free-radical protection,
both of which which may be severely impaired in many
cases of dementia and depression. Energy production inside the brain cells, as
in other cells, can be disrupted in two fundamental ways: either the breakdown
of glucose is too fast as in 'fast oxidisers' or hypoglycemics, or it is too
slow as in 'slow oxidisers'.
If
hypoglycemics eat fast digesting food, such as sweet food and fruit, their
blood glucose level rises too high initially, but then too much insulin is
released and excessive amounts of glucose rush into cells. Cells cannot store
glucose and must try to process it. Usually a deficiency of oxygen and
oxygenating enzymes develops and much of the glucose is only partially
metabolised in an anaerobic way (without the use of oxygen) to form lactic
acid.
High
lactic acid levels have been shown to trigger anxiety attacks and all kinds of
phobias in susceptible individuals. In addition, an excessive amount of
otherwise normal metabolic acids, such as citric acid may be formed and
contributes to make the body overacid.
Nevertheless,
during the period of elevated blood glucose a surplus of energy may be
generated in the brain and this can lead to mental agitation and irritation. In
children hyperactivity is likely to result, and in adolescents the outcome may
be violence. In mentally unstable individuals it may trigger a manic episode
that is a period of great, uncontrollable excitement. When the burst of energy
has past, there is a lack of energy and this may lead to a lethargic, listless
or depressed condition. This may be the case with fast-cycling manic-depressive
or bipolar disease.
With
slow oxidisers, glucose enters the cells too slowly; also energy production
inside the cells may be obstructed. Brain cells do not need insulin as muscle
cells do for glucose to enter. Therefore, an insufficient supply of glucose to
the brain is mainly due to a heavy diet high in meat and fat and low in
carbohydrates. With elderly individuals this may be in addition to an impaired
blood circulation to the brain.
A
variety of B vitamins and minerals are required to convert glucose and
glutamine into brain energy. These are mainly the vitamins B1, B2, B6,
nicotinamide, pantothenic acid and the minerals magnesium, manganese and zinc.
If any of these are deficient, the brain cannot produce sufficient energy and
periods of lethargy, stupor and depression may result.
The
state of excitement following sweet food intake by fast oxidisers is usually
short lived and within hours may swing to depression and back to excitement
after another intake of sweet food. On the other hand the energy deprivation
caused when slow oxidisers eat predominantly heavy food may last for months and
years.
However,
both conditions, in combination with hidden allergies and vitamin, mineral and
enzyme deficiencies may produce a wide range of abnormal or exaggerated mental
conditions, such as paranoia, delusions and phobias. In such cases it is not
always apparent if the metabolism is fast, slow or normal. Therefore, an
important step in healing mental disorders is to determine the state of the
metabolism.
Histamine
Levels
The
most prominent distinguishing feature is usually the level of histamine in the
blood. Fast oxidisers are overacid. This liberates
histamine, which may be bound to proteins, and histamine levels rise. The
result is a very sensitive skin, which reacts strongly to insect bites and
irritants such as wool, chemicals, nylon and some other synthetics. The blood
pressure is usually low, less than 120/80, and hands and feet are cold in cool
weather. Inflammations and sunburns from sunbathing are common, and pain
generally is felt strongly.
Slow
oxidisers, on the other hand, usually are too alkaline due to their deficiency
in metabolic acids, and this causes histamine levels to be too low. Therefore,
the blood pressure is elevated, usually above 120/80, and the skin is rather
insensitive to cold, insect bites and irritants. Inflammations are uncommon and
not much pain is felt.
If
conditions, mainly sensitivity to cold, skin irritants and pain, are normal
then the metabolism is probably balanced. With this, we have the first
important step in healing mental illness: select a diet according to metabolic
requirements. Fast oxidisers must use slow-digesting food; slow oxidisers use
fast digesting food, and balanced oxidisers select normally digesting food.
Slow-digesting foods are mainly protein and fat or oil rich foods while fruits
are the main fast-digesting food.
Allergies
Allergies,
mostly in the form of food allergies, are most obvious in fast oxidisers, but
may be present in all types. Hidden allergies may lead to prolonged periods of
brain irritation and, with this, to periods of uncontrollable excitement,
anger, thought dissociation and all kinds of mental abnormalities.
Manic
periods may last for months at a time or even become chronic. Sometimes, after
weeks or months the body adapts to this continuing allergic irritation through
hormonal changes and the inflammation response, which caused the irritation,
disappears, sometimes permanently, at other times only temporarily.
In
one case of mental illness the skull had been opened and an inflammatory
swelling of the brain tissue after ingesting wheat could be observed. Wheat
products and gluten grains in general are most frequently linked to the
development of schizophrenia. Allergies in mental diseases are also common to
cows' milk products as well as to unbiological chemicals in our foods, such as
artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, pesticide residues and so forth.
Many
of these food additives are classed as Excitotoxins. These are taste
or flavor enhancers that release glutamic acid or
glutamate. Also aspartic acid and cysteine are
brain-active amino acids. The best-known example of an excitotoxin
is MSG or mono-sodium glutamate, a salt of glutamic
acid. High blood levels can cross the normally protective blood-brain barrier.
Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that is present in the extra-cellular fluid
only in very low concentration. If levels are inappropriately raised then
neurons fire abnormally, and at higher levels brain cells begin to die. Oxygen
deficiency and lack of fuel (hypoglycemia) both interfere with the energy
production of brain cells to make them susceptible to damage by these excitotoxins. This may be an important factor in the
development of neurological diseases and especially in overactive or manic
conditions.
Excitory amino acids cause problems mainly when they are used
either in high concentrations or in free form while bound, as in most natural
foods, they are slowly released and therefore harmless. Most processed foods
contain excitotoxins, especially if any kind of
commercial taste or flavor enhancers has been added, such as hydrolyzed
vegetable protein, soy protein extract, yeast extract, beef stock and caseinate; commercial soups, sauces and gravies are usually
most affected. On the label any of these products may just be called 'natural flavoring'.
Aged proteins, processed meat, cheeses and tomato puree have higher levels of
free glutamate as well but fresh tomatoes are fine. All of these should be
avoided by sensitive individuals who are prone to overactive mental conditions.
In
addition, if the intestinal wall has been damaged by a high gluten intake, by
local inflammations due to Candida, food allergy, and also by the frequent use
of aspirin and similar drugs, then bacterial and fungal breakdown products from
the normal intestinal flora may be absorbed. It has been shown that specific
protein fragments (peptides) from wheat, cows' milk and bacterial decomposition
products have a special effect on the chemistry of the brain and cause a
so-called cerebral allergy. This may then express itself in a wide range of
mental and emotional disorders.
Some
environmental allergists claim that over 90% of schizophrenics treated by them
have allergies on average to about ten different foods each. However, the most
frequent type of schizophrenics with low histamine levels is rather insensitive
to conventional allergy testing, and only a strict elimination diet will bring
results. Actually, there are reports from varying sources claiming that most
schizophrenics became symptom-free during a water fast of about one week.
Therefore, rule number two: test for sensitivities and allergies to foods and
chemicals, see Allergy Testing.
Specific
Nutrients
There
is an up to ten-fold variation in individual requirements for certain
nutrients, such as vitamins, in apparently healthy people and animals.
Unhealthy or stressed individuals require still higher levels to maintain a
normal metabolism. Greatly increased requirements may be inherited or they may
be acquired as in prisoner of war camps or on highly refined diets Most
vitamins affect brain chemistry to some degree and if chronically increased
requirements are not met, then abnormal brain chemistry may develop.
The
classical brain vitamins are vitamin B1 and nicotinamide. Severe long-term
deficiencies of these cause the well-known diseases of Beriberi and pellagra.
Symptoms include digestive, muscle and skin problems, nervous system and
thought disorders. With chronic vitamin B1 deficiency often a weakness in the
legs develops, starting upwards from the feet.
With
nicotinamide deficiency changes in sensory perception have the best diagnostic
value. This means one may see objects differently than one used to see them or
how others see them. One may see something where there is nothing, one may hear
voices where there are none, one may feel like walking without the feet
touching the ground, and many similar symptoms. In contrast to vitamin B1
deficiency, there is usually a noticeable loss of humour with nicotinamide
deficiency.
Nicotinamide
or niacin is most important with low-histamine schizophrenics. Sometimes daily
doses of up to 9 g were needed to normalise metabolism and behaviour. However,
when wheat and cows' milk products were avoided, the requirement dropped to 4 -
6 g and it dropped still further with the addition of other vitamins,
especially folic acid and ascorbic acid. Finally, after proper fasting periods
and on a high-quality low allergy diet, a multivitamin tablet may be all that is
still needed.
Vitamin
B6 together with zinc and manganese are most helpful with depression and
schizophrenia when histamine levels are normal. With vitamin B6 deficiency
there is often an inability to remember dreams. In order to overcome mental
problems it is often necessary to increase the vitamin B6 intake until there is
a normal dream recall, which may involve several hundred milligrams daily.
However, if there is a zinc deficiency at the same time, vitamin B6 may not
work and instead cause neurological problems. Therefore, zinc and manganese
should be taken in higher doses as well. Zinc deficiency may show as white
spots or bands on fingernails.
Another
antidepressant vitamin is vitamin B12. There may be either higher requirements
or poor absorption. In any case it is best to use injections initially and
continue with tablets to be absorbed under the tongue (sublingual). Vitamin B12
blood levels do not correlate with levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, that
means there may be brain deficiencies despite normal serum B12 levels. Also
folic acid is usually deficient and supplements helpful except in patients with
high histamine levels.
With
mental disorders serum vanadium, a rare heavy metal, has sometimes been
suspected of causing depression. It can apparently be removed from the body
with large intakes of vitamin C. While healthy individuals may lose 50% of a
test dose of 100 mg of vitamin C in the urine, some schizophrenics may lose
hardly any even at intakes of several grams. This indicates a greatly increased
requirement.
With
mentally retarded children vitamin B6, nicotinamide, ascorbic acid and zinc are
usually the most important supplements, in addition to a balanced
supplementation of all other vitamins and trace minerals.
Besides
vanadium there are various other metals harmful for our brain activity.
Aluminium as from antacids, aerosol sprays, baking powder or cooking utensils
is implicated in the dementia of Alzheimer's disease, lead from paints and car
exhaust fumes and mercury from contaminated seafood and especially from amalgam
tooth fillings are strong nerve and brain toxins. While copper is an essential
trace mineral, it is usually too high in schizophrenics and may overstimulate
the brain. Increased amounts of zinc help to counteract this tendency.
There
are indications that schizophrenics, especially the low-histamine type, improve
when using so-called omega-3 fatty acids mainly from linseed and fish oils. The
polyunsaturated oils, on the other hand, and especially the arachidonic acid in
meat have a negative influence. Also manic-depressives and sufferers of other
mental diseases seem to benefit. With additional omega-3 fatty acids
low-histamine schizophrenics require less niacin while with other disorders
less vitamin B6 may be needed.
SCIENTlFIC
AND CLINICAL STUDIES
G.
Watson in his pioneering book 'Nutrition and our Mind' gives many case examples
of patients with schizophrenia and other mental diseases becoming 'normal' by
using a fast-digesting diet with slow oxidisers but slow-digesting food with
fast oxidisers.
In
recent years C. Pfeiffer continued the differential approach but distinguished
between 3 different types. His high-histamine type corresponds to Watson's fast
oxidisers and his low-histamine type to the slow oxidisers. Between both types
is the normal oxidiser with normal histamine levels but greatly increased
vitamin B6 and zinc requirements.
R.
Mackarness (e.g. 'Not All in the Mind') provides
additional case reports on the value of food allergy testing in mental disease,
while the Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry demonstrates in countless
reports the beneficial effects of high doses of specific nutrients, especially
vitamins and minerals in the treatment of mental diseases.
Studies
of whole diets in the treatment of mental diseases are rare and studies are
usually confined to allergies and specific foods or nutrients. Some
publications report a high incidence of allergies and others a low one. The
difference is usually found in the methodology: the low-allergy reports are not
based on strict elimination diets for foods and chemicals.
The
link between wheat or gluten and schizophrenia first became obvious as a side
effect of the Second World War. Dohan, an American
psychiatrist, noticed that the incidence of schizophrenia had dropped in
occupied countries but rose again to the average rate soon afterwards. Dohan suspected cereals as the cause for this fluctuation
and tested his theory by dividing a schizophrenic ward into a group fed the
normal diet and the other group with a cereal-free diet. Soon the cereal-free
group started improving.
Another
link between gluten and mental disease is the observation that adult
schizophrenics have a high incidence of coeliac disease during childhood while coeliacs on the other hand, have several times the normal
chance of developing schizophrenia as adults. Coeliacs
have a severe gluten allergy.
Further
supporting evidence comes from a study of tens of thousands of natives in New
Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Micronesia. There was hardly any schizophrenia
in inland populations living mainly on root crops without cereals, beer or
milk. However, there was a much higher incidence of schizophrenia in
Westernised coastal regions where wheat and beer were consumed but not milk.
In
a recent study of 14 schizophrenics the substitution of soy products for cereal
grains and milk resulted in the improvement of 10 patients who deteriorated
again when given wheat gluten. In laboratory studies it has been found that
wheat gluten and casein of cows' milk yield protein fragments or peptides
during digestion, which have a strong neurochemical
effect on the brain with changes in the ERG as well as mood alterations. A
published double-blind test shows a young female becoming psychotic after
ingesting milk products.
Furthermore,
gluten has been shown to erase or blunt the absorption villi in the small
intestines, leading to malabsorption problems. Individuals with malabsorption
usually have difficulty gaining weight. Therefore, gluten-sensitive individuals
with suspected malabsorption problems must make special efforts to assimilate
key nutrients. Vitamins and trace minerals need to be taken in high doses and
easily absorbed form. Vitamin A, for instance as emulsion, natural vitamin E in
tablet form, essential fatty acids emulsified with lecithin and also used as
skin rubs.
For
a good compilation of scientific literature in relationship to mental diseases
see www.nutritional-healing.com.au.
Vitamin
Studies
The
most important vitamins in the treatment of mental diseases are niacin
or nicotinamide, folic acid and the vitamins B1, B6. B12 and C.
Nicotinamide
is used in orthomolecular psychiatry on a large scale in the treatment of
schizophrenia. However, nicotinamide itself can cause some problems in very
high doses in susceptible individuals, such as depression and liver
disturbances. Therefore, the acid form, niacin or nicotinic acid, is commonly
used despite the initial flushing it may cause.
The
beneficial effects of niacin were discovered in 1952 by Osmond and Hoffer who were intrigued by the similarity of the
psychosis seen in pellagra with that in schizophrenia. Since then they
published two double blind studies and numerous papers and case reports
confirming their original positive results.
However,
there are also some studies with negative outcomes and orthodox psychiatry
generally still rejects the use of vitamins and especially niacin in the
treatment of mental disease. There are several reasons why some results may be
negative. In some studies nicotinamide has been used instead of niacin; Hoffer and Osmond used additional large doses of ascorbic
acid and later also folic acid and vitamin B12, which were not used in negative
studies. Finally, only the approximately 50% of schizophrenics with low
histamine blood levels benefit from niacin therapy and there was no
differentiation of high and low-histamine schizophrenics in most studies.
Of
equal importance in the treatment of mental diseases is vitamin B6. Together
with zinc, vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is essential for the metabolism and
synthesis of proteins, including the neurotransmitters for brain and nerve
functions.
Clinical
studies show vitamin B6 to be most effective in cases of behavioural problems,
depression and schizophrenics with normal histamine blood levels. Pfeiffer in
various publications provided research data to show that one group of
schizophrenics is characterised by an abnormal loss of vitamin B6 and zinc in
the urine and that such patients could be quickly restored to normal with high
dosage vitamin B6 and zinc supplements.
Improvement
according to Pfeiffer is noticeable within one week and recovery can be
expected in 3 - 4 months. The first patient was treated in this way in 1971.
New patients coming to the Brain Bio Centre who did not use supplements were
vitamin B6 deficient in 51% of cases, while those who took vitamin B6
supplements were still deficient at a rate of 21%.
Other
investigators found that 75% of their depressed patients had insufficient
vitamin B6 intake, while another report found vitamin B6 deficiency in 57% of
depressed patients and 25% of obsessive-compulsive patients. Frequent vitamin
B6 deficiencies were also reported in dementias, such as Alzheimer patients as
well as in autistic children. The brain responses in the autistic children
could be improved to approximate those of normal children and half of the
children in one study showed marked clinical improvement as well.
A
group of agoraphobic patients was found to be deficient in multiple B vitamins,
including B1, B6, B12, niacin and folic acid. They received dietary counselling
and vitamin therapy. After 3 months 19 of the 23 patients showed
dramatic improvement with most of them free of panic attacks.
When
normal subjects were placed on a vitamin B1 deficient diet in an experimental
study, 5 out of 9 developed marked depression and irritability. Also vitamin B2
deficiency is linked to depression.
Folic
acid is sometimes called the most frequently deficient vitamin. It works
closely together with vitamin B12 in the synthesis of blood, nucleic acids and
in various nerve and brain functions. Folic acid deficiency is associated with
confusion, depression, dementia, apathy and psychosis. Symptoms are similar
with vitamin B12 deficiency: confusion, depression, hallucinations, paranoia,
psychoses and impaired memory and ability to learn and concentrate.
One
investigator reported a 58% incidence of vitamin B12 deficiency in 135 cases
of psychoses and organic brain syndrome. Reports of folic acid deficiency in
psychiatric patients range from 25 - 50%.
Both
vitamins are especially required in the low-histamine group of schizophrenics.
Such patients had only half the folate blood levels than another group of
schizophrenics with normal histamine levels. Folic acid and vitamin B12 work
together with niacin to normalise blood histamine levels and this, in turn
results in the improvement of schizophrenic symptoms within 5 - 6 months.
Vitamin
B12 and folic acid are also deficient in a high percentage of dementia patients
and many show improvement with supplementation. Folic acid deficiency has also
been observed in mentally retarded children.
Folic
acid and the vitamins B12 and C have been reported to be the most important
vitamins with the bipolar disorder of manic-depressives. One case of mania has
been reported, which was cured just by correcting a vitamin B12 deficiency that
was present even without signs of pernicious anaemia.
In
several studies psychiatric patients have been found to be severely deficient
in vitamin C. Stressed individuals require more vitamin C than those not under
stress, the vitamin C content of the adrenal glands decreases when individuals
are stressed.
Apparently,
psychiatric conditions are experienced as a stress on the body. Low vitamin C
levels were present in psychiatric patients even when they were on the same
diet as controls with normal vitamin C blood levels.
In
vitamin C loading tests normal controls only need I - 2 days to become
saturated with vitamin C but psychiatric patients usually require 6 days and
even more, similar to scorbutic individuals who require 7 - 10 days. Patients
with dementia and depression were as deficient as those with schizophrenia.
After vitamin C saturation, there was a significant improvement in depressed,
manic and paranoid conditions. Patients generally expressed a feeling of
wellbeing and became noticeably more sociable. In a double-blind study with
manic-depressives a significant improvement was noticeable between 3 - 5 hours
after ingesting a single dose of 3 g of ascorbic acid.
Mineral
Studies
The
main mineral deficiencies; associated with psychiatric diseases are zinc and
manganese with schizophrenia, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and
zinc with organic mental disorder and calcium iron, magnesium, potassium and
zinc with depression. Excesses of harmful metals are copper with some forms of
schizophrenia; copper, lead and mercury with organic mental disorder, aluminium
with dementia and vanadium with depression.
Zinc
is probably the most important mineral with psychiatric disorders in general.
Over 90 metallo-enzymes require zinc and the
functioning of the brain is dependent on adequate levels of zinc. Deficiency
can cause amnesia, apathy, depression, irritability, lethargy, mental
retardation arid paranoia.
A
study found a 30% reduction of brain zinc content in early onset
schizophrenics as compared to normals. In another
study autopsies were performed on schizophrenics and their brains had only half
the zinc content of control brains. A part of the brain, called hippocampus,
next to the pineal gland has the highest zinc content in the brain. The
hippocampus is involved with the integration of thoughts, memories and emotions
Other
important effects of zinc deficiency are an increase in copper levels, which
can cause over-stimulation of the brain, and also an inhibition of the
essential fatty acid metabolism, which generally is disturbed with psychiatric
disorders.
Pfeiffer
and co-workers provide case histories of the essential role of zinc in the
treatment of a subgroup of schizophrenic, called pyrolurics.
One case of minimal brain dysfunction and learning disability with severe
behavioural problems is described in which zinc alone was responsible
for normalising the condition. Generally, however, zinc is required together
with vitamin B6 and other supplements for effective treatment.
The
most common time of onset of schizophrenia and various emotional disturbances
is during adolescence, a period which is also characterised by unusually high
zinc requirements. This is partly due to the greatly increased stresses and
metabolic activity in this time, but mainly to the sexual development and
functioning.
There
is a high zinc requirement during the development of the sex organs, especially
the male organs and also for the production of semen. In females zinc levels
drop when oestrogen levels rise and also one week before the menstrual period
when women are more liable to depression. A frequent sign of zinc deficiency
are white spots or bands on the fingernails or opaquely white nails.
Manganese
is a key element in various important aspects of our metabolism and for the
utilisation of the vitamins C, B1, biotin as well as choline. There are early
reports of a beneficial effect of manganese supplementation on schizophrenia.
38 patients with psychosis were treated with manganese and 22 showed mental and
physical improvement. In another report 37% of hospitalised patients with
schizophrenia were discharged in 1 year with manganese treatment as compared to
18% of controls.
An
important effect of manganese supplementation may be the lowering of elevated
copper levels. Pfeiffer showed that manganese caused a 3-fold increase in copper
excretion in patients with copper overload and low histamine levels. Copper
reduction is even more pronounced if manganese is given together with increased
zinc. Hair manganese levels in schizophrenics were low as compared to healthy
individuals.
Calcium
has been found to be helpful with post-menopausal and post-natal depression,
also in the elderly, while iron is mainly associated with women before
menopause. Low calcium levels can also cause an anxiety syndrome, mainly in
post-menopausal females.
The
magnesium content in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with schizophrenia or
major depression who had made a suicide attempt was significantly lower than in
neurological controls. Low magnesium levels also increase anxiety and
irritability.
Depressed
individuals were found to have decreased n potassium levels inside the cells
and those who suicided also had low potassium levels in the brain. These
effects are present despite usually normal potassium and sodium levels in the
blood. However, avoiding salt and using a high-potassium diet will be
beneficial.
Harmful
Metals
Copper
is essential in trace amounts of about 2 mg per day. However, there is much
copper pollution in our environment and intakes are often too high, causing
insufficiency of zinc. High levels of copper overstimulate the brain. A study
in the United States found that every home with high copper levels in drinking
water had at least one family member with psychiatric problems. Copper pipes
and hot water boilers are the main sources of excess copper in drinking water.
Mental
diseases and symptoms linked to high copper levels are low-histamine
schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, depression, senility, autism and
hyperactivity. Paranoia and hallucinations are prevalent in younger
schizophrenics and depression in older ones.
However,
excess of copper does not necessarily show up in the blood. In an evaluation of
30 patients with normal serum and urine levels but unusually high hair copper
levels the following symptoms were present: apprehension, poor concentration,
severe depression, insomnia, irritability, memory lack and profound mental
fatigue, in addition also somatic (bodily) problems. Removal of the excess
copper by chelation usually led to rapid improvement.
Copper
levels in the blood rise when zinc levels drop as for instance with raising
oestrogen levels in females the week before period time and when on
contraceptive pills and in both sexes when consuming sugar. However, copper
blood levels are also high with inflammatory condition and degenerative
diseases with an underlying inflammatory basis, even if tissue copper levels
are low. Therefore, with all inflammatory conditions copper is beneficial.
Vanadium
is a heavy metal, which in trace amounts seems to be essential for us. However,
in manic-depressives it is frequently elevated in blood and hair. Also blood
vanadium levels have been found to be higher during active states of the
disease than during inactive phases or remissions.
A
double blind study of 23 patients had manic as well as depressed individuals
improved on a low vanadium diet with an additional heavy metal chelating agent
(EDTA). Generally, however, studies show that depressed patients respond better
to lower vanadium levels than manic conditions.
Two
case reports may demonstrate this point. A patient with a regular 10-week cycle
of mania and depression skipped her depressive phase on a low vanadium diet and
supplements of ascorbic acid and EDTA. Another patient with the same treatment
changed from a severe bipolar condition to a mild hypomanic state with no
depressive phase. However, five days after the supplements were withdrawn she
became severely depressed and returned to the hypomanic condition only after
resumption of supplementation.
The
beneficial effect of ascorbic acid supplementation appears to be due to a
reduction of the vanadium ion to a more inactive form (from vanadate
to vanadyl). In addition there may be an increased
excretion of vanadium. Methylene blue has been used as an effective alternative
reducing agent (200 - 400 mg per day) while EDTA (1 g per meal) chelates
vanadium from dietary sources in the gut but will also prevent the absorption
of beneficial minerals. Vanadium is relatively high in milk, egg white,
gelatine and shellfish.
The
adverse effect of vanadium results from its inhibition of the active transport
of sodium across cell membranes. This means the sodium content inside the cells
becomes too high and cells cannot build up the full electric potential for
proper functioning. Lithium, on the other hand, which is a mineral often used
with mental disorders, improves this sodium transport.
Aluminium
is mainly implicated with dementia and in particular with Alzheimer’s disease.
The aluminium content in the brain of such patients is greatly elevated as
compared to normal controls. Aluminium exposure in animal experiments causes
nerve fibres to become tangled up (neurofibrilar tangles).
Aluminium
is known to inhibit and reduce an important co-factor in the synthesis of many
neurotransmitters and it is also reduced in the brains of patients with
Alzheimer's dementia. In one controlled experiment Alzheimer patients received
injections of aluminium-chelating agents for 4 - 24 months. While controls
continued to deteriorate at the normal rate, the treated patients had either
slower deterioration or even improved in some cases. Aluminium also promotes
acute psychotic conditions by making the blood-brain barrier more permeable to
ingested neurotoxins.
Our
aluminium intake comes mainly from aluminium cooking utensils, antacids based
on aluminium, public drinking water; some types of baking powder and especially
aerosol sprays. It has been shown that the aluminium silicates from such sprays
can be directly transported through nerve connections from the nose into the
brain and deposited in the most sensitive areas.
In
a psychiatric study on 31 patients with elevated lead levels 17 had one or more
of the following symptoms: depression, fatigue, headache and irritability. The
main complaint was severe depression. We absorb lead from tinned food (lead
soldering), car exhaust fumes, old paints and lead water pipes.
Symptoms
reported from exposure to mercury include anxiety, apathy, drowsiness,
depression, fatigue, irritability, poor concentration and memory loss. The main
sources of mercury pollution are dental amalgam fillings and in some areas
coastal seafood.
Cadmium
from refined foods, plated containers and leached from plastics causes problems
mainly as a zinc antagonist. While salt normally causes problems with
degenerative diseases, if blood pressure is very low a salt-free diet can
produce apathy, memory impairment, social withdrawal and even illusions and
hallucinations.
Essential
Fatty Acid Studies
Recent
studies have found a strong connection between mental disorders and an abnormal
metabolism of essential fatty acids. There are two groups of essential fatty
acids, the omega-6 series based on linoleic acid common in oil seeds, and the
omega-3 series based on alpha linolenic acid from linseed. The most prominent
higher omega-6 fatty acid is arachidonic acid, which is abundant in meat, while
the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids are the fish oils (EPA and DHA).
Both
groups form different kinds of tissue hormones or prostaglandins. Linoleic acid
may form either series 1 or 2 prostaglandins or PGE1 or PGE2, while omega-3
fatty acids lead to the 3 series or PGE3. Generally, there is an overproduction
of the PGE2 series and a lack of PGE1.
This
situation can be improved by restricting the intake of arachidonic acid and
greatly increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids, especially alpha linolenic
acid. An excess of linolenic acid restricts the formation of PGE2 while the
additionally formed PGL3 have similar effects to the PGE1 series.
Further
nutrients, which are required for PGE1 production are the vitamins C, B6 and
niacin as well as manganese, zinc and insulin. Increased PGE1 and PGE3
production is especially beneficial with low-histamine schizophrenics as well
as depressed and agoraphobic individuals. Schizophrenic patients then have a
greatly lowered flush threshold with niacin but more easily develop neurotoxic
symptoms with high doses of vitamin B6 in the absence of sufficient zinc.
In
manic conditions, however, there is an overproduction of PGE1. This may
possibly be improved by greatly restricting all omega-6 fatty acids and use
predominantly ornega-3 fatty acids.
Lithium,
a mineral related to sodium and potassium, is often used as a drug with mental
diseases, especially in manic-depressive conditions. Lithium seems to have a
normalising influence on PGE1 production, which is most effective with manic
conditions, but with depression PGE1 levels may fall to a very low level, and
this causes toxic side effects. These can usually be overcome by providing evening
primrose oil together with the lithium to stimulate PGE1 production.
In
an interesting study 12 patients were taking 2 - 6 tablespoons of linseed oil
in divided doses with meals. 8 patients showed impressive improvements within 2
- 12 weeks, 2 of these were schizophrenic, 3 manic-depressive and 3
agoraphobic. 3 schizophrenics and 1 agoraphobic patient failed to improve. It
is possible that linseed oil has less effect on high-histamine schizophrenics
and none on pyrolurics (vitamin B6 and zinc deficient).
In
the manic-depressives the amount of linseed oil had to be carefully balanced as
too high a dose induced hypomanic episodes or rapid oscillations between the
manic and the depressed condition. The name bipolar disorder has been given
because of this, normally slow, alternation between the two opposite
conditions. However, fish oils now appear to be the functional form of omega-3
fatty acids, and it is generally better to use several grams of fish oils
instead of linseed oil.
It
is conceivable that a hidden allergy or chemical sensitivity causes an
over-stimulation of the PGE1 production resulting in a manic phase until the
hormone and enzyme systems responsible for this overproduction become
temporarily exhausted. This leads to a rest period with little PGE1 production
and depression. When enzymes and hormones have recovered, another manic phase
with overproduction of PGE1 begins.
Deficiency
in omega-3 fatty acids may result not only from inadequate intake but more
often from fat malabsorption. Main causes of this are gluten allergy,
obstruction of the bile duct, and lipase deficiency. To remedy this, avoid
gluten, use lipase supplements, and emulsify cod liver oil or linseed oil by
shaken it with lecithin in juice.
Further
Studies
Several
amino acids have an influence on brain functions. L-glutamine acts as an
alternative brain fuel to glucose. In high doses as a supplement it can cause
manic periods. There are two case reports of individuals with no previous manic
episodes who became manic after 1 week on either 4 g or 2 g of daily glutamine
supplement. These symptoms ceased within a week after stopping glutamine
supplementation.
Other
amino acids are used to produce neurotransmitters, the messenger chemicals
between nerve endings. Too much or too little of these can disturb brain
functions as well. Such neurotransmitter amino acids are 1-phenylalanine,
tryptophan and tyrosine. The neurotransmitter dopamine is formed from tyrosine
and phenylalanine and is already too high in manics
and schizophrenics except in depressed conditions. Therefore, do not take these
amino acids in overactive conditions.
Taurine,
a sulphur amino acid, has the opposite effect. It is a sedating
neurotransmitter and, therefore, useful in overactive or manic conditions. Try
1-2 g before meals 3 times daily.
L
or D,L -phenylalanine is very effective with depression, especially with
bipolar depression. It can be used to form the neurotransmitters dopamine and
norepinephrine (also called noradrenalin) and with the help of vitamin B6 it
can be formed into phenylethylamine, which is an
amphetamine-like stimulating neurotransmitter to be found in high
concentrations in chocolate. This explains why depressed individuals easily
become addicted to chocolate.
In
an experiment with 40 severely depressed patients 31 improved almost
immediately on supplementation of phenylalanine and vitamin B6.and 10 of these
were completely free of depression. The urinary output of a phenylethylamine
breakdown product was below normal before the trial but rose during treatment
in tandem with the spirits of the patients.
Tryptophan
forms the neurotransmitter serotonin. The metabolism of tryptophan is disturbed
and blood levels often low in bipolar disease, depression and schizophrenia. In
a group of female schizophrenics the tryptophan blood level was low while the
disease was active but increased with remission. It was similar with a group of
depressed female patients. Also in a group with postnatal depression those with
the most severe depression had the lowest tryptophan levels.
Supplementation
of generally 6 g daily resulted in improvement in some groups of
schizophrenics, manics and depressives. For 90
minutes before and after a tryptophan dose ingestion of proteins was avoided to
improve the uptake of tryptophan into the brain. As an example of a good
response a 65% improvement was reported in a group of depressed patients after
4 weeks of supplementation. Anxiety, too, improved with tryptophan and vitamin
B6.
However,
some depressives do not respond to tryptophan but to tyrosine instead. Tyrosine
is used to produce the important hormones and neurotransmitters adrenalin,
noradrenalin and dopamine. A case report describes a young woman with chronic
depression who recovered while on 6 g per day of tyrosine but relapsed on
placebo. Tryptophan and tyrosine have opposite effects on depressives and
should be used separately; if one does not work then the other may be tried.
The
main ingredient of lecithin is phosphatidyl choline, which in turn is used to produce the
neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Supplementation with lecithin is reported to be
beneficial with stress related bipolar disease that did not respond to any
other therapy but patients recovered after 6 weeks on 15 g of lecithin daily.
Also other groups of bipolar patients improved with signs of mania disappearing
in 5 patients of a group of 6. Trials with Alzheimer patients indicate that the
disease process may be halted with long-term high lecithin intake.
Several
studies recommend avoiding caffeine with schizophrenia as it interferes with
several neurotransmitters in the brain. In individuals prone to anxiety it
increases lactic acid formation and the amount of caffeine ingested paralleled
the degree of panic or anxiety created. Anxiety also results from caffeine
withdrawal. Alcohol has a similar harmful effect.
Tetraethyl-lead
is a neurotoxin in fumes from leaded petrol. In sensitive individuals it
reportedly can produce symptoms of anxiety, aggression, mania, schizophrenia
and suicidal tendencies.
OTHER
FACTORS
An
episode of severe stress is often the trigger of a mental breakdown. This is
because during stress we require much higher levels of certain vitamins and
minerals than normally. If this additional requirement comes on top of a
generally poor vitamin-mineral status and combined with an inadequate diet, the
brain just does not receive the necessary nutrients to function in a normal
way.
In
this way the stress of extreme grief for a lost companion, the stress of severe
financial difficulties, a work-related emergency and similar stressful
situations may all incapacitate the brain. The stress of childbirth combined
with the vitamin and mineral loss during pregnancy and breastfeeding often
trigger the well-known post-natal depression.
Another
possibility is the inability to decide between two equally unacceptable
alternatives but experiencing strong pressure to make such a choice. Depending
on past conditioning, the individual may subconsciously choose a psychosomatic
disease or a mental disease or even commit suicide.
It
has been shown that psychoses can result from bacterial toxins absorbed from
the intestines. This happens, for instance, if an infection develops after
abdominal surgery and also from an abdominal abscess. Disorientation, confusion
and sometimes psychosis commonly precede an abdominal infection by one or two
days. Acute delirium from infections and delirium tremens from alcohol
withdrawal show the same symptoms: anxiety, confusion, suspiciousness,
hallucinations, illusions and delusions. These symptoms can in both instances
be cleared up with antibiotics.
Such
mental symptoms, in addition to other neurological and physical changes have
also been observed when a blind loop has been surgically formed in the small
intestine. The common link in all of these different conditions is an
overgrowth of the gastro-intestinal tract with undesirable microbes. These
microbes can be reduced with antibiotics, with garlic and temporarily even with
alcohol to alleviate the symptoms of a hangover.
Cases
of patients in psychiatric wards have been reported with circulating antibodies
in the blood against the toxins from intestinal bacteria. These originated from
colibacillary infections that cleared up, together
with the psychotic symptoms, during antibiotic therapy.
Such
bacterial chemicals are generally called endotoxins and if they affect the
central nervous system, they also belong to the group of neurotoxins.
Conditions which favour the infiltration of neurotoxins into the bloodstream
are chronic inflammations of the intestinal wall as caused by Candida, food
allergy or high gluten diets, high sugar consumption, low gastric acidity, and
also a rebound overgrowth with undesirable microbes following repeated use of
alcohol or antibiotics.
Candida
overgrowth in the gastro-intestinal tract is a common event after antibiotic
therapy. Chemicals released by the fungus are themselves potent neurotoxins.
They may be absorbed from the intestines but if the condition persists, Candida
sooner or later invades the blood and then problems usually become much worse,
often causing chronic fatigue in addition to severe mental problems.
Schizophrenia as well as depression and other mental problems, especially
hyperactivity or ADD, have been cured by eliminating Candida. For further
information see Candida and the Antibiotic Syndrome.
The
most effective way to overcome these problems is the normalisation of the
intestinal flora with cultures of acidophilus and bifido-bacteria, in addition
to a high quality diet. If the Candida has invaded the blood, then a course of
Lugol's solution in addition to a herbal parasite cure and an electronic zapper
may be required.
Dead
teeth are another related problem; they slowly decay with inflammation (osteitis)
of the surrounding jawbone. This is a toxin factory, which can cause much
mental distress. The positions of the wisdom teeth are specifically linked to
the central nervous system.
In
recent years also some evidence has emerged that a virus, specifically the Borna virus, may be involved in the causation of some
mental diseases, especially depressive phases of schizophrenia and bipolar
disease. This virus is more common in horses and some other animal species but
may also infect humans. Another frequent infection in schizophrenics is as
toxoplasmosis acquired from cats. Children from mothers with herpes simplex 2
infections during pregnancy were six times more likely to develop schizophrenia
later in life.
The
stress of persistent sexual tension frequently is a contributing or causative
factor in mental problems. Schizophrenia and other conditions have sometimes
been quickly cured by changing unsatisfactory sexual habits, see www.health-science-spirit.com/Sexuality.html.
The solution is generally skin or sexual contact between individuals of the
opposite sex lasting for at least 30 minutes.
The
possibility of occult influences is not officially contemplated. Many sensitive
individuals have psychic abilities which expose them to such influences. This
does not normally cause a problem for those who understand what is happening.
However, there are others who may become open to occult interference unprepared
because of deteriorating health or a stressful situation. They may become
frightened and seek psychiatric advice only to be labelled as being
schizophrenic.
Another
possibility is the experience of different states of consciousness and
rearrangement of internal energy patterns due to meditation and yoga practices.
Normally individuals will have an understanding of these happenings and not be
alarmed. However, sometimes profound or even frightening mystical experiences
may occur spontaneously and unprepared individuals have been reported to seek
psychiatric help with unfortunate consequences.
Orthodox
psychiatry has no room for altered states of consciousness and divine or higher
guidance. This has led to Christian mystics and historical figures such as Joan
D'Arc being labelled schizophrenic because they heard
inner voices or had visions.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
From
a biochemical point of view we may distinguish between three different types of
schizophrenics: slow oxidisers with low histamine levels also called histapenics; fast oxidisers with high histamine levels
called histadelics, and balanced oxidisers with
normal histamine levels. In addition, each of these may at times display
symptoms of either overactivity or underactivity.
Histapenics
are the 'typical' schizophrenics, insensitive to cold and pain and comprise
about 50% of all schizophrenics, 20% are histadelics
and. the rest have normal histamine blood levels (40 - 70 ng
histamine/ml).
The
following descriptions show that it is usually easy to distinguish between high
and low histamine types. If in doubt about the histamine status, take (or give)
50 mg of niacin with water on an empty stomach. If a strong facial flush
develops, histamine levels are high. If there is no or only a weak flush,
levels are probably normal or low. Then try 200 mg of niacin in the same way.
If there is still no or only a weak flush, histamine levels are low.
Dr
Hoffer, who pioneered the niacin therapy for
schizophrenia, stated:
"For schizophrenics, the natural recovery rate is 50%. With orthomolecular
medicine, the recovery rate is 90%. With (additional) drugs, it is 10%. If you
use just drugs, you won't get well. "
By
far the best diet for all mental problems is a raw food diet that
is appropriate for your metabolic type, for details see Healing
Foods, and especially The Raw Food Diet. Combine
this with an intensive anti-microbial therapy.
including adequate selenium and high antioxidant intake.
The Low-Histamine Type
As slow oxidisers, histapenics
are usually too alkaline and this may be a cause or contributing factor for
their low histamine levels, which tend to raise the blood pressure and make the
skin insensitive to cold, pain and irritants.
The predominant psychiatric symptoms are thought
disorders, over-arousal, hallucinations, mania or overexcitement and paranoia
or delusions of grandiosity or persecutions. In young histapenics
usually the paranoid behaviour dominates while the elderly may lean towards depressions.
However, such depressions are rarely as severe as those experienced by the
high-histamine type.
While there are usually no physical signs of
allergy, a cerebral or brain allergy frequently is present to wheat and
sometimes also other gluten grains and cows milk
protein. Copper levels are usually too high while zinc and folic acid are too
low.
If possible, start the treatment with a 4-day fast
on unsweetened herb teas or plain water. The water should not be chlorinated or
fluoridated. Then proceed with several more days on acid or tart fruit, best
green apples. Make an effort to obtain unsprayed fruit, otherwise remove the
skins.
Then gradually, while testing for allergies,
introduce different foods as explained in the High-Quality Diet or The Raw Food
Diet. If any of these foods makes the condition worse, then avoid them. At the
same time start with the recommended supplements. Use small amounts only if on
this diet the condition appears to be normal, but build up to high levels if
symptoms persist. Use acid and tart fruit between meals.
Continue with a strict diet as long as there are
abnormal and emotional reactions. If conditions are normal, proceed to add
other food, one at a time only. Avoid any food that causes abnormal reactions.
Avoid indefinitely exitotoxins
(food additives and aged proteins), wheat products, sweetened food, convenience
food and processed food with added chemicals, polyunsaturated oils, margarine,
salt, alcohol, tobacco, drugs.
In mentally unstable conditions take a high potency
multivitamin tablet and up to 5 mg of folic acid with each teal, half a
teaspoon of ascorbic acid 3 - 5 times daily with meals or snacks, possibly
weekly vitamin B12 injections (1000 mg) or daily 250 mcg tablets lightly chewed
to be absorbed under the tongue. Total daily vitamin E at least 100 mg and
better more.
Gradually increase the amount of niacin to be taken
with or after meals and snacks until maximum improvement or up to a maximal
daily dose of about 6 g. If niacin is not well tolerated, up to 3 g may be
replaced with niacinamide which may have a sedating
effect. This can be useful during overstimulated periods but may exaggerate
depressed conditions; you may experiment with it according to mood.
Initially take about 50 mg of zinc, 20 mg of
manganese, 500 mg or more of magnesium and chromium supplements. High doses of inositol can be helpful but are not required if sprouted
seeds are used. Take glutamine and tryptophane in
depressed conditions. Initially take 1 tbsp. of food-grade linseed oil with
meals, also cod liver oil and fish oil concentrates, evening primrose oil and bioflavonoids with rutin.
If symptom-free gradually reduce all high-level
supplements to the minimum effective dosage. Increase levels of niacin and
ascorbic acid temporarily during periods of stress. Continue taking with meals
1 tbsp. of ground linseed (grind in blender or coffee grinder, refrigerate) and
1 tsp. of lecithin granules.
The High-Histamine Type
This histadelic type
shows basically the symptoms of the low blood sugar or hypoglycaemic
personality and is susceptible to strong allergic reactions and inflammations.
Blood pressure is low, body fluids overacid and the
skin very sensitive to cold, pain and irritants. Frequently there are headaches
and dizziness. The main mental symptoms are suicidal depression, obsessive
rumination, blank-mindedness alternating with periods of over-arousal, thought
disorders, compulsive behaviour and phobias.
The diet is basically a hypoglycaemic low allergy
diet with slow-digesting food. Lentils or other legumes, best sprouted, with
most meals, liver, also fish or seafood. Other staple foods are brown rice,
extra-virgin olive oil, ground linseed, cooked and raw vegetables. Use fruit
and cooked sweet vegetables, such as carrots and pumpkin only sparingly.
If not symptom-free on this diet and with the help
of recommended supplements go on a 3 - 4 day water fast and follow this with
another 3 - 4 days on brown rice flavoured only with olive oil, herbs and
possibly lightly salted. Then add other recommended foods one by one with
careful observation of the mental condition. If symptom-free test also other
foods.
Avoid gluten and cows' milk products, margarine,
polyunsaturated oils, sweet food including dried fruit and fruit juices, vinegar,
chemical additives, alcohol, smoking, drugs.
With meals take half a teaspoon of calcium ascorbate, vitamin E and vitamin B6 up to several hundred
milligrams each, 10 - 20 mg of zinc, manganese and chromium or trace mineral
supplement, ground linseed, cod liver oil and possibly fish oil concentrates,
kelp, the amino acid methionine to reduce histamine
levels. Experiment with increasing amounts of nicotinamide,
glutamine as brain fuel, with depression vitamin B12 (absorb under the tongue),
freeze-dried thyroid, tryptophan or tyrosine - see also the section on
depression. Do not take niacin, folic acid, ascorbic acid or lecithin, which
may increase histamine levels. Initially avoid multivitamins or B-complex with
these ingredients or try some with only very low levels of these. Usually
depression disappears first, followed by blank-mindedness and obsessions, while
compulsions and phobias may continue much longer.
The Normal-Histamine Type
Schizophrenics with normal histamine levels were
found to excrete high amounts of kryptopyrrole in the
urine. It results from an abnormality in the haemoglobin synthesis and strongly
binds vitamin B6 and zinc, taking both out of the body and thereby creating
severe deficiencies. This condition has been called pyroluria
and because of colour changes in the urine it is also known as the mauve
factor. High doses of niacinamide can prevent pyroluria, therefore 500 to 1000 mg of this should be taken
in addition to zinc and vitamin B6.
Pyroluria often seems to be
inherited. However, not all pyrolurics are or become
schizophrenic, sometimes more somatic health problems develop instead, although
mental disorders develop in a high percentage of afflicted individuals. High
levels of vitamin B6 and zinc usually restore brain activity to normal within a
few weeks. Pyroluria may also be present in the other
schizophrenic types, especially with histadelics and
both conditions then require treatment.
Common symptoms due to the combined zinc and
vitamin B6 deficiency are white spots or bands on fingernails, poor dream
recall, sweetish breath odour, stretch marks, inability to tan and sensitivity
to sunlight, pain in the upper left abdomen (spleen), tremors or spasms,
amnesia, impotence, menstrual irregularity, anaemia, constipation, sallow complexion,
morning nausea. Of course, only some of these symptoms may be present.
The most serious mental symptom is a tendency to
suicidal depressions. This is similar to the histadelic
schizophrenic as, indeed, the histadelic and pyroluric condition frequently overlap. Treatment,
therefore, is as for histadelics, basically more
fruit and the same diet and supplements but possibly with higher vitamin B6,
zinc and manganese intakes. Vitamin B6 has been used in amounts of 3 g daily
but this should not be necessary on a low-allergy high quality diet and with
sufficient zinc and manganese.
If dream recall cannot be achieved with high
vitamin B6 intake of around 1 g per day, increase manganese temporarily to 100
mg per day. Use daily vitamin B6 intakes above 500 mg under professional
supervision. Take about 20 mg of zinc with each meal. See also under DEPRESSION.
MANIC DEPRESSIVE ILLNESS or BIPOLAR DISORDER
There are periods of either mania (overexcitement)
or depression lasting for several months at a time and sometimes alternating,
possibly interrupted by several years without symptoms. The disease is thought
to be inherited. However, it is more likely that mainly a tendency to wheat,
gluten or cows' milk allergy is inherited together with sensitivity to exitotoxins, and a much higher metabolic requirement for
the vitamins B6 and B12 and an abnormal fat metabolism.
Follow the diet recommended for high-histamine schizophrenia,
but avoid all exitotoxins (see above) and test all
grains for allergy or better, avoid grains. Preferably start with weekly 1000
mcg vitamin B12 injections and continue after improvement with daily 250 mcg
tablets to be absorbed under the tongue Take vitamin B6, zinc and manganese in
increasing amounts until dream recall. Folic acid may help, except for those
with high histamine levels.
If insensitive take half a teaspoon of ascorbic
acid mixed with meals, if sensitive use calcium ascorbate
instead. Up to 1 tbsp. of lecithin with meals or 15 - 30 g daily. During the
manic phase use initially taurine (3 x 1-2 g before
meals), the vitamins C, E, B6, B12, folic acid and the minerals zinc, manganese
and magnesium. Other B vitamins can be too stimulating but you may experiment.
Minimise fast-digesting food, including fruit, except apples and avocado. Take
up to 1 tbsp. per meal of food quality linseed oil.
With mania go on a prolonged fast of only
unpolluted water or herb tea, or diluted juice of cereal grasses and vegetable
juices, or apples, or a low-allergy diet such as on brown rice and vegetables.
During the depressive phase also experiment with the following recommendations.
Use a high-quality low-allergy diet. With sensitive
skin and emotional lability use mainly slow-digesting
food based on lentils and other legumes, brown rice and vegetables, with
insensitive conditions use plenty of fruit. Avoid food to which you may be
addicted or on which you may binge, such as chocolate, coffee, tea or alcohol.
Give yourself a special treat from time to time without using sweet or junk
food.
Often depression is simply due to specific or
general B-vitamin deficiency as after antibiotic treatment, after childbirth or
during breastfeeding. The most important vitamins are B6, B12, C, niacin or nicotinamide, folic acid and the minerals zinc, magnesium,
calcium and manganese.
Initially take a high-potency multivitamin-mineral
tablet with most meals and additional amounts of vitamin B6 and zinc up to dream
recall or 500 mg of vitamin B6. Try equal parts of ascorbic acid and Milk of
Magnesia in addition to calcium ascorbate.
Alternatively, if available, use magnesium chloride or otherwise chelated magnesium in divided doses for a daily magnesium
intake of close to 1 g.
The most effective general remedy for depression is
fish oil, use several grams daily mixed with food. Also mixed with meals have 1
tsp. of lecithin and 1 tbsp. of ground linseed, also gamma linolenic
acid may help, it is best obtained from spirulina. A
suitable herb is Hypericum or St. John’s wort. Flower Remedies can be helpful as for instance the
Bach Flower Remedies Aspen, Gentian, Gorse and Mustard.
Individual amino acids can be very effective. Try
up to 2 g of L-(or D,L) phenylalanine and tyrosine each before meals or
alternatively up to 2 g of tryptophan. You may also try taking phenylalanine
and tyrosine only before breakfast and tryptophan only at bedtime. The amino
acid glutamine may be used as an additional brain fuel.
Depression often results from low thyroid and
adrenal functions. Check your temperature under the armpit before rising, women
check in the first 10 days of the menses or before ovulation. If it is below
36.5 degrees C you may try thyroid extract (absorb under the tongue) and iodine
from kelp. In addition, selenium is required to activate thyroid hormone,
therefore take 200 mcg per day.
Use prayer, affirmations, meditation and guided
imagery to uplift your feelings and solve your problems. Learn to trust in your
inner or higher guidance and ask it to take care of your problems. Socialise
and find a group with similar interests. Forgive yourself and others for any
mistakes or misdeeds.
Correct any constipation as with increased amounts
of raw vegetables, magnesium and ground linseed; take cultures of acidophilus
and bifido-bacteria. Have any dead teeth removed and
preferably amalgam fillings replaced. Avoid lead pollution. Kyolic
(aged garlic), cooked garlic and some raw garlic assist in detoxification.
Candida albicans, an internal
fungus infestation, is now quite common due to the overuse of antibiotics. You
may suspect it if you have or formerly had thrush or a tender abdomen. With
heavy infestation Candida can go into the bloodstream and cause depression and
other psychiatric symptoms. For details on treatment see the article on Candida
and the Antibiotic Syndrome and also Intestinal Sanitation in Healing Foods.
Deep breathing exercises help. You may combine this
with some slow jogging or other aerobic exercise. However, the main benefit is
from the breathing, strenuous muscle activity could have the opposite effect.
You may just run on the spot or dance to lively music but always with vigorous
breathing. In addition try shaking the whole body for a minute during fast breathing.
Light Therapy
For many years it was already known that there is a
seasonal form of depression that occurs due to the lack of sufficient sunlight,
especially in higher latitudes. This can be overcome with light therapy.
However, it now appears that light deficiency is a more general cause of
depression. Bright light, and especially the blue part of the spectrum,
strongly stimulates the release of the brain chemical serotonin, which is
related to elevated mood. It is not necessary to use blue light for therapy, as
the blue fraction is part of sunlight or daylight, and also of full-spectrum
electric lights. For articles on the relationship between light and serotonin
see http://www.apollohealth.com/research.html.
The best time for treatment is immediately after
waking. If the sun is visible then look towards the sun without glasses or
behind a window, but of course not directly into the sun. Otherwise look
towards a strong full-spectrum white light for half an hour or longer. In
addition, be outside as much as possible, especially in sunlight, and look at
the blue sky. To avoid eye strain with light therapy it is preferable to use
additional vitamin B2, say 3 x 25 to 50 mg with food.
While we need serotonin during the day, during the
night we need to have a high level of melatonin, not only for a good night’s
sleep, but also for our emotional health. Melatonin is blocked by light,
including street lights. Therefore we need to sleep in the dark, although
moonlight appears to be acceptable. Furthermore, red light does not seem to
block melatonin production. Therefore, if you need a light in the night,
especially in the early part, use red.
Not only light, but also electromagnetic fields, as
emitted from electric appliances or live electric wires inside the walls, can
block melatonin release. Therefore sanitize your bedroom, see Electromagnetic
Pollution.
ANXIETY NEUROSES AND PHOBIAS
Individuals with a fast sugar metabolism, the hypoglycemics, and also those with damaged liver functions
form excessively large amounts of lactic acid or lactate after ingestion of
sweet food. The same may happen if one is allergic to some ingredients in a
meal. High lactic acid levels give rise to anxiety neuroses.
Symptoms may include nervousness, irritability,
fatigue, rapid heartbeat, breathlessness or air hunger, headaches, dizziness
and feelings of extreme fear and impending doom. This may also lead to fear of
special situations and places, giving rise to agoraphobia, fear of open spaces
and crowds, and to claustrophobia, fear of being in a confined space. There is
a great variety of such specific fears or phobias. In addition, regression
therapy can be very helpful, for further information see the relevant chapter
in Mind Therapy.
These phobic individuals usually have little tolerance
for increased carbon dioxide levels in the air and need to do much deep
breathing in fresh, unpolluted air. In one experiment it was found that 93% of
patients with anxiety neurosis and 20% of apparently normal controls developed
panic attacks during infusions with high levels of sodium lactate.
Lactic acid levels also rise after strenuous work
or physical exercise. Lactic acid formation increases after consumption of
caffeine or alcohol. Of special benefit are supplements of high levels of nicotinamide, which help to convert lactic acid into a
biochemical important for energy production (pyruvate),
and also vitamin B1 which favours the production of energy instead of lactic
acid.
In regard to diet it is obvious that all sweeteners
and sweetened foods must be avoided, in addition also fruit, fruit juices and
dried fruit. Only avocadoes, apples and olives are suitable fruits. Meals
should include legumes, especially lentils and fenugreek, or fish, seafood or
meat. Wheat products and generally refined flour products are to be avoided,
instead use mainly whole grains such as brown rice. If commercial bread is
used, then use dark rye bread without the addition of wheat flour, otherwise
rye crispbread. The addition of olive oil
(preferable) or butter to meals also slows down the digestion and minimises
lactate formation. Also test for allergy.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
In therapy resistant cases you may try any of the
following methods with the help of a suitable therapist: counselling by an
experienced psychic, regression therapy, emotional release therapy, exorcism (e.g.
by a priest). Highly recommended for all conditions is the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT.
Something you may do yourself for a friend or
relative with mental problems is using sleep suggestions with his or her
consent. When the patient is asleep, talk quietly to him or her. First reassure
the sleeper and say that you love him or her and want to help and then you give
specific suggestions, use simple sentences and repeat these perhaps ten times.
Try to phrase suggestions in a positive way. For instance you would say:
‘Tomorrow you are cheerful and filled with energy' and not 'Tomorrow you will
not be depressed anymore'. For self-suggestions you may record messages on a
tape and let the recorder play while you are asleep, using automatic switches.
Mentally retarded children should use a
high-quality diet and a multivitamin-mineral supplement with most meals. Most
needed are the vitamins B6, C, folic acid, nicotinamide
and the minerals zinc, magnesium and manganese.
As a result of drug treatment for mental and
neurological conditions a large number of patients develop tardive
dyskinesia with involuntary movements and loss of
muscle coordination, especially of arms and legs. This is partly due to the
chelating action of these drugs, causing large losses of manganese. To overcome
this, use high intakes of manganese, vitamin E, zinc, vitamin B6 as well as
multivitamins and lecithin.
In all of these diseases decrease the intake of
high-level supplements after sufficient improvement until you find a
comfortable maintenance dose. If symptoms flare up, increase dosage again. A
high intake of vitamin B6 in the evening may cause restless sleep, therefore
take most of it earlier in the day. Be sure there are not two different kinds
of metal in the mouth and consider replacing any amalgam fillings. Have any
dead teeth and osteitis in the jawbone removed. For
details see the article on Dental Problems.
Another factor applying to all conditions is
possible overgrowth of the digestive tract with harmful bacteria or fungi. To
normalise the intestinal flora see Intestinal Sanitation in Healing Foods. In
addition, use the electronic zapper for extended periods to clean the blood of
any microbial contamination. It may also help to clean the blood with a course
of Lugol' solution and possibly colloidal silver, and
have a course of herbal parasite remedies.
With dementia and Alzheimer's disease take half a
teaspoon of ascorbic acid 5 times daily, a multivitamin-mineral tablet, folic
acid, 500 mg of natural vitamin E, 1 tbsp. of lecithin, cod liver oil and extra
magnesium with each meal. Have frequent long fasting periods mainly on apples
and acid fruit, also lemon juice and cereal grass juice. Use a predominant raw
food diet with plenty of unheated fats and oils, fresh vegetable juices and
beetroot. Frequent deep breathing and inversion exercises with the head lower
than the torso. Use additional high quality supplements such as Ginkgo biloba, Milk Thistle, Royal Jelly, spirulina
ginseng and pollen.
A group of natural remedies specifically aimed at
improving mental and emotional disturbances are the Flower Remedies. Best known
of these are the Bach Flower Remedies.
Some of the most suitable remedies are as follows:
Aspen: vague fears of unknown origin, apprehension.
Cherry Plum: uncontrolled temper, (desperation, fears losing
mind.
Chestnut Bud: slow to learn, repeats mistakes, lacks
observation.
Clematis: indifference, dreaminess, lack of interest.
Gentian: depression, negative attitudes, self-doubt.
Gorse: hopelessness, despair, despondency.
Mustard: deep gloom or depression of unknown cause.
Rock Rose: terror, panic, extreme fear.
Several of these essences may be mixed and a few
drops taken in a little water and kept in the mouth, take three or four times
daily. These are available from some health food shops and natural therapists.
Following these recommendations and with the help
of relatives, friends and a competent therapist most sufferers of mental
illness should greatly improve and be able to lead a normal life. What
sufferers of mental diseases need most is a high quality diet within a loving
and caring social environment.
For a site with interesting articles and links on
the natural treatment of mental problems see: http://www.alternativementalhealth.com.