Hello to all of you! I've been reading whatever I could find online about using Orthomolecular Medicine to treat addictions. The current mainstream treatments are clearly not effective in many cases, as made evident by the very high rates of relapse.

 What orthomolecular programs have you found to be successful in dealing with depression in older adults?

There's this great US article that sums up the problem with our current focus away from Prevention, and almost entirely on Treatment (which doesn't come close to hitting the mark).

A Vital Part of Healthcare Reform: Change How We Educate Our Doctors

Currently, we are stuck in this model that is symptom-suppression. Exactly how are you to know that you are in pain, sick, deathly ill, is drugs mask the signs? 

 So the media is heating things up about the Swine Flu.

Here are some articles about how to deal with it: (mouse over to link to articles)

1. How to Avoid The H1N1 Swine Flu With Vitamins And Supplements 

2. Swine Flu - Alternative & Natural Medicine Solutions

There's an interesting 'sample' protocoal for "orthomolecular medicine (OM) ideas that can help alleviate depression, fatigue, muscle pain, and joint pain, as well as other symptoms that may appear in chronic fatigue.

The author included herbs as part of OM protocol - which isn't true, but this article gives a good idea of what an OM practitioner would suggest. Don't forget though - OM is based on individual biochemistry! What works for your neighbour, might not work exactly for you...

(first paragraph of article) 

  This interesting article appeared in the NYTimes which seems to contradict other studies on vitamins an exercise. We probably have a very simplistic view of the role of free redicals in the body. Obviously, free radicals and reactive oxygen species-despite their bad press-are, in fact essential to life-the question is, is too much of a good thing bad? This study seems to suggest there is a beneficial sweet spot of physiological oxidation/reduction below which, or beyond which, the body is harmed. 

 So, I have heard that barbequed meat can cause cancer, is this true?  Has anyone else heard about this?  I'm a vegetarian would this also apply for barbequed veggies?

Input please! I love my milk but someone suggested I switch to soy instead. I’ve heard it’s linked to cancer. Which is better to drink? 

Hi,I just read a book on orthomolcular health, and it's influenced me to try a Niacin regimen (1,000mg 3x/day, so total 3,000mg/day). I also have an old nutrition book, though, that says that if you take one of the B vitamins in large doses that you can create an artificial deficiency in the others, so you should also take a B complex to safeguard against this.I'm writing to ask if anyone has any good information (links, etc) on the specifics of this. At this dosage of Niacin, how much B complex daily would be a safe bet to avoid the imbalance?

I've started taking Niacin again as my allergy season is about to start this year. I've used it for the past few years to reduce my allergic reaction (a niacin flush lowers one's histamine levels). I benefit from the niacin by reducing my allergies, and also feeling good after. Anyone else get that happy' feeling? I believe in the 60's niacin was used purposely to get that 'high'.