loss of Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, Schizophrenia pioneer

[Guest guest]

As the only psychologist in Abram's Orthomolecular Medical Society, he

and I exchanged ideas, with me benefiting more than he. He, Carl

Pfeiffer and Marshall Mandel, were " giants " in this field, and they

were personal friends as well as mentors, and all are missed by me.

 

In 1980, I was working (pro bono) with a young woman schizophrenic,

getting nowhere with behavior therapy. A pamphlet came in the mail

describing the Hoffer-Osmond megavitamin therapy. It sounded a lot like

quackery - after all what do vitamins have to do with brain problems?

However, I was frustrated with my failure with this girl, and did know

that it could " do no harm " , so I tried it.

 

No one was more surprised than I to find that it worked. Suddenly,

behavior therapy also worked, and six months later, I was happy to give

her away in marriage.

 

I joined the Orthomolecular Society, and a few months later, I met Abram

at a seminar he gave. We had a long discussion and became friends.

 

One of the interesting things about the people I met in the

Orthomolecular group and later in the Alternate or Holistic Health

groups is that all of them are so generous with help. Carl Pfeiffer not

only gave me lengthy phone advice, he sent me two of his books gratis,

and when he retired to Orlando, he and I met for lunch and some

wonderful talk a few times.

 

Marshall Mandell also was free with his telephone advice, and he sent

me 7 of his books that helped me understand allergy and sensitivity

better. MD's and PhD's do not generally mix well, but everyone in these

groups was free with advice and time to help this PhD, and others with a

problem. Rare and unusual behavior, and I treasured all of these

amazing people, and miss them. I learned from them, and I hope that

they learned a bit from me.

 

30 years ago, we were all called " quacks " by most of our

contemporaries. Now, we are known more as " gurus " . The history of

medical " science " is full of similar stories. Every advance in medicine

has been made by someone called a quack by his contemporaries. I'm

proud to have been in the company of these " quacks " .

 

--

Phil Bate PhD

http://drbate.com - Free Alternate Health Advice

 

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