Coastal
Post Online
January,
2004
Findings Say Toxins May Be Linked To Depression
By Louis Steiner
Depression is a growing problem across America. Some reports
state that 17.5 million Americans suffer from depression. According to one
Surgeon General's Report, up to one in 10 children may suffer from a serious
emotional disturbance. People with severe depression have a reported suicide
rate as high as 15%, making it potentially the number one cause of suicide in
the United States.
Americans end up spending billions of dollars on ineffectual and
harmful pharmaceutical drugs each year to supposedly deal with the problem of
depression. Yet despite the use of these drugs, why are depression rates still
rising?
Researchers are finding evidence that depression may come from
an entirely different cause--the University Pathology Consortium, a
not-for-profit academic consortium founded and owned by the medical school
departments of six leading universities, including Stanford, recently
attributed some symptoms of depression to exposure to toxins.
Repeated exposure to pollutants in the food and environment can
result in accumulation of toxins such as lead, mercury and aluminum inside the
body. One possible source of exposure is dental fillings made from amalgam,
which contains mercury. Norwegian researchers found that 47% of patients with
dental amalgam fillings reported suffering from major depression, compared to
14% in the dental control group. Exposure to other toxins, such as lead, may
also elicit symptoms of depression.
"Environmental toxins have only increased over the past 50
years and have been found in everything from grit on the ground to the makeup a
woman uses to powder her nose. Pesticides, toxic mold and harsh chemical
cleaners have all become more prevalent in our country and also in many of our
homes," says Dr. Harry Wong, Clinical Director of the Physicians Plus
Medical Group, a medical clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. "We often
see patients who have feelings of depression and one of the first things we suspect
is an environmental influence."
Dr. Wong and his colleagues follow the latest research and help
their patients complaining of depression by looking for underlying reasons,
like toxic overload in the system. Dr. Wong recommends a program based on the
book Clear Body Clear Mind by L. Ron Hubbard. While the book makes no medical
claims, it outlines a simple and effective program to reduce toxic buildup in
the body. Over 250,000 people worldwide have successfully completed a program
based on the book. "We routinely see a marked improvement in our patients
who do this program," says Dr. Wong. "They think more clearly, have
more energy and they are definitely happier."
Finding the right source behind depression and addressing it
accordingly should make all Americans increasingly happier. To find out more
about a solution to toxic buildup in the body visit
<http://www.clearbodyclearmind.com> <www.clearbodyclearmind.com>.