"Afibbers" pdf file of discussion about minerals

Can You Hang on to Magnesium? For magnesium to get into cells it requires thiamine (vitamin B1). Try thiamine 100mgs daily – if you are already taking some in a multivitamin preparation, then take the B1 at 100mg a day. For magnesium to be retained inside cells you need good antioxidant status. Selenium is the main mineral antioxidant. Food tables are unreliable because food content is dependent on soil levels of selenium. Assuming good soil levels, (which is a big assumption), foods rich in selenium include wholegrains, organ meats, butter, garlic and onion. Seafoods are rich in selenium and obviously not dependent on soil levels. Boron is necessary for normal calcium and magnesium metabolism. I also find boron very useful for arthritis, perhaps because of its effect on calcium and magnesium. For arthritis you need 9mgs a day for 3 months, then reduce to a maintenance dose of 3-6mgs daily. At present the only way I know how to ascertain whether or not magnesium levels are replete is to measure a red cell magnesium. http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/2892 Richard Boron may not be advantageous for Mg. as stated above, or the site above could be altogether wrong. Boron and its involvement with attention deficit disorder is a concept that appears not to have been considered before. Boron, phenols and/or histamine may possibly cause thinning of the middle part of the brain where nerve fibres cross over. This part of the brain is called the corpus callosum. Damage to this area (prior to birth) causes learning disabilities. Boron increases copper in the body. High copper levels cause reductions in thiamine (vitamin B1). Lack of thiamine causes many problems associated with ADD. A lack of this vitamin reduces oxygen supply to the brain. Low cholinesterase levels are associated with a thiamine deficiency. Lack of thiamine may indirectly lower the neurotransmitter dopamine. There are below normal dopamine levels in hyperactive children. Low cholinesterase levels are sometimes associated with asthma. Boron interferes with the metabolism of phenols. Phenylalanine (a phenol) is able to reduce serotonin levels. Serotonin levels are reduced in children with ADD. The medication Ritalin used in the treatment of ADD inhibits the metabolism of coumarins (phenols). Low and high histamine levels are also discussed. Boron reduces pyridoxine (vitamin B6) levels in the body. The importance of this occurrence to the reduction of the symptoms of ADD is covered throughout the book. A brief description of how boron interacts with body nutrients is discussed. Boron has the ability to cause an excess or depletion of vital substances. This causes a spin off in alteration of other nutrients. For example, boron has an indirect effect of reducing zinc levels in the body. Boron increases calcium retention in the body. Calcium reduces zinc. As outlined in this book, boron plays a role in excreting pyridoxine (vitamin B6) from the body. Vitamin B6 is necessary for zinc absorption. Vitamin B6 and zinc play major roles in neurotransmitter function. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that relay messages between nerves in the body. Some neurotransmitters have a relaxing effect whilst others have a stimulatory effect. An imbalance of neurotransmitters (as discussed throughout this book) may cause symptoms of ADHD/ADD. Nausea during pregnancy is associated with a deficiency of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and zinc. Acute toxicity of boron presents with nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dermatitis and diarrhoea. ADD is possibly linked to the food the mother consumed during pregnancy. A diet (during pregnancy) giving a high intake of boron containing foods together with a high intake of calcium containing foods may be a contributing factor to the ADD symptoms of the child. Water supplies containing high levels of calcium and/or copper reduce zinc absorption in the body. Boron is found in apples, pears, grapes, nuts, leafy green vegetables and legumes. My levels of copper were high, and zinc was low. My hair analysis of Boron was fairly normal, but just a tad to the low side. Hmmmmm????? So is my problem more that I need B1 to absorb the Mg. Questions to ask Dr. Gersten.

Supplements for ADHD

ADD & ADHD ADD & ADHD Natural Control of ADD & ADHD Billie J. Sahley, Ph.D., CNC In Toxic Psychiatry, Peter Breggin, MD states, Hyperactivity is the most frequent justification for drugging children. Difficult-to-control children are certainly not a new phenomenon, but attempts to give them a medical diagnosis are the product of modern psychology and psychiatry. At first, psychiatrists called hyperactivity a brain disease: minimal brain dysfunction (MBD). When no minimal brain dysfunction could be demonstrated, the label became attention deficit disorder (ADD). Six million children in this country suffer some type of learning disability, ADD, or ADD with hyperactivity (ADHD). Over two million children currently take Ritalin for ADD/ADHD. ADD and ADHD may be caused by psychological problems, including trauma and abuse, nutritional deficiencies, chemical imbalances, allergic responses to food and chemicals, or a poor diet. A failure in the brains inhibitory system (the ability of the brain to inhibit and control itself) may also cause ADD/ADHD. Ritalin, the most commonly used drug for ADD and ADHD, is an amphetamine and a Schedule II class drug (other Schedule II drugs are morphine, opium, and medicinal cocaine). Doctors prescribe Ritalin for many children who do not need it, causing a number of adverse mental and physical side effects. Yet this potent, toxic drug is being used as a quick fix to quiet children. Surprisingly, prescription rates for Ritalin doubled between 1992 and 1996. Children demonstrating symptoms of anxiety, ADHD or ADD often have an imbalance in their brains biochemistry. A biochemical imbalance results from a deficiency of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain. If a biochemical imbalance goes untreated, a child can display maladaptive behavior, followed by possible long-term physical and emotional problems. A childs state of health reflects his or her state of nutrition. When minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, or even hormones are deficient in a childs system, the result can be a disturbed biochemical homeostasis causing impaired functions in the brain. This, in turn, can cause an inability to focus, concentrate, and stay on task. At the Pain and Stress Center in San Antonio, we have successfully treated numerous children with orthomolecular therapy. Orthomolecular therapy corrects the brains biochemical imbalance, without toxic drugs that can produce adverse side effects. ADD/ADHD presents a major problem facing parents today. Most people think of hyperactivity as some type of behavioral problem (a child who is impatient, impulsive, and constantly moving); but not all hyperactive children are aggressive. Some are very passive, withdrawn, and find it hard to communicate their feelings. ADD/ADHD is not a condition that can be measured in precise scientific terms. Nor is it a situation with a quick fix, especially with powerful and addictive drugs such as Ritalin. ADD/ADHD is a complex and intricate condition in which children demonstrate maladaptive or disorganized behaviors, which put them out of sync with the world around them. Numerous clinical studies established that hyperactive children often have low serotonin levels. A proper combination of tryptophan or 5-HTP and B6, elevates the serotonin level and balances the brain; the childs symptoms diminish. The dosage, of course, depends on the childs age, weight, and the degree of hyperactivity. Effectiveness of Amino Acids Neurotransmitters affect behavior and learning. A neurotransmitter deficiency consequently has a dramatic effect on childrens or adults abilities to learn and function in an orderly manner. Most hyperactive and ADD children are born with a shortage of neurotransmitters, establishing a genetic link, most often on the male side. These children also do not manufacture the needed amount of these chemical messengers. Where do we get neurotransmitters? From the amino acids, GABA, glycine, taurine, tyrosine, glutamine and tryptophan. Do children or adults get enough aminos through diet? NO! Balanced amino-acid doses, in the right combination and formulas, produce the needed neurotransmitters naturally. Using a stimulant medication to try to produce neurotransmitters is like a shotgun going off in the childs brain. Our children were not born with Ritalin in their brain, so how can they have a Ritalin deficiency? Approximately fifty different neurotransmitters exist in the human brain, but communication between brain cells uses only ten (approximately) major neurotransmitters. How we feed the brain directly affects our production of neurotransmitters. With proper nutrition and supplementation, we can correct or enhance mind, mood, memory, and behavior. All major neurotransmitters are made from amino acids and dietary protein. One of the dangers of a low-protein diet is not ingesting enough amino acids to make adequate brain neurotransmitters. Apathy, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, loss of interest, and insomnia all result when the diet does not include adequate amounts of amino acids. Drugs do not produce or increase production of neurotransmitters. Drugs only address symptoms. Amino acids restore the balance nature intended. Some of the major symptoms of neurotransmitter deficiencies are ADD, ADHD, brain fog, mood swings, increased stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, irritability, and aggression. Stress plays a major role in the depletion of neurotransmitters. Inhibitory neurotransmitters are the keys to behavior, emotions, and pain. Inhibitory amino acids include tryptophan, taurine, GABA, and glycine. Millions of people have turned to drugs known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor work by selective enhancement of serotonin levels. SSRIs prevent the presynaptic nerve from reabsorbing serotonin that it previously secreted. Prozac causes an increase in brain serotonin levels; but Prozac and other prescription drugs do not increase neurotransmitters. (See Figure 1). 5-HTP is synergistic with other supplements that enhance neurotransmitters such as GABA, glutamine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and glycine. Magnesium prolongs the benefits of 5-HTP. Chronic stress depletes available serotonin, as well as interferes with serotonins ability to control behavior. Research demonstrates that low serotonin levels can change brain function and impair learning. Low serotonin may be responsible for an increase in depression and drug use among teens and children. Most teens with low serotonin levels are more prone to try recreational drugs or even prescription drugs, for relief. A low brain serotonin level impairs the ability to focus and reason. 5-HTP shows a lot of promise as a natural answer to a multitude of problems that plague adults and children. Use caution with 5-HTP if your child is taking prescription antidepressant medications. GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, is found throughout the central nervous system. GABA assumes an ever-enlarging role as a significant influence on ADD, ADHD, stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as stress-induced illnesses. According to Candace Pert, a neuroscientist who discovered the GABA receptor, every cell in the body has a GABA receptor, which is one reason why GABA has such positive effects. GABA inhibits the cells from firing, diminishing anxiety-related messages. Tranquilizers provide only temporary relief. We have seen many patients on Xanax that still experience anxiety. They have been told it is not addictive: it is! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A TRANQUILIZER DEFICIENCY! Nutrient deficiencies do occur, however; and they can and do change behavior. GABA, glutamine, and glycine prove vital for energy and the smooth running of brain functions. We have successfully used these three amino acids with patients to ease anxiety, irritability, and ADD. Research demonstrates a large number of children who display ADD/ADHD behavior actually experience anxiety. If they use all available GABA, then the receptors in the brain become empty, allowing the brain to be bombarded with random firings of excitatory messages. However, when adequate amounts of GABA are present, the reception of multiple random firings are blocked, so the brain does not become overwhelmed. At the Pain & Stress Center we regularly combine GABA and other amino acids to achieve positive results. Dose amounts vary, depending on the age and weight of the child. GABA now takes its place as a major influence on those taking drugs, and in many cases, replacing the drugs. We have found that, when combined with other amino acids, GABA works exceptionally well with ADD children. L-Glutamine Glutamine, along with GABA and Glycine, is rapidly becoming an important therapeutic amino acid of the 21st century. Glutamine, found in many foods, is the third most abundant amino acid in the blood and brain. It also provides a major alternative fuel source for the brain when blood sugar levels are low. Glutamine functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and is the precursor for GABA, the antianxiety amino acid. The amino acid trio of Glutamine, GABA, and Glycine plus B6 are among the major inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. Glutamine is found in the nerves of the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain, in the cranial nerves, and in many other areas of the brain. These three amino acids work together as inhibitory neurotransmitters. Anyone taking amino acids must take B6 to metabolize the amino acids. Intellectually impaired children and adults often show an increase in IQ after taking glutamine in combination with Ginkgo biloba and B6. Dr. Roger Williams demonstrated that children and adults diagnosed with ADHD showed a marked improvement when taking 250 mg to 1,000 mg of glutamine daily. GABA and glutamine are not only found in the brain, but also in the receptor sites throughout the body. Glutamine is the memory and concentration amino acid. Seventy five percent of hyperactive and ADD childrens blood tests showed low levels of glutamine. Dr. C. Fredericks research also demonstrated a definite increase in the IQs of children given glutamine. When glutamine was given daily, children showed impressive improvements in their abilities to learn, to retain, and to recall. Glutamine is a major part of my orthomolecular program for hyperactive and ADHD children. Glutamine is one of the amino acids that create the neurotransmitters in the brain that enhance learning and memory. Hyperactive and ADD children have low neurotransmitter levels, especially glutamine. Adding glutamine increases the level of neurotransmitters. Start with 500 mg of glutamine and gradually increase until you reach the optimal dose for your child, to a maximum of 3,000 mg per day. Taurine Taurine is now classified as a conditionally essential amino acid in the adult. In infants and children, however, taurine is an essential amino acid. As one of the sulfur amino acids, adults synthesize taurine from cysteine and methionine, provided B6 and zinc are present. Taurine is found abundantly throughout the body in the heart, olfactory bulb, central nervous system, and brain (hippocampus and pineal gland). As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, taurine, after GABA, is the second-most important inhibitory transmitter in the brain. Taurines inhibitory action in the brain equals that of GABA and glycine. Its inhibitory effect is one source of taurines anticonvulsant and antianxiety properties. Some children with Downs syndrome have shown an increase in IQ levels when taurine was added to their diet along with glutamine, B6, and vitamin E. The need for taurine increases whenever you experience more stress than usual, or have an illness. Tyrosine Tyrosine is the amino acid and inhibitory neurotransmitter that often helps overcome depression. Clinical studies show that tyrosine controls medication-resistant depression. In a 1980 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, a study by Dr. Alan Gelenberg of Harvard Medical School discussed the role of tyrosine in the control of anxiety and depression. Dr. Gelenberg postulated that the lack of available tyrosine results in deficiency of the hormone norepinephrine at a specific location in the brain that relates to mood problems such as depression. Children given tyrosine supplementation demonstrated a marked improvement in mental performance and mood stability. Tyrosine, because of its role in assisting the body to cope physiologically with stress and building the bodys natural store of adrenaline, deserves to be called the stress amino acid. Stress exhaustion requires tyrosine. During periods of stress, in order to continue coping with stress physiologically, the brain requires tyrosine. Tyrosine aids children and young teens, as well as adults, with recurrent depression and mood disorders. In children, dosage ranges from 200 to 500 mg daily. Glycine Glycine is a nonessential amino acid, with the simplest structure of all the amino acids resembling glucose (blood sugar) and glycogen (excess sugar converted in the liver for storage). Glycine is sweet to the taste, can be used as a sweetener, and can mask bitterness and saltiness. Pure glycine dissolves readily in water. As the third major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, glycine readily passes the blood-brain barrier. Studies by the late Carl Pfeiffer, MD, Ph.D., demonstrated glycine as an important factor in psychiatric disorders. Glycine decreases the craving for sugar, and, in many cases, can replace sugar on foods such as cereal. Glycine calms aggression in both children and adults. When combined with GABA and glutamine, glycine influences brain function by slowing down anxiety-related messages from the limbic system. As a very nontoxic amino acid, both children and adults can use glycine. Glycine can be mixed with other amino acids. Doses for a child range between 500 to 2,000 mg daily, divided. Magnesium Hyperactive or ADD children are almost always deficient in magnesium. Magnesium proves necessary for proper brain energy and is the first mineral depleted when anyone (child or adult) is under stress. Magnesium is a stress mineral, and deficiency can lead to hyperactive or ADD behavior. Magnesium plays a significant role in sugar metabolism and in the proper utilization of carbohydrates to create energy. Magnesium is so very important in a childs diet, especially if he displays hyperactive behavior, ADD, or other behavioral problems. Magnesium can be taken in liquid form, tablet, or capsule. When added to the ADD/ADHD diet, calming effects sometimes occur immediately. Most magnesium exists inside the cells where it activates enzymes necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. In 1988, a study published in Alternative Medicine Review linked the development of ADHD to low blood-serum magnesium levels. A group of children followed for six months were given 200 mg of magnesium a day. Researchers noted remarkably decreased hyperactivity in the children. As a major nutrient needed by ADD/ADHD children and adults, magnesium is the number one stress mineral needed by the body. Magnesium is responsible for over three hundred enzyme functions. It cannot be stored by the body, and it must be taken daily. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include asthma, migraines, eye twitches, anxiety, confusion, muscle spasms, irritability, depression, nervousness, fatigue, mood swings, PMS, hypertension, and insomnia. Calcium A calcium deficiency can also induce ADD/ADHD behavior. A child deficient in calcium exhibits irritability, sleep disturbances, anger, and inattentiveness. The first signs of a calcium deficiency include nervous stomach, cramps, tingling in the arms and legs, and painful joints. A calcium deficiency can also lead to ADD/ADHD behavior. Children sensitive to dairy products must receive daily calcium supplementation in capsule, chewable, or liquid form. Children up to 10 years of age need 1000 mg of calcium daily; adolescents need 1,200 to 1,500 mg daily. For those involved in sports activities, calcium supplementation is a must. Huperzine Recent research reports that Huperzine A improves mental function and learning in adolescents. Chinese researchers designed a study to determine the efficiency of Huperzine on memory and learning. The clinical study included 34 matched pairs of junior middle school students that had significant complaints of poor memory and difficulty in learning. In the double blind trial, half of the students received a placebo while the other half received Huperzine A for four weeks. Academic performance was measured before and after the clinical trial. The Huperzine group scored significantly better on standard memory tests without side effects. Huperzine A is an extract derived from Chinese club moss. Huperzine can be combined with amino acids and other nutrients. The suggested dosage is one 50 mcg capsule in the morning and in the evening for children aged 12 and over. This information is excerpted from my book Control Hyperactivity/ADD Naturally. Other resources include Is Ritalin Necessary? Both are available through: Pain & Stress Center 5282 Medical Dr. #160 San Antonio, TX 78229-6023

Natural treatments for Anxiety.

IS ANXIETY A FACT OF LIFE? I don't think so. Readers have requested we address the subject of relieving anxiety by using the amino acids Taurine, & GABA, and Vitamin B3 (Niacin). Though setting out to do this, by the time anxiety & taurine were finished, the news was too long, so GABA & B3 will have to wait. Taurine has many other benefits, so if anxiety is not your interest you may want to skip ahead to the Taurine section. I would not begin helping someone with anxiety by giving these single agents alone, & indeed they may not need to be given. Suffice it to say, when you are physically healthy & biochemically balanced you should have no symptoms of anxiety unless you find yourself in an extremely emergent situation. Those under 18 or over 38 who suddenly develop anxiety which disrupts their normal activity may have one of the medical illnesses which can include anxiety & should have appropriate medical evaluation. Apparently, many in our society are anxious because minor tranquilizers are one of the most widely prescribed group of drugs & among the most problematic when regularly used long term, which, unfortunately, they often are. They are highly addicting & over time risk adding to the very symptoms they were originally intended to alleviate. Though the Physicians Desk Reference warns of their addictive potential & suggests only intermittent or short term usage, these warnings are often ignored. Some of these tranquilizers are Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, Librium. Tranxene, as well as some of the sleeping meds. PHYSIOLOGICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL ANXIETY, OR BOTH? It helps to distinguish whether the anxiety begins with physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweaty palms, shaking, nervous stomach, restlessness, tension, etc. & then perhaps spreads to associated thoughts & fears. Or does it begin with fearful anxious thoughts & spread to become a physiological reaction? Or is it only manifested by thoughts with no physical component or physical symptoms with little associated fear thoughts. When there is a usual thought onset to the symptoms, besides doing all of the next recommended items, it is important to decondition your thought patterns. There are many techniques for doing this. My current favorite is the use of Hypnoperipheral Processing reprogramming tapes. This is a combination of hypnosis & Neurolinguistic Programming. It is a powerful & effective tool for change! You can find such tapes at http://www.metamodels.com/maps/hpp.html. I would suggest the series "Changing Emotions" & "Feeling Better". We also clarify the timing of the anxiety. Is it all the time, or at certain times of the day or night? Is it only in very specific situations? I had a patient who only had severe anxiety when going out in the car. We found she was sensitive to auto fumes & when we had her wear a carbon filtered mask to keep out the fumes, she was able to go out without any anxiety. What percentage of agoraphobics are having their symptoms as a reaction to a specific chemical environment? All of this detective work helps to clarify how much is physical, how much is psychological, or even how much is a psychological conditioned response to a physical trigger. Is the problem related to blood sugar instabilty, which I see quite often & commonly has a pattern of middle of the night, early a.m. or mid-afternoon symptoms. Or is it related to food sensitivities? Is there is a personal or family history of allergies or is a person repetitively eating the same foods, or many of the high allergen foods, such as milk, cheese, wheat, eggs? We also look for a history of high caffeine, alcohol, or sugar intake , or a general junk food diet. Is there a premenstrual or menopausal component? Is the person on medications which can cause anxiety as a side effect? WHAT DOES NUTRITION HAVE TO DO WITH ANXIETY? It is known that deficiencies of certain nutrients can cause anxiety, so begin by improving your diet. Those nutrients are: Vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, omega-3-fatty acids, such as fish or flax seed oil, & certain amino acids, such as L-tryptophan, taurine, GABA. Too much calcium can also cause anxiety. First, clean up your diet. With your diet improvement you may want to add a good multivitamin mineral, an extra B complex, & an omega-3-fatty acid to basically cover most of the above listed nutrients. You would then only add extra items if all of the above failed to make a difference after 2 weeks. My first choice would be extra magnesium & the next choice would be taurine. WHAT IS TAURINE? Taurine is an amino acid which plays a major role in the brain as an "inhibitory" neurotransmitter & neuromodulator. It is similiar in structure to the amino acids GABA & L-Glycine, which are also neuroinhibitory. This means it helps to calm or stabilize an excited brain. Taurine stabilizes nerve cell membranes thus depressing the firing of brain cells & dampening the nerve cell action of the excitatory amino acids, glutamate, aspartate, & quinolinate. Taurine acts by regulating the sodium & potassium concentration in the cells & the magnesium level between the cells. This has everything to do with the electrical activity of the cells & subsequent communication between cells. By this mechanism, it has anti-anxiety & anti-convulsant activity. It has also been found useful in some cases of migraine, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, irritability, alcoholism, obsessions, depression, hypomania/mania. Dosage is from 500 mg twice daily to a total of 5000 mg daily in 3-4 divided doses, though I rarely recommend that high a dose. The total ideal body pool of taurine for adults is 12,000- 18,000 mg. Since taurine also affects the hypothalamus to help regulate body temperature, a higher dose can decrease your temperature & give chilliness, so be aware of that. Taurine also plays a role in memory & increases the level of a memory neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in the brain (in animal studies). HOW DO YOU GET TAURINE? Taurine is highly concentrated in animal & fish protein or organ meats. Strict vegetarians can be at risk for taurine deficiency. Your body can make taurine in the liver & brain from the amino acids, L-Cysteine, & L-Methionine. Three enzymes are involved in the conversion, all requiring the pyridoxal-5-phosphate form of Vitamin B6 for this conversion. A B6 deficiency can thus cause a taurine deficiency. Some studies suggest humans are dependent upon dietary taurine to maintain "adequate" taurine reserves. Females tend toward lower taurine levels than males as their production pathways don't work as efficiently. Taurine is closely bound to zinc & manganese so deficiencies of either of these can interfere with its' utilization. Likewise, zinc & manganese enhance the effects of taurine. Taurine is the amino acid present in highest concentration of all amino acids in the fetal & newborn brain, which is the most dependent upon taurine & the least able to synthesize it.. The developing infant must derive taurine from the placenta, the newborn, from breast milk or taurine fortified formula. It is low in cow's milk. Taurine is essential for proper development of the central nervous system & the eyes. Nursing mothers especially need taurine as it stimulates prolactin to promote lactation, which is an interesting twist of nature, since infants need it so much. ( We could speculate that a mother unable to lactate may be taurine deficient, among other possibilites, & the infant is thus protected from receiving taurine deficient breast milk) Premature infants are especially prone to taurine deficiency. WHAT ELSE INFLUENCES TAURINE LEVELS? MSG can decrease taurine. Trauma, surgery, radiation therapy, burns, muscle diseases, steroid use, intestinal dysfunction with bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel can all lead to excess loss of taurine in the urine & subsequent deficiency. The medications Thorazine (a major tranquilizer) & Chloroquine (an antimalarial) can reduce taurine levels. Some depressed patients have decreased taurine. WHAT ELSE DOES TAURINE DO? EYES: It is in high concentration in the eyes where it has multiple functions to maintain normal retinal structure & function. Depletion leads to degeneration of the photoreceptor cells. Degenerative changes in the retinas of taurine deficient cats & dogs resemble retinitis pigmentosa. Taurine may be helpful in preventing cataracts. Age related macular degeneration has responded favorably to "injected" taurine as reported by American Biologics Mexico Hospital. CARDIOVASCULAR: Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in the heart, a particularly electrically excitable tissue, as are the brain & eye. Since taurine participates in electrical stabilization of the cell membranes & the normal regulation of nerve-muscle interaction, it is useful in heart irregularities & mitral valve prolapse, acting similarly to a calcium channel blocker (a class of drugs used in CV Disease) Taurine also helps control high blood pressure & is useful in congestive heart failure. DIABETES: Taurine affects carbohydrate metabolism. It potentiates the effect of insulin, enhances glucose utilization & glycogen (stored glucose) synthesis. FAT METABOLISM: Taurine reduces cholesterol by forming bile acids which are the end products of cholesterol breakdown & are the only route for eliminating cholesterol from the body. This action requires a functioning gall bladder. Taurine has an inhibitory effect on the formation of cholesterol gall stones. It is required for efficient fat absorption & solubilization. It is helpful in states of fat malabsorption such as with cystic fibrosis & other pancreatic deficiency syndromes. DETOXIFICATION: Taurine conjugates & detoxifies various internal & external toxic compounds & may help chemical sensitivities. ANTIOXIDANT: Taurine plays a major role in protecting cell membranes from oxidative attack. STRESS: It can inhibit the release of adrenalin & thus help with anxiety in this way, as well as protecting from other adverse effects of too much adrenalin. MISC: Acts as an immune stimulant to increase Natural Killer Cell Activity & Interleukin 2. Controls cell volume & osmolality. Is involved in the regulation of iron metabolism. Modulates levels of serum copper. TAURINE CAN ALSO STIMULATE RELEASE OF STOMACH ACID SO YOU SHOULD AVOID IF YOU HAVE ULCERS OR GASTRITIS. BE HAPPY!! Priscilla Slagle M.D.

Woody McGinnis' recommendations for nutrients.

Strategy: Assure Generous Levels of the Key Nutrients 1. Vitamin B6: Pyridoxal-5-phosphate is activated form. 2. Magnesium: glycinate form most absorbable. 3. Zinc: Picolinate form most absorbable. Dose away from minerals and food which block absorption. Balance with manganese. Warts, stretch marks, flecks subside. 4. Calcium: Assure RDA of about one gram daily plus some require extra. 5. Selenium: Doses up to 200 mcg daily as anti-oxidant and to bind mercury. 6. Vitamin A: Cod liver oil for all behavioral children unless allergic to cod. 7. Vitamin C: Twice-daily dosing rationale; also helps regularize bowel movement. 8. Vitamin E: Important chain-breaking anti-oxidant. 9. Fish Oil: Quiet inflammation with EPA. High EPA/DHA preparations available. 10. Evening Primrose Oil: Good for the gut, growth and immunity. Particularly Important for Immunity: Zn, Vitamin A, GLA

Calcium Imbalance

Proper Name: Calcium Common Name: Calcium Evidence of Efficacy: statement to the effect of Calcium deficiency or imbalance plays a role in the symptoms of mood disorders. Observational and experimental studies have shown an association between calcium and aggression1,2, anxiety3,4,5,6,7 and ADHD8,9, bipolar disorder10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17, depression18,19,20,21,22,23 and premenstrual syndrome24,25,26,27,28. References: 1. Walsh, William J., analytical chemist, Argonne National Laboratory; Sci News 124:122-2, 1983. 2. Schmidt K, Wier WR, Asch M. Clinical ecology treatment approach for juvenile offenders. J Behav Ecology: Bioscocial 2(1), 1981. 3. Carlson RJ. Longitudinal observations of two cases of organic anxiety syndrome. Psychsomatics 27(7):529-31, 1986. 4. Lawlor BA. Hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, and organic anxiety syndrome. J Clin Psychiatry. 1988 Aug;49(8):317-8. 5. Crammer JL. Calcium metabolism and mental disorder. Psychol Med 7(4):557-60, 1977. 6. Houssain M. Neurological and psychiatric manifestations in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism: Response to treatment. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 33:153-6, 1970. 7. Joborn C etal. Psychiatric symptomatology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ups J Med Sci 91(1):77-87, 1986. 8. Kozielec T, Starobrat-Hermelin B, Kotkowiak L. Deficiency of certain trace elements in children with hyperactivity. Psychiatr Pol. 1994 May-Jun;28(3):345-53. 9. Walker S III. Drugging the American child: We’re too cavalier about hyperactivity. J Learn Disabil 8:354, 1975. 10. Bowden CL, Huang LG, Javors MA, Johnson JM, Seleshi E, McIntyre K, Contreras S, Maas JW. 11. Calcium function in affective disorders and healthy controls. Biol Psychiatry. 1988 Feb 15;23(4):367-76. 12. Groat RD, Mackenzie TB. The appearance of mania following intravenous calcium replacement. J Nerv Ment Dis 168:562-3, 1980. 13. Dubovsky SL, Christiano J, Daniell LC, Franks RD, Murphy J, Adler L, Baker N, Harris RA. Increased platelet intracellular calcium concentration in patients with bipolar affective disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1989 Jul;46(7):632-8. 14. Dubovsky SL, Murphy J, Thomas M, Rademacher J. Abnormal intracellular calcium ion concentration in platelets and lymphocytes of bipolar patients. Am J Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;149(1):118-20. 15. Dubovsky SL, Murphy J, Christiano J, Lee C. The calcium second messenger system in bipolar disorders: data supporting new research directions. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1992 Winter;4(1):3-14. 16. Carman JS, Wyatt RJ. Calcium: pacesetting the periodic psychoses. Am J Psychiatry. 1979 Aug;136(8):1035-9. 17. Carman JS, Wyatt RJ. Calcium: bivalent cation in the bivalent psychoses. Biol Psychiatry. 1979 Apr;14(2):295-336. 18. Depression and hypercalcemia. Am J Med. 1996 Jul;101(1):111-7. 19. Joborn C etal. Psychiatric symptomatology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ups J Med Sci 91(1):77-87, 1986. 20. Alarcon RD, Franceschini JA. Hyperparathyroidism and paranoid psychosis. Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Nov;145:477-86. 21. Webb WL Jr, Gehi M. Electrolyte and fluid imbalance: neuropsychiatric manifestations. Psychosomatics. 1981 Mar;22(3):199-203. 22. Linder J, Brismar K, Beck-Friis J, Saaf J, Wetterberg L.Calcium and magnesium concentrations in affective disorder: difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1989 Dec;80(6):527-37. 23. Levine J, Stein D, Rapoport A, Kurtzman L. High serum and cerebrospinal fluid Ca/Mg ratio in recently hospitalized acutely depressed patients. Neuropsychobiology. 1999;39(2):63-70. 24. Thys-Jacobs S. Micronutrients and the premenstrual syndrome: the case for calcium. J Am Coll Nutr. 2000 Apr;19(2):220-7. 25. Goei GS, Abraham GE. Effect of a nutritional supplement, optivite, on symptoms of premenstrual tension. J Reprod Med. 1983 Aug;28(8):527-31. 26. Abraham GE. Nutritional factors in the etiology of the premenstrual tension syndromes. J Reprod Med. 1983 Jul;28(7):446-64. 27. Alvir JM, Thys-Jacobs S. Premenstrual and menstrual symptom clusters and response to calcium treatment. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1991;27(2):145-8. 28. Thys-Jacobs S, Ceccarelli S, Bierman A, Weisman H, Cohen MA, Alvir J. Calcium supplementation in premenstrual syndrome: a randomized crossover trial. J Gen Intern Med. 1989 May-Jun;4(3):183-9.

Bad brain chemistry triggers violence

Behavior - vitamin and nutrient therapy Acts of violence in the workplace or schools often are not as random as they appear to outsiders. Parents of violent children have been telling doctors and educators for years that their kids were born with unique, disruptive, angry, defiant personalities. William J. Walsh, a senior scientist at Health Research Institute and Pfeifer Treatment Center, Naperville, Ill., backs them after 25 years of research. A study of 24 pairs of brothers, one average and one violent, was conducted by Walsh. The results, replicated in three blind, controlled experiments, showed two distinctive patterns in the brain chemistry of violent individuals not found in their siblings. The first included an elevated copper/zinc ratio; depressed sodium, potassium, and manganese; and abnormal calcium, magnesium, and blood histamines. The other revealed very depressed copper; very elevated sodium and potassium; elevated blood histamines, kryptopyrroles, lead cadmium, iron, calcium, and magnesium; and depressed zinc and manganese. How did this translate to behavior? Those having Type 1 levels exhibited Jekyll-Hyde behavior with episodic violence, poor stress control, and genuine remorse, often accompanied by acne, allergies, and academic underachievement. Type 2s were assaultive without remorse; pathological liars who had a fascination with fire; cruel to people and animals; and often had sleep disorders. The researchers later identified two additional distinctive, less-violent behavior types: nonassaultive delinquents who were impulsive, irritable, underweight underachievers in school, and nonassaultive individuals who had sugar craving, drowsiness, and depression. "The brain is a chemical factory that produces neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw materials for these syntheses are nutrients: amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.," Walsh notes. "Most neurotransmitter imbalances appear genetic in nature and involve abnormal metabolism, absorption, and/or storage of food nutrients by the body. However, an individual's biochemistry may change at any time after birth as a result of food allergies, puberty, aging, stress, or trauma. The Pfeiffer Center's treatment consists of nutrient therapy--utilizing vitamins and minerals along with dietary adjustments--to correct brain chemistry imbalances. "Nutrient therapy can be very potent and, unlike most psychiatric medications, does not involve side effects since no molecules foreign to the body are used," he explains. Some violent offenders are psychiatric patients who have stopped taking medications due to the debilitating side effects. Pfeiffer doctors keep patients on prescription medications while balancing brain chemistry. In some cases, they work with the patient's physician in the effort to eliminate or gradually reduce medications and minimize side effects. COPYRIGHT 2002 Society for the Advancement of Education COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group

ADHD and neurotransmitters

http://www.healing-arts.org/children/index.htm Please also see our new article, "Imaging Children with ADHD: MRI Technology Reveals Differences in Neuro-signaling". In this report, it was found that children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have significantly altered levels of important neurotransmitters in the frontal region of the brain, according to a study published in the December 2003 issue of the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. "Our data show children with ADHD had a two-and-half-fold increased level of glutamate, an excitatory brain chemical that can be toxic to nerve cells," said lead author Helen Courvoisie, M.D., assistant professor, division of child and adolescent psychiatry, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore. "The data also suggest a decreased level of GABA, a neuro-inhibitor. This combination may explain the behavior of children with poor impulse control." Environmental factors associated with ADHD include low birth weight, hypozia (too little oxygen) at birth, and exposure in utero to a number of toxins including alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine. Other studies have found correlations between certain toxic agents / nutrient deficiencies and learning disabilities. These include: * Calcium deficiency * High serum copper * Iron deficiency can cause irritability and attention deficits * Magnesium deficiency, which is characterized by fidgeting, anxiousness, restless, psycho- motor inability, and learning difficulties * Malnutrition in general is related to learning disabilities; the child does not have to look malnourished, a fact forgotten in affluent countries * Dyslexic children seem to have abnormal zinc and copper metabolism - low zinc and high copper * Iodine deficiencies have been linked to learning difficulties

Mercury and ADD/Autism/Allergies/Immune System

Get your coffee before sitting don to read this one. It's long, but it's full of information! ~L Immune Reactive Conditions: The mercury connection to autism, schizophrenia, ADD, eczema, lupus, asthma, and allergies (snipped from larger study) Bernard Windham- Chemical Engineer The incidence of neurotoxic, allergic, and immune reactive conditions such as autism, scizophrenia, ADD, dyslexia, allergies, asthma, eczema, lupus, psoriasis, childhood diabetes, etc. have been increasing rapidly in recent years(1,2,3,5,23). A recent report by the National Research Council found that 50% of all pregnancies in the U.S. are now resulting in prenatal or postnatal mortality, significant birth defects, or otherwise chronically unhealthy babies(3). Exposure to toxic chemcials or environmental factors appear to be a factor in as much as 28 percent of the 4 million children born each year(3), with 1 in 6 having one of the neurological conditions previously listed.. According to the U.S. FDA, at least 26 million have allergies and at least 17 million have asthma. The largest increase has been in infants (1,2,,5-7,23), with an increase in autism cases to over 500,000 (1,2,23,22), an over 500% increase to a level of almost 1 per 250 infants in the last decade(2), making it the 3rd most common childhood condition, along with similar increases in ADD, and over 10 % of infants- approximately 15 million in the U.S. with such conditions or systemic eczema(1). Studies researching the reason for these rapid increases in infant reactive conditions seem to implicate earlier and higher usage of vaccines containing mercury(thimerosal) as a likely connection(2,2b,23,30,40). A recent study comparing pre- and post-vaccination mercury levels, found a significant increase in both preterm and term infants after vaccination(42), with post-vaccination mercury levels approximately 3 times higher in the preterm infants as compared with term infants. The study found mercury blood levels up to 23.6 ug/L and received an average dose of 16.7 ug/kg. Just this one vaccination gave an exposure to mercury that is many times the U.S. ATSDR adult minimum risk level(MRL) for mercury of .3/ug/kg body weight per day(41). It has been estimated that if all of the vaccines recommended by the American Assoc. of Pediatrics are given and contain thimerosal, then by age 6 months an infant would have received 187 micrograms of ethyl mercury which is more than the EPA/ATSDR health standard for organic mercury(33,41) and by age 3 the typical child has received over 235 micrograms of mercury thimerosal from vaccinations which is considerably more than Federal mercury safety guidelines (41), in addition to significant levels from other sources for many(23). Infants during this period have undeveloped blood brain barriers and much of the mercury goes to the brain, resulting in significant adverse neurological effects in those that are most susceptible(43,3). Because of the evidence the FDA has completed a study and written a letter to vaccine manufacturers asking that mercury be removed from vaccines. The updated letter stated, "The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) has completed its evaluation of the use of thimerosal in vaccines...Our review concluded that reducing or eliminating thimerosal from vaccines is merited(44). The letter pointed to a joint statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United States Public Health Service in 1999, which "called for the removal of thimerosal from vaccines as soon as possible." Many thousands of parents have reported that their child got such conditions after vaccination, and tests have confirmed high levels of mercury in Many of those tested, along with other toxic exposures. An additional source of thimerosal to the fetus of women who are RH negative is the 30 micrograms in the RhoGAM shot they receive. Underweight infants that get the same dose of thimerosal as other infants have also been found to be at special risk. Many of those diagnosed with high mercury levels have also been found to have significant improvement after mercury detoxification(23,30,40,11,35). Thimerosal had been previously removed from similar preservative uses in eye drops and eye medications after evidence of a connection to chronic degenerative eye conditions. After over 15,000 law suits were filed in France over adverse effects of the Hepatitis B vaccine, the French Minister of Health ended the mandatory hepatitis B vaccination program for all school children. Adverse effects included neurological disorders and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. Some hospitals in the U.S. also quit recommending certain vaccinations. Although vaccinations appear to be the largest source of mercury in infants, mercury has been found to be transmitted from the mother to the fetus through the placenta and accumulate in the fetus to higher levels than in the mother’s blood(22). Breast milk of women who have amalgam fillings or eat a lot of fish has also been found to be a significant source of mercury in infants and young children(22,45). A direct mechanism involving mercury’s inhibition of cellular enzymatic processes by binding with the hydroxyl radical(SH) in amino acids appears to be a major part of the connection to these allergic/immune reactive conditions (15-23,36,46). For example mercury has been found to strongly inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase and dipeptyl peptidase (DPP IV) which are required in the digestion of the milk protein casein(15,16,17,19,20,22), and the same protein that is cluster differentiation antigen 26 (CD26) which helps T lymphocyte activation. CD26 or DPPIV is a cell surfact glycoprotein that is very susceptible to inactivation by mercury binding to its cysteinyl domain. Mercury and other toxic metals also inhibit binding of opioid receptor agonists to opioid receptors, while magnesium stimulates binding to opioid receptors (15). Studies involving a large sample of patients with autism, scizophrenia, or mania found that over 90 % of those tested had high levels of the milk protein beta-casomorphin-7 in their blood and urine and defective enzymatic processes for digesting milk protein(24,25,27), and similarly for the corresponding enzyme needed to digest wheat gluten(24,26).The studies found high levels of Ig A antigen specific antibodies for casein, lactalbumin and beta-lactoglovulin and IgG and IgM for casein. Beta-casomorphine-7 is a morphine like compound that results in neural dysfunction (24,25), as well as being a direct histamine releaser in humans and inducing skin reactions (14,21,25c). Similarly many also had a corresponding form of gluten protein (26). Elimination of milk and wheat products and sulfur foods from the diet has been found to improve the condition. A double blind study using a potent opiate antagonist, naltrexone(NAL), produced significant reduction in autistic symptomology among the 56% most responsive to opioid effects(28). The behavioral improvements was accompanied by alterations in the distribution of the major lymphocyte subsets, with a significant increase in the T-helper- inducers and a significant reduction of the T-cytotoxic-suppressors and a normalization of the CD4/CD8 ratio. Studies have found mercury causes increased levels of the CD8 T-cytotoxic-suppressors(29). As noted previously, such populations of patients have also been found to have high levels of mercury and to recover after mercury detox(23,11,22,30,40). As mercury levels are reduced the protein binding is reduced and improvement in the enzymatic process occurs(22,11). Additional cellular level enzymatic effects of mercury’s binding with proteins include blockage of sulfur oxidation processes and neurotransmitter amino acids which have been found to be significant factors in many autistics(18,36,46,17), plus enzymatic processes involving vitamins B6 and B12, with effects on the cytochrome-C energy processes as well. Epson salts(magnesium sulfate)baths, supplementation with the p5p form of Vit B6 and vit B12 shots are methods of dealing with these enzymatic blockages that have been found effective by those treating such conditions. Mercury has also been found to have adverse effects on cellular mineral levels of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and lithium(39,22,46). Supplementing with these minerals has also been found to be effective in the majority of cases(39) Another of the results of these toxic exposures and enzymatic blockages is the effect on the liver and disfunction of the liver detoxification processes which autistic children have been found to have (30,36,22). All of the autistic cases tested were found to have high toxic exposures/effects and liver detoxification profiles outside of normal(30). Along with these blockages of cellular enzymatic processes, mercury has been found to cause additional neurological and immune system effects in many through immune/autoimmune reactions(11,12,35). Mercury(22) as well as thimerosal (31,32) also have direct neurotoxic effects on brain nucleotid binding proteins through their effect on Ca2+ATPase and Na+/K+ATPase activity. But the effects on the neurological and immune systems of exposure to various toxic substances such as toxic metals and environmental pollutants has also been found to have additive or synergistic effects and to be a factor in increasing eczema, allergies, asthma, delayed food allergies, and sensitivity to other lesser allergens(14-22,35). Most of the children tested for toxic exposures have found high or reactive levels of other toxic metals, and organochlorine compounds (30,40,11,12,35,4). Other than the organochlorines or toxic metals which are discussed later, three common pollutants that have been documented to have effects on such conditions are traffic and industrial pollutants nitrogen oxide, power plant residual oil fly ash, and organochlorine pollutants(4). Another effect of mercury and toxic metals is a reduction in B- lymphocytes (37,38,22). One of these studies(37) dealing with autistic patients and further work with such patients has found this causes a tendency to be more seriously affected by viruses and to develop intestinal disorders including leaky gut, lymphoid modular hyperplasia, and a high incidence of parasites. Allergic contact eczema is the most frequent occupational disease(1,22), and the most common cause of contact eczema is exposure to toxic metals(1, 6- 12,22). The metals most commonly causing allergic immune reactivity are nickel, mercury, chromium, cobalt, and palladium(1,6-14,22). The highest level of sensitization is to Infants, who are most reactive to thimerosal, a form of mercury that has been used as a preservative in vaccines and eye drops(6,7). There is strong suggestive and clinical evidence for a connection between toxic metals and autism(2b,15-40).