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location: mind treatment < mental health < mind medicine < adults health < iwant2Bhealthy |
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How do we treat mental health?
A pill for every ill Conventional medicine relies heavily on psychiatric drugs in dealing with mental disorders. These include a whole range of powerful medication from tranquillisers such as Temazepam to anti-depressives like Prozac and the MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) class of drugs. The latter highlight the dangerous side effects of many drugs. MAOIs can cause death if cheese or yeast are consumed. Anti-psychotic medication is also known to cause serious long-term problems, particularly if taken with other drugs over a long period. Many people with mental health problems are given a cocktail of medication and it becomes hard to tell whether their symptoms result from the illness or the drugs. Tranquillisers are often used as a substitute for proper care, blocking off emotions but failing to tackle the root cause of the disorder. Therapy - is it good to talk? Another standard approach to mental health problems is group or individual therapy. This is based on the notion that certain underlying difficulties need to be addressed and talked through in order to restore a person's wellbeing. Often the person will be encouraged to delve into childhood experiences as a source of present angst. Numerous forms of therapy are on offer. The most popular include cognitive psychotherapy, which draws the person's attention to his or her patterns of negative thinking and gradually 'corrects' them. This has been shown to be effective in many cases. Electroconvulsive therapy The highly controversial practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
is still used in some UK hospitals to treat depression. This involves
attaching electrodes to the skull and sending signals to the brain.
There is no evidence that it works in the long term, and plenty of evidence
that it can damage memory and intensify mental disorders. The role of nutrition in mental health Since the 1960s researchers have done extensive work in the field of mental health and nutrition. Studies have shown that dietary deficiencies or excesses can make a big difference to mental as much as physical status. This is largely because the brain is made out of food molecules and requires a diet rich in nutrients for mental and emotional health. Other findings to date suggest that eating breakfast influences the processes involved in the formation and retrieval of memories and in managing complex or challenging information. Nutrients and anti-nutrients Nutritional deficiencies don't just result from a bad diet. They are also created by pollution in the environment, household chemicals, additives in food and noxious substances from smoking. Together these are known as anti-nutrients, and if they are winning out against the nutrients in your body then the balance of physical and mental energy starts to suffer. The wrong kind of mental stimulation To boost energy levels and help themselves cope, many people fall into the trap of consuming increasing amounts of stimulants, such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar and stimulant drugs. In the longer term these are known to deplete nutrients and therefore rob the body of more energy. That can be a contributory factor in mental and emotional imbalance, leading in turn to the use of 'depressants' like alcohol or tranquillisers. Therefore the nutrient drain accelerates. A reduction of stimulants, on the other hand, can have the opposite
effect, raising energy levels to a sustainable basis and thereby improving
mood. The right kind of fat The average diet in the UK is deficient in essential fatty acids (EFAs). Essential is no exaggeration as they are vital for all sorts of functions including energy and stamina, a healthy brain, heart, skin and immune system. Digestion and fertility require EFAs and studies have shown that they are effective in combating mental illness too. A high percentage of schizophrenics, in particular, are lacking in EFAs and have responded well to increased levels. Considerable research in this field has been done by a Canadian biochemist and nutritionist, Dr Udo Erasmus, who wrote a best-selling book called Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill. He argues that the first step towards improved mental health is to achieve the right balance of EFAs, which come in two forms, Omega 3s and Omega 6s. www.udoerasmus.com Where do you find EFAs? EFAs are found in certain seeds and dark green vegetables, as well as fish oils. Most health food shops sell bottles of concentrated EFAs, which can be taken daily with food. Nutritionists recommend about two tablespoons a day. Other nutritional tips for mental health A common contributory cause of depression is an excess of histamine, known as histadelia, which is mostly inherited. Histamine speeds up metabolism but also causes allergic reactions, increased mucus and saliva production and a tendency to hyperactivity, compulsive behaviour and depression. About 20% of those labelled schizophrenic and most depressed people are histadelic. Some of the signs of this tendency are insomnia, frequent headaches, body aches, salivation and nausea. To find out more about this consult a nutritionist or see Mental
Illness: The Nutrition Connection, a book by Carl Pfeiffer. Ways to overcome histadelia Nutritionists recommend a low-protein, high complex carbohydrate diet. That means replacing refined carbohydrates in things like chocolate, snacks and white bread with unrefined carbohydrates in wholefoods and grains, fruit and vegetables, including potatoes. Histadelics should avoid folic acid, as it can produce excess histamine. Folic acid comes in many multivitamin pills, and also certain vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and broccoli. It is also found in liver and kidneys. Vitamins and minerals for mental health Mental health can benefit from high-strength multivitamin supplements containing Vitamins A, De and E, plus C and B. The supplement should also contain at least:
Multimineral supplements are also recommended by some doctors, providing at least:
Always consult your doctor or nutritionist before embarking on such supplements. Do not be persuaded that by doubling the amount of vitamins you will double the beneficial effect. This practice can have detrimental efects. |
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