SCHIZOPHRENIA

Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines schizophrenia as “a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.”

SYMPTOMS

Schizophrenia is characterized by the presence of hallucinations or delusions, as well as strange behaviour.

Other symptoms include mood swings, tension, depression, personality disorder, violent reactions and behaviours, lack of contact with reality, etc.

RISK FACTORS

– The onset of schizophrenia is typically before age 25, and the illness persists throughout life. Peak onset for men is age 10-25, and for women it is age 25-35.

– Complications during pregnancy and early life.

– Individuals who were not breast-fed for at least 2 weeks have been shown to have increased prevalence of schizophrenia.

POSSIBLE CAUSES

Although the severity of schizophrenia symptoms may be related to a stressful situation, no underlying cause has yet been discovered.

– There are speculations that sometimes schizophrenia may be the result of inherited irregularities in the functioning of the nervous system, which leads to malfunctioning of neurotransmitters.

– Disruptions of function involving neurotransmitters (dopamine, glutamate, GABA, and acetylcholine) have been suggested as contributing to this condition.

– Some people think that this disease may be related to the body’s reaction to viruses, some medicines, or toxins, for example, environmental pollution (excessive accumulation of toxic compounds in the body).

– Various infections, such as influenza or measles, and increased levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines have also been suggested as potential risks factors for developing schizophrenia.

– However, many recognized authorities believe that schizophrenia is often a form of poisoning with animal protein! Consumption of excessive amounts of animal protein (especially meat and dairy foods) not only leads to bone decalcification, cancer, kidney and liver stones, but also to inflammation of the brain, depression and schizophrenia. This can be proved by many statements of contemporary authorities in the field of nutrition:

“Proper nutrition (low-protein vegetarian diet) gives better results in combating schizophrenia than drugs and psychotherapy! The pioneer of this research was Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, an American psychiatrist who claimed that by using the right diet (low-protein) you can get an 80-percent cure rate!“(Patrick Holford,” Taste of Health, “p. 9);

“During the war, when the consumption of food decreased, the number of cases of schizophrenia decreased. Inspired by this discovery, psychiatrists divided patients with schizophrenia into two groups and used different types of diet. It turned out that the health of patients on a diet without milk improved very quickly.”(Dr A. Trash, Food Allergy, 78).

Unfortunately, people living in developed countries consume too much foods containing animal protein. This is dangerous, because excess protein, unlike excess carbohydrates or fat, cannot be stored in the human body. For this reason, the excess protein must be converted into carbohydrates or fats. As a result of this change, dangerous levels of very toxic ammonia are formed in the body, which, as research has shown, damages DNA leading to malfunctioning of nerve cells, thereby increasing the risk of developing schizophrenia. Some people consume such large amounts of protein, mainly in the form of meat and dairy foods, that it is not digested in the digestive system. When the protein then gets into the large intestine, bacteria deal with it, which usually do not use protein as a source of energy. However, if the protein is found there, these bacteria feed on it, resulting in the massive amounts of very toxic and highly carcinogenic ammonia that may contribute to diseases such as schizophrenia.

It is not surprising then that when people with schizophrenia fall into a low-protein, strict vegan diet (free from any meat, fish and dairy products), the symptoms of schizophrenia subside.

In Russia, prof. Mikolajew from the Moscow Psychiatric Institute had great results in treating patients with schizophrenia. They recovered as a result of a long-term fasts and a low-protein plant-based diet.

Animal protein should be replaced with plant protein. Instead of cow’s milk you can consume organic soy milk or rice milk, almond milk or oat milk. Meat and fish should be substituted with pulses (legumes) and organic tofu.

– According to Dr. A. Trash, “many people with schizophrenia and other mental problems have low blood sugar levels” (Dr Agatha Trash, Food Allergy, p. 78). This means that the symptoms of schizophrenia are often the result of an unhealthy lifestyle, especially an unhealthy diet that leads to the abnormally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia).

In this case, you need to regulate blood glucose level according to the information presented in the article on HYPOGLYCAEMIA >, and as a result the symptoms of schizophrenia may also disappear. The causes and management of hypoglycaemia are discussed in detail in the booklet “Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia”.

– Some studies have shown that schizophrenia is associated with Magnesium and Vitamin B3 (Niacin) deficiency.

– It is also believed that schizophrenia may be associated with high levels of copper related to the deficiency of zinc and vitamin C.

– Some studies link schizophrenia with inappropriate foetal development, specifically zinc deficiency. This means that if a mother uses stimulants during pregnancy, can’t control stress, often consumes white bread, refined foods and products high in sugar instead of unrefined carbohydrates, and avoids nuts and seeds), she becomes deficient in zinc and other vitamins and minerals such as folate, magnesium and often vitamin B12. As a result these nutritional deficiencies may lead to improper foetal brain development or birth defects which increase the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.

There is a higher level of copper in schizophrenic patients, which may also confirm the theory that one of the possible causes could be zinc deficiency, because the normal amount of zinc in the body prevents excess of copper, and since in people with schizophrenia the level of copper is high, it is because they have a zinc deficiency.

In addition, lack of zinc may also damage the pineal gland, which requires large amounts of zinc for proper functioning. The significance of zinc can also be demonstrated by the fact that symptoms of schizophrenia increase during the winter when the absorption of zinc in the body decreases.

According to P. Holford, “zinc deficiency is caused by stress, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and frequent sex (men are particularly at risk because a large amount of zinc is found in sperm)”.

According to Dr Horrobin, “the amount of zinc in the sperm is so large that one orgasm can deprive man of the entire required daily dose of zinc.”

Also Carl C. Pfeiffer believes that one of the main reasons for various emotional problems and possibly even schizophrenia could be zinc deficiency: “Given the importance of zinc for the brain, it is possible that – the ancient moralists were right in claiming that masturbation (leading to zinc deficiency and dopamine malfunction) can even cause mental problems.”

TREATMENT

Read carefully and do your best to implement all the principles and recommendations included in the HEALTH RECOVERY PLAN >

Try to implement recommendations and remedies included in the article on DEPRESSION >

PHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY

All medications that are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia have dopamine-blocking properties.

Antipsychotics act as dopamine receptor antagonists, and are first-line treatments. Discontinuation of antipsychotics typically results in symptom recurrence. However, relapse is common even with continuous treatment.

Antipsychotics greatly increase risk of serious adverse effects.

 NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBAL REMEDIES

 – Niacin (Vitamin B3) is probably the most effective supplement in case of schizophrenia. Please watch the VIDEO BELOW!!!

Find out more about Niacin >

– NAC > is a glutaminergic compound, because it can modulate levels of glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter (involved in learning, behavior, and memory) in the brain which cause serious health issues if its levels are either too low or too high. NAC has been shown to increase glutamate when its too low and modulate the levels of excessive glutamate, which cause toxic damage in brain contributing to various neurological conditions including schizophrenia > and addiction >.

– Zinc (very important) – no more than 100 mg per day, preferably about 30-50 mg two times per day after breakfast and second main meal.

– Several studies have suggested that individuals with schizophrenia have lower serum levels of some polyunsaturated fatty, such as Omega-3, DHA and EPA acids and that supplementation may slow progression of this condition.

– The B Vitamins, especially Riboflavin, play a key role in brain function, and supplementation in schizophrenia patients could be beneficial.

– Methylcobalamin (form of vitamin B12, must be sublingual) protects and regenerates damaged nerves and is another very important remedy which helped many people to improve mood as deficiency of this vitamin is regarded as “rampant” today. >

– Vitamin B6 – about 100 mg per day A double-blind study found significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms with folic acid, Vitamin B6, and B12 supplementation.

– According to another study using Folic acid and Vitamin B-12 supplementation resulted in reduction in symptoms.

– The supplementation of Vitamins C, E, and D (if there is a deficiency), may reduce symptoms.

– Lecithin (1200 mg) 2 times a day with meals.

– Good Multivitamin-mineral supplements (high in B Vitamins): VM-2000, or WM-75 or Special Two – 2 times a day, one tablet with water.

– Star flower oil (Borage oil) – 2 times a day 500-1000mg after meals.

– You can also take sedative herbal teas or capsules, including Tulsi (Holy basil), Hops, Lemon balm, Chamomile, etc.

– Vitamin B6 and B3 are very important because (along with Magnesium) they are involved in the production of antidepressant neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Another way to stimulate the production of serotonin is exercise and contact with nature, because it has been shown that frequents exposures to the sunlight as well as seeing blue colour of the sky and green grass or trees increases secretion. Also amino acid tryptophan found in abundance especially in Tofu, plays a key role in the production of serotonin as this best good mood hormone is made from tryptophan.

Read about  DEPRESSION AND SEROTONIN >

Higher levels of serotonin are also important because it is required for the production of Melatonin – another hormone produced in the pineal gland. Deficiency of melatonin may also contribute to the increased severity of schizophrenia symptoms. Melatonin deficiency applies especially to older people who are often deficient in this hormone.

SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT

An increasing number of specialists suggest that spirituality and deep religious faith may be very beneficial in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia. For a sick mind, there is no better medicine than knowing and accepting God’s love as mental problems, including schizophrenia, can be triggered by a sense of fear, uncertainty, anxiety, inability to cope with stress or insecurity, undoubtedly particularly helpful in the treatment of schizophrenia may be to establish a close relationship with Jesus Christ through a daily sincere and exuberant prayer and reading the Word of God. Increasingly, the Holy Spirit then exercises control over the psyche of a sick person, endowing it with joy and peace.

NUTRITIONAL AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS

– Researchers have speculated that aspects of Western culture, including diet, may play a role in schizophrenia, citing a higher prevalence in industrialized cultures, compared with unindustrialised (especially Asian) countries.

– During the Industrial Revolution, intakes of saturated fat, meat, dairy products, and refined sugars paralleled an increase in schizophrenia cases.

– In the evening, a bath in lukewarm water is recommended.

– Of great importance in this case is, of course, a healthy lifestyle, and above all daily intense physical exercise, which should last at least one hour a day. It can be a light run, a quick walk, aerobics, etc. It is one of the most important principles in the treatment of schizophrenia, as intense and regularly performed physical exercises greatly increase the amount of endorphin and serotonin in the body – the most important sedative and antidepressant hormones. The contact with nature, the right selection of programs on television and music are just as important.

• Symptoms of Schizophrenia (+ 7 Natural Ways to Help Schizophrenia Treatment) >
  
• Can the Ketogenic Diet Treat Depression and Anxiety, Even Schizophrenia? >

Schizophrenia

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D. and Calvin L. Thrash, Jr., M.D., M.P.H.

Mental illnesses fall into two large general categories, neuroses and psychoses. Neuroses involves simple discomfort from some kind of emotional or psychological imbalance such as excessive fear of insects or excessive shyness. Psychoses, or true mental illnesses, cause incapacitation or greatly reduced ability to function in society or hold a job.

This severe mental disorder, a major psychosis, involves a loss of contact with reality and a permanent or temporary disorganization or disintegration of the personality. One-fourth of all hospitalized mental patients fall into this category. Speech may be garbled and actions inappropriate. Voices may be heard and visions seen. Metabolic or organic factors may be the cause, as some schizophrenics have experienced complete relief after a blood exchange transfusion.

Schizophrenia usually develops during late adolescence or early adulthood as a disruption of thought and emotion. It may appear among children. They then suffer from attention and memory problems which undermine their ability to communicate with others.

In our experience we have found masturbation to be a nearly universal finding among those who are schizophrenic, being present every time we have inquired. In every case of addictive behavior we have treated consisting of obscene or sexually threatening telephone calls, masturbation has been a part of the disease complex. These youngsters generally falter any time rapid mental activity within a set time limit is required. They also have spatial problems manifested by great difficulty copying simple shapes which they have viewed even a quarter of a minute earlier. These problems reflect an inability to carry information in “working,” or short term, memory. Therefore they may have illogical or disconnected statements because their memory response is so delayed.

Tests have shown that tasks that typically spark surges of electrical activity in one or the other brain hemisphere do not function among schizophrenic youngsters. The right and left hemispheres are not as finely specialized in schizophrenic children. We believe the reason for these phenomena could be the loss of the zinc compounds in seminal and other genital fluids—the same zinc compounds used for fine nerve transmissions.

In schizophrenia, studies have shown that the blood is quite thick and has a slow-flow condition somewhat like honey on a cold morning. It is not known whether the schizophrenia comes first and causes the thick blood, or whether the thick blood comes first and causes the schizophrenia. We favor the latter position. We believe that too many red blood cells, and plasma containing too many nutrients, metabolites, and wastes promote the development of schizophrenia (Ref. BLOOD VISCOSITY IN HEART DISEASE AND CANCER, Editors L. Dintenfass and G.V.F. Seaman, Pergamen Press, 1981).

We treated a man in his early 50s with the program given below and a regular and steady schedule of farm labor for one year. He had had his first hospitalization for schizophrenia shortly after his marriage at age 20. From time to time during the next 27 years he would have furloughs from the hospital lasting one to ten months, but was never able to hold a job or get off medications. After each of his two children were born he had short periods of discharge from the hospital, but neither lasted more than six months. It was during a three month furlough he became our patient. Upon beginning the routine he became noticeably less withdrawn in two months, began more appropriate and responsible remarks and activities, and eventually became able to work alone in the garden or field. He has not had another hospitalization in 22 years and now functions normally.

European studies done years ago showed that placement of severely depressed or psychotic patients in a family setting was much more effective than hospitalization. The family must be very compassionate, sympathetic, but with firm discipline and a regular family government, preferably living in the country.

For more information contact: Uchee Pines Lifestyle Center, 30 Uchee Pines Road #75, Seale, Alabama 36875, Tel. 334-855-4764
www.ucheepines.org

SOURCES

– Peet M: Diet, diabetes and schizophrenia: review and hypothesis. Br J Psychiatry Suppl 47:S102, 2004  [PMID:15056602]

– Roffman JL et al: Randomized multicenter investigation of folate plus vitamin B12 supplementation in schizophrenia. JAMA Psychiatry 70:481, 2013  [PMID:23467813]

– Brown HE, Roffman JL: Vitamin supplementation in the treatment of schizophrenia. CNS Drugs 28:611, 2014  [PMID:24846474]

– David F. Horrobin, MD, Ph.D., Zinc, p8

– Carl C. Pfeiffer, Ph.D., MD,” Zinc and Other Micro-Nutrients “, p. 45

– Dr A. Trash, Food Allergy, 78

– https://draxe.com/symptoms-of-schizophrenia/

 

Any information or product suggested on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Consult your primary healthcare physician before using any supplements or making any changes to your regime.