How effective is orthomolecular medicine?
As you can read in this The Gay Issue, conscious dealing with your health can no longer be ignored in society. After all, it is your most precious asset. Lifestyle medicine is therefore the answer to this "trend". An unhealthy lifestyle can cause more damage than many people can imagine. We hoeven je niet belerend uit te leggen dat roken slecht voor je is en je alcohol met mate moet nuttigen. Healthy food and sufficient exercise also belong to the same category "kicking open doors", but did you also know that one in five deaths is caused by poor food? And that food has a major influence on diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer? All the more reason to delve into lifestyle medicine, in particular orthomolecular medicine. We join LifeMedic, an initiative of Drs. John Midavaine, medical and orthomolecular doctor.
Ortho what? Everything in the field of health is a hype today. Provided we do not fall into this, it is a very healthy development. This is also the opinion of John, for whom orthomolecular medicine is by no means a hype. After studying medicine and specializing in sports medicine, as a former professional athlete who participated in the Olympic Games, he experienced first-hand what the importance of orthomolecular medicine is and what it can mean for health. As a top athlete who trained at least six days a week, regularly twice a day and always had to get the most out of his body, he noticed that his body needed something extra. Of course John has always had a healthy lifestyle. But that alone was not enough. In America he already met top athletes 30 years ago who achieved good results through the use of supplements. His interest was aroused and he started to specialize.
What is orthomolecular medicine?
"It is actually one of the oldest forms of medicine. Orthos is Greek for healthy. It is an alternative form of medicine that involves nutrition This explanation may sound simple, but as explained, a healthy lifestyle is the best gift you can give yourself. In orthomolecular and lifestyle medicine, we look at the body as a whole and we look at the physiology of the body and we use body-specific substances. "
Take us into the process ...
"Every body functions differently. That is why it is very important for me to know the background. Before people come to an intake interview, I send them an extensive questionnaire. With the answers I can form a picture of the situation of the client. Very important, because that way I can see which environmental factors I have to take into account. During the intake interview I deal with this questionnaire in detail. Additional blood tests may be necessary to get a good idea of someone. I can do these additional blood tests myself. We can also do any blood tests that you cannot have your doctor do because they are not reimbursed by health insurers. We then test the blood values, first globally and on the basis of those results we can see whether further specialist blood tests are required. By the way, we can do very extensive blood tests where you can exclude many things. In the end, I propose a treatment plan, in collaboration with the client, sometimes requiring that we refer someone to mainstream medicine.
Some people consult me with a very clear problem, such as a spasm, back pain, or even depression. Other people come to me with fatigue and for others I am the "end station". People are sometimes desperate, do not feel heard and have already taken many medical routes. So there is actually no standard process, because every body is different too. I think it is very important to mention that orthomolecular medicine is complementary to regular medicine. So I always want to know what has already been done, I ask for blood tests and X-rays, if necessary. Because I am a doctor, I know how to interpret this and how I can work together with other doctors. An example is that antidepressants are a medicine that is prescribed to people with depression. An intense drug with many side effects and that often works quickly. People who are depressed generally do not produce enough serotonin. This is a substance that is specific to your body and which can determine your state of mind. Instead of suddenly administering a lot of serotonin (antidepressants), you can also look at what substances are needed in the physical process so that your body starts producing serotonin again. (I can see this from blood tests and doctors who prescribe antidepressants often do not have this knowledge. They do not always know how to interpret such a blood test). Many doctors do not have the knowledge for this. Antidepressants is a heavy drug, so heavy that you have to gradually phase out the medication when you stop, because otherwise the body will get withdrawal symptoms. The supplements that I prescribe stimulate the body to make itself serotonin again. Which, however, does not alter the fact that for acute cases, such as those who seriously think about death, antidepressants can indeed be a means, because it is simply fast and effective.
Take a burnout, for example. This can be caused by stress, but what is far less known is adrenal gland exhaustion, which can cause the same symptoms, sometimes making the wrong diagnosis and preventing effective treatment from taking place. "
John continues: "In principle, the process is as follows: In fact, people come to me who don't feel physically in order. This can have both a medical and a physiological cause. On the basis of the information I receive either via blood tests or via medical records, I determine the treatment process. Preferably in collaboration with the treating physician. "
Can you give us an example from practice?
"A successful businesswoman came to me with symptoms of failure in her face. She had a nervous disorder from her ear to throat (glossopharyngeal neuralgia). Disastrous because she was an entrepreneur and she kept the business going and connecting people was one of the most important things she did. She had already been to 4 different neurologists and nobody could help her. There was even a neurologist who wanted to operate on her without it being clear what exactly was going on. He wanted to eliminate a nerve path in her face. I started to investigate her, using all the information I had and drew a different conclusion. I have treated her and it turned out that the paralysis or actually cramping had a different cause. Through my treatment and the use of nutritional supplements, she has fully recovered. "
What do you think about orthomolecular medicine becoming a trend?
"Provided that I am very happy that people make healthier choices and are more aware of life, I certainly think that is a good development. What you have to watch out for is that there are courses where you can call yourself an orthomolecular specialist. If you do not have a medical background - at least an HBO - Nursing study - this entails risks because the medical knowledge is completely lacking. You do have to do with the human body. I personally think it is very important that you put your faith in the fact that orthomolecular medicine is complementary to regular medicine. For example, I would never say that when someone is seriously ill, I can cure it. What I can do is analyze and tackle environmental factors together with the client in order to be of added value to the regular treatment. This always goes hand in hand with the treating specialist. "
Finally, when do you use orthomolecular medicine?
"In principle, for anyone who doesn't feel well physically or psychologically. By using natural resources, we encourage the body to heal from within and / or become stronger. For example, I treat many top athletes, flying personnel, such as pilots and flight attendants, but also people with migraines, burnouts or with complaints that have no clear cause.
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