Posted by McPac on April 22, 2003, at 20:02:30
In reply to Re: The gut, and mental illness (long) » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on April 22, 2003, at 10:45:26
I'd be happy to give my thoughts on the gut and mental illness.
>>>>>>>>>I'm so glad you did! My philosophy in treating my psychiatric problems is to take the meds that I NEED and in addition to do everything that I can do on my own to help myself. One day, I would LOVE to be med-free, but, that remains to be seen.
I had long believed that one of the contributing factors to my own disease was what I thought of as a "subclinical malabsorption syndrome".
>>>>>>>>>>Is there a lab test that could tell someone if they were/were not properly absorbing their nutrients?
He began taking massive doses of specific amino acids and vitamins, and his mood stabilized for the first time in his life.
>>>>>>>>>Lar, here is a question that I have been wondering myself: Pfeiffer knows that neurotransmitters are made from amino acids (among other things) YET they don't have me on many amino acids at all, barely NONE (I think methionine is the only one). I would have thought a balanced amino acid supplement would have been useful. What do you think?
The last I recall hearing from him, he had been stable for over one year, and was continuing to refine his personal protocol. He gave me some tips>>>>>> I'd love to know them. You'd think we pay our doctors enough to provide these insights but most docs seem to do VERY little other than dispense drugs. The patient is left to try to be his own doctor and try to decipher all of the confusing and contradictory massive piles of literature that is out there. I'd rather have a ONE PAGE piece of paper, listing all of the things that are really important for ME to follow in order to improve my condition RATHER than endless Dr. appt's which accomplish absolutely nothing.
I'll give my thoughts on the factors Allen has identified:
1. "Any hidden food allergy or allergies."
>>>>>>>>>>> Do these allergies cause psychiatric problems due to Leaky Gut Syndrome, which leads to malabsorption problems? I have both food allergies (intolerance) and outdoor allergies. The food allergies cause my eyes to itch a lot. Could they also be causing far more serious problems? How can I tell if they are?
Gluten is the bad boy in celiac sprue, and if you look at the data, about 2/3 of all people with celiac disorder have depression.>>>>>>I've read about gluten/casein free diets for psychiatric problems. Yet NEVER had a doctor mention it to me.
2. "A yeast condition known as candida."Whether candidiasis is a clinical entity or not is debatable
>>>>>>>>>I know this is controversial...but I don't know why....aren't there tests to show whether one has candida?
3. "A chronic and/or recurrent lack of digestive enzymes. Digestive enzymes are nearly always lacking in persons that are bipolar, as their production draws on the same pool of available amino acids and minerals that neurotransmitters do.
It is nearly a given that if a person lacks in an adequate supply of neurotransmitters, that they lack digestive enzymes as well. This crucial biochemical issue needs to be addressed in any person with any psychiatric diagnosis whatsoever. Worthy of note is that some digestive enzyme preparations that are sold are simply not potent enough to be adequately therapeutic in which to treat bipolar.">>>>>>>>>Again, I am on nothing from Pfeiffer (as far as I know) to address digestive enzyme issues. Yet Pfeiffer is supposed to be very highly regarded in what they do (nutritional biochemical treatment). Why don't they know about this point (I'm sure they do)...so, why don't they treat it?
4. "A lack of the ability to produce enough stomach acid."
The effect is iatrogenic (doctor-caused) hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid) or achlorhydria (absent stomach acid). Doctors would have you believe that these situations are benign, but I must vehemently disagree.
>>>>>>>>>Is this because Dr's WANT us to keep coming back over and over again, because they want to prescribe their high-priced drugs instead or what?
So what to do about it? I came to believe that four supplements would have a significant impact: B-12, betaine, bromelain, and magnesium. So, what was the outcome of my supplement trials? Within two weeks I stopped using omeprazole. I have not had GERD since (over a year now). My irritable bowel has been substantially stable
>>>>>>>>>Would these 4 ingredients be useful for most folks that had malabsorption issues?
(I'm taking all of these except for the bromelain).5. "Improper bowel flora."
The bacteria which proliferate in the gut are those which obtain nourishment there. I see "improper bowel flora (actually fauna)" as a marker of improper diet and disrupted digestion.
>>>>>>>>Why can some people eat nothing but pure trashy diets, JUNK foods, constant sweets, chocolate non-stop, mega caffeine, even drink non-stop booze, chain smoke, yet NOT have these psychiatric problems.....I'm rambling but WHY are WE SO affected by even slight dietary transgressions! (You don't have to answer, I'm just venting because sometimes it seems like any little fart can push US (psych. patients) over the edge!)
restoring the supply of nutrients and regulation of digestion will result in a shift in bacterial populations.
>>>>>>>>Larry, important point here....I recently read that, for MOST folks, diet wasn't much of a factor in causing this "bad" bacteria shift but rather STRESS was the big factor! Sure makes sense to me!!! STRESS is the SOB that leads to everything going haywire in the body and eventually mind! I'm NOT talking very scientific there, I know, but in plain English STRESS is the precursor of all the bad things that follow. (I sometimes think that if I could live on my own island that most of my problems would vanish).
That said, taking probiotics cannot hurt, and may well help the process along. I have yet to see convincing evidence of efficacy
>>>>>>>I have read many accounts (NOT clinical studies) of people/natural practitioners citing very positive results but of course the allopathic monopoly doesn't want anybody hearing that. The "natural" methods receive puny funding, comparatively speaking to the allopathic monopoly. I take many studies w/ a grain of salt.
, except in the case of subjects who have been treated with massive doses of systemic antibiotics (like me, right now, for the pneumonia). I will certainly take probiotics after I'm off the antibiotics.
>>>>>>>>> If you took both anti- and pro- biotics at the same time they would just negate each other correct (just wondering)?
6. "A lack of various nutrients"
I think you know where I stand on that.
>>>>> So...solving a malabsorption problem (caused by leaky gut for example) could result in somebody maybe not even needing many additional supplements?
7. "The possibility of parasites."
>>>>>>>> Again, as with candida, couldn't someone be tested to see if they have parasites?
Wouldn't this be easy to determine?>>>>>>>Another thought...with stress being such a factor in leading to leaky gut, which leads to malabsorption, which leads on and on and on to so many problems....that is why Skilled Relaxation is said to be SOOOO important by many natural healers, because it decreases stress, thereby healing the leaky gut problem, thereby resolving a host of problems....stress definitely SUCKS!
Just my Canadian 2 cents (about 1.4 cents U.S.).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>It's worth a WHOLE lot more than 1.4 cents to me Lar! I'd rather pay you for your awesome ideas/thoughts/insights than the lousy Dr's I've had that haven't done squat! Take care Larry! You RULE this board!
poster:McPac
thread:221042
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/221626.html