Mainstream doctors have long been baffled by schizophrenia. They don’t know what causes it. And they don’t have a cure for it.
It’s one of the most common mental illnesses. About 3.5 million Americans have it. And it can be completely debilitating, causing patients to hallucinate and experience delusions.
The first-line treatment is antipsychotic drugs. But studies show that these medications may do more harm than good. They sometimes have toxic effects.
Some patients are given electroconvulsive therapy. (You may remember seeing this treatment in the classic movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.) It can cause memory problems and requires a general anesthesia.[1] [2]
Researchers have discovered that there may be a better, natural way to treat not only schizophrenia, but two other seemingly unrelated conditions… cancer and COVID.
Sulforaphane: Safe and Effective
For a study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, scientists recruited 81 schizophrenia patients and 91 people without the disease.[3]
The research team used a magnetic device to measure five regions of the subjects’ brains. They compared the results from the schizophrenics to the control group.
It turned out that schizophrenics had 4% less glutamate in one brain region. Glutamate is essential for sending messages between brain cells.
The schizophrenics also lacked another crucial compound, glutathione, in two other brain regions.
Further testing indicated that sulforaphane restores both glutamate and glutathione in schizophrenics. Sulforaphane is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Brussel sprouts.
Dr. Akira Sawa is director of the Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center. He said that it’s possible sulforaphane could be “a safe supplement to give people at risk of developing schizophrenia.” It could also be used to “prevent, delay, or blunt” the symptoms.[4]
Sulforaphane Shows Potential Against Cancer…
and COVID
Besides its brain benefits, sulforaphane has long been known to have anti-cancer effects.
And now, a new preliminary study shows that it may also fight COVID-19.[5]
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that when human cells were treated with sulforaphane, they were more resistant to COVID. The virus was able to multiply at only half its normal rate.
What’s more, the scientists found that when mice were infected with COVID, they didn’t get as sick if they were on sulforaphane supplements.
The researchers also examined the effects of sulforaphane in combination with remdesivir. It’s an antiviral drug used to treat COVID. The scientists discovered that sulforaphane boosted remdesivir’s COVID-fighting ability.
Professor Lori Jones-Brando was a senior author of the study. “Sulforaphane could be a promising (COVID) treatment that is less expensive, safe, and readily commercially available.
Sulforaphane Supplements: What You Need to Know
As we mentioned, sulforaphane is found in cruciferous vegetables. But to ingest it in the levels used in studies, you have to take it as a supplement. You can get it from online retailers and health food stores.
Some people taking it report mild side effects, including stomach upset. But sulforaphane is considered safe…far less dangerous than a drug. Typical sulforaphane dosages are around 400 mcg per day.
For conditions as diverse as schizophrenia, cancer, and COVID, sulforaphane may be a natural solution whose time has come.
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References
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317296.php
[2] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/297655.php
[3] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2719702
[4] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190508093733.htm
[5] https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-chemical-leafy-greens-shown-growth.html