Healthy by Nature radio show this week
Integrative physician, Alfred Johnson, DO joins us to take calls about cancer prevention and adjunct treatments like hyperbaric oxygen. Dr. Daniel J. Crisafi PhD, MH, is a naturopathic doctor (Celine Dion is one of his patients). He will discuss premature aging, toxic chemicals and aged garlic. Call the live show with questions at 1-800-281-8255. Click here to find podcasts, show archives and how to listen nationwide.

Behind the headlines
As you are probably aware, on October 3, 2013, Miriam Carey, a 34-yr old mother with a toddler in the car was shot by authorities while driving crazily around the heart of DC. This tragic event may well have resulted from a perfect storm in her brain. That police were on edge because of the threat of terrorism complicated matters. (We can only wish that their first reaction had been to shoot out the tires instead of the driver.)

I only know Miriam’s health history from the news but I’ve read that that she had suffered from postpartum depression as well as a lot of stress. She was getting off of psychiatric medications and at the time of the incident she was having delusions. Those facts alone are enough to construct a plausible scenario. Similar news stores are all too common and it is not always the sick person who dies, but perhaps the person’s children.

It is well known that starting or withdrawal from many psychiatric drugs can trigger not only suicidal and homicidal thoughts but also the headline-grabbing stories about mass murder and bizarre crimes. (You may have to look way deep in the article to find that information.) In the majority of these cases it is likely that there are also nutritional factors but you will never hear a word about them.

Vitamins and minerals are required to form and release neurotransmitters, the chemicals that make our brains function properly. When the nutrients are deficient, neurotransmitters can be lacking or misfire thereby causing those behaviors that make us shake our heads in disbelief. Postpartum depression (i.e. after delivery of a baby) is a good example of the problem. It is also easy to spot because it takes place in a defined time frame. If a woman is marginally nourished before becoming pregnant, the growing baby can deplete her further. Then the stress of delivery and adjusting to the new demands of motherhood can further drain nutrients, especially minerals. As if that wasn’t enough, antidepressant medications may further reduce nutrient levels.

Replacing insufficient body stores of the minerals zinc, copper, iron and magnesium has been found to improve symptoms of depression–including postpartum depression. As you will see below, there are many natural approaches to postpartum depression.

It is discouraging that our medical reimbursement system gives the psychiatrist an incentive to reach for the prescription pad and disincentives to assess what the body/brain needs to function normally. It has also been proven that too many of the experts who create the practice guidelines are on the payroll of drug companies. Naturally, they prefer a pharmaceutical approach. (Physicians who do not follow that doctor rule book and opt to fix a patient’s chemistry risk losing their licenses.)

“Experts” will say that there isn’t scientific proof of the benefits and safety of alternative methods. However, a closer look will show that is also true about drugs and they are not nearly as safe. The studies on alternatives are starting to pile up, even if many are done in foreign countries that are more interested in natural approaches. Here is a sampling related to postpartum depression. They sure make it seem smart to supplement with these basics:

                                                                  MINERALS, B’s and OTHER
Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment. LINK.

Low zinc and greater depression. Depression was not uniformly linked to low magnesium but the results seems confused because all participants received high amounts of supplemental magnesium throughout pregnancy (apparently routine in some places). LINK.

Bonus: Magnesium also helps with the serious pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) and life-threatening eclampsia (seizures during pregnancy). LINK.

This study highlights benefit from vitamin B₂ (riboflavin), but sometimes the other B’s shine. I say be safe and take them all. LINK.

The role of serum trace minerals. LINK.

Magnesium, zinc and vitamin B₁ (thiamine). LINK.

    Omega-3 fatty acids, folate (another B vitamin), S-adenosyl-methionine, St John’s Wort, bright light therapy, exercise, massage, and acupuncture. LINK.

                                              OMEGA-3’s
This study thought it might be good to try omega-3’s when patients haven’t responded to drugs. (I suggest they try nutrition first.) LINK.

Seafood intake and DHA (part of fish oil) in mother’s milk helpful. LINK.

Increasing the dietary DHA intake during pregnancy and postpartum seems prudent. LINK.

Low omega-3’s a risk factor for postpartum depression. LINK.

In this study, researchers stated that women with higher blood levels of DHA at 34-36 weeks into the pregnancy had significantly less depression. That is an encouraging finding. However, at the end the authors lumped all the results together and concluded that supplementation didn’t work. It seems possible that the average mother just needed fish oil to keep their blood levels up until the end of the study. LINK.

Especially when we think about all the benefits to the baby of good prenatal nutrition, it seems to be a no-brainer to give the mom supplements rather than wait until she is depressed after birth and try drugs that may or may not make her think President Obama is calling her to drive through a barricade.

It must be October
There is a lot of interest in mammograms in October but, I want to call attention to thermography. I asked the Thermography Center (Dallas) to give 20% off this month and they agreed. To learn more about all the great health information you can get from a thermogram, listen to my July 27th interview with founder Dr. Michael Einsohn. If you live too far from Dallas, you can still call the center because they generously offered to tell you how to find similar services in your area. (214) 352.8758

Last Week Followup
LINK to that show in the archives. Our first guest, cancer survivor Dale Berthon, who took the alternative path to heal his bladder cancer. (In next week’s newsletter I will print the program he used.) Deanna Naylor and I discussed the many health benefits of super fruits, minerals and an easy, delicious way to get them by drinking Fruit of the Spirit. Dr Steve Hickey well-known author and scientist with a PhD in medical biophysics joined us from Cornwall, England. He has a particular interest in antioxidants and prevention of disease with vitamin C. Dr. Hickey recommended plain old ascorbic acid but, in doses of several thousand milligrams a day. He said that the real danger is not really in overdosing but in not getting enough to help prevent heart disease and other illness. He said the idea of vitamin C being linked to kidney stones was more theory that actual. Here is an interesting story about a man’s struggle to get a hospital to allow him to help his pneumonia using vitamin C.

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My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book: Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

The information contained in this newsletter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents are for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.

Copyright 2013 Martie Whittekin, CCN