There Are Remedies Worse Than the Disease
This famous medical quote is by Pubius Cyrus. Another quote that is a favorite is by Hiipocrates, who wrote, "Do no harm." Hippocrates also wrote, "Let thy medicine be thy food, and thy food be thy medicine." Although there is redundancy in this quote, the quote gives good advice.
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This clipart from Pharmacology Central shows some hallucinogens that are similar to serotonin in structure. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter which is derived from tryptophan.
Shown here is Linus Pauling in 1967 (courtesy of the National Library of Medicine). Pauling was an expert on the molecular basis of disease. Pauling was a dissenter. Pauling criticized over-the-counter cold medications because of their side effects. Pauling favored the treatment of diseases with natural body substances. This same view is held by homeopaths, but homeopaths use such small doses of these substances that their medicines have little effect. Pauling did not favor miniscule doses. One thing that can be said in favor of homeopathy is that they have done little harm. About the only harm that they do is to divert people from more legitimate treatments. This author (Olson) favors the use of diets. Pauling took enormous doses of vitamin C and suffered no bad side effects. He felt that these doses would prolong life. Pauling did indeed live a very long and productive life. He was continuing to do research into his nineties.
This is the brain as viewed in 1546. Early medical publications were mostly about anatomy. Off the top of my head, this is one of the stranger depictions. However, the lateral ventricles can be seen. These are enlarged in schizophrenia. This illustration is shown courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. The brain is strongly affected by drugs. Unfortunately these effects are often adverse.
This is serotonin, an important neurotransmitter. This clipart is from Molecule of the Month. Serotonin resembles many hallucinogenic drugs in chemical structure except that the drugs have methyl and/or methoxy groups. Serotonin by itself is not hallucinogenic.
Shown here is Dr. Julius Axelrod when he worked in the Pharmacology department of the National Institute of Mental Health. This photo is shown courtesy of the National Library of Medicine.
The brain is not the only organ affected by drugs. This drawing is shown courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. Many adverse effects are seen in the liver due to the fact that the liver tries to detoxify foreign substances. Even certain vitamins can cause problems if taken in excess. This is seen particularly in the fat soluble vitamins (A, E, etc.).
This is psilocin, which closely resembles serotonin. Psilocin has two methyl groups which are lacking in serotonin. This clipart is from Molecule of the Month. Certain "magic" mushrooms contain hallucinogenic substances. Dr. Hoffer of Canada has suggested a toxic indoleamine as causing schizophrenia. This view was rejected by the APA (American Psychiatric Association).
Shown here is Dr. Albert Hoffman, the scientist who discovered LSD. At firtst this was considered a brilliant advance, but what Hoffmann discovered turned out to be like Dr. Fankenstein's monster. This clipart is from Molecule of the Month.
This is the peyote cactus. It contains mescaline and DMPEA. The clipart is from Molecule of the Month.