Announcing the New 2018 Edition of Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

The 2018 edition of  Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder is out! Readers can thank Hyla Cass, MD, who impressed on me the need to update the research. So, after numerous interviews and conferences, and after pouring through the past ten years of studies, voila!
This book is a compendium of more than seven decades of scientific work, worldwide, on nutrient and herbal approaches for bipolar disorder. It is geared to both general public and health professional and researcher. It offers physicians an in-depth view of potential treatments, nutrient-relevant symptoms, labs and research. And it gives patients and other interested persons insight into nutrients and health issues relevant to them, and a means to have more effect on treatment choices.

Some of the highlights of the new compendium:

• The latest in bipolar research, including the Walsh/ deVito theory, which suggests difficulty  removing extra-neuronal potassium is a major cause of moodswing.
• Genes are not everything! The book looks at how nutrients like folate, methionine, SAMe, and niacin change the extent to which genes that influence mood are expressed (epigenetics).
• Further refinements on pyroluria (a stress disorder) and methylation therapies, including a methylation diagram which emphasizes nutrients.
• Added emphasis on the effects of folate, the copper/zinc balance, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. 
• A new, more effective, less damaging, metal detox approach.
• More on allergic/ immune reactions, inflammation, autoimmunity, and cellular energetics.
• Additional info on specific nutrients, diet, sugar metabolism, gut issues, endocrines, other health factors.
• Updated resources, expanded references.

Available here.

Videos: Histadelia: Depression, OCD, SAMe and Serotonin

Some great histadelia (neurotransmitter undermethylation) videos by Dr. William J. Walsh, a pioneering researcher of the effects of brain methylation imbalances on mental symptoms:

Dr. Walsh explains symptoms  of undermethylation (histadelia) including OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and depression, the relevance of SAMe and serotonin and other vitamin therapies, and the prevalence of histadelia in people of high accomplishment and drive (athletes, scientists, CEOs). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ7ZakljZu8



Dr Walsh on histamine tests, brain methylation, histapenia and histadelia symptoms and vitamins, and epigenetics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CRTL0-kDmI


For more info, see my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

Depression Nutrients: The difference between Unipolar and Bipolar Therapies

To begin with, let's look at nutrient approaches used for unipolar depression (especially amino acid therapies). Check out:

The Mood Cure Questionaire by Julia Ross

While there, you may want to explore the entire site.

Dr. Priscilla Slagle's free ebook (The Way Up From Down):

And the "Recommendation Summary" half way down the page.

The problem is, many treatments (either pharmaceutical or nutritional) developed for unipolar depression can destabilize bipolars.

This is because bipolars can be particularly sensitive to changes in brain stimulation. In general, the more extreme the antidepressant treatment, and the more quickly it works, the greater the likelihood of triggering mania,  more rapid or frequent cycling, and general worsening of the illness over the long term.

So  —

(1) Bipolar antidepressant nutrients should be as gentle and gradual as possible, while still addressing symptoms sufficiently. For instance, one might want to consider tyrosine instead of phenylalanine, tryptophan instead of 5HTP, green tea instead of coffee,  etc., And the lowest doses that do the job. Generally: good food, relevant vitamins, exercise, creativity, friendship, and moderation rather than overstimulation.

(2) Even though trying to elevate mood, concurrent therapies that support stability are critical!

More later. 

For more information, see my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder.