Kip Andy Magee
Great Basin College
Orthomolecular: How It Helps Mental Illness In today,
Society.
Professor Stephine Davis
May 18, 2023
Abstract
Orthomolecular
is a positive contribution to the healing of mental illness in the medical
world. I will try to analysis the pros and cons of this modality and what
evidence I feel supports or dispute the effectiveness of the modality. Well
analysis the well-fair of how Orthomolecular assist in psychiatric healthcare. What
the mind, body and spirit need to balance the well-ness of health.
Orthomolecular practices are and alternative healthcare that involves history,
diagnosis and medication in the form of vitamins.
Table
of Content
Introduction
into Orthomolecular Practices...……………………….……4
What
are the current practices associated with psychiatric medine………5
How
does Orthomolecular Works……………………………………….6-7
Scientific
Evidence and Documentation of Orthomolecular Psychiatric…8
Unscientific
Orthomolecular Documentation……………………..........8-9
Orthomolecular
Medical Analysis……....................................................9-10
Reference:
………………………….....................................................….11
Introduction
into Orthomolecular Practices
Orthomolecular psychiatry is called
by Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, Ph.D. The study was instituted for treatment
of many forms of mental illness, Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, and
depression, just a few to theorize the disorders. To summarize the nature of
Orthomolecular medicine, its natural food substance of the molecules in
minerals that the amount of proper nutritional dosage each person needs in
recommend daily allowance to satisfy the body health needs.
What it includes is that “the
preservation of good health and the preservation and treatment of disease by
varying the concentrations in the human body of the molecules of substances
that are normally present, many of them required for life such as vitamins, essential
amino acids, essential fats, and minerals.” (Larry Trivieri Jr. pg. 48).
Orthomolecular medicine is used in
psychiatric treatment. It takes the Recommend Daily Amount of nutrients and
provides this source to add the proper enzymes to supplement the bodies amino
acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Orthomolecular physician Richard Kunin, M.D. says that when nutrition is
achieved in a nutrient-related disorder it can medically be easier to treat the
ailment and balance is done.
What is Orthomolecular used for?
Well, vitamins and nutrients are used to increase the body deficiency loss in
patient with psychiatric condition to bring around a whole balance molecule of
nutritional balance by practitioners of Orthomolecular medicine. This is done
to add proper recommended nutrients in a deficiency patient. The best treatment
is the long-term care of a patient with a healthy diet for well-ness.
What
are the current practices associated with psychiatric medicine.
Some form of therapy used on
psychiatric patients with positive results is Light Therapy, that helps with
depression form long winters. Exercise motivates the body to get physical fit.
Yoga, used on patients with mental challenge patients to relieve stress. Meditation
is another modality that helps with breathing and channeling the mind and body
off negative ideals. Acupuncture, releases chemicals endorphins. Music Therapy,
that helps with social environment. Art
Therapy, that has a person express what their feeling at the time. Herbs and
supplements involve taking a plant or vitamins.
What is required for Orthomolecular
education? There is a diploma available in one year in Orthomolecular Medicine.
“The program in the first-year state-of-the art, the student will get the
knowledge and healing option in progressive form of natural medicine. (Linda
Henderson).”
Orthomolecular
Medicine is less regulated than pharmaceutical medicine. Most of the
alternative medicine in its practices is based on elements the body is lacking,
and the minerals that already would have been in the body, it’s not regulated.
What is the general cost of a
session? The average cost is $500.00/hr. billing at 15-minute increments. With
the culture of Orthomolecular practices is the mainstream alternative clients.
Most of the thousands of tests done on patients were treatment on trial bases
to get nutrients value in psychiatric patient diagnosed with results. And it
was reported that 60% of patients treated with Schizophrenia was normalized or
balanced to be treated.
How
does Orthomolecular Works.
The principle of Orthomolecular Psychiatric
is to educate practitioner and to medical advance the practice in the knowledge
of the patient’s condition. To perform a history plan to balance the patient
body nutrient count. With the blood test
the practitioner may find what mineral is missing out of the culture of
molecular.
“A better approach that leads to
health and wellness is to focus on optimizing the biological functioning in our
bodies core biochemical/physiological systems. Its approach is called
Orthomolecular Medicine (OM). Utilizes
nutrition and supplementation as important corrective metabolic tools, tools
that are effective and inexpensive.” (JOM Vol 28, No 1)
How does Orthomolecular affect the
body-mind and Spirit? Rene Descartes (1596- 1650). Believe the mind and body
are separated. He taught that the mind is spiritual, and the body is material.
But we learned that the body-mind-and spirit work as a unit one helping and
assisting the other. Though inter-wellness and tranquility the mind is the
gravitational pull that keeps the body and spirit thriving.
What are the tools or technology
that are used in Orthomolecular practices? Like any institutional care there is
observation and time involve. But when we are deal with 90 years of research
the practices change over the years. It has faster diagnosis in identifying an
ailment. But in true fashion diseases do change to new causes. With vitamins
supplements that can be purchase over the counter; Vitamin B-3, and Vitamin A,
or some of the nutrient factor present in protein and grains. “It appeared as if vitamins had finally taken hold between
1935 and 1945 after several Nobel prizes had been given to the pioneers in the
discovery of the vitamins. But the War, the subsequent discovery of the
antibiotics and a little later the "wonder" drugs, the steroids,
effectively quenched any interest in vitamins as part of the medical
armamentarium.” (JOM Vol 28, No. 1, 2013).
Are there
sub-therapies or modalities, or different styles or types? And yes, there are
other research being used that the deficiency in the nutrients of the body of
Cancer patients. The study has brought patients who have tried chemotherapy to
research alternative measure and used TCM. “After much searching Gearin-Tosh
found the Gerson Therapy, A holistic nutritionally based treatment regimen
developed by Dr. Max Gerson (1881-1959). He used Vitamin C, B12 and D, with
acupuncture TCM.” (Howard D Straus).
Scientific Evidence and Documentation of
Orthomolecular Psychiatric
The first case of the law of vitamins
was recorded to show prof that deficiency in the body will cause illness was
the disease Scurvy in Sailors. “Sir James Lind that oranges and lemons would
cure Scurvy and distribution of limes to English sailors. During this interval 100,000
seamen died from scurvy; there are many similar examples.” (A. Hoffer, M.D.)
Orthomolecular which means
“pertaining to the right molecule” was coined by Pauling, Ph.D.. In the
mainstream documentation it stated that vitamins like any other substances can
work for the good health of a person when done correctly and manageable in
proper dosage.
In
the report issue of a 1955 documentation Orthomolecular Medicine Advances
into the Mainstream studies that vitamins in large dose can combat
deficiency that are not related to nutrient loss. “Dr. Humphry Osmond and I had
been using large doses of Vitamin B-3 and Vitamin C since 1952 for treating
schizophrenics and a few other psychiatric diseases. Humphry was interested in
the side effects and possible toxicity of these vitamins since maintaining
patients on these doses for many years.” (Hoffer.M.D. et al.). This showed promising changes in the
Orthomolecular psychiatry. Vitamins was making revolutionary marks in this
modality field. More patients were showing improvement than in conventional
practices.
Unscientific
Orthomolecular Documentation
In the report of Journal of
Orthomolecular Medicine. Vol. 18, Nos. 3 & 4, 2003. It disputed that
the claim that vitamins is the best product in small amount to cure deficiency.
The report of “Thiamine prevents Beri Beri, vitamin C prevents Scurvy, Vitamin
D prevent rickets, and vitamin B-3 prevent pellagra. The journal goes on to say
then they are not fit to practice medicine. Because of give large doses giving
Vitamin C to a person who is not nutrient deficiency is not good practice.”
(Hoffer. M.D.)
The article is to show light of
other physicians in the field that have progress in the study. It wants us to
examine the other success that some of the vitamins researchers have made and
haven’t been disclose are made note of. Example is Dr. Evan Shute who found
that vitamin E was useful in treating heart disease. The article express how
they were overlooked by the medical field.
And we should subscribe to the JOM and buy the article. Its information
can be misleading because the research hasn’t been posted as current Journal’s and
nothing in my research has made note of Dr. Evan Shute and Vitamin E patient
studies are proof of there success.
How
can it be damaging to the public or person seeking healing and health
information? For the modality to have change in such a short span of American
history Orthomolecular is needed today to heal the sick and the needy. With
that said this article bring a lot of regrets to why someone who research
wasn’t made public and indorsed by the medical field. When daily people are
blogging of cancer treatment and how a good diet is making changes in
chemotherapy treatment. This article doesn’t do justice to the science who
struggle to make changes with test and trials. They journey wasn’t easy to
achieve the accumulate they received.
Orthomolecular
Medical Analysis
Based on what I’ve read and
researched about this modality; Orthomolecular psychiatric study and what is
learned in class. I believe this is another step to the future of medical practices.
It might not be widely promoted in the healthcare field by when I noticed this modality,
I took to it. The study hasn’t been introduced to patients and explain why this
practice can help to heal the mind. It wasn’t seen as alternative medicine vs
conventional pharmaceutical practices. What I’ve experience in this research
that practitioner request interview to document the structure plan of
treatment. In my history of healthcare, I haven’t experienced this medical
practice before, so I can’t say I’ve did any treatment. I have only been
introduced to conventional medical treatment.
Would
I recommend it too other? Yes, just for the fact that the research and the
qualified records are out there. The history of Orthomolecular is the most
sensitive because in this modality it deals with the realty people perceive
about life. All the modality we study the mind-body, and spirit. The deficiency
of nutrient value is the biggest prospective in the health field, if it’s not
promoted. Vitamins, mineral and good health is suggested for quality of life.
When the rubric’s asked about the cultural value of Orthomolecular treatment. I
didn’t find much but only my personal experience in the healthcare field. This
subject should be introduced to the students to let them have a better
understanding on mental health experience and what changes can be add to there
life.
With
the increase into alternative medicine there can be a surge in the practice.
Because more of the younger generation is turning to natural things. This
modality would just do wonder in the field of Orthomolecular practices. I’ve
learned that in this study the mind is assisted by the food and the nutrients
we consume. If the nutrients don’t have enough mineral in its substance, we
must prescribe vitamins. And all vitamins doesn’t affect each person the same
way. The environment plays and part in how mineral and substance effect the
person.
What
is the most important point to remember about this modality? Is that most of
the condition are strictly observation first before the medication is
prescribed. The vitamins are ideally required when the knowledge of what’s
missing in the nutrients first. And other supplement may be required with the
vitamins. Like any modality we must know when we our healed. To what point is
the body ready to accept recovery and well-ness.
·
Reference:
Larry
Trivieri Jr.; The American Holistic Medical Association. The American Holistic
Medical Association Guide to Holistic Health: Healing Therapies for Optimal
Wellness (p. 48). Kindle Edition.
Linda
Henderson, NTN 100- Diploma in Orthomolecular Medicine-Year One. The College of
International Holistic Studies. www.naturalmedicinecollege.ca
May 16,2023
Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol 28, No. 1, 2013 Orthomolecular medicine: The best cost effective, rational,
and scientific choice for disease treatment
Allopathic
Medicine’s Stonewall Shaken, Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol 18 No 1,
2003.
A.
Hoffer, M.D. Ph.D. Orthomolecular Medicine Advances into the Mainstream.
JOM/1993. Orthomolecular.org
Abram
Hoffer, MD, Ph.D., “Toxic” Vitamins. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol.
18, Nos 3. & 4. 2003 IAHF.com JAN 22, 2004
