The Gastrointestinal Origin Of Mental Illness

[Guest guest]

The Gastrointestinal origin of mental Illness and complimentary

treatment strategies

16/04/2008

 

Based on the writings of Psychiatrist Dr C.M. Reading and Jordan

Rubin

 

**This is article is is not a replacement for medical treatment and

By Reading you agree to the disclaimer first

 

 

 

The below article and information and treatment strategies may be of

great benefit to anyone who may suffer from a mental illness, celiac

disease, bowel disease, depression, autism, ADHD and other related

learning disorders. Many people have reported testimonials of

recovery from many so called 'incurable' illnesses using the

protocols outlined in the treatments section*.

 

 

 

The current situation - Modern medicine sees all mental illness

deriving only from the brain - primarily from neurotransmitter

imbalance and nothing else - the truth is that in many cases there is

often an underlining physical cause (eg: infection, celiac disease,

etc) and this is often never investigated, and so its no wonder

today we are faced with the current tragedy that the Mentally ill die

25 years earlier, on average (article)

 

We Highly recommend you read the below article & treatment strategies

or download the free ebook.

 

 

 

Treatment Strategies - for Celiac disease, Autism, ADHD, mental

illness, CFS, MS, IBS, bowel disease

 

What you haven't been told: -The medical studies both you & your MD

need to see:

 

'99% certain of a genetic association between schizophrenia and

coeliac disease A drastic reduction, if not full remission, of

schizophrenic symptoms after initiation of gluten withdrawal has been

noted in a variety of studies.' read more..

 

'An autopsy of 82 patients who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Gastritis was found in 50%, enteritis in 85% and colitis in 92%.'

read more...

 

Enterocolitis discovered in the majority of children with Autistic

spectrum disorders' read more..

 

Why isn't my doctor / psychiatrist aware about this? (click here)

 

All diseases begin in the gut' – Hippocrates (460-370 BC),

 

`The primary seat of insanity lies generally in the region of the

stomach and intestines' – Phillipe Pinel, the father of modern

psychiatry (1745-1828).

 

 

 

" The Theory that an infectious agent can cause schizophrenia or

bipolar disease is gaining more attention, - It seems reminiscent of

the time before it was proven that stomach ulcers are actually caused

by a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. That's a very good story,

actually, where everyone thought that stomach ulcers were caused by

stress. We often use that story because we've been working on the

infectious aspects of schizophrenia and bipolar for 20 or 25 year

now. Once the ulcer story came out, suddenly people were more

believing. If an ulcer could be caused by an infectious agent, then

almost anything could " NAMI 2007 Convention: Interview with E.

Fuller Torrey

 

 

 

Now Playing> Donna Gates & Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride Interview:

The Gut , autism and mental illness:

http://www.gutandmentalillness.com/

 

 

 

 

 

What really causes a mental illness?

 

Genes, the environment and emotional experiences and seen as the

likely causal variables in the development of mental illness.

Currently, science believes that mental illness is linked to genetic

flaws. However, recent medical research also points to immune system

dsyregulation, most likely originating from gastrointestinal

dysfunction as another factor. The below article explains this in

greater detail and provides a complimentary treatment and prevention

protocol.

 

 

 

Credit with regards to this article must be given to Psychiatrist Dr

C.M. Reading - who over 30 years of practice believed that a

significant percentage of those with mental illness suffer due to

gastrointestinal & physical problems manifesting as celiac or latent

celiac disease, food allergies, infections, auto-immune disease and

malabsorbtion. Only recently, has scientific research started to

support such theories about mental illness - particularly the need

for auto-antibody screening and the auto-immune link to mental

illness.

 

 

 

Often overlooked in the development of many illnesses, especially

mental illness and neurological disorders is the role of the

gastrointestinal system. It is known that both our gut and brain

originate early in embryogenesis from a clump of tissue called the

neurcast, which appears and divides during foetal development. While

one section turns into the central nervous system another piece

migrates to become the enteric nervous system and thus form both

thinking machines. Later the two nervous systems are connected via a

cable called the vagus nerve. This nerve meanders from the brain stem

through the organs in the neck and thoric and finally ends up in the

abdomen. This establishes the brain gut connection. So it is from a

correctly functioning gut that we enjoy neurological, psychological

and immunological health.

 

 

 

It is currently known among gastroenterologists that children with

neurological problems often exhibit gastrointestinal upset. Most

medical practitioners associate that the function of the gut is

reactive to the mind and not vice versa. This understanding is based

of current neuro-gastroeneterology. The guts brain, the enteric

nervous system (located in sheaths of tissue lining the esophageus,

stomach and colon) is packed with nerves with neurotransmitters,

neurons and proteins and support cells like those found in the brain.

So when we feel emotional, the enteric nervous system in the gut

likely responds to the mind in a certain manner. For example vomiting

before an interview.

 

 

 

But contrary to what most people think, latest research indicates

that the gut itself may affect the mind and hence how we feel. It is

possible that problems with the guts brain - the 'enteric nervous

system' and its immunological interactions may indirectly effect the

human brain and central nervous system. In this way the gut may be in

fact more responsible than we have imagined for our mental well-

being...

 

 

 

Gastrointestinal causes of mental illness:

 

 

 

The human body, is an organism of 100 trillion (1014) cells and of

this 90 trillion are prokaryotic (bacterial) and only 10 trillion are

eukaryotic ('human'). Each human cell supports 50-100 bacteria or

bacterial descendants. The human gastrointestinal tract, (gut)

contains contains almost all of this bacteria infact 2 kg - so

therefore there are more cells in our gut than our entire body!.

Hundreds of different types of bacteria function symbiotically to

maintain this 'micro-world' to predominate over pathogenic bacteria .

In this way, an advanced array of immunological interactions

constantly interplay between this specialised bacterial mass and the

body to enable us to maintain both physical and mental health. It is

pivotal that the balance of this bacteria is maintained as the human

intestine is the largest organ of the immune system. Thus, changes in

intestinal health can indirectly have far reaching consequences on

the body through the gut's regulatory impact on immune system.

 

 

 

Overuse of antibiotics, poor diet and nutrition, emotional stress,

infection and inherited gut disorders such as celiac disease are

known to contribute to weakened gastrointestinal health. When the

balance of the gut is compromised there is increased risk of gut

infection and thus a possible breakdown of the immunological health

of the body. So important is this balance, it is noted that 'The

brain and body state' is achieved as a reward for looking after our

micro flora - according to Evgeny Rothschild, (Science Spectra 6,

1996).

 

 

 

Recurrent gastrointestinal infection, gastritis, post antibiotic

infection (colonization of bad bacteria), tropical sprue and

inherited gastro-immunological disorders such as celiac sprue, non-

celiac sprue and food intolerances may lead to the development of

mental illness and disease. For example, current research into autism

has postulated that a certain subset of children who had MMR vaccine

may have developed a persistent gastrointestinal infection with the

measles virus. This has been confirmed through colonoscopies of these

children who exhibit inflammation in the small bowel. As a

consequence, the poor health of their small bowel has caused these

children to deteriorate neurologically.

 

 

 

When the gut can not eradicate a pathogen or suspected antigen

correctly a cycle of deterioration occurs in the gut. Normally when a

pathogen is acquired by the gastrointestinal tract an auto-immune

response is triggered to eliminate this infection. Often diarrhoea,

fever and vomiting occur and usually the infection is self limiting

and the individual recovers. However, in a subset of people with

weakened gastrointestinal systems either inherited or due to

environmental factors, the immune response may be inadequate. This

leads to persistent gastrointestinal illness. Often a long term

immune response to a pathogen not eliminated correctly will trigger

persistent inflammation. For example, often seen in cases of

inflammatory bowel disease such as Ulcerative colitis, the immune

system over-responds and the colon become chronically inflamed due to

infection. Repeated inflammation sets in a cycle of deterioration of

gut mucosa.

 

In the case of mental illness it is mostly likely that an

insufficient gastro-immunological response occurs in the small

bowel. No symptoms of gastrointestinal upset may occur except for

mental illness. Repeated immune response due to infection or allergy

may result in inflammation, particularly in the area of the small

bowel and over time this may lead to damage of the mucosal villi and

in turn increase mucosal permeability. With partial-atrophy

(flattening) of the villi there is less absorption of food and less

immune secretory factors from the villi (IgA, IgM, IgG) cells to

prevent further infection. These villi are also responsible in

secreting of digestive enzymes, but with greater pathogenic load and

poor motility due to infection there is less enzyme release and hence

digestion of ingested substances deteriorates. Due to this a cycle of

malabsorption can set in, and with malabsorption there is less chance

of epithelial repair. This is because epithelial cells are constantly

replacing themselves and to do so require a constant nutrient supply.

Without adequate and dense nutrition they can not replicate and this

worseness mucosal integrity.

 

 

 

In this way, a vicious circle of inflammation, infection, allergy,

permeability and malabsorption continues. Overtime, the immunological

response of the small bowel may deteriorate, likely due to auto-

immune tendency to the stomach or bowel from the body. This may lead

to small bowel bacterial overgrowth or candidiasis which in turn

increase the permeability of the gut.

 

Once depleted and inflamed, the villi fail to protect the mucosal

integrity and allow the intestine to become permeable to more

substances. In this way, the small bowel may allow the undigested

contents to 'leak' into the blood stream. As enzyme secretion

diminishes, due to pathogenic and pancreatic overload there is an

accumulation of absorbed undigested materials in the body. These

easily cross through a more permeable gut and overload the liver and

kidneys with greater than normal toxin levels. In particular, the

phase one to phase two detoxification pathways of toxins in the liver

can become insufficient for this load and chemical sensitivities may

then develop. Without adequate detoxification the poorly digested

toxins accumulate in the body.

 

Allergies to certain foods are often acquired from incomplete

digestion and elimination. Allergies in turn also create nutrient

deficiencies. In many gut related mental illnesses malabsorption

develops both from allergies and poor enzyme release possibly due to

pathogenic overload. Malabsorption creates severe disturbances in the

body. Many mental patients are known to often exhibit low serum

levels of B vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B12 and B6 and

zinc which are vital for normal the function of the brain and

stability of mood. Recent studies have shown the many schizophrenics

have poor taste and sense of smell - indicative of zinc deficiency.

 

 

 

In addition, the correct break down and digestion foods are required

to produce the vitamins needed to create the hormone cortisol.

Cortisol and related steroids can only be manufactured with adequate

B vitamins, esp. B5, B1, B2, B3, Mg, ZN, and vitamin C.Hence,

malabsoption prevents cortisol production in the body. Cortisol is an

anti-inflammatory compound and is very important for the homeostasis

of the body. With low cortisol the body can not fight allergies,

infection, inflammation and auto-immunity as well. Cortisol is also

is important in mood regulation, stamina levels and blood sugar

regulation. Low cortisol can result in mood swings, depression,

paranoid and psychotic behaviour. Hypoglycemia results from food

allergies, malabsorbtion, low cortisol, Candida, pancreatic overload -

all which derive from digestive problems. Hypoglycemia can cause

many mental problems such as anxiety, shaking, crying, panic and mood

changes.

 

Insufficient break-down of the hardest to digest (and most commonly

consumed) foods leads to incompletely digested fractions or peptides.

With stressed detoxification systems these peptides can accumulate in

the body. Certain peptides readily cross the blood brain barrier and

interfere with brain functioning. Milk and bread exhibit peptides

called exorphins from gluten and casein which act as opoids in the

human brain and have psychoactive effects similar to morphine (an

opoid drug). Many psychotic patients have specific circulating IgA

antibodies to such peptides indicating that these fractions have over

time accumulated in their brains and organs.

 

 

 

These poorly digested food fractions then trigger an autoimmune

response by the body- the body identifies these as 'foreign'

antigens - accumulating in areas which they should not be in the

body. The autoimmune response may damage the brain due to repeated

cerebral allergy and may initiate autoimmune damage to other organs

such as the thyroid and pancreas. It is postulated that the

autoimmune response triggered by such toxins as well as bacterial and

fungal endotoxins from the gut may deteriorate the blood brain

barrier itself allowing for greater permeability of the brain to

further toxins. Further auto-immune damage may then occur deep in the

brain itself, including areas involving neurotransmitter release and

neurological function..

 

In children and young adults, both the accumulation of opioid s,

bacterial & or fungal endotoxins and the auto-immune response

triggered as a result may then inhibit the normal maturation of the

central nervous system. As the human brain, especially the frontal

lobe, does not complete development until the age of 25, permanent

damage to the brain often results. This explains the rapid onset of

autism in healthy children who suddenly deteriorate with severe

developmental and learning disorders. Whilst with schizophrenia, this

correlates with onset and worsening of symptoms seen in the late

teens and early twenties of growing adults. It is likely that the

developing brain is damaged from both the auto-immune response and

toxins.

 

 

 

These once healthy individuals may have in fact acquired their mental

illness through a poorly functioning gastrointestinal-immune system

rather than inheriting mental illness. Further examples are of this

are seen in Western Ireland which has a high incidence of both celiac

sprue and schizophrenia. This also indirectly highlights the

mechanism for the inheritance of schizophrenia, whereby inheritance

of poor gut function is passed on (not necessarily the gene for

dopamine excess) which slowly erodes the developing brain eventually

causing mental symptoms.

 

 

 

The combination of the malabsorption of essential nutrients,

allergies, low cortisol and accumulation brain opioid and

insufficient detoxication and resulting autoimmune damage may

overwhelm the ability of any individual to function normally. By

initiating a chain of 'health breakdowns'(See the Gut and Mental

illness flow chart diagram), a poorly functioning gastro-

immunological system and its cumulative effects, ultimately result in

mental illness. The path to recovery or prevention of such illness

therefore lies in restoring the immunological balance of the gut.

Below are treatment strategies that have helped others recover:

 

 

 

The below treatment strategies are effective for any form of gastro-

immune induced illness. Good gut management and gut repair can modify

and manage many immune disorders outside the gut. Without gut repair

and good gut ecology return of health is unlikely. The Below

complementary treatments have assisted people with mental illness,

learning disorders, hypoglycemia, autism, memory problems, chronic

fatigue, bowel disease, auto-immune disease, arthritis and coeliac

and latent celiac disease.

 

 

Continue:

Complimentary Treatment Strategies

Why isn't my doctor / psychiatrist aware about this?

Article And Video Link:

http://www.gutandmentalillness.com/