Orthomolecular Medicine :: Holistic Healing

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Orthomolecular Medicine
by author Ruth Yanor-McRae, MH, and C.T. Taylor, MD, LMCC

Orthomolecular medicine. Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? It really is.

This therapeutic approach has been around for decades. Even so, mainstream medical professionals treat orthomolecular medicine (OM) as a neglected stepchild, despite scientific studies that validate its relevance and effectiveness.

It was Linus Pauling, Nobel Prize winner, who first coined the phrase orthomolecular medicine, from the Greek word, ortho (to straighten), and molecule (the smallest identifiable unit of a substance). To put it plainly, orthomolecular medicine is the therapeutic approach of "straightening" out the cellular mechanics of our bodies.

Although firmly based in the medical sciences (we’ll only list a few–it would take at least a page to be thorough), a typical physician confronted with an orthomolecular medicine perspective might find himself in a strange land without recognizable markers. Without a proper grounding in biochemistry, cell biology, nutrition, immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, food science, agricultural science, toxicology and pharmacology (only a few, remember?), this typical physician would be lost.

Where the average medical practitioner focuses on a solution (frequently a pharmaceutical one) to symptoms, an orthomolecular approach would also deal with the biochemical scenario that created the symptoms. OM focuses on normalizing the body’s cell structure and function. This is generally done by making up for deficiencies and by eliminating excesses, using natural substances typically found in healthy individuals. A patient might be directed to use vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, essential fatty acids, healthy phenolics, massage, light or hydrotherapy, acupuncture or biofeedback. This list of possible treatments is by no means a complete one. The push in OM is toward lasting solutions, which tend to lead away from the pharmaceutical agents that affect symptoms only.

Orthomolecular Pioneer

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Ruth Yanor-McRae is a master herbalist, iridologist, speaker and writer who lives near Stony Plain, AB. Dr Taylor is both a physician practicing orthomolecular medicine and a proud grandfather.

Source: alive #210, April 2000

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