Seizures and Fungus

Exciting news broke on September 14, 2015 
for every medical scientist in America. UC Irvine medical researchers purport to have discovered how a drug called Valproic Acid works on seizure disorders. This breakthrough, they contend, is big news because new drugs often follow these advanced understandings.

Currently, in addition to seizures, Valproic acid also treats bipolar disorders and is sometimes prescribed to prevent migraine headaches. The problem is that it is also linked to liver damage, birth defects and psychiatric side effects. It is interesting to note that fungal mycotoxins also induce liver damage, birth defects and psychiatric effects. But based on my limited knowledge of Valproic Acid, I believe that these side effects might have more to do with a “die-off” reaction as the medications are begun, rather than a “side effect” reaction.

A recent study in Medical Mycology referred to the antifungal activity of antipsychotic drugs, one of which was Valproic Acid Sodium Salt. I recall reading several years ago that antidepressant medications called SSRI’s had antifungal properties as well and I just have to wonder if the reason that these chemical cocktails work on brain maladies has more to do with their antifungal properties, than anything else.

Valerian is a harmless supplement that has been used for centuries to control stress, anxiety and a host of other brain maladies. It also has antifungal properties 
It was B.S. Burton who first synthesized Valproic Acid in 1882 as an analog (analogous to) of valeric acid, a component of the valerian plant! Now you know why some people refer to the medicinal herb, valerian as “the poor mans Valium!” So many medications come from herbs!

{flike}

{fcomments}