Bipolar Disorder: Outcome with Nutritional Biotype Therapy

re: http://alternativementalhealth.com/articles/commoncauses.htm

Among psychiatric patients who fit into these biotypes, corresponding nutritional therapies,  tailored to individual patient requirements, produced a high rate of great improvement or recovery-- substantially beyond what is commonly reported by mainstream psychiatry -- as per the 20,000 patient database of Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer and colleagues, as well as the 20,000 patient database of Dr. William J. Walsh, et al.

The emphasis in Pfeiffer's group for a long time was schizophrenia; but over time grew to include mood disorders and other major psychiatric disorders. Generally, for most patients eligible for, and pursuing biotype treatment, 75-85% recovered or improved greatly; less, if ill for decades. Improvement corresponded with normalizing of biotype parameters.

Walsh's group first emphasized behavior disorders and criminality (with substantial results mainly in those given biotype treatment when young); then expanded to include learning disorders, autism, schizophrenia, mood disorders, etc. Patients received at least 90 lab assays each.

Results of Walsh's outcome study (Walsh, 2007, 2008) on over 1800 bipolars:
Approximately 80% of bipolars showed biotype imbalances.
For the 70% of these who stuck with the nutrient program (always an issue for bipolars), 50% eventually recovered to the extent that their physicians weaned them off medication. Results were best when biotype treatment was begun early in the illness..
So of the 1800, 20% did not show biotype imbalances, 24% did not stick with the nutrient program.
But 50% of the 1100 plus who kept up with biotype nutrients recovered or were greatly improved; many of the rest also benefitted.
This may represent the best well-substantiated bipolar outcome thus far, whatever the treatment, nutritional or pharmaceutical.

Note: Recovery is not cure.  Nutrients are in almost all cases indicated throughout one's life. One common side effect: a healthier, longer life.

For more info on biotypes, see Edelman's books at: http://boragebooks.com

Bipolar Disorder: Pfeiffer/Walsh Biotypes and Corresponding Nutrients

Here is a short description by Dr. William J. Walsh of major biochemistries (biotypes) and corresponding nutrient therapies -- found in a substantial portion of bipolars -- with some corresponding nutrient therapies.
http://alternativementalhealth.com/articles/commoncauses.htm

Actual treatment must be tailored to each patient's unique biochemical requirements. So, if you need treatment for bipolar disorder, consult a knowledgeable physician.

Bipolar Nutrient Article: Integrative Medicine Approach

Again, one of the problems with starting to discuss potential mania vitamins and minerals in this blog is that it's easy to miss the wider therapeutic context -- given this medium, I can only say so much at any one time. In Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder,  on the other hand, you have it all together in one book, and can pick specifics as you are drawn to them.


So, you can either buy my book or, meanwhile, you can gain some perspective by looking at one of the better articles on bipolar:

Bipolar Disorder as Cell Membrane Dysfunction. Progress Toward Integrative Management

by Parris M Kidd, PhD, Alt Med Rev, 6/2004.


Either at:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_9/ai_n6112778/
If you choose this site, you have to click 34 times at the numbers or next button on the top.
Or you can get the pdf from Dr. Kidd's website:
http://www.dockidd.com/
Right side of page, under Brain Health Science,  third entry.

Nutritional (orthomolecular) psychiatry film: Masks of Madness

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

Manic psychosis: Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C

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,* including manic and depressive 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 my books, Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder.

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.

Nutrition and Mania: Zinc, Pyroluria, Root Causes

Because it is mania season for most, I have taken the occasion to very briefly introduce a few vitamins and minerals which tend to calm brain overstimulation. Soon we will proceed to inhibitory aminos.

Before going on with these symptomatic tidbits, I would like to emphasize the ultimate importance of getting to the deepest underlying influences.

For example, for a certain subset of manics with pyroluria, just taking zinc would be less effective than therapy completely addressing the pyrrole disorder. More later.

For a wider perspective on underlying influences, see my Table of Contents,
and my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

Note: This blog necessarily presents only the most cursory notes on nutritional approaches. Its purpose is solely educational, with the hope of sparking your curiosity to learn more. 
If you need treatment, please seek the services of a knowledgeable physician.

Upcoming talk: Nutritional Approaches for Bipolar and Schizophrenia

I will be presenting on

Nutritional Approaches to Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia

Wednesday, May 26, 3:30 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

Nutrients and Bipolar Mania: Magnesium as a Calcium Channel Blocker

Magnesium, is our major natural calcium channel blocker. 
 
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) inactivate calcium channels, reducing calcium entrance into the cell and increasing levels without (e.g., serum), generally increasing inhibition.


Pharmaceutical trials suggest CCBs support mood stabilization in some bipolars, particularly rapid, and ultra rapid cyclers. and may be most effective in mania, Some studies suggests preventive benefit, particularly when used with lithium.


Magnesium, similarly, controls calcium pumps and blocks calcium uptake to the nerve cell, reducing stimulation, and seems to convey similar effects on mood.

See Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder for references and further discussion.

Food as Medicine

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 Bipolar Disorder.

Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder: Discussion

Reminder: Feel free to write me here, ask questions, post comments, share experiences, ideas and theories, etc.

Bipolar Nutrients: Excessive Zinc and Oversedation

A case report (Murphy 1970),  pointed out by Dr. Pfeiffer, illustrates the sedative effects of large quantities of zinc:

A 16-year-old boy decided to use zinc for his health, but not knowing how much to take, he spread the equivalent of 12,000 mg. elemental zinc on a peanut butter sandwich.

Supplements commonly contain 10-30 mg. Pyrolurics (discussed soon, or for a starter, see ) are prescribed more (in some cases 100-150 mg, or higher), but only because they continuously neutralize and excrete zinc.
The boy consumed about a hundred times the pyroluric dose, and over a thousand times the dose most people need.)

Luckily, the peanut butter slowed zinc release and symptom onset.
What happened? He became dizzy, staggered, and his writing grew illegible. He mainly slept , and was increasingly difficult to waken over five to six days.

But as the zinc left his body, he recovered completely.

See Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder for more information on nutritional therapeutic approaches.

Nutrients and Bipolar Mania: Reactions to high doses

Orthomolecular medicine used to be called Megavitamin therapy. As the name suggests, the approach, in general, is to bring dosage toward the level that has the optimum positive effect.

But how do you know if you have too much?

I am not going to cover all indications, contraindications, etc. For more complete discussions, see my book.  (And do consult a knowledgeable physician for treatment.)

Meanwhile, here are some easy-to-notice reactions to too much
of the nutrients we've already talked about:

Vitamin C - diarrhea.

Magnesium - (1) diarrhea; (2) some potential for oversedation; especially with a magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) bath (which is inadvisable if also taking sedative psych meds or herbs).

Vitamin D - (1) insomnia (especially if taken later in the day); (2) overstimulation (e.g., usually with many thousands of mg.)

Zinc -  (1) nausea, though this may just be due to not enough B6; (2) with very high doses, oversedation. See the next entry.

Nutrients and Bipolar Mania: Why Zinc?

Consider some of the means by which zinc might benefit mania:

— Helps moderate levels of the major stimulating neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine.
— Supports creation of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, and is critical when taking taurine
— Crucial in handling stress. Depleted continuously in pyroluria (a common stress disorder in bipolars, see: http://boragebooks.com/bipolar_5_pyroluria.html )
— Critical in decreasing overloads of stimulating metals, such as copper and iron, and certain heavy metals.
— Supports balanced blood sugar (thereby, mood stability).
— Helps counter dairy and grain sensitivity (implicated in both mood and cognitive dysfunction).
— Some ability to neutralize excitotoxicity (which can trigger mania).

For more on zinc, mania, and bipolar disorder, including references, see my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder.