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Alternative Mental Health News #58

Mon, 30 May 2005 11:05:37 -0400 (EDT

 

The ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH News

 

A monthly newsletter brought to you by AlternativeMentalHealth.com and

Safe Harbor, a nonprofit corporation.

 

Issue 58, June 2005

 

Editor's Comment

 

Here at the Safe Harbor, we are busy as bees in spring preparing for

our annual medical conference - Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to

Mental Disorders - coming up on June 4-5 at the Glendale Hilton.

 

As we receive the lecture notes from various speakers, it has become

more and more apparent how outstanding this conference will be.

 

Psychiatrist John Cannell will share fascinating research he has done

which has broken brand new ground in the understanding of the critical

role of Vitamin D in human health and mental function.

 

Optometrist Herbert Solomon will publicly share, for the first time,

the results of forty years of research into the use of corrective

lenses to improve mental health.

 

Author and nutritionist Carol Simontacchi will review recent research

on America's eating habits, which reveals more than ever why she

titled her book on modern foods The Crazymakers.

 

Psychiatrist Nancy Mullan will discuss breakthrough research from the

world of autism on a nutritional-biochemical cycle that impacts all

mental disorders.

 

Psychiatrist and author Stuart Shipko will present a brutally frank

discussion of how today's pharmaceutical marketing practices relate to

trends in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

 

And that's not even half of the presentations! It's going to be a

great weekend. We hope to see you there!

Safe Harbor's 2005 non-pharma iv Conference, June 4-5, los angeles

 

Announcing...

NON-PHARMA IV

 

Safe Harbor's Fourth Annual Medical Conference:

 

" Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Mental Disorders "

 

15 hours of Continuing Medical Education for physicians 15 Continuing

Educational Units for California nurses, LSCWs, and MFTs

 

Open to the general public as well.

 

Join Safe Harbor and the nation's leading voices on safe, non-drug

treatments for the mentally unwell.

 

* When: Saturday, June 4, 2004, 8:30 AM to 6 PM; Sunday, June 5,

2004, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

* Where: Glendale Hilton Hotel, Glendale, CA (just outside Los

Angeles). The Hilton is next to downtown Glendale with an array of

nearby shopping, restaurants, theaters, etc.

* Fees: Before May 19: $140 for both days (lunch not included)

After May 19: $170 (lunch not included)

* Day Rates Available

* 15 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians

($160 extra)

* 15 Continuing Educational Units (CEU) for California nurses,

LSCWs, and MFTs ($60 extra)

 

Register by phone - (323) 257-7338, email - SafeHarborProj

 

or online at: https://nt7.corpsite.com/secure_alternative/donation.htm

 

Seating is limited!

 

With nearly a dozen speakers, presentations will include:

 

Saturday, June 4, 2005

 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Neurotoxicity of Fluoride - David Kennedy, DDS,

past president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and

Toxicology and world lecturer on the safety of dental materials,

examines the research on how fluoride and water fluoridation affect

mental health.

 

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM: Integrative Medicine Approaches to Depression and

Anxiety - Joseph Sciabbarrasi, MD, details his protocols in treating

depression and anxiety from a holistic perspective.

 

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Mega-Trends in Psychiatric Diagnosis and

Treatment - What Your Psychiatrist Isn't Telling You - Stuart Shipko,

MD, Pasadena psychiatrist and author of Surviving Panic Disorder,

discusses the role that pharmaceutical marketing plays in diagnostic

and treatment trends.

 

1:45 PM - 2: 45 PM: The Role of the Methionine Cycle in Mental

Disorders - Nancy Mullan, MD, nutritional psychiatrist, Safe Harbor

Medical Director, reviews one of the most critical nutritional

biochemical cycles which, when faulty, can contribute to autism,

schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

 

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM: Natural Treatment for Post Partum Depression -

Nancy Lins, ND, specialist in postpartum health from Hawaii, on the

common physical contributors to and nondrug solutions for the

post-birth blues.

 

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Vitamin D and Mental Health - John Jacob Cannell,

MD, Executive Director, Vitamin D Council, Psychiatrist, Atascadero

State Hospital, with little-known research on the pervasiveness of

vitamin D deficiency.

 

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Role of Infection and Xenobiotics in Behavioral

Disorders - Aristo Vojdani, PhD, immunology expert, author of over 90

scientific papers, holder of 10 patents and CEO of Immunoscience Lab.

 

Sunday, June 5, 2005

 

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: The Use of Acupuncture and Oriental Herbs in

Treating Mental Disorders ­ Jeremiah Krieger, L.Ac., shares his

clinical experience in the use of Traditional Oriental Medicine in

treating mental health issues.

 

9:30: AM - 10:30 AM: Is It Mental or Is It Dental? - Part II - How

Mercury Fillings, Root Canals, Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ)

Syndrome, and Other Dental Issues Affect Mental Health - Raymond

Silkman, DDS, practicing holistic dentistry, orthodontics, and

treatment of TMJ and related disorders, returns to our conference by

popular demand to further discuss the relationship of dental problems

and mental health.

 

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: The Crazy Makers: How Food Additives and

Processed Foods Contribute to the Rise in Mental Disorders - Carol

Simontacchi, MS, CCN, nationally-renowned author, columnist, and radio

host, speaking on the hazards of modern-day fast foods.

 

1:15 PM - 2:15 PM: How Visual Correction Can Impact Anxiety,

Depression, and ADHD - Herbert Solomon, OD, presents his research

spanning forty years on the remarkable connection between vision and

mental health and how visual correction can improve it.

 

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Natural Approaches to Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder - Alan Schwartz, MD, reviews testing and

treatment protocols that can often eliminate the need for medications

in treating symptoms of ADHD.

 

3:30 PM - 5:15 PM: Safe Harbor's 2004 Recovery Panel - 6 people, now

leading drug-free lives, tell their remarkable stories of recovery

from mental disorders.

 

(ACAM-approved. Provider approved by the California Board of

Registered Nursing, Provider Number 13857 for 15 contact hours -

Course meets the qualifications for 15 hours of continuing education

credit for MFT and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of

Behavioral Sciences - CA BBS Prov. No.: PC2516- No refunds after May 27.)

NON-PHARMA EAST CONFERENCE, NEW YORK, JULY 22-24

 

Non-Pharma East " Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Mental Health Care "

July 22,23,24-2005 The Best Western, Amsterdam, NY - Sponsored by

V.O.I.C.E./Safe Harbor, Adirondack Region -

 

This first-of-its-kind conference for the East Coast will address

Non-Pharmaceutical approaches to dealing with mental health issues and

other physical diseases that impact mental well being.

 

Explore and learn how these approaches can be implemented by the heath

care practitioner as well as the common person.

 

Who Should Attend: Physicians, Nurses, Nutritionists, Psychologists,

Therapists, Health Care Practitioners, Social Workers, Clients /

Consumers, Family Members and all others interested in Mental Health

 

Presentations Include:

 

Keynote: " The Future of the Recovery Movement in America " Dan

Stradford - President, Safe Harbor

 

" Community Mental Health and Naturopathic Medicine: An Integrated

Approach " - Jeffrey Sager N.D., M.A., Board Certified and New

Hampshire Licensed N.D. and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Helped

develop the First-of-its-kind program in the nation to integrate

traditional psychiatric care with complementary services at a

Community mental health center.

 

" Japanese Psychology: Alternative Counseling Methods to Complement

Non-Pharma Solutions for Westerners " - Gregg Krech, Co-Founder and

Executive Director of the " ToDo Institute " a non profit educational

center bringing together East and West.

 

" Finding Restorative Mental Health Care " and Film Presentation of:

" Masks of Madness: Science of Healing " - Robert Sealey, BSc,CA -

Author and Speaker.

 

" End Schizophrenia Now " - Charles Gant, M.D., Ph.D., N.M.D. - " Capital

University of Integrative Medicine "

 

" Psychology of the Future - Today " and " Holistic Approach to Pain

Healing " - Michael Gurevich M.D., C.Ac. Board certified in Psychiatry,

Addiction psychiatry, Holistic Medicine and Certified Acupuncturist.

Certificates in EMDR, APN, ART

 

" The Interweaving of the Wisdom of Indigenous Cultures and the Healing

Power of Story to Transcend Pharmacotherapy " - Lewis Mehl-Madrona

M.D., Ph.D. Author Coyote Medicine, Coyote Healing, and Coyote Wisdom

Affiliated with Department of Family Medicine, " University of

Saskatchewan " and the Aboriginal Health Research Unit

 

" Spirituality and the Roles It Plays in Mental Health Recovery " - Joan

Spencer, Ph.D.

 

" Mind, Mood and Sleep Disorders and Neurotransmitter Imbalance " -

Steven J. Bock, M.D. " Rhinebeck Health Center "

 

Others

 

A " Meet the Author " event will be scheduled so that you can interact

and review books and other materials written by some of the presenters.

 

Most publications authored by presenters will be available for purchase.

 

* Early bird registration discount all three days $150.00 All

registrations must be postmarked by June 30, 2005 Registrations after

July 1st are $175.00

* Yes, we are taking day trip reservations Friday: $45.00

Saturday: $75.00 Sunday: $55.00 Reservation Prices Includes Meals and

Workshops

* At the Door Friday: $35.00 Saturday: $60.00 Sunday: $35.00 Price

Does not include meals

* Processing fee of $25.00 on all cancellation No Refunds after

July 13, 2005 Payment method: Check or Money order (payable to

V.O.I.C.E. Inc.)

* Scholarships may be available to families or recipients of

services. Contact your local mental health, NAMI, or Consumer Advocacy

Organization

 

Hotel Reservations and Information

 

Best Western Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam, NY Just north of NYS

Thruway I90 in the beautiful Mohawk Valley minutes from historic sites

and the Adirondack Mountains.

 

We are pleased to offer conference participants the special discounted

room rate of $55.00 per night, single or double occupancy.

 

You must mention VOICE, Inc. and the Non Pharma Conference when making

your room reservations Directly with Best Western Amsterdam. DO NOT

CALL THE 800 Best Western RESERVATIONS NUMBER as you will not get this

special rate.

 

Reserve early as rooms will fill fast as it is Track Season; deadline

is June 20, 2005.

 

For Hotel Reservations Contact: Best Western Amsterdam 10 Market St.,

Amsterdam, NY 12010 Telephone: (518) 843-5760 Fax: (518) 842-0940 All

conference participants are responsible for their own travel and hotel

expenses.

 

Registration Form

 

Mail your payment to: VOICE, Inc., C/O Rev. Fred Bauer, 179 Dennie

Loop Rd., Mayfield, NY 12117 Fee Must accompany Registration. Please

use photocopies of this form for multiple registrations.

 

SPACE IS LIMITED. Make checks or money order payable to V.O.I.C.E.,

Inc For more information contact admin

HELP UPDATE SAFE HARBOR's records!

 

If you have a new postal mailing or e-mail address, please send it to

wendy, so that we can keep our databases

current. We will be sending out the information on this year's medical

conference (NP4) soon, so don't miss out. Send us your updates. Thanks.

EUROPEAN MEDICINES AGENCY FINALIZES REVIEW OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

 

The European Medicines Agency has completed its review of two classes

of antidepressants and concluded that they should not be used in

children and adolescents except in their approved indications.

 

The review of serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and

serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) medicines looked at

the potential risk of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents

treated with these products.

 

The Agency's scientific committee, the Committee for Medicinal

Products for Human Use (CHMP), concluded at its 19-22 April 2005

meeting that suicide-related behavior (suicide attempt and suicidal

thoughts), and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional

behavior and anger) were more frequently observed in clinical trials

among children and adolescents treated with these antidepressants

compared to those treated with placebo.

 

The Agency's committee is therefore recommending the inclusion of

strong warnings across the whole of the European Union to doctors and

parents about these risks. Doctors and parents will also be advised

that these products should not be used in children and adolescents

except in their approved indications.

 

Most of these products are approved for the treatment of depression

and anxiety in adults in the European Union, but are not licensed

Europe-wide for the treatment of these conditions in children or

adolescents. Some of these products are however licensed for pediatric

use for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and one of them

for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

 

It is recognized that a doctor may sometimes take a decision based on

the individual clinical needs of a child or an adolescent to use these

products for the treatment of depression or anxiety. The CHMP is

recommending that in these cases patients be monitored carefully for

the appearance of suicidal behavior, self-harm or hostility,

particularly at the beginning of treatment.

 

The CHMP also stresses the following:

 

* Treatment should not be stopped by the patient or the parents

without first seeking medical advice from the treating doctor, because

there is a risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as

dizziness, sleep problems and anxiety if discontinuation is abrupt.

* When treatment is being stopped, it is recommended to gradually

reduce the dose over several weeks or months.

* Patients or parents who have any concerns about the medication

are advised to consult the treating doctor at the next available

opportunity to discuss treatment options and support.

 

LOW LEVELS OF ANTIOXIDANTS LINKED TO AUTISM

 

Metal toxicity - specifically that of thimerosal, a type of mercury

used as a preservative in vaccines - has been widely suspected to

cause or trigger autism, although this has not been widely

acknowledged as confirmed in research. In fact, in 2004, the Institute

of Medicine issued a report stating that it did not believe the

vaccines contributed to the development of the condition.

 

However, some studies would seem to indicate a connection. In our

April issue of The Alternative Mental Health News we reported the

results of a Texas study on the effects of mercury released into the

air from coal-burning plants. In that article, we quoted Claudia

Miller, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center

in San Antonio, who stated that the study found that " For every

thousand pounds of environmentally-released mercury, we saw a 17

percent increase in autism rates. " The mercury output of U.S.

coal-burning plants is estimated at 48 tons annually.

 

A new study done by University of Arkansas researchers has now found

further information that sheds light on the connection. Researchers

compared blood samples of 90 autistic children to those of 45 children

without the disorder, and found low levels of the active form of

glutathione, the major antioxidant necessary for detoxification and

elimination of environmental toxins. Low levels of this antioxidant

can cause oxidative stress, a condition in which antioxidants aren't

able to clear the body of free radicals which can damage cells in the

brain, gastrointestinal tract and immune system. The study found that

the levels were reduced by about 80 percent in children with autism.

The metabolic precursors of glutathione were also reduced.

 

The study's lead author, S. Jill James, Ph.D., director of the

biochemical genetics laboratory at Arkansas Children's Hospital

Research Institute and a professor of pediatrics at the College of

Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little

Rock, stated, " If they have lower glutathione, they would reach a

toxicity earlier than someone with higher levels. " James further

suggested that, while further study has to be done, parents of

autistic children should talk with their child's doctor about giving

them antioxidant supplements.

 

The study findings were announced April 2, 2005, at the American

Society for Nutritional Sciences' scientific sessions at the

Experimental Biology conference in San Diego.

MALNUTRITION IN TODDLERS VASTLY INCREASES RISK OF BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

as CHILDREN AND TEENS

 

A new study, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, Issue

161, concluded that malnutrition in toddlers can lead to lower IQ and

antisocial behavior as children and teens.

 

The study evaluated the nutritional status of 1000 3-year olds living

on Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, based on the following

criteria:

 

* angular stomatitis, or cracking in the lips and corners of the

mouth that is caused by a deficiency of the B vitamin riboflavin; *

hair dyspigmentation, a condition - found primarily in tropical

regions - where children's hair takes on a reddish-orange color due to

protein deficiency;

* sparse, thin hair created by a deficiency in protein, zinc and

iron; and

* anemia, which reflects iron deficiency.

 

The children's intelligence level and cognitive ability were also

tested, and social workers visited their homes to come up with a

so-called adversity score that summarized factors such as the income,

occupation, health, age and education levels of their parents and

their overall living conditions.

 

A control group was established - children who did not manifest

nutritional deficiencies - and both groups were monitored over a

14-year period.

 

When the children were eight years old, teachers gave feedback about

whether the subjects were acting out in school with behavior ranging

from irritability to picking fights with other children.

 

At age 11, the feedback came from parents who told researchers about

whether their children lied, cheated, got into fights, bullied others,

destroyed property or used obscene language.

 

At age 17, both parents and teachers reported on antisocial behavior

such as stealing, drug use, destroying property or being deliberately

cruel to others.

 

Over time, a link became evident between malnourishment and antisocial

or aggressive behavior, said Adrian Raine, a co-author of the study

and holder of the Robert Grandford Wright Professorship in Psychology

in USC's College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

 

Compared to those in the control group, malnourished children showed a

41 percent increase in aggression at age 8, a 10 percent increase in

aggression and delinquency at age 11 and a 51 percent increase in

violent and antisocial behavior at age 17. Researchers also found that

the more indicators of malnutrition there were, the greater the

antisocial behavior.

 

While social class did not play a significant factor in behavior,

intelligence level did, Raine said. " Poor nutrition, characterized by

zinc, iron, vitamin B and protein deficiencies, leads to low IQ, which

leads to later antisocial behavior, " he said. " These are all nutrients

linked to brain development. "

 

Although this study was done in another country, the nutritional

statistics in the U.S. indicate serious implications. According to

Raine, 7 percent of U.S. toddlers suffer from iron deficiency, a

number that jumps to between 9 percent and 16 percent in adolescent

and female groups, and rises to between 19 percent and 22 percent in

black and Mexican American females. " This is a problem in America.

It's not just a problem in the far-away Indian Ocean, " Raine said. " If

it's causal, there's an intervention implication there. At a societal

level, should parents be thinking more about what kids are eating? "

 

Although Raine acknowledges that there is more to antisocial behavior

than nutrition, he says " we argue that it is an important missing

link. Biology is not destiny. We can change the biological disposition

to antisocial and aggressive behavior. "

ACADEMIC BATTLE CONTINUES OVER ADHD DIAGNOSIS & PRESCRIPTIONS

 

Dr. Gretchen LeFever, a clinical psychologist and professor at Eastern

Virginia Medical School, is being fired for publishing reports of her

studies which show an alarming increase in children being diagnosed

with and prescribed medications for ADD/ADHD.

 

Dr. LeFever surveyed parents asking them " Does your child have

attention or hyperactivity problems, known as ADD or ADHD? "

 

The response to the question was 84% positive. In the published

report, the question was reworded to " Has your child been diagnosed

with attention or hyperactivity problems known as ADD or ADHD? "

 

Based on the change in wording, Dr. LeFever was charged with

scientific misconduct, had her computers seized, and was put on

administrative leave with intent to terminate.

 

This is not the first time Dr. LeFever's research has been the center

of controversy. One of her main critics, Dr. Jeffrey Katz, a clinical

psychologist in Virginia Beach and the local coordinator of the

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

group, specifically questioned her claim that the condition had been

diagnosed in 17% of children in grades 2 to 5. He then further stated

that someone making claims like this will discourage parents from

bringing their children in for evaluation because they think they will

automatically be prescribed drugs as they think it is a " bad thing "

and the sole treatment.

 

How concerned do parents have to be? The first factor of concern might

be the validity of the diagnosis.

 

In November, 2004, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

reported that although prevalence of ADHD is generally accepted as 4 -

5%, it ranges from 1 - 20% depending on diagnostic criteria, methods

for establishing presence of symptoms, the nature of the informants,

and the degree of impairment. However, the report also states that

those rates can be increased by as much as 50% when ones includes the

cases that have been " diagnosed without regard to the presence of

impairment, or without requiring the presence of symptoms in multiple

settings. " They state that " given the fact that there appears indeed

to be no natural cut-off or discontinuous function that characterized

ADHD, these wide differences in prevalence should not be surprising. "

 

The result is that the prevalence of " ADHD " ranges between 1% and 70%,

depending on the criteria and the clinician making the diagnosis.

 

The second factor of concern is the treatment - correct diagnosis

notwithstanding. What if a child is prescribed these drugs? How

dangerous are they really?

 

Adderall, the drug widely used to replace Ritalin, has now been linked

to sudden deaths, leading Health Canada to withdraw it from the

market. (The FDA responded with a mandate that warnings be put on the

packaging.) Two weeks ago, ADD-approved drug Cylert (pemoline) was

withdrawn by the manufacturer because of reported cases of liver

damage. Stratera, the fastest-growing drug prescribed for ADHD

(marketed as " a non-stimulant " ) now has an FDA mandate to include bold

warnings about severe liver damage.

 

Ritalin, despite overwhelming evidence of its danger and a Drug

Enforcement Agency warning as early as 1995, is not only still on the

market, it is currently the drug of choice - referred to as Kiddie

Cocaine - for today's middle and high school students who are

experimenting with prescription drugs prescribed by physicians.

 

In fact, Ritalin is still the subject of many studies and even more

damage is being revealed. Recent research at the University of Texas,

MD Anderson Cancer Center, found that all of the 12 children enrolled

in a Ritalin study experienced a threefold increase in chromosome

damage three months after starting the drug. This chromosome damage is

an indication of a possible increased risk of cancer. Researchers

stated " It was pretty surprising to me that all of the children taking

[Ritalin] showed an increase in chromosome abnormalities in a

relatively short period of time. "

 

Recently there has been a dramatic increase in the public's awareness

of the risks of these drugs, and legislation regulating them is on the

rise. But one thing that isn't being done is adequate research into

prevention of the conditions for which they are being prescribed. A

CDC report in November, 2004, found the lack of research on prevention

of ADD/ADHD to be " striking " - so much so that the " research field

appears to have unwittingly excluded this area of research from

consciousness. "

 

According to William Pelham, professor of psychology, pediatrics and

psychiatry at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, drug

companies' funding of community groups and research has created

obstacles for experts who question the use of stimulants. He dismissed

the criticism of Dr. LeFever over the wording of the survey question

as " ridiculous. " Dr Pelham, who is also a researcher in ADHD, said the

wording used by Dr LeFever and her colleagues is " commonplace " among

researchers doing surveys. David Antonuccio, a professor of psychiatry

and behavioral sciences at The University of Nevada School of

Medicine, said, " This is a case of shooting the messenger. Dr LeFever

has since been vindicated by recent CDC [Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention] data and other studies showing alarming increases in

the use of psychotropic drugs in children. "

 

Officials at Dr. LeFever's medical school confirmed that she is on

administrative leave, but declined further comment on her termination.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS HELP combat BEHAVIORAL AND LEARNING PROBLEMS IN

CHILDREN

 

The role of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) is critical for the

maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the central

nervous system. In fact, the brain itself consists of 60% fat, and

EFAs are crucial for its proper development.

 

Due to this, deficiency in EFAs can cause behavioral and learning

problems and research has shown EFAs useful in the treatment of

depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar symptoms.

 

The most critical period of growth is from the womb until about age 6.

At birth, brain weight is about 70% that of an adult. 15% of brain

growth occurs during infancy and the remaining brain growth is during

preschool years. By the age of 5 or 6, brain growth is complete.

 

There are four families of EFAs - Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9. Linoleic Acid

(LA), from the Omega 6 group, is a parent EFA which converts to Gamma

Linoleic Acid (GLA). Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA), one of the Omega 3s,

is a parent EFA which converts to Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and

Decosahexaenoic Acid (DHA).

 

These conversions take place in the healthy body. However, there are

many factors that can prevent the conversions - high glucose

consumption, adrenaline released during stress, saturated fats, high

blood cholesterol, alcohol, glucocorticoids, low protein intake,

consumption of trans fatty acids, beta-blockers (drugs prescribed for

hypertension), aging (as early as age 20, there is decreased

conversion of GLA), and diabetes. When any of these factors exist, it

may be necessary to supplement GLA, EPA and DHA in addition to the

Omega 6s and 3s.

 

Proper balance of Omega 6 to 3 is also important. The healthy ratio is

3:1 or 4:1 (Omega 6:3), but the average American diet, high in

processed foods, consists of 20:1 to 50:1 The imbalance of Omega 6:3,

and the resultant relative deficiency in Omega 3s, not only leads to

degenerative disease, it can also result in depression and bipolar

disorder because there is not enough Omega 3 to convert to EPA and

DHA. DHA is the fatty acid that most affects behavior.

 

A study published by Burgess, Stevens, Zhang and Peck in the American

Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000 found that up to 40% of children

with ADHD have significantly low levels of plasma DHA.

 

If EFAs are not sufficient during the time period of brain growth, it

can also greatly affect a child's development.

 

Studies have shown that 4-year-olds whose mothers took EFAs had higher

mental processing scores, psychomotor development, eye-hand

coordination and visual acuity.

 

Therefore, it has been recommended by many clinicians that pregnant

and nursing women supplement their diets with EFAs. It is also vital

to ensure that when weaning a child, it be done with foods high in

EFAs and/or have their diet supplemented.

 

Sources of Omega 3s include flax seed, flax seed oil (unrefined and

unfiltered), deep water fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, & trout),

fish oil supplements (refined to remove environmental toxins), green

leafy vegetables, and walnuts.

 

Omega 6s are found in soy, canola (not heated), sunflower, corn, whole

grains, nuts, sunflower seeds, beans, eggs, many processed foods, and

salad dressings. GLA is found in borage, black currant, and primrose

oil, Omega 7 in sea buckthorn, and Omega 9 in olives and olive oil.

 

The Editors

 

Dan Stradford, Editor

 

Gloria McTaggart, Assistant Editor

 

SafeHarborProj

 

AlternativeMentalHealth.com

 

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About Safe Harbor

 

Safe Harbor was founded in 1998 in the wake of growing public

dissatisfaction with the unwanted effects of orthodox psychiatric

treatments such as medication and shock therapy.

 

Seeking to satisfy the desire for safer, more effective treatments,

Safe Harbor is dedicated to educating the public, the medical

profession, and government officials on research and treatments that,

minimally, do no harm and, optimally, cure the causes of severe mental

symptoms. Our primary thrust is education on the medical causes of

severe mental symptoms and the use of nutritional and other natural

treatments.

About AlternativeMental

Health.com

 

ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM is the world's largest website devoted

exclusively to alternative mental health treatments. It includes a

directory of over 300 physicians, nutritionists, experts,

organizations, and facilities around the U.S. that offer or promote

safe, alternative treatments for severe mental symptoms. Many of the

physicians listed do in-depth examinations to find the physical causes

behind mental problems.

 

Also included on the site is an array of articles on topics ranging

from the medical causes of schizophrenia to the effects of toxic

metals on mental health.

 

Special AlternativeMentalHealth.com T-shirts and bumper stickers are

available at our online store.

 

A bookstore page lists top books that cover many areas of alternative

treatments with titles like Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and

Other Common Mental Disorders and No More Ritalin.

 

AlternativeMentalHealth.com has been created to educate the public,

practitioners, and government officials on the medical conditions that

create " mental illness " and the many safe resources available for

addressing and often curing severe mental symptoms.

Contact Us

 

Safe Harbor

 

787 W. Woodbury Rd., #2

 

Altadena, CA 91001

 

Phone: 626-791-7868

 

Fax: 626-791-7869

 

SafeHarborProj

 

AlternativeMentalHealth.com

 

Safe Harbor Boston

 

Gary Shapiro, President

 

Post Office Box 218

 

Newton, MA 02468

 

U.S.A.

 

Phone: 617-964-5544

 

SafeHarborB

 

Safe Harbor Maryland

 

Margo Duesterhaus, President

 

410-480-5498 or

 

margo@

 

alternativementalhealth.com

 

Safe Harbor New Mexico

 

Louisa Putnam, President

 

505 988-4242 or

 

louisa_putnam

 

Safe Harbor Oklahoma

 

Sandra Lykins, President

 

8177 S. Harvard # 826

 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74137

 

Email: Okalternativementalhealth@

 

 

phone: 918-271-2327

 

Safe Harbor India

 

Bhargavi Davar, PhD, President

 

B-1, 11/12 Konak Pooram

 

Kondhwa

 

Pune, India 411 048

 

(0091) 020-26837644 or

 

wamhc

 

Safe Harbor Oman

 

Aziz Alnamani, MD, President

 

Box 192 P.C. 122

 

Muscat

 

Sultanate of Oman

 

Phone: (968) 99292979

 

Fax: (968) 24493417

 

Email: topmedics

 

 

 

We welcome your donations. As a nonprofit organization, Safe Harbor is

supported solely through the generosity of the public. Donations can

be made online at our web site or mailed to the above address. We also

accept Visa/ MasterCard by phone. Thank you.

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