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.

Nutritional therapies: Three Major Approaches

Nutritional therapies typically involve some combination of the following approaches, tailored to individual biochemical requirements:


1 Symptomatic: Nutrients are used to directly address mood.

     Stabilizing nutrients, usually lifelong, layered with mood-specific nutrients, when needed.

      For example, for bipolar depression: continue stabilizing nutrients; layer upon these, relevant antidepressant nutrients, using as mild a therapy as practical; taper off as symptoms remit.

Note: This approach is structurally similar to the mainstream pharmaceutical protocol (generally, mood stabilizers, lifelong, layered with mood and symptom-specific medication, when indicated). 
 


2 Nutrients to address relevant bipolar biotypes:

     Imbalances in neurotransmitter methylation.

     Pyrrole disorder.

     Metal metabolism issues.



3 Nutrient therapy for other underlying factors. These may involve:

    Specific nutrient requirements and/or imbalances.

    Health issues, e.g., allergies, blood sugar issues, hormonal balances,  Candida, malabsorption, seizures, toxicity, etc.

    Natural therapies to address diet, stress, and other lifestyle factors.

For more information, see Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

http:///www.boragebooks.com/bipolar.html


 
Warning: Intake of nutrients does not imply a change in medication, although with nutrient-based improvement, many physicians will cautiously reduce dosage.  The information in this blog is presented for education purposes only. If you need treatment for bipolar disorder, or any other medical condition, consult a knowledgeable physician. In some cases, this will be an orthomolecular or other nutritionally-oriented physician.

Why nutrients should be considered the first line of defense

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 improvement is emerging with mood disorders, behavior disorders, hyperactivity, and others.

Disclaimer: The addition of nutrients does not mean medication should be stopped. In fact, stopping or reducing psychiatric drugs can be highly risky, even more so if done abruptly. Orthomolecular psychiatrists generally tie drug reductions to nutrient-based improvement, and proceed cautiously with any changes. Particular care is warranted for bipolars. If you contemplate such a course, please work with a knowledgeable physician.

http://www.naturalhealingforbipolardisorder.com
http://www.boragebooks.com