Orthomolecular medicine is part of the foundation of integrative medicine. The term ‘orthomolecular’ was coined by two-time Nobel Laureate, Linus Pauling, in his seminal article, Orthomolecular Psychiatry, published in the journal Science, April 19th, 1968. The combination of the Greek ‘ortho’ (meaning straight, correct, right) with ‘molecule’ created a term that means, literally, right molecule. As conceptualized by Pauling and established through the pioneering leadership of Abram Hoffer, orthomolecular medicine aims to restore the optimum environment of the body by correcting molecular imbalances, determined by a wide range of testing and physician experience, and based on individual biochemistry.
Originally defined in the context of treating and preventing psychiatric diseases (eg. - niacin/niacinamide for schizophrenia), orthomolecular therapy involves altering the intake of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids, macronutrients, and other naturally occurring, metabolically active substances, to find the most effective doses. The orthomolecular approach has informed the development of several treatments, including the use of intravenous vitamin C for cancer and sepsis, vitamin B6 for autism, zinc for eating disorders, EFAs for ADHD, and many others. More than a treatment-for-disease model, orthomolecular medicine is essentially concerned with achieving and maintaining optimum health and well-being.
In its fifty-year history, orthomolecular medicine has grown substantially. Today, the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine numbers more than 25 orthomolecular medical societies and tens of thousands of orthomolecular practitioners worldwide.
In 1993, 25 years after Linus Pauling coined the word orthomolecular, the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine was thriving, there were several orthomolecular societies established around the world, the Annual International Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference was the leading educational event in its field, and thousands of doctors, clinicians and researchers were engaged in orthomolecular science and practice worldwide.
A brief survey of orthomolecular organizations at the time includes:
| 1976 | The Orthomolecular Medical Society cofounded by Richard Kunin and Michael Lesser in the USA. |
| 1984 | The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION<https://www.ion.ac.uk/>) founded by Patrick Holford in the UK. |
| 1988 | The Society for the Promotion of Orthomolecular Medicine (MBOG<https://www.mbog.nl/>) cofounded by Gert Schuitemaker in The Netherlands. |
| 1989 | The Flemish Institute for Orthomolecular Science (VIOW), now known as the Belgian Institute for Orthomolecular Knowledge (BIOK<https://www.biok.center/>) founded by Walter Fache |
| 1989 | The Korean Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (KSOM<http://www.ksom.or.kr/>) formed by Sung-ho Park |
| 1990 | The Danish Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (DSOM<http://www.dsom.dk/>) founded by Claus Hancke. |
| 1993 | The International Orthomolecular Medicine Association (AIMO<http://www.aimo.it/>) founded by Adolfo Panfili in Italy. |
| 1994 | The German Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (DGOM<https://www.dgom.de/>). |
With the growing number of individuals and societies, it was important to establish an umbrella organization to unite the existing organizations and to foster new growth in Orthomolecular Medicine. We registered the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine in March 1994 and held our first meeting at the Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference (then known as Nutritional Medicine Today) in Vancouver on April 29th.
The ISOM also publishes the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine and hosts the annual “Orthomolecular Medicine Today” Conference, now in its 48th year.