by Lawrence Wilson, MD

BIPOLAR DISORDER

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is solely the opinion of the author and for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

Definition. Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of depression that alternate with periods of high energy, anxiety or manic episodes. An older name for the same condition is manic-depressive disorder.

The two types of feelings alternate, each lasting a few days or often longer than this. Bipolar or manic-depressive disorder responds very well to a development program.

BIOCHEMICAL CAUSES FOR BIPLOLAR DISORDER

An unstable condition of the oxidation rate. This causes the oxidation rate to change repeatedly from slow to fast and back to slow oxidation easily and quickly. This affects one’s mood and thinking.

The depressive phase is usually a slow oxidation pattern. In fact, this is usually the underlying condition in bipolar disorder.

Slow oxidation is associated with fatigue, apathy and depression. The more extreme the slow oxidation rate, usually the more extreme the feelings of depression.

A faster oxidation rate is associated with euphoria, anxiety, irritability and manic feelings. For details, read The Oxidation Types.

Four highs pattern. Four highs is the name of the hair analysis pattern in which all four of the macrominerals – calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium - are elevated above their ideal values in the hair tissue.

This is a variant of the slow oxidizer type of bipolar disorder. It is an unstable metabolic pattern in which the sodium and potassium levels rise and fall easily. For details, read Four Highs Pattern.

Rocking or the pendulum pattern. This is another uncommon reason for an oxidation rate that changes from fast to slow and back to fast repeatedly. It is due to a special intervention that speeds up healing. Symptoms, if they occur, are mild.

Copper Toxicity. Copper has the following effects on the nervous system:

- It tends to enhance all emotional states, both depression and anxiety or manic feelings, for example.

- It affects the activity of the thyroid and adrenal glands, causing significant changes in a person’s energy level and health status, generally.

- It is an adrenal stimulant that enhances production of the biogenic amines – epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine.

- It is involved in monoamine oxidase, which has to do with serotonin levels.

- It can cause detachment from reality and other tendencies as well.

If copper rises, which occurs before the menstrual period, for example, it can cause anxiety or manic feelings. The mind races, sleep is more difficult and one feels ‘wired’. When copper declines, one feels depressed.

Fast oxidation bipolar disorder. This is a more rare type of bipolar disorder. In this condition, the thyroid and adrenal glands are overactive for some reason. In most adults, the reason is the presence of metals that are either toxic or in a toxic form, such as copper, iron, manganese, aluminum and others.

Fast oxidation can be associated with both mania and depression. The mania is due to an excessively fast rate of metabolism. The depression is due to a feeling of being out of control, unhappy and sometimes is a direct effect of a toxic metal or chemical on the brain.

Four lows pattern. This is a hair mineral pattern in which the first four macrominerals – calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium – are all lower than their ideal values. It is a common pattern seen with bipolar disorder.

The underlying problem is extreme fatigue and depression. Often the person has a somewhat negative attitude as a result of, or as part of the pattern.

However, when calcium and magnesium are low, as they are with this pattern, one is prone to episodes of anxiety, irritability, inability to rest and other symptoms that may be thought of as manic.

Mercury or other metal toxicity. Mercury and other toxic metals that lodge in the brain or other locations occasionally cause biplolar symptoms.

Variations in the hair tissue sodium/potassium ratio. This is another possible cause of bipolar symptoms. It is less common than the patterns discussed above.

WHY DO THE CYCLES IN BIPOLAR DISORDER OCCUR AND ALTERNATE?

Biochemically, this is not difficult to explain. First, the body goes through cycles of all kinds, all the time. These include an hourly cycle of organ functions, a daily circadian cycle, weekly cycles having to do with certain lifestyle activities, monthly cycles, especially in women, and many others having to do with the seasons, temperature changes, weather changes and others.

What occurs in bipolar disorder is simply that something in one of these cycles triggers a change in the body chemistry, leading to the shift in one’s symptoms. This is not a difficult concept to understand when one realizes that the body is changing all the time at deep biochemical levels.

For example, during the normal cycles of the body, certain minerals, vitamins, hormones and many other brain-related chemicals are rising and falling, being secreted or excreted in larger and smaller amounts, and so on. If anything goes wrong with this regulatory process, symptoms can occur.

THE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO BIPOLAR DISORDER

This is a non-specific approach (meaning that it improves many aspects of health) that balances body chemistry and renourishes the body at deep levels.

This program is unique in that it also causes development. This is a genetic process that enhances health in many ways. It works very well. For details, read Introduction To Development.

Methods we suggest avoiding. We do not recommend bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, which tends to increase cancer in the body. We also do not recommend drug therapy, as this is not needed and is more toxic.

We also do not need or like chelation therapy of any kind, whether natural or synthetic, oral, intravenous or by suppository. We also avoid amino acid therapy. It is very yin in macrobiotic terms, costly, and not needed if one eats correctly.

Now and then, neurotransmitter precursor therapy can be helpful for temporary stabilization in some cases. However, it, too, is rarely needed.

WHAT TO EXPECT

While each situation is somewhat different, most people begin to feel better within a week to a month of starting a full development program. Results tend to be permanent, providing one remains on a healthful diet and follows a healthful lifestyle.

One often does not need to continue with a full development program for more than a year or so. However, we recommend remaining on a program for a longer time for its many other health benefits.

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