In this very same hospital, Doctors Abram Hoffer and Humphrey Osmond were at the time developing a new type of treatment for schizophrenia. In consideration of his condition, this boy became one of its first recipients. On the first day, he was given 10 grams of niacin (vitamin B3) and 5 grams of vitamin C in divided doses. By the second day he was no longer in a coma, and after two weeks of treatment he was pronounced normal. After twelve years he was still well and an active member of his community.
The Hoffer/Osmond nutritional approach to treating mental illness became known as Megavitamin Therapy. Twenty years later, Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel laureate, renamed it Orthomolecular Medicine. Orthomolecular treatments are based on providing brain and body with required and missing nutrients in appropriate doses, and eliminating/avoiding toxic substances. Prescriptions vary with the patient, and are based on individual biochemical/nutrient requirements. Orthomolecular physicians may use neuroleptic drugs at the outset of treatment to help suppress symptoms until nutritive healing sets in. The drugs are then gradually withdrawn.
Orthomolecular physicians report an 80-85% success rate in treating schizophrenia, with both the extent and the likelihood of improvement in stark contrast to expectations with conventional methods. Conventional methods focus on neuroleptic drugs and, in some cases, involve electroshock treatments. Extended use of such treatments often results in toxic and brain-suppressing effects. Such effects are uncommon with orthomolecular treatments.
THE BIOTYPES
Over the years, orthomolecular physicians observed patients to generally fall (with some overlap) into specific biotypes. Nutritive adjustments bringing a biotype into balance were found to correspondingly improve symptoms of schizophrenia, eventually leading to great improvement or recovery for most patients.
These biotypes are not exclusive to schizophrenia. They also occur within the general population, although to a lesser extent. Even if no mental symptoms occur, nutritional biotype-related adjustments have often proved physically beneficial.
Histapenia - The farm boy described above probably belonged to this biotype. Histapenia is characterized by depressed blood levels of histamine and, often, excessive copper. It is the most prevalent biotype, affecting an estimated 40-50% of schizophrenic patients.
Histamine is a major brain neurotransmitter, but is known popularly for its role in allergic symptoms. Patients with low blood histamine tend to have depressed metabolism, a pear shaped body, and classic schizophrenic symptoms (paranoia, grandiosity, hallucinations, thought disorder). Treatment now typically includes not only B3 and C, but also folic acid, B6, B12, zinc, manganese, antioxidants, and various other nutrients. Response to treatment is usually good, but can be slow in patients who have been ill for a while. Some individuals initially experience a worsening of symptoms due to recirculation of body stores of copper.
Histadelia - In the early years of this century, at the height of his career, Nijinski, the much-acclaimed Russian dancer, was diagnosed as incurably insane. Nijinsky may have been histadelic. One of the first indications of his illness occurred when Nijinsky, who had previously been especially caring and gentle, pushed his wife and infant child downstairs and afterwards seemed confused about the incident. He began refusing animal food (actually, probably a beneficial choice, if he was histadelic), and sometimes would not eat at all for long periods of time. He became obsessed with recurrent visions of dead soldiers, and prone to violence, especially when separated from the mental institute. Nijinsky never recovered and never danced again, although his wife found that he did not seem to have forgotten any move of any dance he ever performed.
Histadelia is characterized by elevated blood levels of histamine. 15-20% of schizophrenics are probably histadelic. Histadelics tend to work compulsively and are often highly creative. On the other hand, they are often chronically and suicidally depressed and prey to obsessions, compulsions, and addictions.
Typical treatment includes such nutrients as calcium, magnesium, B6, C, zinc, manganese, and methionine, and limitation of intake of folic acid and histidine (common in animal proteins). If the histadelic cooperates with treatment and works to give up detrimental addictions, the prognosis is good.
Pyroluria - The poet, Emily Dickinson, though not schizophrenic, displayed many pyroluric characteristics. Although reasonably happy as a child, when she was a teenager, she became increasingly withdrawn. Eventually, new people and situations caused her such severe stress that she chose to have personal contact only with her family, communicating with close friends by letter ("The soul selects her own society/ Then closes the door.") Throughout her life, Dickinson was plagued by intermittent depression, cluster headaches, fatigue, and severe eye pains.
Pyroluria is characterized by elevated urinary kryptopyrroles. It is the primary imbalance for 20% of schizophrenics. Pyrolurics are generally anemic, pale, and prone to nausea, joint pain and high internal tension. Depression can lead to suicide. Mental symptoms are aggravated when undergoing stress. In fact, pyroluria flares up when the individual is undergoing prolonged stress, such as during a chronic and debilitating illness. Many pyrolurics are not schizophrenic.
Pyrolurics commonly respond within a few months to B6, zinc and manganese. The nutrient dosage usually must be increased when the pyroluric is under increased stress.
Cerebral allergy - In 1949 Mary Hollister was referred to Dr. Theron Randolph for incapacitating headaches, extreme hyperactivity and severe depression. In his office she ate some beets she had brought with her, and two hours later was hospitalized for psychosis. Later she became depressed and disoriented and then all symptoms subsided. When Randolph tested her with beets, she again became temporarily psychotic. This case marked the beginning of investigations into the connection between allergy and schizophrenia.
Dr. William Philpott has found that, on the average, 92% of schizophrenics display mental reactions to allergens, with an average of 10 substances causing reactions per patient. Treatment involves avoidance of the allergen, nutritive support, and attention to contributory conditions (e.g., Candida, mercury overload, sugar imbalances, and thyroid conditions).
Common allergens may include dairy, glutenous grains, tobacco, caffeine, sugar, nightshades (potato family), or others.
Miscellaneous nutritional imbalances - in perhaps 10% of cases, assorted nutritional deficiencies or excesses, not encompassed above, are the major consideration.
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS
Blood sugar imbalances - Hypoglycemia or diabetes is frequently present and contributes to symptoms.
Neurotoxins - Alcohol, tobacco, sugar, toxic drugs, chemical exposure, etc., can play a significant role in schizophrenia. Also, overloads of certain metals, such as copper (excess copper is a major cause of histapenia), mercury, aluminum, lead, bismuth and cadmium.
Neurotransmitter imbalances - Neurotransmitters chemically convey messages between nerve cells. We have already discussed histamine. Other neurotransmitters believed to play a role in various schizophrenias include: dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and serine. Often the problem is not the absolute level of a particular neurotransmitter, but its level in relation to that of those that counterbalance it.
Medical illness - Especially prominent among conditions which can produce symptoms mistaken for schizophrenia are epilepsy, Candida, thyroid and other glandular malfunctions, and an assortment of nervous, blood, immune and digestive system disorders.
DIETARY CONSIDERATIONS
Physicians also suggest a healthful diet, including plenty of fresh, natural, unrefined, (preferably organic) foods, indicated food supplements, and avoidance of junk food. The diet must account for blood sugar imbalances, allergies, Candida, and biotype-related needs. Daily exercise, as medically indicated, and fresh air are also important.
TIMING
Orthomolecular physicians urge immediate nutritional intervention before biological damage becomes more difficult to reverse. While some patients recover within days, for most improvement is slower. It can take months or, in some cases, years for the first signs of recovery to become apparent. Recovery can be generally estimated to occur in approximately one third of the time that the individual has been ill. Nonetheless, improvement tends to be steady, with many patients eventually feeling better, both mentally and physically than before the illness surfaced.
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Nutritional treatments have also been developed for depression, mania, tendency to violence, and childhood mental disorders.