On September 8. 1965. Dorothy Dandridgc. the first black American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, was found dead. The cause was an accidental overdose of Tofranil. an anti-depressant. Moving ahead to February 11. 2012. Whitney Houston, the world renow ncd singer and actress, was found dead with Xanax and alcohol in her system. Bottles of prescription dnigs in her hotel room included Xanax. Valium and Ativan - all anti-depressants prescribed to treat anxiety. Anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and insomnia drugs truly have become "The Nightmare on Pill Street!" In nearly 50 years of prescribing anti-depressants the results arc all too frequently the same - dnig addiction, mental impairment, irrational and violent behavior, panic attacks, suicide, and death. An estimated 27.000 people a year die from accidental dnig overdoses in the U.S.1 . one death every 19 minutes! Clinical depression currently ranks second only to advanced coronary heart disease in the total number of days patients spent in the hospital or disabled at home. Pharmaceutical companies have overall yearly sales of $ 16 billion from anti-psychotics and $4.8 billion in sales of ADHD dnigs2. As of 2005. the most recent year for w hich data w ere available, about 27 million people, or 10 percent of Americans, were taking antideprcssants.' How did the United States - whose citizens arc known the world over for their outgoing self-confidence - emerge as a leading consumer of anti-depressant and anti-psychotic dnigs for social anxiety? How do those of us in the profession of holistic health and natural medicine reverse this trend Manufacturing Mental Illness The appeal of pharmaceutical dnigs is deceptively compelling. The allure that taking a pill can solve our health problems and make us feel good with little or no effort on our part is heavily promoted. In 2007. the pharmaceutical industry was estimated to be spending $4.8 BILLION dollars a year advertising prescription dmgs directly to the public. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Menial Disorders (DSM). published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the official manual listing psychiatric and psychological disorders. Many health professionals believe the DSM lias created mental illnesses out of ordinary life experiences. The DSM has a label and a code for most deviations from everyday behavior or passing mood swing that a person may experience4. Do you experience excessive anxiety regarding separation from people to whom you have strong emotional attachments? That's Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) or code 309.21. Recurring bad dreams? That may be Nightmare Disorder, code 307.47. Then there's the ultimate catchall for vague sadness or uneasiness. General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), code 300.02. By perceiving ordinary life experiences as certifiable mental illness, the patient becomes treatable by psychotropic dnigs and billable through insurance companies.5 Anti-depressants are no more effective than Sugar Pills! The pharmaceutical industry claims (and advertises) that depression is caused by a shortage of serotonin ~ an imbalance the dnig companies say can be corrected by a class of anti-depressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptakc Inhibitors (SSRIs). These dnigs prevent the body from metabolizing Serotonin, thereby increasing its presence in the brain.'' Prior to psychiatry's proclamation that depression was caused by too little of the ncuro-transmitter serotonin, few Americans were taking antidepressants. But by declaring that depression was caused by a serotonin imbalance, which could readily be corrected. Americans suffering from stress, insomnia and mild depression became far more receptive to taking serotonin-enhancing dnigs such as Prozac. Paxil. and Zoloft. Research, however, demonstrates that the pharmaceutical industry's serotonin imbalance theory of depression is erroneous! Scientists have known for quite some time that serotonin levels arc not associated with depression. Research on serotonin has been clear from the very beginning that the most damaging thing that could be done to the serotonin system would be to impair one's ability to metabolize serotonin. Yet that is exactly how SSRI antideprcssants exert their effects. A 2010 study published in the Journal of the American \ leciical Association (JAMA) found that anti-depressants arc basically useless for the vast majority of people who take them. They were only effective on patients with very severe symptoms.7 Psychology professor Irving Kirsch. Ph.D.. analyzed clinical data files from the FDA on published and unpublished trials: he found no significant differences between anti-depressant dnigs and placebos. What he did find was extreme differences in side effects." Is there a Link connecting Anti-depressants to Violent Behavior. Suicide, and Death? A study out of the University of Southern California in 1996 looked at a group of mutant mice in an experiment that had gone terribly wrong. These genetically engineered mice were the most violent creatures they had ever witnessed. At birth they were lacking the MAO-A enzyme which metabolizes serotonin, thus their brains were awash in this ncuro-transmit-tcr. The researchers determined this excess serotonin was the cause for the extreme violence in these mice.'' Paranoia, hallucinations, and violent behavior arc all hallmark side effects of anti-depressant drugs! It now appears reasonable that anti-depressants may trigger the very symptoms they were touted to suppress. Much of the bizarre and unexplained violence in this country today may be the result of overmedication with anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. On November 4. 2011. in Winnipeg. Canadian Judge Robert Hcinrichs ruled that antidcprcssants like Prozac can cause children to commit murder and concluded that a 15->car-old boy was under the influence of Prozac when he fatally stabbed a close friend. The judge's opinion was a landmark legal confirmation of the scientific fact that the newer antidcprcssants like Prozac, including the SSRI and SNRI anti-depressants, can cause violence and even murder. As far back as 1991. the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCIIR) organized dozens of individuals and experts to testify before the FDA that people with no prior history of violence became homicidal and suicidal under the influence of antideprcssants. To comprehend the full ramifications of these acts of violence and the concurrent use of anti-depressants, more information can be found at ssristorics.com. The evidence is becoming overwhelmingly clear: Psychotropic dnigs arc a contributing cause of adverse and dangerous mental instability, sometimes causing the victims to commit suicide or murder. Going Back to the Future! Stress has always been with us. It is simply the body's nonspecific response to any demand made upon it. Stress was programmed into primitive man to provide him with the fight or flight response necessary for his survival. But modem man is usually in situations where neither fight nor flight arc viable options so his stress point - unless it can be assuaged or channeled - elevates to anxiety-producing levels. Anxiety is merely the nonnal response to prolonged or chronic stress. Depression is the result of being unable to handle chronic stress while insomnia can be precipitated by stress, anxiety, or depression. They arc all interrelated and can be treated holistically in an effective manner. Since the beginning of time, humans have experimented and utilized various herbs and foods for treating mood problems in an effort to maintain health. Achievements in doing so were remarkable because the plant kingdom supplies a wealth of building blocks for calmative, nervine, and muscle relaxant medicines. Unlike dnigs. natural medicines address the underlying causes of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia while dnigs attempt to treat the symptoms. Allopathic medicine is negligent in looking for the real causes of depression, such as tin raid problems, lack of exercise, a bad diet, a guilty conscience, medical problems, allergies, environmental factors, and a host of other possibilities. It's easier and more profitable to write a prescription for an anti-depressant! Natural Remedies for common psychological disorders Specific herbs, minerals, and vitamins have extensive therapeutic histories and have been clinically shown to assuage and ameliorate common psychological disorders and resolve their underlying causes without subjecting the patient to synthetic dmgs which are foreign and toxic to the body. One of the most effective herbals to reduce stress - supported in the literature and by clinical research - is Rhodiola rosca which increases the body "s resistance to stress, anxiety, trauma and fatigue. Classified as an adaptogen. this herb exhibits the ability to increase resistance to a variety of chemical, biological, and physical stressors. Rhodiola also appears to regulate the body's production of cortisol. a critical "stress hormone.10 Clinical studies have also shown Rhodiola to improve physical and mental performance, and specifically the ability to concentrate" as well as reducing both mental and stress induced physical fatigue.r- Is this herb a viable alternative to plying our children with addictive ADHD dmgs? Hops strobiles from extract is often utilized for its calming and antispasmodic effect on the nervous system.'' Hops arc fast acting. A soothing, relaxing calm may be experienced within 20-40 minutes after ingesting the herb.14 One of the most effective natural medicines to reduce anxiety - supported in the literature and by clinical research - is Inositol. a natural tranquilizcr proven to help the individual by combating anxiety.15 In a 1995 double-blind study by the Ministry of Mental Health at Ben Gurion University, the efficacy of Inositol was superior lojhivoxamine. a prescription antideprcssant. in patients with anxiety disorders. Patients reported side effects of nausea and fatigue with ditvox-amine. Because it is water-soluble. Inositol docs not produce toxic side effects."' Gota Kola is another neural tonic herb which has been utilized as a treatment for nervous breakdown.l7 There are several medicinal herbs which have show to be effective in reducing chronic depression. One is Passiflora incarnata. which acts as a natural tranquili/cr. Its analgesic effect lias been demonstrated in laboraton and clinical tests.18 Passiflora works by increasing the availability of the ncurotrans-mittcr GAB A (ganima-aminobutyric acid), which has a calming effect on the nerves. Again. Rhodiola rosea has been used for centuries in Russia and Scandinavia to treat both anxiety and depression.19 It has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate mild to moderate depression The most effective natural medicine to alleviate chronic insomnia has long been an over-the-counter insomnia remedy in Germany. France. Switzerland. Belgium, and Italy. Valerian root is a sedative herb which sleep support studies clearly show improves sleep quality and sleep latency but leaves no "hangover" the next morning as is often observed with pharmaceutical sleeping aids.-" This herb has demonstrated to be espeeialh effective w hen sleep disorders arc the result of anxiety, nervousness, exhaustion, or hysteria.21 Another cause of sleeplessness is magnesium deficiency. Magnesium supplementation is dramatically underutilized by conventional physicians. Seventy-nine percent of adults 55 and over arc not ingesting the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of magnesium. Symptoms of a magnesium deficiency include insomnia, anxiety, hypcractivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability." European medical practitioners have long utilized natural medicines and herbals to regulate psychosomatic disorders. In Europe, natural medicines arc prescribed like other medications and enjoy widespread scientific and medical acceptance. All German medical students, for example, must learn phyto-medicinc. and approximately 80 percent of German physicians regularly use natural medications in their practice. Unfortunately, in America pharmaceutical advertising lias become so pervasive and successful that psychological dnigs have become a first resort, regardless of their lack of effectiveness and their draconian side effects. (The United Slates is one of only two countries in the world that allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to the consumer). The public is finally becoming aware of how dangerous these anti-depressants arc as more and more individuals go berserk on them! It"s beginning to exact a toll on our society. As holistic health professionals we understand that dnigs are synthetic poisons and we simply cannot condone this poisoning of our citizens for profit to continue! Anti-depressant dnigs arc turning us into a nation of muddled, brain-addled addicts incapable of controlling our own emotions and behavior! These dnigs arc medically useless and physiologically dangerous. We have an obligation to speak out and educate our patients and the people we come into contact with and make them aware that superior natural alternatives to psychosomatic dnigs arc available. If we fail, the joke will be on us! Reference 1. Pratt L. Brody DJ. Gu Q. Antidepressant Use in Persons Aged 12 and Over: United States. 2005-2008. NCHS Data Brief. No 76. October 2011. 2. IMS Health National Prescription Audit PLUS. 3. Study: Number of Americans using antide-prcssants doubles - FicrceHcalthcare http:// www.ficrcchcalthcarc.com/story/study-numbcr-amcricans-using-antidcprcssants-doublcs/2009-08-05#ixzzlwOlNEbuS 4. American Psychiatric Association. Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder. 2nd cd. September 2007. Accessed January 22. 2010 5. Friedman. R. M.D.. New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). May 17.2012 6. Kaplan. H.I. and Sadock.B.J. Synopsis of Psychiatry. Eighth Edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. 1998 7. Antidepressant Dmg Effects and Depression Severity. Jay C. Fournicr. MA: Robert J. DcRubcis. PhD: Steven D. Hollon. PhD: Sona Dimidjian. PhD; Jay D. Amsterdam. MD: Richard C. Shclton. MD; Jan Fawcctt. MD JAMA. 2()10:303(l):47-53 8. Kirsch I. Deacon BJ. Hucdo-Medina TB. Scobo-ria A, Moore TJ. Johnson BT. Initial severity and antideprcssant benefits: a mcta-anah sis of data submitted to the Food and Dnig Administration. PLoS Med. 2008;5(2):e45 9. Dr. Ann Blake Tracy of the International Coalition of Dnig Awareness, testimony on September 13. 2004 before the FDA. 10. Gregory S. Kelly. ND. Alternative Medicine Review 6 (3): 293-302" 11. Shcvtsov VA. Zholus BI. Shcrvarly VI. et al. (Mar 2003). "A randomized trial of two different doses of Rhodiola rosca extract versus placebo and control of capacity for mental work". Phytomedicinc 10 (2-3): 95-105. PMID 12725561 12. Darbinyan V. Ktcyan A. Panossian A. Gabriclian E. Wikman G. Wagner H (Oct 2000). "Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue—a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty". Phytomedicinc 7 (5): 365-71. PMID 110819 13. Wohlfart. R. ct al. Planta Medica. vo. 48. p. 224, 1982 14. Stockcr. H. Schweizer Braverei Rundschau, vol. 78. p. 80. 1967 15. Cooper. AJ. Psychopharmacology. vol 61. pp 97-102. 1979 16. PubMcd: Journal of Clinical Psychophannacology: Double-blind. Controlled. Crossover Trial of Inosi-tol Versus Fluvoxaminc in the Treatment of Panic Disorder 17. Mowrcy. DB. The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, p 193. 1986 18. Ambuhl. H. "Anatomischc und chcniischc untcrsuc-hungen an Passiflor incaniata." Dissertation Number 3830 ETH. Zurich. 1966 19. Darbinyan. V; Aslanyan. G.: Amroyan. E.; Gabricly-an. E.; Malmstroumlm. C: Panossian. A. Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosca L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression Nordic Journal of Psychiatry. Volume 61. Issue 5 2007. pages 343-348. 20. Lcathwood. ct al. Pharmacol. Biochem & Behav. vol 17. pp. 65-71. 1982 21. Straubc. C. Therapie der Gegcnwort. vol 107. pp. 555-562. 1968 22. Baker. S.M. Magnesium Deficiency in Primary Care and Preventive Medicine. Magnesium and Trace Elements. 1991-1992; 10:251-262 Galen O. Ballard is President of Titan Laboratories and directly responsible for the products division. His background includes undergraduate studies in research at the University of Denver with graduate work al the I'niversilies of Wisconsin and Maryland. Galen may be reached loll free al 1-800-929-0945 or by email al gobal-lardci lilanlabs.com
