Rosalie Moscoe, RCNP, President of Toronto based Harmony in Health

Orthomolecular Medicine - Dynamic Old Friend, Still True

According to Rosalie Moscoe, RCNP, President of Toronto based Health In Harmony, "Theres a buzz in the air; times are-a-changing; this is the best one yet". That was the underlying feeling of most attendees at the 35^th Annual Conference - Nutritional Medicine Today, a message of hope, held in Vancouver, Apr. 27-30, 2006. Over 250 people--doctors, psychiatrists, naturopaths, other health care professionals, plus interested families and patients packed into the Fairmont Hotel Vancouvers main ballroom to hear illuminating information from 16 internationally known physicians and researchers. People came not only to hear the latest in leading edge treatments, or for solutions for poor health, but also they came to be with the great ones such as Dr. Abram Hoffer, psychiatrist, prolific author and researcher.

Sponsored by the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine and the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, this conference would have made the late Linus Pauling grin. Over fifty years ago, double Nobel laureate, Pauling conceptualized the term orthomolecular--which is the practice of optimizing health and treating disease by providing correct amounts of vitamins, minerals amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids and other substances, which naturally occur in the body. In other words, give the body what its missing or what it needs and it performs well.

The Presenters

Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, internationally known for his pioneering work in orthomolecular psychiatry, has lectured worldwide for 60 years. He authored many books such as Healing Schizophrenia, Orthomolecular Medicine for Physicians, and even, Healing Cancer. When asked why he still hasnt retired, 89-year-old Hoffer replied, "I enjoy seeing patients get well". His talk on Pellagra, Schizophrenia and Vitamin B3 illuminated the similarity of the two illnesses in that they respond to exactly the same vitamin except that large doses are needed for schizophrenia and much smaller doses are needed for pellagrins to be well. Other vitamins and minerals are used as needed to treat mental illnesses. Medication is also used when needed, however, if orthomolecular treatments are used in complement, patients start getting well and then the amount of medication can often be reduced. Therefore, patients such as those with schizophrenia, experience less side affects and a better quality of life.

Other internationally known physicians and researchers presented current orthomolecular approaches to achieve mental health, or treat cancer or reduce chronic inflammation. I, along with the majority of other attendees, found it difficult to leave the conference room for fear of missing something important-even though the conference was captured on video. The restorative information all made perfect sense--even to the layman.

The audience was treated to information on genetics and how we can improve on them.

Author, Jack Challem presented, Feed Your Genes Right: Nutrition, Disease and Neurogenesis. His talk gave hope to everyone with fractured genes. He emphasized that no, we cannot change our genes, but the truth is that we can reduce our risk of disease and in doing so; we improve how our genes work!

Joan Mathews-Larson, Ph.D, author and executive director of the Health Recovery Center in Minneapolis--spoke on Orthomolecular vs. Toximolecular: Solutions to Depression and Suicide Intent. Her Center is an orthomolecular model for treating addiction and emotional disorders, which has successfully treated thousands of people over 25 years.

Ron Hunninghake, MD, author and Chief Medical Office of the Olive White Garvey Center for Healing Arts in Kansas reported on Pro-Inflammatory Dietary Shifts. We learned that there is desirable or healthy inflammation--when the inflammation is a localized visible phenomenon--such as, when we cut our hand and pain and swelling result. Cytokines are released, invading bacteria are detected and engulfed. Dead skin cells are scavenged away. New cells grow in to seal the cut. We also learned about the "bad" inflammation--all the diseases that end in "-itis". This designates an illness involving unhealthy inflammation, such as: arthritis (joint inflammation), Rhinitis (nasal inflammation) or Asthma (which modern research has revealed as having inflammatory roots.)

In the New England Journal of Medicine, it was reported that coronary artery disease (CAD) is an inflammatory illness. Dr. Hunninghake then gave us the missing piece of the puzzle--we can reduce inflammation in the body through various means, such as, an anti- inflammatory diet.

Bradford Weeks, MD of The Weeks clinic for Corrective Medicine and Psychiatry presented Orthomolecular Treatment for Sleep Disturbances--using amino acids, niacinamide, Vitamin D and GABA, plus a better understanding of the sleep cycle. He assured us that sleep difficulties are not a normal part of aging, although they are all too common. He reminded attendees that, "the rest of your days depends upon the rest of your nights".

Jonathan Prousky, ND presented orthomolecular treatment on an all too familiar modern day illness--anxiety disorder. There are many roots of this condition-- masked, hidden or delayed cerebral allergic responses to foods and/or beverages or hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia causes a brain debt of glucose and anxiety symptoms can result--panic, racing heart, feelings of impending doom. Like Superman swooping down, red cape flying, effective orthomolecular treatments can come to the rescue--diet and certain minerals such as chromium. A diet with a moderately high amount of protein and fat, or a diet predominately high in complex (unrefined) carbohydrates helps patients stabilize blood sugar. Also, the mineral chromium has the most documented evidence to support its use as a blood-glucose stabilizing molecule.

William Walsh, Ph.D, a scientist with more than 25 years experience in biochemistry research focusing recently on brain chemistry, metal-metabolism, methylation and oxidative stress, presented Nutrient Therapy and Mental Illness. Director of the Pfeiffer Treatment Center outside Chicago, an outpatient treatment centre, Dr. Walsh has applied his advanced biochemical therapies, based on the work of Carl Pfeiffer, MD, for over 20,000 patients with illnesses such as, autism, behavior disorders, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia. His presentation gives hope for the 25 percent of all families that face mental illness. His intense testing of patients finds that most persons with mental disorders exhibit biochemical imbalances. He reported that most families see improvement following nutrient therapy to normalize chemistry.

New Discoveries about Cancer

Grim news is surfacing about "The War on Cancer" being lost--evidenced by the conventional therapies that have failed to stop the rise in breast cancer and other cancer mortality rates. Even The Lancet urges researchers to "challenge research efforts along more fruitful lines."

Author and scientist Harold Foster, PhD in his talk The Geography of Cancer outlined how both the physical and social environments affect health. We are what we eat, where we live, effects of climate, the air we breathe, whether we smoke, exercise, how much alcohol we drink, whether we have viruses or are exposed to bacteria and parasites. Even the composition of the soil in the region we live can also affect our health and cancer rates. When studied, patterns emerge in the world as to the highest rates of particular cancers and their causes. These finding can only help to determine ways to protect us and prevent cancers.

According to Moscoe, "using the positive link between cancer prevention and diet as a stating point, Gerard Potter, Ph.D, outlined his discovery of Salvetrols in his presentation, The Fruits of Cancer Research. Salvestrols are a new class of molecule with very important activity in removing diseased cells from the human body? Salvestrols are present in natural foods such as fruits and vegetables--cancer preventative foods and diets. Potter and his team at De Montfort University in Lecester-Bedford, U.K., have designed synthetic prodrugs that show very exciting tumour selective activity with no toxic effects.

Another promising treatment used at the Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, Ca and Phoenix, Az was outlined by Christian Issels, ND, Issels Treatment - The Next Generation. Issels treatments are based on his fathers work, Josef Issels, MD. The senior Issels gave comprehensive immunobiological treatment of the tumor host that complements standard tumor focused cancer treatment. Christian continues his fathers work and some approaches include; strengthening the body through high quality diet, detoxification, boosting immunity, improving digestion, regulating ph balance, ridding the body of hidden infections and the use of various natural cancer-fighting biological treatments. The treatments offer improvement of the quality of life and often extension of the life expectancy and in some cases even tumor remission.

An Evening for the Public

Hundreds clamored to hear Sister Teresa Feist tell of her recovery from schizophrenia. Sister Teresa, author of Schizophrenia Cured is the director of an orthomolecular treatment centre, outside Regina, for those who wish to heal from mental illness. A mother, Linda Santini read portions from her book Solving the Mystery of ADHD - Naturally and how orthomolecular medicine turned around her family members for the better. Margot Kidder, film and stage actor dazzled the audience with her presentation about her remarkable recovery from bipolar illness using the orthomolecular approach. Shes been without episodes for more than 10 years.

Orthomolecular Medicine Hall Of Fame

Presentations to eight inductees proved to be another spectacular event for conference attendees. The Orthomolecular Hall of Fame is a ceremony of tribute to orthomolecular pioneers. This year, eight inductees were honoured--five posthumously; Bill Willson, co-founder of Alcoholic Anonymous, Ruth Flinn Harell, Ph.D, a champion of children who reversed Down Syndrome through vitamin therapy, Arthur M. Sackler, M.D., who worked on histamine as a schizophrenia treatment, Max J. Vogel, M.D., tireless orthomolecular supporter and Lendon H. Smith, M.D., known as "The Childrens Doctor". The three surviving 2006 inductees were David R. Hawkins, who worked with alcoholic and schizophrenic patients, Sister Theresa Feist, a recovered schizophrenic who now runs a treatment centre, and Abram Hoffer, M.D., early pioneer of orthomolecular treatment for schizophrenia. Both Sister Theresa and Abram Hoffer, present at the celebration, received standing ovations and cheers--a resounding testament to the support of their work in orthomolecular medicine.

But are vitamins and minerals and other nutritional supplements safe?

Natural health products, such as amino acids, herbs, minerals, and other nutritional supplements, have a proven safe usage history. This is clearly demonstrated by the 2003 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposures Surveillance System, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Millions of persons take herbal remedies, and have done so for generations. Indigenous and Westernized peoples alike have found them to be safe and effective. There have been no deaths at all from cultural medicines, including Ayurvedic, Asian, Hispanic, and in fact, from all others.

Andrew Sauls Supplement Safety Testimony to Parliament can be viewed at: http://www.doctoryourself.com/testimony.htm .

What are the Side effects to Orthomolecular Treatments?

When patients ask Dr. Hoffer about side affects to orthomolecular treatments, with a twinkle in his eye, Hoffer answers, "youre going to live longer. Is that going to be a problem for you?"

Wheres Next Years Conference?

Next years 36^th Annual Nutritional Medicine Today conference will be held in Toronto. More information and research papers can be obtained from the International Schizophrenia Foundation (ISF) and Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine www.orthomed.org or by calling the ISF office at 416-733-2117.

BY: Rosalie Moscoe, RNCP, www.healthinharmony.com