"Prescription drugs are part of my psychopharmacology, but are only one part. Natural (and non-patentable) substances as well as nutritional considerations can have dramatic effects on human brain physiology and consequently, on human behavior. A patient prescription must not be something dashed off quickly and identical to what untold other millions receive. It should ideally include nutritional recommendations and prescriptions for non-prescription substances, as well as a thorough lifestyle assessment."
It is confusing today with so many magazine and newspaper articles, and so many radio and television shows trumpeting the virtues of natural treatments as alternatives to prescription drugs.
Of course, as Dr. Goldstein likes to say, volcanoes and earthquakes are natural too. Vitamins can be good for you, or they can make you very sick if you take too much of certain kinds. Garlic, St. John's Wort, Kava Kava, and other natural substances are not regulated by the government. That means that there are no standards for how much of a substance is in a pill or capsule, the quality of the substance that is present, and dosage information is scarce.
Dr. Goldstein has applied her knowledge of psychopharmacology to the study of natural and nutritional substances, and believes they have a very firm place in routine medical treatment. She will work within the belief system of her patients and give them the best treatment for their conditions, whether natural, prescription or a combination of the two.
Most consumers are aware of vitamins and minerals, but Dr. Goldstein also uses an array of amino acids and other natural substances in her treatment. Essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3 found in fish oil and Co-Q 10 are examples of safe and useful natural substances that have a place in a great many treatment plans. Most of these preparations are inexpensive and are available in health food stores.
And the important thing about having a knowledgeable psychopharmacologist review your vitamin and nutrition therapy is to sort out the interactions and dosage problems that might create or aggravate serious conditions.
