Neurosomatic Medicine
With the term "neurosomatic" Goldstein refers to illnesses which he believes to stem from dysfunctional information processing in the brain. According to him this neurological dysfunction may be caused by "complex interaction of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors". According to Goldstein the dysfunction can be fixed by the use of appropriate neuromodulatory drugs which act on neurotransmitters or their receptors. The term neurosomatic should not be confused with "psychosomatic".
Jay Goldstein is known for his use of medications for off-label uses, such as H2 receptor antagonists for infectious mononucleosis and chronic fatigue syndrome. His practice utilized many different pharmaceuticals in the form of eyedrops and nasal sprays, based on the theory that they directly affect the receptors on the trigeminal nerve. Another peculiar part of his treatment protocol is the administration of several medications with a rapid onset (such as eyedrops, intravenous infusions and mouth swirls) during the course of an office visit, until the patient got better or the time ran out.
Goldstein used over one hundred medications in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The medications were selected based on the patient's symptomalogy, but even more importantly on their reactions to previous treatments, whether positive or negative. He has even devised an "algorithm" to aid the selection of medication, which is detailed in his book Tuning the Brain.
Other illnesses Goldstein considers to be neurosomatic in origin include chemical sensitivity, seborrheic dermatitis, adrenal insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, temporomandibular dysfunction, bruxism, carpal tunnel syndromes, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, attention deficit disorder, sleep apnea, interstitial cystitis and "virtually all psychiatric conditions".
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Famous quotes containing the word medicine:
“Good medicine is bitter, but it cures illness.”
—Chinese proverb.
Confucius.