Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain
Genres: Chemistry
Book Preface
This book presents a natural treatment system based on current science that can help millions of persons who have been diagnosed with mental disorders. This approach recognizes that most human beings have nutrient imbalances due to genetic and environmental factors, and these imbalances can cause mischief in many ways, which include the following:
– Serotonin, dopamine, and other key neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that enable brain cells to communicate with each other) are continuously produced in the brain from nutrient raw materials that may be at improper concentrations.
– Nutrient imbalances can alter gene expression of proteins that govern neurotransmitter activity at synapses.
– Deficiency in antioxidant nutrients can cripple the brain’s protection against toxic metals.
Neuroscientists have identified the nutrients needed for synthesis of neurotransmitters, gene regulation, and antioxidant protection, and special blood and urine tests can identify imbalances in these nutrients. Biochemical therapies that use chemicals natural to the body can adjust brain levels of these key nutrients and have a powerful impact on mental health.
Psychiatry has made great advances in the past 50 years but needs a new direction. Today’s emphasis on prescription psychiatric medications will not stand the test of time. These drugs have helped millions of people diagnosed with depression and other mental disorders, but benefits usually are partial in nature and involve unpleasant side effects. Medication therapy is more art than science, and it involves a considerable amount of trial and error. A fundamental limitation is that psychiatric drugs are foreign molecules that result in an abnormal condition rather than producing normalcy. It is unlikely that these drugs will ever be universally effective or free of side effects. A new approach is needed. Recent progress in brain science has identified the molecular biology of many mental diseases, and this research provides a roadmap for developing effective drug-free therapies aimed at true normalization of the brain. Psychiatric medications have served society well over the past decades, but the need for drug therapies will gradually fade away as science advances.
Isaac Newton once said that scientific progress is achieved by “standing on the shoulders of giants.” Heroic figures in the field of nutrition include Roger Williams, who established the concept of biochemical individuality; Abram Hoffer, who was the first to demonstrate that nutrient therapy can benefit mental patients; and Carl Pfeiffer, who developed meaningful chemical classifications for schizophrenia. As a young man, I had the privilege of knowing these very dedicated individuals, and I was inspired by their great accomplishments.
My education in the field of mental health started as a volunteer working with ex-convicts released from Illinois prisons. I was surprised to learn that many criminals were raised in good environments along with brothers who had become productive, law-abiding citizens. Several mothers said their offspring who later engaged in criminal activity were clearly different from birth and exhibited shocking behaviors by age two. This led me to a series of experiments at Argonne National Laboratory, where I searched for biochemical abnormalities in violent persons. I am grateful to supervisors Les Burris, Ed Croke, and Walter Massey, who encouraged this work and allowed use of world-class lab facilities. More than a dozen Argonne scientists and engineers generously volunteered their time and talent for the early studies. Our research successes led to the founding of the Health Research Institute in 1982 and the establishment of the nonprofit Pfeiffer Treatment Center in 1989. Jan Olah, Mike Donohue, and Dr. Bob Thomas provided invaluable contributions to this initial clinical adventure. I am forever grateful to the doctors, nurses, and support staff who exhibited great dedication in assisting patients challenged by behavioral disorders, autism, or mental illness. It was a joy working with colleagues who cared more about a patient’s welfare than about making money. I am also very appreciative of the volunteer efforts of Ed Tanzman and other board members through the years and to the many donors who provided financial support. Everett “Red” Hodges provided generous research funding during the 1980s. Bruce Jeanes, Judy Nicol, and John Skelton have worked tirelessly in developing our physician training programs along with the indomitable Marion Redstone and her daughter Marnie Lo. Ted DeZurik, Ron Elliott, and Jim Baird provided business expertise that brought financial stability to our charity. Sue Hanegraaf has been invaluable in her role as Special Projects Director. Dr. Woody McGinnis was dynamic in developing autism research collaborations. Jeff Tarpey and Aditi Gulabani made important contributions to our research programs. Most of what I’ve learned about the brain can be credited to Dr. Robert deVito, a psychiatrist and friend who patiently mentored me over the past 12 years.
Financial support for this book was provided by the Hilton Family Foundation based in Panama City, Florida. They were very supportive and patient with me as this 10-month writing project extended past 24 months.
One morning in 1986 at breakfast, Barbara, my wife, asked, “Why don’t you quit your job at Argonne today and do what you really want to do?” Her willingness to accept this financial risk while raising five children allowed me to devote the rest of my life to the study of mental illness and development of new medical treatments. Without her constant support and encouragement, my work and this book would not have been possible.
Thanks also go to my outstanding editor, Teri Arranga, for her care in shaping my experiences and thoughts in a way to best serve my vision to help the public. Marlon Irizarry and Tim Rohlwing created the graphics, and Fiona Mayne expertly formatted the manuscript into book form.
Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude to the 30,000 patients whom I’ve studied over the past 38 years. True understanding of a mental disorder cannot come from laboratory experiments or the scientific literature alone. I found it both educational and inspiring to engage in hand-to-hand combat against mental illnesses in partnership with countless brave patients challenged by these disorders. They have been my greatest teachers.
Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1. Biochemical Individuality and Mental Health
Chapter 2. Brain Chemistry 101
Chapter 3. The Decisive Role of Nutrients in Mental Health
Chapter 4. Epigenetics and Mental Health
Chapter 5. Schizophrenia
Chapter 6. Depression
Chapter 7. Autism
Chapter 8. Behavioral Disorders and ADHD
Chapter 9. Alzheimer’s Disease
Chapter 10. The Clinical Process
References
Glossary
Appendix A. Methylation
Appendix B. Oxidative Stress
Appendix C. Metallothionein
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