Schizophrenia is a complex, chronic mental health disorder. Symptoms can include impaired cognitive ability, delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech or behavior. The cause is still unknown but is thought to relate to either an excess or a deficiency of neurotransmitters. Due to this complexity, drug design and targeting are challenging.
There is some evidence that Nutritional Supplements such as folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, may be useful in treatment within certain subgroups of patients with Schizophrenia. However, while these vitamins have limited uses in the treatment of Schizophrenia, they may be valuable as therapeutic adjuncts in an integrative medicine treatment protocol.
Traditional Medicine
Nature has been a source of traditional medicinal products for millennia, and many effective herbal medicines have been developed from plant sources. Furthermore, pharma companies have used natural products to develop pharmaceutical agents or as leads to bioactive molecules.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
A recent finding has determined that a traditional medicine formula may be useful in the treatment of Schizophrenia. Wen-Dan Decoction (WDD) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine formula that has been clinically used to treat insomnia for approximately 800 years; its mode of action is unclear. WDD is a specific blend of herbs and/or their dosages following the rules of TCM theory.
A recent CAM study from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China has now determined that it may be of value in treating schizophrenia. The Cochrane methodology systematic review investigated the effects of WDD on 1437 patients. The authors concluded that there is some evidence to suggest that WDD may have some positive short-term antipsychotic global effects compared with placebo or no treatment. However, larger scale and better-designed studies are required.
Why use an Integrative Healthcare strategy?
Schizophrenia in many people has proven to be resistant to treatment with pharmaceutical medication alone. Therefore, consideration should be given to an Integrative Medicine protocol with the inclusion of conventional medications and interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy or symptomatic control. In addition, the inclusion of therapeutic adjuncts such as dietary treatment, vitamin therapy, and traditional medicine formulations (without herb-drug interactions)for treating the underlying cause is recommended.The protocol should be altered with time and in accordance with clinical observational data and risk management data.Furthermore, due to the variations in symptoms and causes, one should be aware that the integrative medicine protocol will vary from individual to individual. However, a team experienced team of experienced Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) / Integrative Medicine practitioners are recommended to implement this protocol due to the complex nature of treating patients with Schizophrenia.
