A NATUROPATH'S EXPERIENCE OF LEAD & PEOPLE WITH DIAGNOSED MENTAL
ILLNESS
As a naturopath I help a lot of people with diagnosed mental
illness. Most patients I see have little understanding of the
importance of a proper diet, and the impacts this has on their mental
health and well being.

Medical literature highlights that poor nutrition and environmental
toxins are factors linked with learning and behavioural problems, as
well as depression and mental illness. Hair analyses conducted on my
patients with mental illness regularly show high levels of toxins
such as mercury 8,12, lead 11, arsenic 12 and cadmium.

It would benefit patients diagnosed with a mental illness to be
referred to a dietician or Naturopath. They should also be
encouraged to include some very basic nutritional supplements such as
Omega 3 9,10 and a multivitamin 1,2,4,5,6 as part of their
treatments, as these have been shown to improve mental health.
Patients would also benefit from screening for toxins and being
treated appropriately by a specialist in this area.

Having a holistic approach to mental health would benefit patients
suffering from mental illness. It may also reduce the number of
patients requiring medication, and reduce suffering for them and
their family. The benefits of a healthy balanced diet, hydration and
regular exercise 3 should not be underestimated.

I have attached a list of articles and research papers supporting
these statements.

Regards,


Catherine Hancock N.D


REFERENCES

1. Dommisse, J. Subtle vitamin-B12 deficiency and psychiatry: a
largely unnoticed but devastating relationship? Medical Hypotheses.
34(2):131-140, 1991.

2. Lansdowne, A. T., et al. Vitamin D3 enhances mood in healthy
subjects during winter. Psychopharmacology. 135(4):319-323, 1998.
Department of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW,
Australia.

3. De Coverly Veale, D. M. W. Exercise and mental health. Acta
Psychiatry Scandinavia. 76:113-120, 1976.

4. Levenson, C. W. Zinc: the new antidepressant? Nutrition
Reviews. 64(1):39-42, 2006.

5. Murck, H. Magnesium and affective disorders. Nutr
Neurosci. 5(6):375-389, 2002.

6. Benton, D., et al. Selenium supplementation improves mood in
a double-blind crossover trial. Psychopharmacology. 102(4):549-550,
1990. Department of Psychology, University College, Swansea, Wales,
UK.

7. Walton, R. G., et al. Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-
blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population. Biol
Psychiatry. 34(1-2):13-17, 1993.

8. Silberund, R., et al. Evidence that mercury from silver
dental fillings may be an etiological factor in depression, anger and
anxiety. Psychol Rep. 74:67-80, 1994.

9. Arvindakshan, M., et al. Supplementation with a combination
of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants (vitamins E and C) improves
the outcome of schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 62(3):195-204, 2003.

10. Nemets, B., et al. Addition of omega-3 fatty acid to
maintenance medication treatment for recurrent unipolar depressive
disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry. 159:477-479, 2002.

11. H. L. Needleman, J. A. Riess, M. J. Tobin, G. E. Biesecker
and J. B. Greenhouse Bone lead levels and delinquent behaviour
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh (Pa) School of
Medicine, USA.