An Obituary for Dr. Abram Hoffer

Dr. Abram Hoffer and Linus Pauling were friends. Each influenced the other. When Pauling started orthomolecular medicine in 1968, he cited articles by Hoffer & Osmond on psychiatry.

"When Linus Pauling died on Aug. 19, 1994, the world lost one of its greatest scientists and humanitarians and a much respected and beloved defender of civil liberties and health issues." Linus Pauling Institute

This institute favors "micronutrient research for optimum health". Hoffer carried on Pauling's mission until his death earlier this year (2009). I am carrying on their work now. The Linus Pauling Institue is also carrying on their work. Dr. Saul of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine is also carrying the torch.

Pauling attended Oregon Agricultural College, and he was their most famous graduate.

Hoffer MD, PhD (1917-2009)

Hoffer wrote a chapter in the Linus Pauling book "Orthomolecular Psychiatry" (1). Hoffer advocated the use of niacin in psychiatry in this chapter. At that time Hoffer was working with Humphrey Osmond, who also contributed to this outstanding book. Osmond died before Hoffer.

Saul has interviewed Hoffer (2, 3). Hoffer & Saul wrote a two books together (4, 5). Saul (6, 7, 8) has written articles about Hoffer.

Bill Wilson

Hoffer was interested in alcoholism.

"From the day he was freed of lifelong tension and insomnia by taking 3000 milligrams of niacin daily, Bill Wilson became a powerful runner with us. Bill helped me organize the first Schizophrenic's Anonymous group in Saskatoon, which was very successful. Bill introduced the orthomolecular concepts to a large number of AA members, especially in the United States." Hoffer

This quote is from the final interview that Saul did with Hoffer.

Hoffer's Papers

"In 1967, I happened to read a number of papers published by two psychiatrists in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. Abram Hoffer and Dr. Humphry Osmond." Linus Pauling

Osmond (1917-2004) later moved from Canada to the US and died before Hoffer. Ref. 9 & 10 were papers by Hoffer & Osmond. In Ref. 10 they blamed schizophrenia on the "M-substance", which was an unknown amine similar to mescaline. Their rationale for this was that mescaline produced similar symptoms to schizophrenia. In 1952 Osmond thought that the "M-substance" was DMPEA (11). This brilliant theory was ahead of its time, so it was largely ignored. Osmond was so mad that he moved from the UK to Canada. The other UK psychiatrists ignored Osmond's theory except for Smythies and Harley-Mason, who was a chemist. Hoffer thought that the Osmond/Smythies theory was brilliant, which it was.

Hoffer has written so many papers and books that I will not reference them all. Ref. 12 is another example.

Conclusions

Neither Hoffer nor Osmond ever won a Nobel prize for their work nor did Smythies, who was on a similar track. However, Pauling won two Nobel prizes. Neither prize was for his orthomolecular work, which was done after he won the prizes.

My own view are not exactly the same as those of Hoffer & Pauling. I feel that they put too much emphasis on vitamins and not enough on amino acids. My view is that many diseases are caused by errors in amino acid metabolism including mental diseases. Refs. 13 & 14 are examples of my own theories. These are available free full text on the Internet at Associated Content.

References

1. Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia, edited by David Hawkins and Linus Pauling. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman, 1973, 697 pages.

2. Saul AW. Interview with Abram Hoffer. J Orthomolecular Med, 2009. Vol 24, No 3, in press.

3. Saul AW. Interview with Abram Hoffer. Townsend Letter, 2009. November, online edition. http://www.townsendletter.com/Nov2009/hoffer1109.html.

4. Hoffer A, Saul AW. The Vitamin Cure for Alcoholism. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-59120-254-7. Reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/alcoholcure.html.

5. Hoffer A, Saul AW. Orthomolecular Medicine for Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-59120-226-4. Reviews at http://www.doctoryourself.com/orthomolecular.html.

6. Schuitemaker G, Saul AW, Kay J. [Editorial]. Abram Hoffer honored with lifetime achievement award. J Orthomolecular Med, 2007. Vol 22, No 2, p 59-62.

7. Saul AW. Review of Healing cancer: complementary vitamin and drug treatments, by Abram Hoffer with Linus Pauling. J Orthomolecular Med, 2007. Vol 22, No 2, p 93-94.

8. Saul AW. Review of Healing schizophrenia: complementary vitamin and drug treatments, by Abram Hoffer. J Orthomolecular Med, 2006. Vol 21, No 1, p 59-60. http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v6n7.rtf.

9. Hoffer, Abram & Osmond, Humphry (1952) Paper to Dementia Praecox Committee, Scottish Rites Masons, New York. Given at the Canada Room, The Waldorf Astoria, New York. (Hoffer and Osmond's first report on the adrenochrome hypothesis.)

10. Hoffer A, Osmond H & Smythies J (1954) Schizophrenia: a new approach. II. Results of a year's research. J Ment Science 100(418):29-45.

11. Osmond, H & Smythies, J (1952) Schizophrenia: a new approach. Journal of Mental Science. 98(411):309-315, April.

12. Clancy J, Hoffer A, Lucy J, Osmond H, Smythies J & Stefaniak B (1954) Design and planning in psychiatric research as illustrated by the Weyburn Chronic Nucleotide Project. Bull Men Clinic, 18: 147-153.

13. www.associatedcontent.com/article/2332174/giants_of_science_dr_sauls_work.html

14. www.associatedcontent.com/article/2313589/neuroimaging_in_basic_brain_disorder.html