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Dan Stradford, Editor
Alan Graham, Assistant Editor
Gloria McTaggart, Assistant Editor
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www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
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1. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR
2. EDITOR’S COMMENT
3. ARTICLE: NATURAL RELIEF FOR "SEPTEMBER 11TH"
TRAUMA
4. ARTICLE: ALZHEIMER'S VACCINE CLEARED FOR PHASE II TRIAL
5. ARTICLE: FIFTY CONDITIONS THAT MIMIC "ADHD"
6. ARTICLE: MENTAL PERFORMANCE ENHANCED BY GINKGO/GINSENG
FORMULA
7. ARTICLE: CHASTEBERRY EXTRACT EFFECTIVE FOR PMS SYMPTOMS
8. ARTICLE: RITALIN MORE POTENT THAN COCAINE
9. ABOUT ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM
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ABOUT SAFE HARBOR
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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, the Project 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.
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www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com
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EDITOR’S COMMENT
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This is our first issue since the September 11 attacks on the
U.S. and, like most American editors, I find myself at a
keyboard trying to articulate the incomprehensible.
Our nation -- our people -- experienced a shock on that tragic
day that thundered into the core of our souls. And now the
battle is waged on foreign soil as Americans glance carefully
about, looking for dangers that may lurk near and far. News
reports say that antidepressant and tranquilizer sales are up
as a result. Some people living at the brink of insanity have
been pushed over the edge while others have been jolted out of
their mental troubles.
Terrorism begets terror. That is its intent. And fearful
people will sometimes seek refuge in chemicals, be they drugs
or alcohol, that numb the anguish, the grief, the rage.
But this is no time to dull one’s wits, as medication is
inclined to do. Mothers and fathers are needed at their best.
The American worker -- the soldier of our economy -- is needed
at his finest as the wolves of recession pant at our door.
It is normal to hurt at times like these. Pity the man or
woman so numb that he cannot. But drugs are not the answer.
Some simple advice: Get to work. Turn off the TV if it drags
you down. Talk to friends, family, or people of your faith.
Get some fresh air. Follow the advice of the Dalai Lama and
help others achieve what you want by helping them relieve
their anxiety or depression or fear. Knock off the bad eating
habits. Hang around with positive people. And take a look at
our first article.
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NATURAL RELIEF FOR "SEPTEMBER 11TH" TRAUMA
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Many are understandably depressed and anxious over the tragic
events of September 11, so it is not surprising that in an
article following the attacks Reuters reported a run on
sleeping pills and anti-depressants. Depression, anxiety and
sleeplessness are completely natural and appropriate under
these circumstances (this is not a disorder), and there are
several approaches which can help relieve the symptoms without
drugs. Additionally, the body uses more nutrients in order to
cope with stressful situations, and this increased demand can
quickly lead to deficiencies which exacerbate the symptoms.
A summary of these remedies follows. More information can be
found on each of these in earlier issues of Alternative Mental
Health News and in articles at AlternativeMentalHealth.com.
Alternative remedies which can be used to help relieve
depression and anxiety include exercise, St. John’s Wort,
Melatonin, Magnesium, and Tryptophan, to mention a few.
Exercise: Even a 30-minute daily walk is proven to help
depression more effectively than drugs.
St. John’s Wort: Studies found St. John’s Wort to be as
effective as antidepressants -- 350 mg. Three times a day.
Melatonin: Is a common remedy for sleeplessness, and has been
found highly effective.
Magnesium: Not only does magesium help relieve stress and
sleeplessness, but given that is has been found that nearly
75% of Americans are already deficient in magnesium, the need
for this nutrient is doubly important.
Trytophan: Many depressed people have low tryptophan levels.
5-HTP, a supplement which contains a form of tryptophan, has
been shown in numerous studies to be as effective as
antidepressants. A standard dosage of 5-HTP is 50-100 mg once
or twice a day with meals.
Although any nutritional deficiency can cause and intensify
mental and emotional symptoms, those which most obviously
affect depression include several of the B Vitamins, Vitamin
C, the amino acid Methionine, and a fatty acid called Omega-3.
Vitamin B1: Improves mood, a general lift. 50 mg. a day has
been found effective in normal circumstances, but more can be
used, and is needed, under stress.
Vitamin B2: Deficiency in B2 is not common, but can be created
by antidepressant drugs. This leads to further depression.
Vitamin B6: B6 deficiency is common in depression. Supplements
of B6 have been found effective.
Vitamin B9: Studies have found B9 (folic acid) deficiency in
35% of those suffering from depression. The most common
symptom of folic acid deficiency is, in fact, depression.
Vitamin B12: This vitamins works with folic acid, and has been
found to be deficient particularly in those over 50 years of
age. Supplementation of folic acid and B12 often produces
dramatic results in people who are depressed because of
deficiencies.
Vitamin C: Deficiency is this vitamin can cause anxiety. It is
common in those who have a poor diet (e.g., many Americans),
or one low in fruits and vegetables.
Methionine: SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), a form of methionine,
has been found to be deficient in depressed people, and in the
elderly. Common supplementation of SAMe starts with 1,600 mg a
day, taken 800 mg twice a day or 400 mg four times a day, for
two or three weeks, or until the person starts to feel the
antidepressant effects. Then the dose is frequently reduced
gradually to 800 mg or 400-mg a day, depending on the severity
of symptoms.
Omega 3: Deficiency in Omega 3 fatty acids is especially
common in people on low-fat diets. Population studies in
different countries have shown that decreased consumption of
Omega-3’s correlates with increased rates of depression.
Omega-3 can be found as a supplement, or can be included in
your diet. It is common in certain seeds, canola oil, soybean
oil, egg yolks, and cold-water ocean fish.
Unfortunately, no one has a quick fix for the effects of the
September 11th events, but we hope the above information
helps. The information is, of course, for educational purposes
only and is not intended as medical advice.
=================================================================
ALZHEIMER'S VACCINE CLEARED FOR PHASE II TRIAL
=================================================================
As reported by the CNN Medical Unit in July 2001, an
experimental vaccine designed to fight Alzheimer's disease
appears to be safe in humans and is showing an immune
response, scientists with Elan Corporation announced.
The researchers report they have concluded the first phase of
testing to assess safety, and expect to take the vaccine into
phase two clinical trials by the end of 2002.
The vaccine, called AN-1792, was studied in 100 patients with
mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease in the United States and
the United Kingdom. The trials lasted more than a year.
"The product showed that is was safe for patients and a
significant proportion of the patients were able to
demonstrate an immune response. Their antibody levels went up
and that indicates that this was having an effect in these
patients," he said.
Two years ago, Elan researchers reported remarkable results of
the vaccine in mice. Mice immunized at a young age were
protected from Alzheimer's; in animals that already had the
disease, the disease was halted and in some cases reversed.
The Alzheimer's Association said Elan's announcement is an
exciting development but should not preclude other avenues of
research to find a way of preventing or curing the devastating
disease.
The vaccine is based on the theory that substances in the
brain called amyloid plaques are the cause of Alzheimer's
dementia. A competing hypothesis holds that tangles of a
protein called tau, not amyloid plaque, are the culprit.
The main ingredient of the plaques, in both mice and humans,
is an enzyme called beta amyloid. The purpose of vaccinating
with beta amyloid is to stimulate the immune system, notably
microglial cells -- the brain's "garbage men" -- to
eradicate the plaques.
"If it turns out that the vaccine clears the protein out
and it still doesn't affect the disease, then that's a clear
indication that amyloid is not the causative factor,"
said Thies.
The vaccine is the first to target a naturally occurring
protein.
Schenk and his collaborators first tested their vaccine in
mice that had been genetically engineered to develop amyloid
plaques. In 1999, Elan researchers announced that their
vaccine triggered an immune response in the mice that cleared
the amyloid plaques from their brains.
Concurrent with Elan’s trials of the injected vaccine,
Dennis Selkoe and colleagues at Harvard Medical School began
testing a nasal spray version in the same type of genetically
engineered mice.
======================================================================
FIFTY CONDITIONS THAT MIMIC "ADHD"
======================================================================
Thanks to the ADHD Parents Support Group, parents can arm
themselves with a list of 50 conditions to eliminate before
accepting a diagnosis of ADHD for their child.
By way of introduction, the group’s website states:
"For those who are searching for reasons behind their
kid's behavior, here are some possibilities. Many parents,
because of not knowing, settle for ADHD as a diagnosis before
looking at everything. ADHD is diagnosed by mental health
professionals who form their opinion by observing your child's
behavior nothing more. There are no brain scans, blood tests,
or anything else definite that is used during diagnosis.
"The problem with that is there are many other problems
that have the same symptoms of ADHD. For example, any problem
dealing with the fuels of the body: water, food, blood and air
can cause behavior problems. Water, food, blood and air to the
body are just like gas and oil to a car. If you put bad gas or
have old or the wrong oil in your car, it will act up just
like a child acts up when eating foods he is allergic to,
drinking or breathing contaminated water or air or having
blood disorders. There are also many medical, biological,
emotional and mental conditions that mimic ADHD."
Following are ten of the fifty items they list, with brief
explanations. For the full list and full text please visit http://adhdparentssupportgroup.homestead.com/50conditionsmimicingADHD.html.
1. Hypoglycemia (Low Blood sugar) stemming from thyroid
disorders, liver or pancreatic problems, adrenal gland
abnormalities, or an insufficient diet.
2. Allergies to food dye, milk, chocolate, grains, etc.
3. Learning differences [or study difficulties that can be
interpreted as such].
4. Hyper or hypothyroidism: An imbalance in metabolism that
occurs from an overproduction or underproduction of thyroid
hormones.
5. Hearing and vision problems: If a child can't see or hear
properly, school and other daily activities are nearly
impossible and may cause ADHD-like symptoms, especially in
educational settings.
6. Mild to high lead levels, even in the absence of clinical
lead poisoning. Lead is the leading culprit in toxin-caused
hyperactivity.
7. Spinal Problems: Some spinal problems can cause ADHD-like
symptoms because the brain is receiving too many signals at
once.
8. Toxin exposures: Children are more vulnerable to toxins
than adults.
9. Carbon Monoxide poisoning: Sources include gas heaters,
fireplaces, dryers, and water heaters.
10. Seizure disorders.
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MENTAL PERFORMANCE ENHANCED BY GINKGO BILOBA/GINSENG FORMULA
======================================================================
A landmark clinical trial has found that a unique combination
of Panax Ginseng and Ginkgo biloba extracts can significantly
enhance mental performance in healthy, middle-aged people.
The study showed the unique Gingko biloba/Ginseng formulation
can promote fast, accurate thinking, improve short and
long-term memory retention and reduce mental fatigue. The
results were recently presented at a National Institute of
Mental Health seminar and announced today at a press
conference at The Rockefeller University in New York City.
"This is one of the first demonstrations that a unique
combination of botanical extracts can beneficially affect the
memory of healthy, middle-aged volunteers," said
principal investigator Professor Keith Wesnes, Chief
Executive, Cognitive Drug Research Ltd., Reading, England and
visiting professor of psychology with the University of
Northumbria, Northumbria, Newcastle. Prof. Wesnes developed
the Computerized Cognitive Assessment System, and has
conducted extensive research in the area of cognitive
function. "These results suggest that individuals
functioning in a fast-paced and demanding environment can
improve their ability to process and retain new information
and work with better mental efficiency.
"The 14-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized, multi-center trial studied the cognitive effects
of the herbal combination in 256 healthy volunteers between
the ages of 38 and 66 years. The volunteers performed a
battery of tests using the Computerized Cognitive Assessment
System, a validated testing method accepted by the FDA and
used to assess the effect of cognitive enhancing products. The
study showed the group of volunteers receiving the active
herbal combination had statistically significant improvements
in cognitive function (average of +7.5%) compared to the
control group receiving placebo. The combination product was
well tolerated by study volunteers.
"I noticed that I was able to recall things that I had
trouble remembering before like telephone numbers, names and
even items on my shopping list which I always forget,"
said Bill French, a study volunteer who, after the study was
unblinded, learned he had been taking the combination.
"Overall I just felt like I was thinking clearer and
wasn't so mentally drained at the end of a long stressful
day."
"While previous research has documented the effects of
Gingko biloba on memory in older people, this study clearly
shows that this specific formulation of standardized Ginkgo
biloba and Ginseng extracts enhanced mental performance in a
younger healthy population," said Dr. Barbara Levine,
Co-Director of the Human Nutrition Program at The Rockefeller
University, speaking at the New York City conference.
"It's also important for consumers to understand that
research is product specific -- meaning that the results seen
in this study can't necessarily be applied to all
Ginkgo/Ginseng combinations." The product used in the
study was Ginkoba M/E, a dietary supplement manufactured and
distributed by Pharmaton Natural Health Products.
The primary goal of the Human Nutrition Program at The
Rockefeller University and the Nutrition Information Center at
Cornell University is to serve as a resource for gathering and
disseminating accurate and current information in nutrition
research, clinical nutrition and basic nutrition principles.
These programs strive to educate health professionals and the
public about nutrition so that they can make informed
decisions about maintaining a proper diet and proper use of
dietary supplements and functional foods.
This study was supported by Pharmaton Natural Health Products,
a division of Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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CHASTEBERRY EXTRACT EFFECTIVE FOR PMS SYMPTOMS
================================================================
A recent study done by Rudiger Schellenberg, MD, PhD, and
colleagues from the Institute for Health and Science in Hüttenberg,
Germany, confirmed that chasteberry extract provides relief
for the irritability, mood swings, and anger which can often
accompany premenstrual syndrome. The results of the study were
published in the British Medical Journal, January 20, 2001.
The extract, also known as agnus castus, or Vitex, comes from
the peppercorn-sized fruit of the chaste tree, a small woody
shrub that grows along riverbanks and hillsides in
Mediterranean regions and Central Asia. Its medicinal use
dates back centuries to European and Chinese traditional
medicine.
In the study, 170 women were randomly assigned to receive
either chasteberry extract or a placebo over three consecutive
menstrual cycles. Of the women who received the chasteberry
extract, 52% reported a 50% improvement in five of six
self-assessed symptoms. These included irritability, mood
alteration, anger, headache, and breast fullness. Physician
assessment using three items on the clinical global impression
scale corroborated the scores. Side effects were few and
minor.
"This herbal remedy ought to be considered a therapeutic
option in women in whom a causal origin for this syndrome
cannot be established," Dr. Schellenberg's group
concludes.
It is recommended that you consult your physician before
taking chasteberry extract or other herbs.
======================================================================
RITALIN MORE POTENT THAN COCAINE
======================================================================
For some years, Nora Volkow, a psychiatrist who is now
associate laboratory director for life sciences at Brookhaven
National Laboratory (BNL), has been studying the relationship
of Ritalin to cocaine. Volkow and colleagues are acknowledged
as leaders in the field of brain imaging of drug effects,
having spent several years tracing the effects of drugs of
addiction on the brain, using positron emission tomography
(PET) and other advanced techniques. Among their long list of
findings, they've identified the brain's dopamine system as a
major player in compulsive behavior, including drug taking and
overeating.
In June 1995, the Archives of General Psychiatry published an
article entitled "Is methylphenidate (Ritalin) like
cocaine? Studies on their pharmacokinetics and distribution in
human brain." The study cited was done by Volkow, et al,
to investigate the pharmacokinetics -- the process by which a
drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by
the body -- of Ritalin in the human brain, to compare them
with those of cocaine, and to evaluate whether cocaine and
Ritalin compete for the same binding sites in the nervous
system.
The study revealed that the regional distribution of Ritalin
was identical to that of cocaine and that the two drugs
competed with each other for the same binding sites. But they
differed markedly in their pharmacokinetics. Clearance of
Ritalin took 90 minutes, and clearance of cocaine took 20
minutes. For both drugs, their fast uptake in the brain
paralleled the experience of the "high."
The findings of a recent study done by Volkow at BNL,
published in the Journal of Neuroscience and reported in the
Journal of the American Medical Association, not only confirm
the similarities of cocaine and Ritalin, but find that Ritalin
is more potent than cocaine in its effect on the dopamine
system.
ADHD -- a condition which to date has not been verified as a
real physical, medical or neurological disease -- is the
primary reason a child is prescribed Ritalin. Ritalin
prescriptions have increased fivefold in the past ten years.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, about 80 percent of
the now 11 million prescriptions written for Ritalin are to
treat ADHD. Given that there are approximately 46 million
children in kindergarten through grade 12, these are sobering
statistics.
In February 2000, the Journal of the American Medical
Association article "Trends in the Prescribing of
Psychotropic Medications to Preschoolers," stated that
psychotropic medications have tripled in preschoolers ages 2
to 4 during a five-year period.
Volkow told the media that she and her research team were
"shocked as hell" at these results, and that
"The data clearly show that the notion that Ritalin is a
weak stimulant is completely incorrect."
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