Natural Healing and Nutrition for Schizophrenia

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a fine day/afternoon/evening...Today's topic is regarding some natural ways of healing for Schizophrenia.  By now, we should all know the symptoms associated with schizophrenia, ranging from delusion and hallucinations, to cognitive deficits, attention issues, and memory concerns.
The brain is dependent on nutrition.n "Nutrients are the raw materials from which the brain creates its neurotransmitters, the chemicals which communicate messages from one nerve cell to another." (NHfS) These need to be constntly be replenushed and renourished for proper functioning. 
The brain needs mineral electolytes in the proper balance, to accurately coney messages. The brain has a high metabolic rate, uses 25% of our bodies glucose, and nutrients turn food into glucose, thereby turning glucose into energy. To protect the brain from free radicals, toxins, etc., nutrients are critical. Basically, the brain needs a constant supply of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.
The key is discovering which nutrients are called for exactly and also in what amount or ratios. so, what does thias have to do with schizophrenia anyway?
Well, nutrition is essential in regulating the brain and body systems. Research on different nutrients, such as Vitamin C and B vitamins are porving beneficial for those afflicted with schizophrenia. even as early as the 1950's, there were trials done on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, showing the benefits of supplementation nutritionally with different vitamins and minerals. On a personal note, I would like to note that B-Complex vitamins have been very ebenficial to me in my therapy. I know this because I also have TD , due to my medication, and this has helped tremendously with that issues, as well as enhancing my energy levels.  B-Complex is so essential to the brain it is amazing, I will be doing a blog on this supplement in the near future. Not just specifically pertaining to schizophrenia but for general purposes regarding the brain.  B-Complex also helps regulate the nerve systems, and also has so many other benefits it is amazing! I used to own a hhealth food store, and have a degree in Natural Health, and know the benefits of supplementation, so feel free to email me or post a question if you have specific concerns.
Another supplement that is excellent, as studies show, for Bipolar disorder, as well as schizophrenia and ither assorted mental health issues, is the use of Fish Oil.  Now, the dosages vary, howver, they need to be quite high for the benefits.  Fish Oil, and fish in general, is brain food.  It is also great for cholesterol, and other health concerns, however, that will be discussed in my next blog I am developing!  For our purposes here, I have researched this issue, and in amounts of 3,000-9,000mg of Fish Oil supplements have proven beneficial in assisting with these brain disorders.  Now, this can get quite expensive, depending on the brand of supplement you choose, as well as the fact that generally, they are supplied in 1,000mg gelcaps.  DHA, a component of Fish Oil, is extremely beneficial concerning concentration issues.  It is also used for those afflicted with ADHD as well, and children who, along with other nutritional changes, take DHA on a regular basis, have shown marked improvement in their attention span, as well as their concentration.  This also stands true for adults, though dosage would be higher.
"Accurate analysis of nutritional status is necessary so that the individual can be given nutrition appropriate to his/her unique biochemical nature. Even though distinct biochemical types have been identified in schizophrenia [discussion on this later] with corresponding treatment involving a particular cluster of nutrients may be needed.  Moreover, an estimated 10-15% of schizophrenics don't fit into the major biotypes, but are affected by DIVERSE nutrient imbalances, which MUST be distiinguished." (NHfS)
The fact is, there are nutrient imbalances in thise afflicted with schizophrenia, as well as other brain disorders, and it is essential to have a complete examination of the nutrient levels in one's body. Then, one can accurately correct these imbalances.  More will be discussed tomorrow regarding particluars of nutrient groupings for the various biotyoes of schizophrenics.  Amino acids will also be discussed.
Personally, I have to say that, regardless of how mild or severe your diagnosis is, nutrition pays a key factor in treatment and balance. Obviously, being schizophrenic, I woud not recommend ever to discontnue medication unless advised by your pstchiatrist to do so.  Natural Health is essential in this issue, however, as someone who knows the benefits of medication for symptoms, I always recommend to continue your meds as scheduled, while also incorporating nutritional and natural therapies to your regukar course of treatment. I have found vitamin and mineral supplementation to be very beneficial, and this will be discussed at length, as it is important to begin doing for yourselves.
As always, I welcome your feedback, am available for dicussions, and also am here to assist you in any way possible. The point of this blog is to inform, educate, and share my personal experiences with schizophrenia, as I believe this will help you all diagnosed because I can completely relate to what you are going through, regardless of the severity of the diagnosis. I am available on Facebook, and my email is also listed here. Please feel free to contact me anytime. I am here to help, to spread awareness, and to educate you. Thank you all for reading and sharing in this issue with me.  Sincerely, Erica

Religious experiences and connotations associated with Schizophrenia

There are many religious experiences that are ahared among those who have schizopherenia.  These religious experiences vary and range in many different areas of the religious experience.  There are those who claim to have some sort of divine connection with God, or that they are a messenger of God, or could be associated with some sort of semonom\logy or the devil as well.  I find this quite interesting because there must be a segment of the brain that is "turned on" sop to speak with those afflited with schizophrenia, becauase there are too many first hand accounts of these instances among the schizophrenia community.  In doing some research, I ahve also noticed that there seems to be a correlation between age, shcizophrenia, as well as religion.  It seems that at the timeframe of the onset of schizophrenia, for many, ias also a time when there is a seeking of higher attunement, or religion.  many who are afflicted are in the midst of questioning this issue, and the illness seems to take a turn to religious or spiritual nature.  I myself have experienced this, as well as countless others I have worked with that have schizophrenia.  So, then, what is the cause of this religious aspect of the schizophrenic brain?  Obviously, because research is still being done on the root cause of this illness, there is not much in the way of information regarding this issue.  Personally, I believe it has to do with certain neurons in the brain that are activated, or maybe even "over-activated" , "hyper-activated", during psychosis, when this experience is ofgten displayed outwardly by the schizophrenic. 
The point being, I have found that having schizophrenia has actually been a blessing in disguise, because, I too, was seeking what in the world is religion?  What do I believe? These questions raged in my mind, prior to the onset of schizophrenia.  And of course, there were some religious connotations involved within my psychosis period, and that is not surprising.Regadless of that fact, after I was settled with my illnesss, no longer in the psychosis stage, and consistently on medication, I became very stable.  I returned to this issue of religion, and am now firm in my beliefs, and I am sure that having schizophrenia has aided in my decisions toward my religious choice and path in life, and for that I am thankful.