There are currently two routes that I have seen that seem to be assisting people with bipolar disorder.  There are traditional therapies (medications that often override the natural function of metabolic pathways in an effort to create a balance) and nutricuetical therapies (complex nutritional protocols that are aimed at restoring metabolic function). 

Below I will explain both types of therapies in relation to a disorder that is easy to describe and not to complex.

Depression

Nutritional therapies for depression

Traditional therapies for depression

---

Nutritional Therapies for Depression

First off we need to discuss the nature or what is known about depression.  Depression is believed to be caused by a lack of serotonin in the synaptic area of the neurons.  When serotonin levels are low the person will experience depression.  The lower the levels the deeper or worse the depression will get.

Here is the basic chemistry of serotonin production.

1.) Tryptophan an amino acid or nutrient is acted on by L-tryptophan hydroxylase an enzyme. 

2.) This produces 5 Hydroxy-L-tryptophan which is then acted on by hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase another enzyme.

3.) This produces serotonin, the chemical we need to be happy.

Pretty simple huh?  Not really.  The first reaction needs to have both Iron and Calcium in specific forms to work and the second reaction needs Vitamin B6 in a specific form to work.

There are other factors that may affect your ability to uptake tryptophan and the other nutrients that are needed for this reaction to work.  This is why just any old multi vitamin and mineral supplement might not work.  Make sure you talk to someone who knows about this kind of thing.  The people I would suggest for this kind of information can be contacted through www.truehope.com or if you have more time on your hands you can look for a doctor like Abram Hoffer who does similar work with orthomolecular therapies.  The following chart may explain the reaction more clearly.

---

Traditional Therapies for Depression

Traditional therapies for Depression simply put means to use medication to combat the symptoms of depression.  Often time traditional medication will work faster than nutritional therapies.  However, just like nutritional therapies, traditional therapies do not work for everyone.  As well there are often side effects of these drugs that may out weigh the benefits of the therapy.

Lets start with the SSRI or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors class of drugs.

SSRI's are designed to inhibit the reuptake mechanism of serotonin from the synaptic area of the neuron.  In other works it traps serotonin in the synapse of the neuron and thus causes an increase in the amount of serotonin in that area.  This often causes a feeling of happiness.  The chart below depicts the reaction that takes place.

Even though the traditional method may sometimes work faster than going the nutritional route, you might want to consider the following.  Medications that are foreign to the body and change or inhibit the natural workings of the body will often have side effects.

For example.  One of the most popular SSRIs on the market is Paxil, otherwise known as Paroxetine HCL.  It is an anti depressant used to treat depression.  Below is a list of the side effects of Paxil as seen on www.rxlist.com .  For a look at the full monograph please click on the following link. http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/parox.htm .  Please note that this information should not be used to diagnose or determine medication levels or changes.  Talk to your doctor if you have any other questions about medications.

Paxil side effects as taken from www.rxlist.com Please note this is only a portion of the monograph.  Please refer the www.rxlist.com for more information.

"Body as a Whole: Frequent: Chills, malaise; Infrequent: Allergic reaction, face edema, neck pain; Rare: Adrenergic syndrome, cellulitis, moniliasis, neck rigidity, pelvic pain, peritonitis, ulcer.

Cardiovascular System: Frequent: Hypertension, syncope, tachycardia; Infrequent: Bradycardia, hematoma, hypotension, migraine; Rare: Angina pectoris, arrhythmia nodal, atrial fibrillation, bundle branch block, cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular accident, congestive heart failure, heart block, low cardiac output, myocardial infarct, myocardial ischemia, pallor, phlebitis, pulmonary embolus, supraventricular extrasystoles, thrombophlebitis, thrombosis, varicose vein, vascular headache, ventricular extrasystoles.

Digestive System: Infrequent: Bruxism, colitis, dysphagia, eructation, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, glossitis, increased salivation, liver function tests abnormal, rectal hemorrhage, ulcerative stomatitis; Rare: Aphthous stomatitis, bloody diarrhea, bulimia, cholelithiasis, duodenitis, enteritis, esophagitis, fecal impactions, fecal incontinence, gum hemorrhage, hematemesis, hepatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, jaundice, melena, mouth ulceration, peptic ulcer, salivary gland enlargement, stomach ulcer, stomatitis, tongue discoloration, tongue edema, tooth caries.

Endocrine System: Rare: Diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis.

Hemic and Lymphatic Systems: Infrequent: Anemia, eosinophilia, leukocytosis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, purpura; Rare: Abnormal erythrocytes, basophilia, hypochromic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, lymphedema, abnormal lymphocytes, lymphocytosis, microcytic anemia, monocytosis, normocytic anemia, thrombocythemia, thrombocytopenia.

Metabolic and Nutritional: Frequent: Weight gain, weight loss; Infrequent: Alkaline phosphatase increased, edema, peripheral edema, SGOT increased, SGPT increased, thirst; Rare: Bilirubinemia, BUN increased, creatinine phosphokinase increased, dehydration, gamma globulins increased, gout, hypercalcemia, hypercholesteremia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, hyponatremia, ketosis, lactic dehydrogenase increased.

Musculoskeletal System: Frequent: Arthralgia; Infrequent: Arthritis; Rare: Arthrosis, bursitis, myositis, osteoporosis, generalized spasm, tenosynovitis, tetany.

Nervous System: Frequent: Amnesia, CNS stimulation, concentration impaired, depression, emotional lability, vertigo; Infrequent: Abnormal thinking, alcohol abuse, ataxia, delirium, depersonalization, dystonia, dyskinesia, euphoria, hallucinations, hostility, hyperkinesia, hypertonia, hypesthesia, hypokinesia, incoordination, lack of emotion, libido increased, manic reaction, neurosis, paralysis, paranoid reaction, psychosis; Rare: Abnormal gait, akinesia, antisocial reaction, aphasia, choreoathetosis, circumoral parethesias, convulsion, delusions, diplopia, drug dependence, dysarthria, extrapyramidal syndrome, fasciculations, grand mal convulsion, hyperalgesia, hysteria, manic-depressive reaction, meningitis, myelitis, neuralgia, neuropathy, nystagmus, peripheral neuritis, psychotic depression, reflexes decreased, reflexes increased, stupor, trismus, withdrawal syndrome.

Respiratory System: Frequent: Cough increased, rhinitis, sinusitis; Infrequent: Asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea, epistaxis, hyperventilation, pneumonia, respiratory flu; Rare: Emphysema, hemoptysis, hiccups, lung fibrosis, pulmonary edema, sputum increased, voice alteration.

Skin and Appendages: Frequent: Pruritus; Infrequent: Acne, alopecia, contact dermatitis, dry skin, ecchymosis, eczema, herpes simplex, maculopapular rash, photosensitivity, urticaria; Rare: Angioedema, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme, fungal dermatitis, furunculosis , herpes zoster, hirsutism, seborrhea, skin discoloration, skin hypertrophy, skin ulcer, vesiculobullous rash.

Special Senses: Infrequent: Abnormality of accommodation, conjunctivitis, ear pain, eye pain, mydriasis, otitis media, photophobia, tinnitus; Rare: Amblyopia, anisocoria, blepharitis, cataract, conjunctival edema, corneal ulcer, deafness, exophthalmos, eye hemorrhage, glaucoma, hyperacusis, keratoconjunctivitis, night blindness, otitis externa, parosmia, ptosis, retinal hemorrhage, taste loss, visual field defect.

Urogenital System: Infrequent: Abortion, amenorrhea, breast pain, cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, menorrhagia, nocturia, polyuria, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary urgency, vaginal moniliasis vaginitis; Rare: Breast atrophy, breast enlargement, epidiymitis, female lactation, fibrocystic breast, kidney calculus, kidney pain, leukorrhea, mastitis, metrorrhagia, nephritis, oliguria, pyuria, urethritis, uterine spasm, urolith, vagina hemorrhage."