Sometimes new patients are startled to find that lithium is included amongst the supplements I recommend. Lithium is used for the treatment of bipolar disorder, and has a number of side effects at the doses used (600-1800 mg/day).

    However, I find small amounts of lithium (5-20 mg/day) are very helpful for patients with depression and anxiety. I believe that it works by toning down an overactive sympathetic nervous system, because clinically it works best for patients who fall into that category. Lithium is neutral or sometimes counterproductive for those I would describe as having an overactive parasympathetic system. Those who find lithium helpful say they become less reactive, more easy-going; those who do not find it helpful report it is sedating.

    Recently, an article in the February 20^th 2025 edition of Jama Network Open caught my attention with the title "Cancer Risk and Estimated Lithium Exposure in Drinking Groundwater in the US.” More lithium correlated with less cancer. This makes sense to me. I believe that lithium tones down an overactive sympathetic nervous system, and that an overactive sympathetic nervous system contributes to many cancers.

    In this study, the amount of lithium in the water was estimated to be at most 0.2 mg/day, even less than what I use. Perhaps even parasympathetic dominant patients would tolerate and benefit from lithium at such low dosages.

    For further information about lithium, the company Life Extension has an excellent article, with references.

    For a brief review of the autonomic nervous system and its two parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, click here to read my Foreword to Dr. Gonzalez' book Nutrition and the Autonomic Nervous System; click here to buy the book.