World-renowned nutritional testing & therapy for mental health disorders
A world-renowned nutrient therapy to treat depression and anxiety is now available for the first time in Ireland. Led by father and son team, Dr. Edmond O’Flaherty and Dr. Andrew O’Flaherty, who both have a special interest in mental health, the treatment is based on a nutrient therapy programme that, in conjunction with conventional medicine, has proven hugely successful in countries such as Australia, Norway, the USA and Canada.
Speaking about the pioneering treatment, Dr. Edmond O’Flaherty said: “My journey to this work started in 1999 when I read an article by Prof. Andrew Stoll of Harvard on fish oil. I had a patient with severe OCD and she had a wonderful response to a high dose of Omega-3, so I started looking for other natural nutrients that might help with mental health issues.”
Chemical Imbalances
The Bio Balance Centre tests for an individual’s biomarkers of depression and anxiety disorders which, in some cases, can be overlooked by mainstream medicine. A detailed consultation is carried out with each individual, followed by blood and urine tests. Once the results are received, the doctor at the Centre will then prescribe an appropriate and targeted supplement-based nutrient therapy programme.
At The Bio Balance Centre, they focus on major imbalances that can cause depression – Zinc/Copper imbalance and methylation disorders being the major ones. They check plasma minerals and determine any deficiency or overload of the elements present.
“Depression” does not describe everyday feelings of low mood that can affect us all from time to time. Feeling sad and fed-up are normal reactions to experiences that are upsetting, stressful or difficult. When we talk about depression, we mean low mood, lack of pleasure or low energy on most days for at least 2 weeks.
There are many contributing factors; there might be underlying biochemical or psychological issues that predispose you to depression, or there could be a trigger such as a stressful event, bereavement, a career setback, or the break-up of a relationship.
Nutrient Therapy
Nutrient therapy is based on the research and practice of Dr. Abram Hoffer, Dr. Carl Pfeiffer and Dr. Bill Walsh, and uses natural nutrients, vitamins and minerals to replenish those that a person may be lacking; or in some cases they may have too much of a specific vitamin or mineral. This style of therapy can complement the conventional medicine prescribed by the patient’s GP or psychiatrist to ensure maximum results are achieved, or the therapy can work independently of conventional medicine.
“I am now late in my career and I was happy to take up the opportunity of working in Grafton St to get the message out about how enormously beneficial Nutrient Therapy can be.” says Edmond. “If it expands, hopefully it will continue to bring joy to many human beings. I saw more than 50 patients last year who had been in-patients in one psychiatric hospital, and I was able to get many of them into a far better state of mental health.
Each person has a very specific biological make-up and a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work. Every individual needs different nutrients for their bodies and minds to function at their optimum; what suits me won’t suit the next person and that is how our treatment works.”
Looking Forward
Tracy Quinn is a past patient of The Bio Balance Centre who has benefited from the treatment: “I had suffered from depression through my twenties, being on and off medication along the way. I found the negative side effects conventional medication far outweighed the positives. A friend recommended The Bio Balance Centre and to this day I have remained off medication and adhere to my nutrient programme with success.” Tracy is back in college studying Holistic Therapy and is looking forward to the future. “I’m really positive. The nutrient therapy helped me to get my sense of direction back,” she says.
For more information, call 1800288288, email info@biobalance.ie or visit www.biobalance.ie
