Orthomolecular medicine describes the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body.
The term was coined by Linus Pauling (above) in 1968. Ortho means "right" or "correct" molecule. It emphasises the scientific approach... objective/measurable.
To use the "right" thing is the "smart" way to practise medicine:
- Emphasises prevention.
- Is often deceptively simple
- Is usually much cheaper
- Is healthier
- Is often nutritional in nature
- Asks lots of questions
- Is holistic (looks at the whole person and involves them in any treatment)
- Emphasises "first do no harm"
This site is a collection of "smart" solutions which the term Orthomolecular most accurately describes... but it also includes some approaches which are not orthomolecular in nature.