Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a nervous, psychological disorder that can eventually lead to serious medical problems and even death. The disorder begins with an abnormal fear of being overweight, which leads to a refusal to eat. At first, anorexia nervosa was thought to be strictly psychological in nature. However, in the last few years, scientists have identified several physical components as well.

Signs and Symptoms:

Warning signs of anorexia nervosa include:

• Self-starvation and weight loss
• Intense, persistent fear of gaining weight
• Continuous dieting
• Excessive growth of facial or body hair because of inadequate protein in diet
• Cessation of menstruation or irregular periods.
• Broken blood vessels in the face
• Preoccupation with food
• Refusal to eat, except tiny portions
• Compulsive exercising
• Abnormal weight loss
• Sensitivity to cold
• Hair loss
• Erosion of the enamel of back teeth.
• Overuse of laxatives
• Vomiting after eating (self induced)
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure

Diagnosis:

The first step is to rule out other psychological and physical health problems through physical and psychological evaluations. Some doctor's may want to test for zinc deficiency, as this is believed to be a contributing factor.

Treatment Options:

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder that weaves itself into every aspect of the person's life. Therefore, treatment options are often varied and combined to meet the needs of the specific patient.

Traditional Treatments:

There are no real drug therapies for anorexia. However, doctors may hospitalize a patient for intravenous feeding and health monitoring. Often, anorexia patients suffer from depression and other anxiety disorders and doctors may prescribe medication for those.

Anorexia is mainly treated through psychotherapy or family counseling, where the patient can restructure their eating and living lifestyles.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies:

There are many different therapies that can help a person recover from anorexia and help them to lead a normal life.

Nutritional Supplementation:

At the beginning of the recovery period, an anorexic should work closely with their doctor to bring their health levels up. Nutritional health should be the first goal.

This is a general guideline of nutritional supplements that can help speed recovery time:

• Chromium ­ 200 mg, twice daily for six weeks can help keep the blood-sugar level in balance.
  
• Multivitamin and mineral complex with:
• Beta-carotene ­ 25,000 IU
• Mixed carotenoids ­ (amounts will vary)
• Vitamin A ­ 10,000 IU
• Calcium ­ 1,500 mg
• Magnesium ­ 1,200 mg
• Potassium ­ 22-200 mg
• Selenium ­ 200mcg (Do not exceed 40mcg if pregnant)
• Zinc ­ 25 mg twice a daily (Do not exceed 100 mg daily from all supplements)
• Copper ­ 3 mg daily (for mineral balance)
  
• B-complex ­ with 25 mg of each of the major B vitamins every day.
• Acidophilus ­ as directed on label. (Needed to replace the "friendly" bacteria lost due to vomiting/laxative use)
• Vitamin B12 Injections ­ talk with your doctor. (these injections have been shown to increase appetite and prevent some forms of anemia)

Alternative Therapies:

• Kava kava can help relax the nervous system and alleviate anxiety in the first few weeks of recovery. (Check with your doctor first to make sure it will not interfere with other treatments)
• Siberian ginseng can help increase energy levels that often plummet during recovery. (Do not take other forms of ginseng as they tend to be too strong for people with anorexia)
• Ginger root, gotu kola, and peppermint can help stimulate the appetite.
• Aromatherapy ­ essential oils of bergamot and peppermint can help stimulate the appetite. Bergamot oil also helps combat depression.

General Recommendations:

• Eat a well balanced diet. Your doctor or nutritionist can show you how much of each type of food you should be eating daily.
• Consult a homeopathic specialist who can help design a whole body system to restore balance and health to your life.
• Try to separate yourself from anyone or anything that makes you feel "put-down" or inadequate.

Warnings:

Anorexic behavior, if continued long enough, can lead to death.