Schizophrenia: causes, treatment and diet
The word schizophrenia comes from two Greek roots meaning split, break and understanding, mind or reason, so schizophrenia can be defined as a rupture or division of the intellect or reason. This condition is characterized by chronic and severe mental disorders, which occur due to alterations in either the perception or expression of reality. It was previously known as praecox dementia, and should not be confused with dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder (borderline personality).
Schizophrenia Symptoms
Initially, symptoms may be mild, such as feeling irritable or tense, insomnia, poor concentration, among others. As the illness progresses, it may have other minor symptoms such as lack of emotion, false beliefs or thoughts that have nothing to do with reality, and more. Once it is more pronounced, schizophrenia can give very specific symptoms such as:
- Anxiety.
- Mutation of various aspects of mental functioning of individuals, mainly from the consciousness of reality.
- Delusions.
- Hallucinations.
- Excessive and insatiable desire for power, recognition, measurement, wealth, etc.
- Disordered language and thinking.
- Affective disorders and misconduct.
- Neuropsychological disorganization more or less complex, especially executive function, which leads to a difficulty to keep motivated behavior and goal-directed.
- Social dysfunction.
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Possible causes of Schizophrenia
- Genetics
- Defects in the neural development of the individual.
- The environment in childhood (painful, without clear boundaries, aggressive, abusive, distant, poor inspiritual beliefs, etc.)
- An excessive and abusive consumption of refined sugar.
- Lack of emotional understanding, an escape from reality because it represents a lot of conflict, confusion or pain.
- Psychological and social processes.
- Use of certain medications and recreational drugs
- Although there has been an increase in dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway of the brain in people with schizophrenia, the biological cause is still unknown to science. However, it could be said (author's note), that since dopamine is a stimulating hormone of fantasy and imagination, and which eliminates the borders between genius and madness, its increase is due precisely to the needs of the individual to refuge from reality in imagination or fantasy.
Schizophrenia Treatment
The first is to assess the emotional aspect of individual, if he/she is a drug addict, needs psychological treatment and professional help. If it not very advanced, you can help the person through several natural methods.
The diet should be a foundation to help the person with schizophrenia, and the key is to avoid sugars and refined flours, and any product that contains it, such as soda, tomato sauces, breakfast cereals, sweet drinks, biscuits, sweets, white bread, etc. This is very important because sugar is one of the products that degenerates and damages the nervous system.
It is also necessary to consider an increase in nutritional products of the nervous system, such as omega oils (found in chia, flax, vegetable oils, salmon, etc.), raw and steramed vegetables and fruits, pure water (2 liters). Add oily fish, spirulina and whole grains as dietary supplements.
Reflexology, acupuncture and bio-energy massage are natural aids to stabilize the nervous system and help the patient regain health systems and the smooth flow of emotional energy.
Psychological support (psychotherapy) is essential to help the patient to hear and understand fears and feelings, balancing, of course, the degree of the patient, and consider whether it is necessary to include supplements or natural remedies to help regulate the nervous system. Many times patients can be cured if they find stability and emotional security in their environment. It is important to promote social-emotional relationships, and lead the patients to greater security in their environment and teach them to value and focus on things that give more confidence and peace.
If there are symptoms such as anxiety or depression, you can support the patient with teas and herbs such as passionflower, lime, anise, etc., also to be strictly eliminating white sugar from the diet, substitute with honey or brown sugar.
Chinese medicine to treat schizophrenia and anxiety
Traditional Chinese medicine base this condition’s healing in harmony and regulation of internal organs. And the emotional energy plays an important role in this balance.
"Emotions are harmful when they are experienced in excess or for too long”. For Chinese medicine, emotional factors are an important part of the root of the disease. To prevent unnecessary emotional problems you need to:
- Be aware of the main psychological typology of the person (kidney, lung, etc.), and throughout the year, regulate it through acupuncture and appropriate food plants.
- Be aware of the emotion that affects us.
- We must find time and ways to express the emotion: talking about it with friends, writing, painting…
“Anxiety is the clear manifestation of any emotional maladjustment”.