Doctors and medical journals are starting to get wise (finally!) to the FDA and drug company shenanigans of withholding research results when they come out negative. There’s a movement afoot to require all drug studies to go into a national database available to all doctors.
The American Medical Association — the largest fraternity of physicians in the country and a lobbying force to be reckoned with — has put its weight behind the request. Medical journals are saying they will only publish studies that were entered into the registry. The writing is on the wall. Some companies are starting to respond voluntarily — hopefully the rest will follow.
The driving force behind the sudden interest in knowing study results has been the controversial test results of antidepressants — ranging from tragic to simply lackluster. Paxil was the first under the microscope after Europe banned it because of its apparent ill effects on children. And there’s also the controversial drug from Eli Lilly, duloxetine, that I told you about a few months ago (e-Tip 4/8/04, subject line “Nowhere left to hide”) when a 19-year-old college student committed suicide in the drug company’s own lab after taking it.
Whether or not this outcry will result in a meaningful change remains to be seen. And while I applaud the effort, I’m still wondering why everyone doesn’t go one step further and cast aside antidepressants altogether in favor of the safe and effective natural alternatives.
In the last few years, Dr. Wright has written about no less than a half dozen natural remedies for depression such as:
* Rubidum — a mineral missing or deficient in many people experiencing depression.
* Amino acids — natural and essential substances necessary for optimal brain chemistry.
* DHEA — a hormone, low levels of which are sometimes a contributing factor in cases of depression.
* Tryptophan — an amino acid that helps regulate serotonin levels in the brain naturally.
* Omega 3s and omega 6s — essential fatty acids that must be kept in balance in order for the body and mind to function at peak performance.
You may not necessarily have tragic or negative health effects if you take antidepressants — you might just find that they don’t solve your problem. Over 70 percent of people who try them notice that their depression returns as soon as the drug exits their bloodstream. Which means that the depression isn’t actually being cured, it’s just being masked.
Why bother when you can work with a natural medicine physician and rid yourself of depression once and for all naturally? Nutrition & Healing subscribers can search for Dr. Wright’s articles on all the natural options listed above by visiting www.nutritionandhealing.com and logging-on with the username and password listed on page 8 of your most recent issue. If you’re not already a subscriber, the website also provides details on becoming one.
Seeing is believing
Q: I am 88 years old, and in fairly good health, with one exception: I have macular degeneration. Do you know of any natural treatments?
JVW: The treatment we use at the Tahoma Clinic is totally natural and is successful in halting, and even reversing, macular degeneration in 70 percent of the people who try it.
The program starts by measuring stomach acid levels. Hypochlorhydria — or low stomach acid — is a very common
condition as people age. The result is that the stomach does not digest the nutrients necessary for optimum health — including eye health — from food or oral supplements. Zinc and selenium are critical, as well as the B-complex vitamins.
So this approach involves replacing those essential vision-supporting nutrients with IV therapy. Of course, you’ll need to find a physician who will work with you on this type of treatment. If you need a referral, please contact American College for Advancement in Medicine (800-532-3688, 949-583-7666, www.acam.org). Most people experience some improvement in as little as four to six weeks. If you don’t get results after eight weeks, the treatment probably won’t help.
If the person does have hypochlorhydria, we also work to correct that problem as well. Once digestive function has improved and the initial IV therapy has been completed the program switches to a specific daily supplement regimen to keep nutrient levels high: 30 grams of zinc picolinate or zinc citrate; 4 milligrams of copper, preferably copper sebacate taken at a different time of the day as the zinc; 1,000 milligrams of taurine taken in between meals; 800 units of vitamin E; 300 micrograms of selenium; and 80 milligrams of bilberry, twice daily.
Keep in mind that it will take several months for this overall treatment plan to work. But if it can help save your eyesight, it just may be worth the time and effort.
What is phenylalanine?
I mentioned above how important amino acids are in treating depression. Phenylalanine is one of them. It is one of the essential amino acids, meaning that the body cannot produce it, so it must be obtained from dietary sources that are high in protein. It is found in two forms, L-phenylalanine and D-phenylalanine. Most food contains only the L-phenylalanine form but a combined form, called DLPA can be added to the diet through supplementation.
Once in the body, DLPA converts into important chemicals that function in the brain the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. These chemicals elevate your mood and inhibit pain. Studies have found that taking DLPA can help people suffering from depression, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pain from osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis.
There is a rare genetic disease called phenylketonuria (PKU) in which the body cannot metabolize phenylalanine. PKU is detected at birth through a mandatory screening program, and these individuals must monitor their intake of phenylalanine. That’s why the following statement “Phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.” is on some food labels, particularly products containing aspartame.
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing
Sources:
“AMA recommends that DHHS establish a registry for all U.S. Clinical Trials,” American Medical Association (press release), 6/15/04
Fischer E, et al. “Therapy of depression by phenylalanine.” Arzneimettelforsch 1975; 25: 132
Fernstrom JD. “Dietary Amino Acids and Brain Function.” J Am Diet Assoc 1994; 94(1): 71-77
