Natural Healing for Schizophrenia

Orthomolecular Treatment of Schizophrenia: Key Bibliographies

2012-01-24T01:25:00.000-08:00

Some studies by practitioners discussed in: Research and clinical data supporting the therapeutic use of nutrients for schizophrenia (March 22, 2010 post), which see.

Bibliography from the work of Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Father of Orthomolecular Psychiatry.

Bibliography from Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, the major force behind the schizophrenia biotypes.

Bibliography from Dr. William J. Walsh, PhD, who expanded the use of biotype treatments to other mental disorders.

2012 printing of Natural Healing for Schizophrenia available Feb 1!

2012-01-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

The 2012 printing of Natural Healing for Schizophrenia will be available next week!
Order now at http://boragebooks.com/orderBooks.html

This is the most useful volume on nutritional methods for mental illness written in the past 20 years. I believe that it will be a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and families alike. It is required reading for our research and medical staff.
William J. Walsh, PH.D.

An invaluable resource for every family afflicted by not only schizophrenia, but any mental illness. It represents four decades of pioneering research investigating this biological-biochemical illness. This book enlightens us all in the medical profession, and will give great hope and comfort to patients. I recommend it most enthusiastically.
Oscar Rogers Kruesi, M.D., F.A.C.P.

For more info on this book see http://boragebooks.com/schizophrenia.html

Schizophrenia book available sooner than expected

2011-12-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

Good news. Edelman's Natural Healing for Schizophrenia is now printing!
It will be available to ship out to you in 3 weeks.
That is, the week of Jan 30th.
Order now at http://boragebooks.com/schizophrenia.html

Well organized, clearly written, comprehensive in scope, it will, without doubt, change the lives of sufferers and families with mental illness... A superb work, a beacon of hope.

Ralph Golan, MD, author of Optimal Wellness

A superb, detailed account of orthomolecular treatment, with enough detail so that any physician, with only the material here presented, could begin to use the treatment.

Abram Hoffer, Father of Orthomolecular Psychiatry

For more see http://boragebooks.com/schizophrenia_acclaim.html

Natural Healing for Schizophrenia will be available soon

2011-12-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

The new printing of Natural Healing for Schizophrenia by Eva Edelman is due at the printers mid January.
We should have copies ready to ship by the week of Feb 20.
Pre-order now and get a signed edition.
Go to: http://boragebooks.com/schizophrenia.html

Natural Healing for Schizophrenia -- The Book

2011-09-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

Natural Healing for Schizophrenia is temporarily out of stock.
My other book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder, has much of the same information on nutrients, biotypes, toxicity and health issues, and more details, so it should be useful until the schizophrenia book gets back in print.
The main difference is the added emphasis or mania, depression, and mood stability. The bipolar book is also more current.
Borage Books will also soon publish the Spanish language version of the schizophrenia book: Curación Natural para Esquizofrenia.
E-book and i-book versions of all books are in the works, for some future date.
Feel free to contact me, via the Borage Books website, with any questions.
Eva Edelman

Schizophrenia video: Mother "cures son using Dr. Hoffer's niacin treatment

2011-07-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgUvAVQbxDY

Mother "cures" son of schizophrenia using Dr. Hoffer's vitamin treatments (niacin, etc.). You may have to click on the written out link to get the video.

Radiation Protection Vitamins and Other Natural Approaches

2011-04-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

See my new blog: http://radiationprotectionvitamins.blogspot.com/

Spanish Version Coming Soon!

2010-10-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon: Natural Healing for Schizophrenia in Spanish.

Nutritional Approaches for Schizophrenia: Overview

2010-09-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

For an overview of orthomolecular (vitamin) approaches to the treatment of schizophrenia,
See Natural Healing for Schizophrenia: Nutritional Approaches, at the Borage Books website.

But note, this is only an overview. For more comprehensive descriptions, and for lab tests, contraindications, studies, etc., see my book, Natural Healing for Schizophrenia.
You can buy it here.

Edelman Talk: Nutritional Approaches for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

2010-08-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

I will be speaking on
Nutritional Approaches for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
at the 38th Annual Cancer Convention at the Sheraton Universal in Los Angeles
on Monday, September 6th (Labor Day) at 5:30.
I will also have a table all weekend (in the author section), so come talk to me!

Major schizophrenia nutrients: Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C

2010-05-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

Megavitamin Therapy (which evolved into Orthomolecular Psychiatry) began with the Hoffer/Osmond research into niacin (a form of vitamin B3) and vitamin C. See my post at: http://naturalhealingforschizophrenia.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-did-orthomolecular-psychiatry-begin.html

Over the next half century, although other supportive nutrients have been discovered, orthomolecular physicians and researchers have continued to find megadose vitamin B3 and megadose vitamin C to be major therapeutic agents for most adult psychoses. This applies to all biotypes, even histadelia (more on biotypes later).

That is, niacin and C, within the context of a complex of indicated nutrients, health therapies, and other treatments, as per individual biochemical requirements, including contraindications.

For references, consult the literature, and see Natural Healing for Schizophrenia

Caution: My blog entries are solely educational. If you need treatment, consult a knowledgeable physician.

* Some exceptions: for pyrolurics and for young people, B6 or B6 plus B3, may often be more effective than B3 alone.

Nutritional (orthomolecular) psychiatry film: Masks of Madness

2010-05-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

For a great video introduction to the field of Nutritional (Orthomolecular) Psychiatry (Megavitamin Therapy),
see this 15 minute excerpt from the film,

Masks of Madness

at http://orthomed.org/isf/isfmasks.html

produced by the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine

Upcoming talk: Nutritional Approaches for Bipolar and Schizophrenia

2010-05-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

I will be presenting on

Nutritional Approaches to Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia

Wednesday, May 26, 3:00 PM

State of Oregon, Addictions & Mental Health Spring Conference
Red Lion Inn, 3301 Market Street NE, Salem, OR

For more information, call (503) 370-7888

Food as Medicine

2010-05-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Foods (and herbs) are the raw biochemicals of which our cells are ultimately composed, the most elemental means to fix, revitalize, and balance our biochemistry and health. Moreover, benefits tend to steadily increase as cells get repleted, and multiple nutrients generally tend to be synergistic rather than detrimental.

So why are nutrients not the first line of defense in mainstream psychiatry and medicine?

For more info, see my book, Natural Healing for Schizophrenia

Major Orthomolecular Meetings Coming Up

2010-04-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

Reminder: Nutritional Medicine educational meetings next week:

April 30 - May 2, Vancouver, BC, Canada

39th Annual International Conference: Orthomolecular Medicine Today

International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (ISOM)

Advances in orthomolecular (nutritional) psychiatry, oncology, pediatrics, and general medicine.
http://orthomed.org/omt/omtreg.html
1 - (416) 733-2117

May 2-11, Sydney, Australia

Sydney Outreach 2010 - Medical Practitioner Training Program

Bio-Balance Health Association Inc

Training in nutrient therapy protocols for mental and behavioral disorders, and advanced evaluation; treatment techniques for autism spectrum disorders.
http://www.biobalance.org.au/events/outreach-2010-practitioner
07 5515 7142

Nutritional Therapies for Schizophrenia and Biochemical Individuality

2010-04-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Therapeutic choices ultimately resolve down to the individual's unique biochemical needs.
Everyone is different, has different genetics, and different environmental experiences, and so has different therapeutic requirements.

The task of the physician is to look deep, and ferret out each individual's specific needs (e.g., by attention to symptoms, individual and family history, biochemical and physiological labs, and response to treatment, etc.)

Thus, the statements in this blog cannot help but be generalizations, and will not apply to everyone. As they say: One man's meat is another man's poison.
Hence, keep in mind, that my purpose in this blog is certainly not prescriptive, but solely educational.

And, if you need treatment for schizophrenia, or any other medical condition, please seek the services of a knowledgeable physician.

See the introduction, by Jeffrey Bland, PhD, to the classic on the subject, Biochemical Individuality, by Roger Williams, PhD.

For more on bipolar, see Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

Orthomolecular conference: Nutritional Medicine Today

2010-04-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

The yearly conference of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, Nutritional Medicine Today, is in Vancouver BC this year, from April 29 to May 2.
For a schedule, go to: http://orthomed.org/omt/omt.html
I will be talking Sunday afternoon.
See my books at boragebooks.com

Great source of info on the development of orthomolecular psychiatry

2010-04-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

For insight into the development of nutritional treatments for schizophrenia, and of orthomolecular psychiatry, in general, see:
http://orthomed.org/jom/jomdatabase/jomlist.htm
The issues from 1967-1985 focus almost exclusively or orthomolecular psychiatry.
From 1986 on, the focus expands to orthomolecular (nutritional) medicine.

Research Supporting Orthomolecular Approaches to Schizophrenia

2010-03-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

Research and clinical data supporting the therapeutic use of nutrients for schizophrenia includes:

Hoffer’s original double blinds introducing nutritional psychiatry
Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, introduced double blinds to psychiatric research with his early niacin studies in the sixties. But, as a physician pledged to do no harm, he eventually decided not to deprive controls (patients) of treatments which he had observed to work, so as not to place them at risk of permanent deterioration, or death.

Hoffer’s clinical results with 10,000 schizophrenic patients

Over the next half century, Hoffer practiced orthomolecular psychiatry, eventually treating 10,000 schizophrenic patients, most of whom recovered to a degree not expected with conventional treatments.

Walsh/Pfeiffer biotype outcome studies and biochemical assessments
Virtually all the 20,000 schizophrenics treated under the auspices of Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, in New Jersey, and the additional 20,000 under Dr. William J. Walsh, PhD, in Illinois, were given a battery of biochemical tests when first seen, and then additional testing to track progress. Walsh reports at least 90 separate tests for most patients, measuring nutrient levels, biotype, allergic reactivity, and other pertinent biochemical parameters.
As stated in my March 3rd post on outcome (below), approximately 85% of their 40,000 patients achieved great improvement or recovery within several years. Clinical improvement corresponded with the normalizing of key biochemical parameters, as measured by these tests.
Subset with ABA experimental design pattern
Among such patients were a significant number who at some point decided they were well, stopped taking nutrients, and deteriorated; later resumed the nutrient protocol, and got better again; providing an ABA (on-off-on) experimental design in which patients incidentally served as their own controls.

Other studies and clinical results

Other double blinds, controlled studies, and clinical data from diverse researchers and practitioners, worldwide. For sources, see my book, Natural Healing for Schizophrenia.

Dr Abram Hoffer: His Work & Legacy

2010-03-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

For a more evocative take on outcome, go to the site of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine
And click on Dr. Hoffer's picture, in the column on the left.
Then click on the Memorial Guestbook.

Outcome with Orthomolecular Treatment of Schizophrenia

2010-03-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Father of Orthomolecular Psychiatry

"Patients get well to a degree not seen by [mainstream] therapists, [many of whom] believe that orthomolecular therapists are prone to exaggeration. Those [who actually see] the results are astonished." - Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD

Dr. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, defined recovery as: no signs and symptoms; able to resume work or schooling at the same skill level as before becoming ill (and, in most cases, paying income tax); social participation; and reasonable interactions with family members.
In his practice in Western Canada, which ultimately included about 10,000 schizophrenic patients, Dr. Hoffer found:
    Acute patients, ill two years or less, 90% recover or are much improved within two years, with good results for most of the remaining 10%.
   In patients ill twenty to thirty years, with a history of long-term medication and repeated hospitals stays, the rate is approximately 50%, with some improvement in others.
   On average, overall, recovery or great improvement can be expected in 75-85% of patients, within approximately one third the length of time they had been ill.

Dr. Carl C Pfeiffer, MD, PhD

Dr. Carl C Pfeiffer, MD, PhD, practicing in New Jersey up through 1988, supervised treatment of over 20,000 schizophrenic patients. Biotype-related imbalances were diagnosed in 95%. Pfeiffer found that corresponding nutrient-based treatment eventually produced a great improvement/recovery rate of 90% (for a total over all patients, of 85%).

Dr. William J Walsh, PhD
Since then, Dr. William J Walsh, PhD, working in Illinois, further substantiated this outcome, with another 20,000 patients.

Other Orthomolecular Practitioners
Such outcomes have been repeated in the individual practices of hundreds of orthomolecular psychiatrists, worldwide.

For more information, see my book at: naturalhealingforschizophrenia.com

How did orthomolecular psychiatry begin?

2010-02-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

The existence of vitamins (substances in food which are vital to life) was established in the first half of the last century. Some of the discoveries: Vitamin C cures scurvy (previously known to respond to citrus); and vitamin B3 reverses pellagra.

Both these nutrient-deficiency illnesses had a psychiatric component: depression, anxiety and, in more severe cases, psychosis.

In some regions of the US, half the patients hospitalized for mental illness were actually pellagrins, and recovered in a few weeks of vitamin B3.

Research into moderate doses B vitamins, C, and E for “mental” illness continued until interrupted by World War II.

Nutritional research resumed in the fifties with the schizophrenia studies of Dr Abram Hoffer and Dr Humphrey Osmond. They had seen that oxidized adrenalin can create a short psychosis (e.g., when asthmatic inhalers contain pink (oxidized) adrenalin). This suggested potential benefits of vitamin B3 (to limit adrenalin formation), and vitamin C (to prevent its oxidation). Furthermore they knew that these vitamins countered the psychosis of pellagra and scurvy, respectively.

To increase effectiveness, they chose relatively high doses, for the first trials: 10 grams of niacin (vitamin B3) and 5 grams of C; both in divided doses.

In the hospital in which they worked, a youth was steadily deteriorating, despite all mainstream medical efforts. He had become catatonic, unable to speak or use the bathroom, and finally lapsed into a coma. His doctors believed he would soon die, due to his schizophrenia.

This youth became one of the first patients to receive the niacin/vitamin C treatments. The next day, the coma ended. After two weeks on the nutrients, he was pronounced normal. Twelve years later, he remained well and was an active member of his community.

The remarkable improvement in patients like this marked the beginnings of nutrient-based psychiatry, then called Megavitamin Therapy.

Twenty years later, Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel laureate, in a seminal article in Science, renamed it Orthomolecular Medicine, i.e., a medicine which sought to optimize substances naturally occurring in brain and body (required and missing nutrients), by providing optimal doses of ortho (right) molecules, and eliminating toxins.

See:
http:///www.naturalhealingforschizophrenia.com
http://www.orthomolecular.org/history/hoffer/index.shtml

2010 Mental Health Conferences with Alternative Components

2010-02-04T00:05:00.000-08:00

February 19-22, Bellevue, WA

Healing the Brain Conference (Klinghardt Academy of Neurobiology)

Approaches for ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, etc.
http://stores.homestead.com/klinghardt/-strse-159/Healing-the-Brain%2C-Feb./Detail.bok
1 - (303) 499-4700

Feb 26-28, San Francisco, CA

Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, 16th Annual Scientific Meeting

The Brain - Gut Connection

Dedicated this year to the legacy of Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D., the father of megavitamin therapy. Dr. Hoffer died at age 91 this year after a lifetime of unceasing efforts to establish the value of nutrient therapy for schizophrenia.
http://ohmsociety.com/future.htm
1 - (415) 816-7714

March 22-4, Tuscon, AZ

2010 Integrative Mental Health Conference

Scientifically proven alternative methods in combination with drugs and traditional therapies to address physical, psychological, and spiritual needs.
http://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/integrative_mental_health_conference.html
1 - (520) 626-6417

April 30 - May 2, Vancouver, BC, Canada

39th Annual International Conference: Orthomolecular Medicine Today

International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (ISOM)

Advances in orthomolecular (nutritional) psychiatry, oncology, pediatrics, and general medicine.
http://orthomed.org/omt/omtreg.html
1 - (416) 733-2117

May 2-11, Sydney, Australia

Sydney Outreach 2010 - Medical Practitioner Training Program

Bio-Balance Health Association Inc

Training in nutrient therapy protocols for mental & behavioral disorders, & advanced evaluation & treatment techniques for autism spectrum disorders.
http://www.biobalance.org.au/events/outreach-2010-practitioner
07 5515 7142

May 25, Salem, OR

2010 Addictions and Mental Health Conference

Both mainstream and natural approaches.
1 - (503) 945-7813

Sept 8-11, Atlanta, GA

National Association of Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA)

Advocates and consumer/survivors. On legal issues (e.g., informed consent). Some sessions on alternative approaches.
http://www.narpa.org

Sept 29 – Oct 3, Anaheim, CA

Alternatives 2010

By and for mental health consumer/survivors. Includes sessions on alternative approaches.
http://www.power2u.org/alternatives-2010/index.html
1 - (800)-POWER2U

Feel free to write back with other upcoming nutritionally-oriented mental health conferences.

http://www.naturalhealingforschizophrenia.com
http://www.boragebooks.com

Why nutrients should be considered the first line of defense

2010-01-26T22:51:00.000-08:00

1. The brain is physically made of and runs on nutrients. So nutrients have a profound influence on its function.
2 Our soils are so depleted, the environment so toxic, addiction and junk food so prevalent, and nature so devastated, that our brains can no longer get sufficient nourishment. Some of us are especially vulnerable.
3 Mental illness is generally less pronounced and ends sooner in regions where people eat indigenous foods and are not given psychiatric drugs.
4 Mental symptoms in certain vitamin deficiency diseases are medically established to respond to supplements. (For instance, the depression, anxiety, and psychosis of pellagra are healed by vitamin B3 and tryptophan; similar symptoms in scurvy are healed by vitamin C; alcoholic psychosis responds to vitamin B1.)
5 Orthomolecular (nutritional) research and practice, developed across the world over the past half century, shows 75-85% recovery or great improvement in schizophrenia when caught within the first few years of illness (recovery to the extent that people are able to go back to what they were doing before they became ill); and good improvement in people ill for a substantial time. Similar results are emerging with mood disorders, behavior disorders, hyperactivity, and others.
Note: If on psychiatric drugs, they cannot be suddenly stopped, but usually can be gradually weaned, under medical supervision, in relation to nutrient-based improvement.
http://www.naturalhealingforschizophrenia.com