Orthomolecular Medicine
Linus Pauling (1901–1994), two-time Nobel Prize winner (Chemistry and Peace Prize), is considered the pioneer of orthomolecular medicine. Pauling recommended taking high doses of vitamin C to prevent cancer and heart attacks.
The term "ortho" comes from the Greek and means "correct" and "good". According to Pauling, this is a medicine that is based on correct ("ortho") materials and substances ("molecules").
From the perspective of orthomolecular medicine, a biochemical imbalance in the body leads to illness. This imbalance can be balanced out by taking nutritional supplements. Minerals, trace elements, vitamins, essential fatty acids and amino acids as well as other "vital substances" are considered to be more tolerable, less risky and more beneficial for the body than foreign substances such as synthetic drugs. As a rule, orthomolecular medicine recommends a much higher daily intake of vitamins and minerals than is justified by scientific and nutritional findings. Recommendations for the requirement of micronutrients are currently based on the avoidance of deficiency situations; in addition, intake recommendations are only based on healthy people. The possibility of "maximum reduction of the risk of all diseases with a nutritional component" is only gradually being included in intake recommendations, for example by the National Academy of Sciences in the USA.
The aim of this recommendation is not only to maintain the current state of health of the population, but to improve it even further. The WHO recommendation also takes this improvement in the health of a population into account. The recommended intake is the amount of a micronutrient that is "required to optimize physiologically important functions." An impairment of these functions does not lead to illness, but the risk of illness is increased. The therapeutic principle of orthomolecular medicine (OM) is based on the knowledge that the human body needs certain amounts of various substances such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, hormones and other nutrients to function healthily and smoothly. If metabolic functions are impaired, such disorders can often be remedied by a targeted intake of certain micronutrients. A long-term deficiency in one or more micronutrients can promote the development of diseases. A nutrient deficiency can be caused by poor nutrition, congenital metabolic disorders or even by certain medications.
However, OM is not only concerned with compensating for deficits and thus with targeted prevention, but also uses OM substances in therapeutic doses. Therapy with OM medicines is a form of patient-oriented medicine. It is readily accepted because there are hardly any side effects and success is not lacking when used correctly.
Micronutrients and medicines:
Many medicines that are taken daily can interact with important vitamins, minerals and trace elements. This can weaken the effect of the medicine or lead to a deficiency in certain micronutrients. Both cases should be avoided in order to ensure well-being. This makes your personal medication management all the more important. We have specialized in this and are happy to advise you. Make an appointment for a consultation with us at Welt Apotheke and optimize your well-being.
