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By George D Henderson{mosimage}
Homeopathy is not the only false medical hypothesis to persist in the face of the facts
The
objection scientists have to homeopathy is that it contradicts its own
hypotheses. Of course, homeopathy is not the only discipline maintained
in the face of such contradiction.
The use of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia is predicated on
their anti-dopaminergic effects cancelling out an excess of dopamine,
but such an excess of dopamine has never been confirmed in
schizophrenics, and the Parkinson-like side effects of these drugs, the
fact that they only reduce symptoms by 15-25%, and the vanishingly low
cure rate of chronic schizophrenia by drugs alone are all signs that
the hypothesis is wrong. Orthomolecular treatments designed to treat
adrenochrome excess have a success rate of 90% in schizophrenia of
short duration (1-3 admissions), 50% in chronic cases. (adrenochrome is
a neurotoxic catecholamine-O-quinone formed when adrenaline is
elevated, as by stress, and metabolised by cyclisation. Similar
metabolism of adrenaline occurs swiftly in inflammatory responses to
allergens, where adrenaline injections reverse the symptoms).
Clinicians who insist that antidopaminergic drugs are a rational
treatment for schizophrenia are as deluded as homeopaths; more so in
fact, because the positive evidence against their hypothesis is
overwhelmingly strong, whereas there is mainly negative evidence to
disprove homeopathy. Orthomolecular clinicians such as Abram Hoffer
have a rational treatment for schizophrenia, which has been validated,
for example in the recent omega 3 fish oil trial, by other researchers
who have copied their doses and methods ("straw man" experiments that
claim to have disproved orthomolecular claims by using smaller doses
and leaving out synergists are a scientific disgrace - you can only
prove or disprove an experimental claim by imitating the experiment
exactly).
Not only have orthomolecular clinicians devised a rational,
effective treatment for schizophrenia, they have also worked out how to
prevent the extra-pyramidal symptoms that result from antipsychotic use
in many patients: the muscle dystonias and stereotyped movements such
as tongue rolling. These can be prevented by giving 30-50 mg chelated
manganese with the drugs and can be treated with manganese and
choline. This is not a recent discovery.
For all the folly of homeopathy, homeopathic treatments do no
harm. The most objectionable feature of homeopathy (and to some extent
naturopathy) is that when treatment by homeopaths produces cures, these
are attributed to homeopathy - yet a detailed description of such
successful treatment always reveals an orthomolecular component (diet,
supplements, allegy testing), not dependent on homeopathic theory, to
which the cures can rationally be attributed. Homeopathy takes credit
for much that that is not homeopathy, and that indeed is opposed to,
and tends to disprove, the magical tenets of homeopathy.
But at least homeopaths are giving their patients the benefit of
rational therapy, and in that they are a great deal more scientifically
advanced than most of our clinical psychologists.
Why milk and wheat are pathogenic in colds and flu's
In
influenza there are already IgG antibody complexes causing soft tissue
inflammation (joint pain, myalgia - 'flu-like symptoms). Further, the
gut epithelial cells are likely to be more "leaky" than usual. The
gluten molecule has over 40 potentially antigenic features, and the
casien molecule is similar.
Consuming these foods during an influenza
infection can increase the number of IgG immune complexes in the blood.
Antioxidants, including glutathione precursors and selenium, seem to
moderate these IgG-complex symptoms; increased immune function,
stimulating and supporting the proliferation of macrophages and
lymphocytes that consume the IgG immune complexes and the antigenic
proteins before they become histotoxic, is a likely mechanism, and
glutathione conjugation with antigenic protein features may occur.
Glutamine improves the "leaky gut" syndrome that lets the proteins
through. Glutathione, needed for 75% of bile-forming reactions, also
improves pancreatic function, likely to be depressed in viral
infections, as does selenium.
The extent to which suspect foods aggravate influenza
symptoms in untreated patients may be a very good test for type 3
Arthus allergies; standard allergy tests give little indication of how
pathogenic the suspect foods actually are, and patients may end up
avoiding a raft of foods, only some of which are important, with
negative impact on nutrition and compliance.
Avoiding these foods in 'flu, schizophrenia and the 'flu-like
phases of hepatitis (especially if glomurelonephritis is suspected) is
a rational therapy. However, in HCV, HIV/AIDS, and schizophrenia and
other degenerative diseases, care must be taken so that hypoallergenic
eating habits do not aggravate the underlying nutritional deficit,
comparable to the way hyposteatic diets in viral hepatitis are likely
to lead to deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins, EFAs and antioxidants.
Wheat is normally a valuable source of selenium and methionine; milk,
of tryptophan, cysteine, and B vitamins, and if these foods are avoided
the nutrients must be found elsewhere.
In chronic inflammatory conditions such as chronic hepatitis C,
'flu like symptoms can be minimised by a variety of strategies. As well
as the antioxidant immune support mentioned, which ought to be the
standard teatment for HCV, substituting short-chain protein foods for
gluten and casien (the most complex dietary proteins) facilitates
nutrition and digestion. The complete proteins in fish, spirulina, egg
yolks and whey are easily digested. Incomplete or imbalanced proteins
in legumes, rice, nuts other than peanuts, starchy vegetables, and
seeds are usually hypoallergenic. Rice, beans, peas, lentils, starchy
and leafy vegetables, fish and fruit (the W.S. Gilbert diet), supply
adequate hypoallergenic protein for HCV patients if selenium,
methionine, cysteine, tryptophan/5-HTP/niacinamide and glutamine are
supplemented, as they should be.
Digestion
of proteins can also be improved by the supply of herbal bitters, such
as dandelion, schizandra, milk thistle, yellow dock, greater celandine,
globe artichoke, and digestive enzymes, such as bromelain, papain, and
zyactinase (Phloe), from pineapple, papaya, and kiwifruit respectively.
The consumption of these fruits with meals (especially kiwifruit)
greatly improves the digestion of proteins. Micronutrients, especially
B vitamins, are required for the production of pancreatic digestive
enzymes, and type 3 Arthus allergies might also be improved by a
high-dose, iron free multivitamin, especially one consisting of soluble
powder in liquid solution.
Substitute hypoallergenic foods may be pathogenic in different ways to the foods they replace.
Soy
milk is nutritious, but contains estrogen-like flavones. These are
potent enough to cure hormone-related hot flushes in women at low
doses. Soy milk is not usually toxic to men, but in men with viral
hepatitis testosterone is often depleted, while estrogen clearance
decreases. Testosterone production declines with age, and opioids
further depress testosterone, creating a potential for increased
sensitivity to estrogenic compounds (including environmental pollutants
such as plastics and pesticides). In one case, a male subject (50+,
HCV+, MMT) using soy milk and tofu as an alternative protein source
developed, after some months, a painful lump (initial diameter1cm , two
months later 2cm) under one nipple.
Gynecomastia, the likely
explanation, is sometimes seen in viral hepatis. After cessation of
soy, tenderness ceased and the nipple returned to normal within a few
weeks. Fermented soy products, such as miso and soy sauce, do not
contain estrogenic flavones. Soy milk and tofu are not recommended as a
food for male children, but irregular consumption as a milk substitute
(for example in coffee) by adult males seems perfectly safe. In the
case discussed, daily intake of soy milk was high at a liter or more
(100g soybeans) and symptoms, though alarming, were easily reversed.
By George D. Henderson
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Information in this newsletter was drawn from "What Really Causes Schizophrenia" by Harold Foster, available at http://www.hdfoster.com
and the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, available at http://www.orthomed.org/jom/jom.html
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