Orthomolecular medicine

Orthomolecular medicine

Overview:

This alternative therapy employs vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to create optimum nutritional content for the body, as well as the right environment and equilibrium. Like most alternative medicine techniques, orthomolecular medicine targets a wide range of conditions.


Description:
Orthomolecular medicine was developed by Linus Pauling, Ph.D., winner of two Nobel prizes, in 1968. It is designed to enable individuals to reach the apex of health and the peak of their performance by utilizing only naturally occurring substances (e.g. vitamins, minerals, enzymes, trace elements, co-enzymes). The proper balance of these substances in the body is the key to reaching physical, mental, and emotional health and stability. Orthomolecular medicine can be used therapeutically to treat diseases such as cancer and AIDS, or preventatively to impede the progress of degenerative disease and aging. When all is said and done, however, the main objective of orthomolecular medicine is to help the patient reach an optimal level of health; his or her self-esteem will probably improve in the process.

Although orthomolecular medicine did not fully develop into a therapy until the late 1960's when Pauling coined the term "orthomolecular," the premise behind this practice originated in the 1920's, when vitamins and minerals were first used to treat illnesses unrelated to nutrient deficiency. It was discovered that vitamin A could prevent childhood deaths from infectious illness, and that heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) could be stopped by dosages of magnesium. Hard scientific evidence supporting nutritional therapy did not emerge, however, until the 1950's, when Abram Hoffer, M.D., and Humphrey Osmond, M.D., began treating schizophrenics with high doses of vitamin B3 (niacin). As a consequence of their studies, it was revealed that niacin, in combination with other medical treatments, could double the number of recoveries in a one-year period.

Eventually, it was determined that malnutrition and consumption of refined, empty-calorie foods such as white bread and pastries and overconsumption of Sugar could yield disease and psychiatric disorders. It became apparent that a person's diet was an overwhelmingly integral part of his or her health and well-being. Further studies showed that decreased intake of dietary fiber, bran, minerals, and complex carbohydrates was prevalent in patients with certain forms of mental illness, accompanied by a loss of vitamins and an increase in dietary fat.

Biochemical individual is a main principle of orthomolecular medicine. This principle was elucidated by Roger J. Williams, Ph.D. This principle is quite simple: every living organism is unique! Furthermore, each individual requires different relative amounts of nutrients for his or her satisfaction and optimal level of health. The government sets a minimum recommended daily allowance (RDA) which is supposed to be adequate for all individuals. However, many may need to exceed the RDA as well as the recommended 2,000 calorie diet in order to prevent severe deficiency disease. Thus, RDA values are not perfect guidelines for everyone. Several studies have proven the existence of biochemical individuality. For example, studies of guinea pigs showed a twentyfold variation in their requirement for vitamin C. A study conducted with human subjects revealed that children have varying needs for vitamin B6.


Some of the remaining principles of orthomolecular medicine include the following:

1. Nutrition is the key aspect of diagnosis and treatment. Nutrient-related disorders can be cured once nutritional balance is achieved.

2. Drug treatment is to be used sparingly.

3. Environmental pollution and food poisoning are definite hindrances to optimum health that must be accounted for when determining the causes of illness. They must be eliminated immediately to avoid the arrival of pathogen diseases and symptoms.

4. Blood tests are sometimes unreliable and do not necessarily reflect accurate levels of nutrients found in the various tissues of the body.

5. Optimism, hope, and faith are valuable allies to both the physician and the patient in times of need and crisis. This is a principle that is unequivocally supported by all alternative medicine therapies.


Method:

The goal of a doctor of nutrition in treating disease is to bring all of the natural substances of the body into balance. The only way that a doctor of nutrition can help a patient stave off illness and reach optimum health is for him or her to take all of the patient's nutritional factors into account. The nutritionist will often advise the patient to go on a healthier diet. In creating a healthier diet, the patient must eliminate all junk foods, refined sugar, and food additives . The patient must make a concerted effort to eat primarily whole foods, high in fiber and low in fat. The patient will probably be given various vitamins and minerals to supplement the ones he or she already received in his or her diet. The types and amounts of the nutrients are determined by blood tests, urine analysis, and other tests for nutrient levels. Generally, patients get their vitamin needs by taking several dosages of vitamin pills a day, although they are sometimes given injections of vitamins to speed up the process. It is suggested that all patients continue taking vitamin and mineral supplements for the duration of their lives because, if a person stops taking the vitamins all of a sudden and does not receive the proper amount in his or her food, his nutritional balance will be thrown out of whack. These supplements are needed to ensure that a patient is getting the proper amounts of natural, organic substances at all times.

Orthomolecular medicine is sometimes referred to as megavitamin therapy because so many vitamins are prescribed by orthomolecular nutritionists to their patients. Many medical doctors see a danger inherent to megavitamin therapy because of its stance on prescribing an inordinate number of vitamin supplements. They argue that extremely high doses of vitamins can be toxic and can cause certain unfavorable chemical reactions. A major study, however, indicates that the total number of fatalities from overdoses of major pharmaceutical drugs for the eight-year reporting period from 1983 to 1990 equals 2,556, whereas the total number of fatalities resulting from high doses of vitamin supplements during the same period is zero.


Common cures:

Orthomolecular medicine benefits children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly who have the following problems, diseases, and/or conditions:

1. NERVOUS SYSTEM
Depression
anxiety disorders
Beriberi (a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B) causing neurologic, mental, and cardiovascular problems)
schizophrenia (vitamin B (niacin) can treat it)
Parkinson's Disease (large quantities of vitamin B, either niacin or niacinamide, protect people against the tendency of L-dopa to cause psychosis)
Memory and cognition problem
fear
stress
Atherosclerosis (Coronary angiographic evidence reveals antioxidant
intake reduces progression of atherosclerosis)
hyperactivity (niacinamide, or niacin, vitamin C, pyridoxine, and Zinc are effective in treatint this condition, especially in children)
headache (magnesium aids headache relief)
mood disorders (Vitamin supplementation for year improves mood)
Psychiatric/mental illness (methylfolate enhances recovery from psychiatric illness)
Pellagra (A severe deficiency of niacin)
Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
2. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
colic (injection of potassium activates the intestinal walls,
enhancing digestive abilities)
gastrointestinal disorders
Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Bowel intolerance (vitamin C can treat
it; flaxseed improves bowel function)
constipation
cystitis (bladder infections)
endometriosis
flatulence
colitis
crohn's disease
diverticulitis
obesity and weight management
3. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
common cold (vitamin C can treat it; Zinc gluconate lozenges reduce duration of common cold)
Hay fever (vitamin C can treat it)
Viral pneumonia (vitamin C can treat it)
asthma (vitamin C can treat it)
influenza (vitamin C can treat it)
allergies
angina
4. SKIN
bruises
cystic mastitis
burns
Acne (topical nicotinamide and clindamycin gel can treat Acne
vulgaris)
Eczema
hives (Uritcaria)
insect bites
furunculosis (vitamin C can treat recurrent fururculosis in patients with impaired neutrophill functions)
candidiasis
macular degeneration (carotenoids protect against macular degeneration)
Psoriasis (essential fatty acids, including omega- can lessen the symptoms of this affliction)
5 . VASCULAR SYSTEM
Raynaud's Disease
heart attacks (intravenous magnesium sulphate (a mineral compound) can speed recovery time in hear attack victims; vitamin C improves
endothelium-dependent vasodilation)
heart disase (essential fatty
acids, including omega- and omega-, can decrease risk factors for heart disease)
heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) (dosages of magnesium can treat it)
chronic anemia
Hypoglycemia (chromium (a trace mineral) regulates the body's response to Sugar and insulin)
Diabetes (chromium (a trace mineral) regulates the body's response to Sugar and insulin)
Cholesterol imbalance (chromium can aid in lowering cholesterol; flaxseed reduces low density lipoprotein count; niacin lowers LDL as well)
hypertension (injections of vitamin C, magnesium
sulphate, vitamin B, and zinc sulphate prevent high blood pressure during surgery and postsurgical complications)
Chronic fatigue syndrome (low carnitite level found in those who suffer from this condition)
Heavy Metal Toxicity
6. JOINTS
osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (essential fatty acids, including omega- can lessen the symptoms of this affliction)
7. MUSCLES AND FASCIA
muscular cramps
8. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
herpes simplex (cold sores)
infertility
prostate enlargement
vaginal diseases (probiotics- microorganism administration prevent these diseases)
cervical dysplasia (Folic Acid can treat this pre-cancerous condition of the uterus)
9. IMMUNE SYSTEM
AIDS (Strong nutrition and diet is necessary to combat this viral, sexually transmitted autoimmune disease)
childhood infectious illness (vitamin A can treat and
prevent it)
10. EMBRYOLOGY
Neural tube defects in newborns (Folic Acid (a B vitamin) is a recommended preventive measure for pregnant women)
11. ADDICTIONS
alcoholism
12. INTER-BODY SYSTEMS
cancer (higher levels of betacarotene (a precursor of vitamin A) are associated with lower rates of cancer; selenium supplements reduce risk of cancer with % of patients; vitamin E helps prevent cancer)

Application:

Othomolecular medicine borrows several treatments and concepts from both nutritional therapy and diet therapy in its quest to help patients achieve optimum health. There is some overlap in these three therapies as far as vitamin, enzyme, and mineral treatments go. Orthomolecular medicine, more so than the other two therapies, stresses the importance of a nutritional balance among the natural substances and the existence of biochemical individuality.

Each of us eats different foods, exercises at different rates and at different times, and consumes different amounts of organic substances. We all require the same basic substances; yet, it is determining the right amount of each substance for each individual that helps him or her fend off disease. Disease results when the balance among all of the organic substances is disrupted.


Modern medicine's perspective:

Despite its apparent growth as a fixture in alternative medicine, orthomolecular medicine still does not receive the respect it demands from some conventional medicine practitioners. Medical schools across the nation still downplay the importance of nutrition, as do many medical doctors. Most graduating doctors have little knowledge of the power of nutrition against disease, and they frown on using nutrition intervention in their practices. Fortunately, however, the public is beginning to look more seriously at nutrition and its ability to provide overall health to individuals to prevent specific diseases from occurring.


Case Studies:


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#1: A thirty-six year old woman had a six-year history of muscle pain and spasm, which began after an auto accident. This woman sought treatment from Alan R. Gaby, M.D. of Baltimore, Maryland. Her condition had caused severe and incapacitating symptoms, which had resulted in eleven hospitalizations for persistent pain. She had spent an estimated one hundred thousand dollars on various treatments over the six years. She had tried numerous prescription medications, but none of them offered her adequate relief. Dr. Gaby began her treatment with a therapeutic trial of intravenous nutrients consisting of magnesium chloride hexahydrate, calcium glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamin B6, vitamin B5, vitamin B1, vitamin B12, and B complex. There was no change after the first two injections. After the third injection, however, she reported a 90 percent improvement in fatigue and muscle complaints. Over the next two months, she received one injection approximately every two weeks. She has reported continued improvement, but the effects of the vitamins begin to wear off after two weeks if she does not maintain her injection schedule.

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#2: One of Dr. Jonathan Wright's patients was a four-year old boy who was "allergic since birth," according to his parents. The boy suffered from chronic nasal congestion. He was admitted to emergency rooms several times for acute wheezing. Dr. Wright's examination revealed that the boy had "allergic shiners" under his eyes and showed a maldigestion/malabsorption pattern. Dr. Wright told the boy's parents to inject the four-year old with vitamin B12 shots. His parents reported that their son stopped wheezing within the first week off treatment ans has slowly been able to come of antihistamine medication without ill effects. The boy was also given additional supplementation of glutamic acid hydrochloride capsules as a digestive aid, a low-dose multimineral complex, and 50 milligrams twice daily of magnesium, combined with B12 shots given once every two weeks. With this supplementation, the boy has experienced no further wheezing episodes. When Dr. Wright saw him two years later, the boy was still healthy and his digestive and absorption abilities had also improved significantly.
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Links & Resources:


Alternative Health: The Directory of Natural Medicine Home Pages http://members.aol.com/altamed/inter.htm


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Orthomolecular Therapy Amsterdam Kliniek e-mail: email@amsterdam-clinic.com Reigersbos 100 1107 ES Amsterdam Z.O. Tel: 31 (0) 20 697 53 61; Fax: 31 (0) 20 697 53 67

http://www.wellness.demon.co.uk/orthoeng.htm

e-mail: email@amsterdam-clinic.com


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Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide; Compiled by the Burton Goldberg Group; Future Medicine Publishing, Inc.; Puyallup, Washington; copyright 1994.


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Orthomolecular Nutrition International Nutrition Consultants, Inc. Go to this sight to read an overview of the field of orthomolecular medicine, learn about nutrition education, and to see Dr. Johnson's profile and consultation schedule.

http://www.inc-inc.com/ortho.html

e-mail: feedback@inc-inc.com

Go to this sight to read an overview of the field of orthomolecular medicine, learn about nutrition education, and to see Dr. Johnson's profile and consultation schedule.


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The Huxley Institute for Biosocial Research American Academy of Orthomolecular Medicine 900 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (800) 847-3802

http://library.thinkquest.org/24206/orthomolecular-medicine.html?tqskip1=1#common

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