The Discovery of Lithium and Its Impact on Mood

Lithium, the lightest metal on Earth, has origins in the Big Bang and is taken in pill form by thousands of Australians every day. It has a profound impact on mood and can even prevent suicidal thoughts. Lithium, originally used in soft drinks like 7Up, was seen as a cure-all but was eventually banned due to toxicity concerns. Australian doctor John Cade discovered that lithium could effectively treat bipolar disorder, marking the first effective treatment for the illness. Today, lithium is considered the gold standard treatment for bipolar disorder, with around 60-70% of patients showing significant improvement or even remission of symptoms.