Orthomolecular Medicine

Orthomolecular Medicine is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the use of optimal amounts of substances natural to the body (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, hormones) to prevent and treat disease. The term was coined by Nobel laureate Dr. Linus Pauling, who proposed that by providing cells with the optimal molecular environment, the body can achieve and maintain health. This often requires nutrient doses far higher than standard RDAs, sometimes reaching pharmacological levels to correct biochemical imbalances and treat disease.

Orthomolecular practitioners use advanced laboratory testing to identify individual nutrient deficiencies, genetic variations affecting nutrient metabolism (such as MTHFR mutations), and biochemical imbalances. Based on these findings, they design highly personalized supplementation protocols using therapeutic doses of nutrients. For example, high-dose niacin for cardiovascular health, megadoses of vitamin C for immune support and cancer therapy, or specific B-vitamin combinations for mental health conditions. The approach recognizes that individual biochemistry varies widely, and optimal nutrient levels differ dramatically between people.

Orthomolecular Medicine is used for mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia), cardiovascular disease, cancer support, chronic infections, and optimization of health and longevity. Pioneering work by physicians like Abram Hoffer demonstrated that high-dose niacin and vitamin C could treat schizophrenia and other conditions. While the approach is controversial in conventional medicine, it has a strong evidence base in nutritional biochemistry and decades of clinical success. For those seeking to address health issues at the molecular level through optimized nutrition, orthomolecular medicine offers a sophisticated, science-based approach.