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rpautrey2 · Guest

Excerpt From: http://www.gutandmentalillness.com/

Video Link: http://www.gutandmentalillness.com/

The Gastrointestinal origin of mental Illness and complimentary
treatment strategies
16/04/2008
Based on the writings of Psychiatrist Dr C.M. Reading and Jordan
Rubin

**This is article is is not a replacement for medical treatment and
By Reading you agree to the disclaimer first

The below article and information and treatment strategies may be of
great benefit to anyone who may suffer from a mental illness, celiac
disease, bowel disease, depression, autism, ADHD and other related
learning disorders. Many people have reported testimonials of recovery
from many so called 'incurable' illnesses using the protocols outlined
in the treatments section*.

The current situation - Modern medicine sees all mental illness
deriving only from the brain - primarily from neurotransmitter
imbalance and nothing else - the truth is that in many cases there is
often an underlining physical cause (eg: infection, celiac disease,
etc) and this is often never investigated, and so its no wonder today
we are faced with the current tragedy that the Mentally ill die 25
years earlier, on average (article)

We Highly recommend you read the below article & treatment strategies
or download the free ebook.

Treatment Strategies - for Celiac disease, Autism, ADHD, mental
illness, CFS, MS, IBS, bowel disease

What you haven't been told: -The medical studies both you & your MD
need to see:

'99% certain of a genetic association between schizophrenia and
coeliac disease A drastic reduction, if not full remission, of
schizophrenic symptoms after initiation of gluten withdrawal has been
noted in a variety of studies.' read more..

'An autopsy of 82 patients who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Gastritis was found in 50%, enteritis in 85% and colitis in 92%.' read
more...

Enterocolitis discovered in the majority of children with Autistic
spectrum disorders' read more..

Why isn't my doctor / psychiatrist aware about this? (click here)

All diseases begin in the gut’ – Hippocrates (460-370 BC),

‘The primary seat of insanity lies generally in the region of the
stomach and intestines’ – Phillipe Pinel, the father of modern
psychiatry (1745-1828).

"The Theory that an infectious agent can cause schizophrenia or
bipolar disease is gaining more attention, - It seems reminiscent of
the time before it was proven that stomach ulcers are actually caused
by a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. That's a very good story,
actually, where everyone thought that stomach ulcers were caused by
stress. We often use that story because we've been working on the
infectious aspects of schizophrenia and bipolar for 20 or 25 year now.
Once the ulcer story came out, suddenly people were more believing. If
an ulcer could be caused by an infectious agent, then almost anything
could" NAMI 2007 Convention: Interview with E. Fuller Torrey

What really causes a mental illness?

Genes, the environment and emotional experiences and seen as the
likely causal variables in the development of mental illness.
Currently, science believes that mental illness is linked to genetic
flaws. However, recent medical research also points to immune system
dsyregulation, most likely originating from gastrointestinal
dysfunction as another factor. The below article explains this in
greater detail and provides a complimentary treatment and prevention
protocol.

Credit with regards to this article must be given to Psychiatrist Dr
C.M. Reading - who over 30 years of practice believed that a
significant percentage of those with mental illness suffer due to
gastrointestinal & physical problems manifesting as celiac or latent
celiac disease, food allergies, infections, auto-immune disease and
malabsorbtion. Only recently, has scientific research started to
support such theories about mental illness - particularly the need for
auto-antibody screening and the auto-immune link to mental illness.

Often overlooked in the development of many illnesses, especially
mental illness and neurological disorders is the role of the
gastrointestinal system. It is known that both our gut and brain
originate early in embryogenesis from a clump of tissue called the
neurcast, which appears and divides during foetal development. While
one section turns into the central nervous system another piece
migrates to become the enteric nervous system and thus form both
thinking machines. Later the two nervous systems are connected via a
cable called the vagus nerve. This nerve meanders from the brain stem
through the organs in the neck and thoric and finally ends up in the
abdomen. This establishes the brain gut connection. So it is from a
correctly functioning gut that we enjoy neurological, psychological
and immunological health.

It is currently known among gastroenterologists that children with
neurological problems often exhibit gastrointestinal upset. Most
medical practitioners associate that the function of the gut is
reactive to the mind and not vice versa. This understanding is based
of current neuro-gastroeneterology. The guts brain, the enteric
nervous system (located in sheaths of tissue lining the esophageus,
stomach and colon) is packed with nerves with neurotransmitters,
neurons and proteins and support cells like those found in the brain.
So when we feel emotional, the enteric nervous system in the gut
likely responds to the mind in a certain manner. For example vomiting
before an interview.

But contrary to what most people think, latest research indicates that
the gut itself may affect the mind and hence how we feel. It is
possible that problems with the guts brain - the 'enteric nervous
system' and its immunological interactions may indirectly effect the
human brain and central nervous system. In this way the gut may be in
fact more responsible than we have imagined for our mental well-
being...

Gastrointestinal causes of mental illness:

The human body, is an organism of 100 trillion (1014) cells and of
this 90 trillion are prokaryotic (bacterial) and only 10 trillion are
eukaryotic ('human'). Each human cell supports 50-100 bacteria or
bacterial descendants. The human gastrointestinal tract, (gut)
contains contains almost all of this bacteria infact 2 kg - so
therefore there are more cells in our gut than our entire body!.
Hundreds of different types of bacteria function symbiotically to
maintain this 'micro-world' to predominate over pathogenic bacteria .
In this way, an advanced array of immunological interactions
constantly interplay between this specialised bacterial mass and the
body to enable us to maintain both physical and mental health. It is
pivotal that the balance of this bacteria is maintained as the human
intestine is the largest organ of the immune system. Thus, changes in
intestinal health can indirectly have far reaching consequences on the
body through the gut's regulatory impact on immune system.

Overuse of antibiotics, poor diet and nutrition, emotional stress,
infection and inherited gut disorders such as celiac disease are known
to contribute to weakened gastrointestinal health. When the balance of
the gut is compromised there is increased risk of gut infection and
thus a possible breakdown of the immunological health of the body. So
important is this balance, it is noted that 'The brain and body state'
is achieved as a reward for looking after our micro flora - according
to Evgeny Rothschild, (Science Spectra 6, 1996).

Recurrent gastrointestinal infection, gastritis, post antibiotic
infection (colonization of bad bacteria), tropical sprue and inherited
gastro-immunological disorders such as celiac sprue, non-celiac sprue
and food intolerances may lead to the development of mental illness
and disease. For example, current research into autism has postulated
that a certain subset of children who had MMR vaccine may have
developed a persistent gastrointestinal infection with the measles
virus. This has been confirmed through colonoscopies of these children
who exhibit inflammation in the small bowel. As a consequence, the
poor health of their small bowel has caused these children to
deteriorate neurologically.

When the gut can not eradicate a pathogen or suspected antigen
correctly a cycle of deterioration occurs in the gut. Normally when a
pathogen is acquired by the gastrointestinal tract an auto-immune
response is triggered to eliminate this infection. Often diarrhoea,
fever and vomiting occur and usually the infection is self limiting
and the individual recovers. However, in a subset of people with
weakened gastrointestinal systems either inherited or due to
environmental factors, the immune response may be inadequate. This
leads to persistent gastrointestinal illness. Often a long term immune
response to a pathogen not eliminated correctly will trigger
persistent inflammation. For example, often seen in cases of
inflammatory bowel disease such as Ulcerative colitis, the immune
system over-responds and the colon become chronically inflamed due to
infection. Repeated inflammation sets in a cycle of deterioration of
gut mucosa.

In the case of mental illness it is mostly likely that an
insufficient gastro-immunological response occurs in the small bowel.
No symptoms of gastrointestinal upset may occur except for mental
illness. Repeated immune response due to infection or allergy may
result in inflammation, particularly in the area of the small bowel
and over time this may lead to damage of the mucosal villi and in turn
increase mucosal permeability. With partial-atrophy (flattening) of
the villi there is less absorption of food and less immune secretory
factors from the villi (IgA, IgM, IgG) cells to prevent further
infection. These villi are also responsible in secreting of digestive
enzymes, but with greater pathogenic load and poor motility due to
infection there is less enzyme release and hence digestion of ingested
substances deteriorates. Due to this a cycle of malabsorption can set
in, and with malabsorption there is less chance of epithelial repair.
This is because epithelial cells are constantly replacing themselves
and to do so require a constant nutrient supply. Without adequate and
dense nutrition they can not replicate and this worseness mucosal
integrity.

In this way, a vicious circle of inflammation, infection, allergy,
permeability and malabsorption continues. Overtime, the immunological
response of the small bowel may deteriorate, likely due to auto-
immune tendency to the stomach or bowel from the body. This may lead
to small bowel bacterial overgrowth or candidiasis which in turn
increase the permeability of the gut.

Once depleted and inflamed, the villi fail to protect the mucosal
integrity and allow the intestine to become permeable to more
substances. In this way, the small bowel may allow the undigested
contents to 'leak' into the blood stream. As enzyme secretion
diminishes, due to pathogenic and pancreatic overload there is an
accumulation of absorbed undigested materials in the body. These
easily cross through a more permeable gut and overload the liver and
kidneys with greater than normal toxin levels. In particular, the
phase one to phase two detoxification pathways of toxins in the liver
can become insufficient for this load and chemical sensitivities may
then develop. Without adequate detoxification the poorly digested
toxins accumulate in the body.

Allergies to certain foods are often acquired from incomplete
digestion and elimination. Allergies in turn also create nutrient
deficiencies. In many gut related mental illnesses malabsorption
develops both from allergies and poor enzyme release possibly due to
pathogenic overload. Malabsorption creates severe disturbances in the
body. Many mental patients are known to often exhibit low serum levels
of B vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B12 and B6 and zinc
which are vital for normal the function of the brain and stability of
mood. Recent studies have shown the many schizophrenics have poor
taste and sense of smell - indicative of zinc deficiency.

In addition, the correct break down and digestion foods are required
to produce the vitamins needed to create the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol and related steroids can only be manufactured with adequate B
vitamins, esp. B5, B1, B2, B3, Mg, ZN, and vitamin C.Hence,
malabsoption prevents cortisol production in the body. Cortisol is an
anti-inflammatory compound and is very important for the homeostasis
of the body. With low cortisol the body can not fight allergies,
infection, inflammation and auto-immunity as well. Cortisol is also
is important in mood regulation, stamina levels and blood sugar
regulation. Low cortisol can result in mood swings, depression,
paranoid and psychotic behaviour. Hypoglycemia results from food
allergies, malabsorbtion, low cortisol, Candida, pancreatic overload -
all which derive from digestive problems. Hypoglycemia can cause many
mental problems such as anxiety, shaking, crying, panic and mood
changes.

Insufficient break-down of the hardest to digest (and most commonly
consumed) foods leads to incompletely digested fractions or peptides.
With stressed detoxification systems these peptides can accumulate in
the body. Certain peptides readily cross the blood brain barrier and
interfere with brain functioning. Milk and bread exhibit peptides
called exorphins from gluten and casein which act as opoids in the
human brain and have psychoactive effects similar to morphine (an
opoid drug). Many psychotic patients have specific circulating IgA
antibodies to such peptides indicating that these fractions have over
time accumulated in their brains and organs.

These poorly digested food fractions then trigger an autoimmune
response by the body- the body identifies these as 'foreign' antigens
- accumulating in areas which they should not be in the body. The
autoimmune response may damage the brain due to repeated cerebral
allergy and may initiate autoimmune damage to other organs such as the
thyroid and pancreas. It is postulated that the autoimmune response
triggered by such toxins as well as bacterial and fungal endotoxins
from the gut may deteriorate the blood brain barrier itself allowing
for greater permeability of the brain to further toxins. Further auto-
immune damage may then occur deep in the brain itself, including areas
involving neurotransmitter release and neurological function..

In children and young adults, both the accumulation of opioid s,
bacterial & or fungal endotoxins and the auto-immune response
triggered as a result may then inhibit the normal maturation of the
central nervous system. As the human brain, especially the frontal
lobe, does not complete development until the age of 25, permanent
damage to the brain often results. This explains the rapid onset of
autism in healthy children who suddenly deteriorate with severe
developmental and learning disorders. Whilst with schizophrenia, this
correlates with onset and worsening of symptoms seen in the late teens
and early twenties of growing adults. It is likely that the developing
brain is damaged from both the auto-immune response and toxins.

These once healthy individuals may have in fact acquired their mental
illness through a poorly functioning gastrointestinal-immune system
rather than inheriting mental illness. Further examples are of this
are seen in Western Ireland which has a high incidence of both celiac
sprue and schizophrenia. This also indirectly highlights the mechanism
for the inheritance of schizophrenia, whereby inheritance of poor gut
function is passed on (not necessarily the gene for dopamine excess)
which slowly erodes the developing brain eventually causing mental
symptoms.

The combination of the malabsorption of essential nutrients,
allergies, low cortisol and accumulation brain opioid and insufficient
detoxication and resulting autoimmune damage may overwhelm the ability
of any individual to function normally. By initiating a chain of
'health breakdowns'(See the Gut and Mental illness flow chart
diagram), a poorly functioning gastro-immunological system and its
cumulative effects, ultimately result in mental illness. The path to
recovery or prevention of such illness therefore lies in restoring the
immunological balance of the gut. Below are treatment strategies that
have helped others recover:

The below treatment strategies are effective for any form of gastro-
immune induced illness. Good gut management and gut repair can modify
and manage many immune disorders outside the gut. Without gut repair
and good gut ecology return of health is unlikely. The Below
complementary treatments have assisted people with mental illness,
learning disorders, hypoglycemia, autism, memory problems, chronic
fatigue, bowel disease, auto-immune disease, arthritis and coeliac and
latent celiac disease.

Complimentary Treatment Strategies
Why isn't my doctor / psychiatrist aware about this?
URL: http://www.gutandmentalillness.com/