Of course nothing written below should be construed as advice, treatment, information, or anything useful. When reading a blog, you should always consult a real doctor.
Dr. Hoffer treated more than 5,000 schizophrenic patients over a 50 year period. He found that 50% could recover if they had shelter, good food, and attention to personal dignity and respect. I want to concentrate on what was in the good food that may have been beneficial. Nutritional therapy helped 90% of acute schizophrenics, sick for less than 2 years. Patients treated with drugs alone had a 10% recovery. The patients that received Niacin/Vitamin B3 did quite well. My wife, coincidentally a psychologist told me the other day that there was a new study out that said Vitamin B3/Niacin was very dangerous. I instinctively asked her who funded the study. A double blind study revealed that B3 was more effective than placebo. Nicotinamide is a form of B3, has benzodiazepine like actions. (It can be soothing like Valium)
Anxiety and hypoglycemia. A fall in blood glucose levels leads to a compensatory response by the sympathetic nervous system. That means epinephrine and norepinephrine are being released. These neurotransmitter/hormones, trigger fight or flight reactions which can manifest as anxiety, palpitations, sweating, hunger, and irritability. Hypoglycemia is a contributing factor in some cases of chronic anxiety. Hypoglycemia is common in Alcoholics. Glutamine is a precursor to GABA and that compound has been shown to suppress alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Vitamin C and magnesium have been found to lessen the effects of opioid withdrawal symptoms. Caffeine is also known to create anxiety. Magnesium is helpful for anxiety. Many Americans are deficient in Magnesium.
Depression. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin. The standard prescription for depression is an SSRI. (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) The drug is meant to keep the feel good hormone serotonin in your synapses longer. It seems it might be advantageous to have the precursor to serotonin production in your system. I recall Tryptophan being outlawed for a few years, but I see it is back on the market place. Not sure why it was outlawed, but it is considered vital for a baby to have in order to survive. 5HTP is a supplement that took it’s place and it is the result of what happens to the Tryptophan when it is metabolized. It has also been shown to be helpful for sleep. Depression is a common manifestation of Hypothyroidism. Iodine is good for your thyroid. Foods that contain Iodine are Seaweed, Kombu Kelp, Wakame, Nori, Cod, Prunes, Lima Beans, You eating any of that stuff?
Zinc has been found to be useful for patients with anorexia nervosa. Vitamin C, B complex, and multivitamins have shown positive results for Bulimia. While all of these nutrients seem to have beneficial effects for some specific ailments, I prefer to be healthy in all departments. Dr. Wallach once said that we need about 90 nutrients a day to be healthy and that the average American gets about 12. I can’t name 90 nutrients, but I try and take them all anyway.
