by Richard Collins, MBA

Orthomolecular nutrition (ON) is a term which, when we first hear it, sounds cultish like gangsta rap or media elite. Like most unfamiliar expressions though, we get comfortable with it after we have heard it frequently and know what it’s all about. Our purpose in this short monograph is to tell you what orthomolecular nutrition is, how it evolved, how it relates to traditional medicine and how it is becoming a very popular and effective adjunct to traditional practices.

Orthomolecular is a synthetic term made up of ortho, which is Greek for "correct" or "right" and molecule which is the simplest structure that displays the characteristics of a compound. So it literally means the "right molecule". Linus Pauling coined the term in 1968 to help him express his belief that disease could be eradicated by giving the body the "right molecules" of nutrients through good nutrition.

Basically, a doctor of nutrition (the polite name for orthomolecular nutritionist) believes that individuals and infirmities are unique. Each of us eats distinctly different foods grown in varying soils yielding differing nutrients. Each of us has a unique body shape which we exercise differently in varying work and play environments. And each of us has different physical and emotional stresses. So, while everyone has the same list of required natural substances such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, enzymes and hormones, the healthy amounts are determined by lifestyle and environment. It is the relative amount of "right molecules" that is important to each of us as individuals. When they get out of balance, disease results.

Turning this around, disease results from excesses and deficiencies of the natural substances our bodies need so that they can grow and replace tissue. Treatment of disease by doctors of nutrition, then, is aimed squarely at bringing these natural substances into balance.

This differs from traditional medicine which assumes one disease (the presenting illness) originating from a single cause and solved by one (or few) treatments. Where a doctor of nutrition tries to bring many nutritional factors into balance, traditional health care practitioners often treat with toxic drugs. Introducing these alien chemicals into our bodies can alleviate symptoms but has two drawbacks: drugs often erase valuable clues as to what the real problem is and they create dependence.

Despite these fundamental differences, orthomolecular and traditional medicine are not in opposition to one another. They can be practiced simultaneously. Traditional primary health care practitioners are beginning to embrace orthomolecular nutrition as an enhancement to their practices. There are at least three forces at work promoting this phenomenon.

First, there is a surging demand by health care consumers for alternative health solutions. One need only look at the dramatic increase in spending in this area for proof. Second, the number of primary care physicians is growing faster than the populace. Coupled with the push for managed care this is forcing traditional health care practitioners to work harder to distinguish themselves. They are responding to this challenge by doing a better job of marketing their practices. One means of "product differentiation" is to offer conjunctive nutrition programs as an alternative to traditional diagnosis and treatment. Third, alternative health solutions are becoming increasingly eligible for medical reimbursement by insurance companies.

CONCLUSION
Doctors of nutrition believe that by concentrating and balancing the "right molecules" in the body they can achieve optimal health. Traditional medicine also has optimal health as its goal. This goal compatibility will foster conjunctive nutritional programs between orthomolecular nutritionists and traditional medical practitioners.

Our Web site is dedicated to the premise that, as stated recently by an anonymous Irish doctor, "The evidence for nutritional therapy is becoming so strong that if the doctors of today don’t become nutritionists, the nutritionists will become the doctors of tomorrow."