Before getting into the topic, let us make it clear that orthomolecular has nothing to do with orthopedics! In fact, the term is used for the therapy that uses larger doses of certain nutrients for preventing or curing the diseases than their normal dosage. The importance of diet in association with optimal health has been understood ‘in depth’ since thousands of years. Hippocrates quoted the ‘food’ as primary form of the medicine almost 2500 years ago. In addition, holistic medicinal system such as Ayurveda (rooting its history as far back as 5000 years!) describes food and nutrition as the basic pillar that supports the overall health. Ancient Egypt also showed the use of specific foods treating various health ailments.
James Lind, a physician in British navy was the first person who opined that there is a link between diseases and a lack of certain nutrients. He found that sailors on long voyages without foods containing citrus fruits developed diseases like bleeding gums, cracking of the skin and poor muscular tone, all the symptoms with typical characteristics of scurvy. However, the term orthomolecular was firstly applied by Linus Pauling in a paper that he wrote for the journal Science in the year of 1968.
The orthomolecular medicines work on the genetic basis. It says that genetic factors do influence the physical characteristics of the person and also, it affects one’s biochemical milieu. This was further evaluated that the diseases that have genetic rooting such as atherosclerosis, cancerous growth, schizophrenia, mental disorders certainly have biochemical abnormalities.
Nowadays, orthomolecular is a buzzword in medical science and there have been plenty of researches being conducted all across the world for using vitamins in larger dosage. For instance, The New York Times, in its issue writes that high doses of intravenous vitamin C fight cancer (The New York Times, September 13, 2005) based on the research conducted and leaded by researcher Dr. Mark Levine, the chief of the molecular and clinical nutrition section and senior staff physician at National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. He revealed that at the highest concentration, vitamin C kills lots of cancerous cells without affecting the normal body cells. However, the exact mechanism for this is not known.
There are many proponents who say that orthomolecular treatment are grounded on individual’s biochemistry and they employ naturally occurring nutrients those are bioequivalent such as vitamins, dietary minerals, protein, amino acid, lipotropes and most importantly antioxidants that ultimately fight infections, cancerous growths and many other health ailments making the immune system strong and powerful. On the other hand, scientists are in continuous efforts to make orthomolecular therapy as a surefire for treating various diseases though it has retained its reason for being a great treatment option based on biochemistry and nutrition offering positive health.
As stated by the pioneer Roger J. Williams in concept of orthomolecular nutrition, “When in doubt, try nutrition first”, orthomolecular therapy is the best option that certainly comes before invasive surgeries and other medications.
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