THE LEGACY & THE LEGEND
The Legacy of Dr. Linus Pauling
For those of us that spend countless hours in pursuit of better nutritional choices, certain scientists provide important advances that dramatically improve our way of life. While the latest studies are interesting, recognizing the achievements of Dr. Linus Pauling may change your life for the best. Natural Biology bases our advanced formulations on his formulation techniques which revolutionized advanced supplementing using Orthomolecular designed supplements. He is one of those important chemists that forever changed our understanding of nutrition. Let us take the time to recognize his incredible life and amazing discoveries.
Dr. Linus Pauling Was a Chemist for the Ages
So rarely does one man offer as much for humanity in a single lifetime. In addition to his efforts as an author and political activist, Dr. Linus Pauling joined an esteemed class of only four individuals to ever receive numerous Nobel Prizes. After graduating from Oregon Agricultural College and the California Institute of Technology, he served on the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists with Albert Einstein. He received two Nobel Prizes in different categories. Only Dr. Pauling and Marie Curie can claim this honor. He was also awarded the Lenin Peace Prize. While Dr. Pauling's accomplishments are too numerous to list in this format, we will examine his contributions to our understanding of vitamin C and orthomolecular medicine.
Dr. Pauling's Vitamin C Research
Most of us take for granted the health benefits of vitamin C supplementation. The average consumer is well-aware of the value of taking large doses of vitamin C when the common cold approaches. Dr. Pauling contributed to the popularity of this practice. Inspired by the work of Irwin Stone, Dr. Pauling suggested supplemental use of vitamin C for the prevention of the common cold.
However, his research did not stop there. Dr. Linus Pauling believed that huge doses of Vitamin C can prevent and treat cancer. Much like Galileo, Dr. Pauling was ridiculed for his beliefs during his time. This is the unfortunate curse of scientists that discover new theories. However, new studies may support his claim that large doses of vitamin C can prevent and treat cancer. He suggested that vitamin C dosages as high as ten grams might be useful in the fight against cancer.
Dr. Pauling's Contributions to Orthomolecular Medicine
Dr. Linus Pauling coined the term "orthomolecular" in Orthomolecular Medicine. This article was published in Science in 1968. Orthomolecular medicine is an important precursor to modern natural alternative medicines. Essentially, this medical field involves equipping the body with optimal levels of natural substances to prevent and treat diseases. For those of us that consume dietary supplements, this describes one of our favorite activities although few companies follow his techniques.
Orthomolecular medicine goes far beyond the consumption of large doses of vitamin C. Many mainstream clinical applications are considered orthomolecular medicinal techniques. For example, some scientists refer to the treatment of diabetes with insulin injection as a type of orthomolecular medicine. A lot of holistic practicing physician practice orthomolecular medicine but few supplement companies actually make supplements for these physicians. Natural Biology does!
In the 1950s, Dr. Pauling examined how enzymes might affect mental disorders. This molecular research lead to an understanding of the relationship between vitamin B deficiency and a number of psychological conditions. Dr. Pauling observed that several psychiatrists were experiencing success in the treatment of schizophrenia with supplemental niacin.
In Conclusion
Dr. Linus Pauling was an independent spirit that pursued intellectual understanding despite the pressures of others. Science relies on people like Dr. Pauling to provide alternative theories that challenge the temporary trends of the academic community. His incredible achievements suggest that we should closely examine his theories. New studies often mirror his findings regarding vitamin C which is what made him famous!
While large doses of supplemental vitamin C may be helpful in preventing and treating cancer, always discuss these decisions with your doctor. This information is not to be used as medical advice. Intravenous use of vitamin C may involve risks. Dietary supplements can sometimes cause problems in combination with certain pharmaceutical drugs. Health conditions and allergies may also interact negatively with certain nutritional products. These are issues that need to be discussed with your primary care physician.
However, Dr. Linus Pauling's research may help us understand new ways to fight cancer and other chronic diseases particularly now that we have more advanced understanding of cancer. We also today have far better micro-nutrients than were available in Dr. Pauling's lifetime. Many scientist have taken up where Dr. Linus Pauling left off and today the possibilities are endless.