Treatment of Depression - References and Resources
Print this page
As demonstrated in the above two case histories, the environment can have a profound effect in causing or exacerbating depression. Treatment with antidepressants didn’t work for Lorrie and probably wouldn’t have worked for Trevor. Environmental controls, dietary changes, supplementation, and hormonal regulation led to the resolution or improvement of the symptoms and restoration of mental and physical health.
References Used
- Amdur, Doull, Klaassen, Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology, The Basic Science of Poisons, Pergamon Press, 1991. This medical textbook offers useful information about common toxins found in our environment.
- Ashford and Miller, Chemical Exposures, Low Levels and High Stakes, 2nd edition, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1991. This book is an excellent scientific overview on the growing problem of chemical sensitivities.
- Baker, P., Elliott, E., and Banta, B., Prescriptions for a Healthy House, A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, and Homeowners, Inward Press, 1998. The author of this on-line article is co-author of this book. It was written to help people build healthy homes with good air quality. It is practical and user-friendly.
- Colburn, T., et al, Our Stolen Future, Plume, 1997. This book is a gripping account of the scientific research linking reproductive failures, birth defects, and sexual abnormalities to synthetic chemicals that mimic natural hormones, causing disruption of the endocrine system.
- Green, N., Poisoning Our Children, The Noble Press, 1991. The contemporary pesticide problem comes alive as the author relates the nightmare she endured after unwittingly poisoning herself in her own home with repeated pesticide exposures.
- Krohn, J. The Whole Way to Allergy Relief and Prevention, Hartley and Marks, 1996. This book is a useful and practical guide to the subject of allergies and sensitivities.
- Krohn, J., The Whole Way to Natural Detoxification, Hartley and Marks, 1996. Dr. Krohn’s book is a comprehensive compendium of effective detoxification methods.
- Lawson, L., Staying Well in a Toxic World: Understanding Environmental Illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Chemical Injuries, and Sick Building Syndrome. Lynnword Press in Evanston, Illinois, l994. This book is authored by a former medical writer with a thorough understanding of the contemporary chemical problem. It is highly readable, informative, and comprehensive in its overview of the devastating effects of toxic surroundings.
- Pert, C., Molecules of Emotion, The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine, Simon and Schuster, l997. This book is an excellent discussion of the two-way relationship of mind and matter.
- Radetsky, P., Allergic to the 20th Century, Little, Brown and Co., l997. This book offers insight into the growing problem of chemical sensitivity.
- Rapp, D., Is This Your Child’s World? How You Can Fix the Schools and Homes That Are Making Your Children Sick, Bantam Book, l996. Dr. Rapp shares with the reader her vast experience diagnosing and treating children whose behavior and mood has been altered by exposure to environmental triggers such as foods and chemicals.
- Rea, W., Chemical Sensitivity, Vols. I -IV, Lewis Publishers, l992. Dr. Rea provides the much needed clinical perspective derived from observing and treating over 20,000 environmentally sensitive patients.
- Rogers, S., Depression Cured at Last, Prestige Publishing, l997. Dr. Rogers covers a wide range of environmental triggers that can cause or exacerbate depression.
- Rogers, S., Tired or Toxic, Prestige Publishing, l990. Dr. Rogers gives detailed and comprehensive medical explanations about how chemicals are impacting human health.
- Rosenstock and Cullen, Textbook of Clinical Occupational and Environmental Medicine, W. B. Saunders, 1994. This is a standard textbook for those in the field of occupational medicine.
- Singer, R., Neurotoxicity Guidebook, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990. Dr. Singer is a neurotoxicologist, psychologist, and environmental health scientist who has written this practical
- Thrasher, J., The Poisoning of Our Homes and Workplaces: The Indoor Formaldehyde Crisis, Seadora, Inc. 1989. Dr. Thrasher offers a detailed analysis of the indoor formaldehyde crisis in the United States.
- Wilson, C., Chemical Exposure and Human Health, McFarland and Co., 1993. This book is a reference guide to 314 chemical with a guide to symptoms.
Resources
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
7701 East Kellogg, Suite 625
Wichita, Kansas 67207-1705
(316) 684-5500 fax(316) 684-5709
They can provide the name of the nearest environmental specialist
American College for Advancement in Medicine
23121 Verdugo Drive, Suite 204
Laguna Hills, California 92653
(800) 532-3688
They can provide names and addresses of physicians who practice “alternative” medicine.
American Environmental Health Foundation
8345 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 225
Dallas, Texas 75231-4262
(800) 428-2343
They supply many nontoxic products and are distributors for home saunas and water filters.
Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics
1010 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 513
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4950
A professional organization for environmental health specialists.
Environmental Education and Health Services
Mary Oetzel, Pres.
P.O. Box 92004
Austin, Texas 78709
(512) 288-2369
This company provides technical information on indoor air quality for architects, home-owners, schools, and businesses.
HealthComm International
5800 Southview Drive
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335
(206) 851-3943
They offer a video series on nutrition for physicians; they refer patients with nutritional concerns to knowledgeable physicians.
Institute of Baubiology and Ecology
Box 387
Clearwater, Florida 34615
(813) 461-4371
The institute offers training in healthy building inspection which includes mold diagnosis and mitigation, electromagnetic field evaluation, VOCs and gas leak detection, and instruction in air and water filtration systems, among other things. The Institute will give names of the nearest baubiologists.
International Health Foundation
Billy Crook, M.D.
P.O. Box 3494
Jackson, Tennessee 38303
(901) 427-8100
They provide information on yeast-related illnesses.
Practical Allergy Research Foundation
P.O. Box 60
Buffalo, New York 14223
(800) 787-8780
This foundation provides many useful materials such as books, videos, and audiotapes for patients and physicians about food allergies and chemical sensitivity and how they relate to undiagnosed illnesses.
Laboratories
AccuChem Laboratories
990 North Bowser, Suite 800
Richardson, Texas 75081
(214) 234-5412
They provide blood and urine testing for chemicals.
Aeron LifeCycle Clinical Labs
1933 Davis St., Suite 310
San Leandro, California 94577-1259
(800) 631-7900
Saliva testing for hormone evaluation, includes DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol.
Advanced Metabolic Imaging
Theodore Simon, M.D.
12200 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
(214) 490-0536
They perform single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) brain imaging tests.
Anderson Laboratories
773 Main Street
West Hartford, Vermont 05084-0323
(802) 295-7344
fax (802) 295-7648
They provide bioassay testing on carpets and other common household items, by exposing mice to the fumes and monitoring their neurological effects.
Antibody Assay Laboratory
1715 East Wilshire, Suite 715
Santa Ana, California 92705
(800) 522-2611
They do various blood antibody, auto-antibody, immune system, and chemical detection testing.
Citizens Environmental Laboratory
160 Second Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
(617) 876-6505
They test carpets for toxic chemicals.
Diagnos-Techs, Inc.
P.O. Box 38138-0662
Tukwila, Washington 98138-0662
(800) 878-3787
They do adrenal and sex hormone testing.
Doctor’s Data
170 West Roosevelt Road
West Chicago, Illinois 60185
(800) 323-2784
They do nutrient testing, amino acid testing, and urine and hair analysis testing for toxic metals.
Environmental Testing and Technology
P.O. Box 369
Encinitas, California 92024
(619) 436-5990
They conduct indoor environmental building evaluations, are very familiar with chemical sensitivity, and test for indoor air quality, mold problems, and electromagnetic fields.
Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory
18A Regent Park Boulevard
Asheville, North Carolina 28806
(800) 522-4762
They test for intestinal parasites, yeast, and digestive problems by comprehensive stool exam.
They also offer tests for amino acids, food allergies (IgG &IgE), amino acid levels, vitamin and mineral levels, and hormone testing.
Immunosciences Laboratory
8730 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 305
Beverly Hills, California 90211
(800) 950-4686
They offer comprehensive immune function panels that include auto-antibodies, chemical antibody testing, and immunotoxicology testing.
Parasitology Testing Center, Inc.
403 S. Rural Rd. #101-318
Tempe, Arizona 85281
(480) 777-1078
Stool testing for bacteria, fungus, and parasites.
SpectraCell Laboratories
515 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 830
Houston, Texas 77027
(800) 227-5227
They provide functional testing for vitamin and mineral levels and anti-oxidant function.
Pharmacies
College Pharmacy
3505 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Suite 101
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
(800) 888-9358
Compounding pharmacy that will fill prescriptions without dyes, preservatives, or fillers.
Women’s International Pharmacy
13925 W. Meeker Blvd., Suite #13
Sun City West, Arizona 85375
(800) 279-5708
Compounding pharmacy specializing in plant-based female hormones.
Glossary of Terms
Baubiology—Baubiology is the study of how buildings and the environment affect human health. While still in its infancy in the United States, baubiology has become a household word throughout much of northern Europe.
Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization – EPD is a method of desensitization immunotherapy developed by an immunologist in England, Dr. Leonard McEwen, in the mid 60’s. This method uses a mixture of low dose allergens and the enzyme beta-glucuronidase. The enzyme acts like a lymphokine, potentiating the immunizing effects of allergens by inducing production of “activated” T-suppressor cells. EPD appears to create a much longer lasting desensitization than does any other type of immunotherapy. EPD is administered by tiny intradermal injections. Since T-cells have a long half-life, EPD treatments need only be given every 2 to 3 months at first, then less often.
Outgassing — This term refers to a form of evaporation in which volatile petrochemical fumes are released into the air over a period of time at room temperature.
Provocation and Neutralization – This is a method of testing for food and chemical allergies and sensitivities where small amounts of allergens are given to the patient to see if symptoms are provoked. Most environmental physicians are trained in this method of testing. Provocation tests are typically performed single-blindedly without the patient knowing what substance is being tested. With this method of testing it is possible to reproduce the exact symptoms that an individual is experiencing. A single drop of progressively weaker dilutions of extract are injected into the outer layers of the skin every 10 minutes. During the testing period, patients are observed constantly for changes in how they appear, feel, act, behave, and breathe. Breathing problems can be measured with a peak flow meter. The neutralization part of the testing involves finding the dilution of the extract which is able to stop the symptoms that were produced during provocation. Once the neutralization dose is found, it can be used by the patient to prevent or reduce an allergic reaction, if taken prior to the problematic exposure. It can also be administered after an allergic reaction has begun to help relieve the symptoms.
VOCs - VOCs stands for volatile organic compounds. These are substances that readily release vapors at room temperature. Organic compounds are chemicals containing carbon hydrogen bonds. They are both naturally occurring and manufactured. Most synthetic organic compounds are derived from petrochemicals; that is, from oil, gas, and coal.
|
