The “Gates of Hell” open during the seventh lunar month—should you be wary of “seeing ghosts”? Some netizens recently put forth an interesting viewpoint: those who claim to have supernatural sensitivity may notice significant improvement if they get more sunlight, restore regular routines, and supplement with vitamin B complex and minerals like calcium and magnesium. Is this true? In fact, vitamin B deficiency can indeed trigger various physical and psychological symptoms, affecting emotional stability and making people prone to paranoia.
According to Sing Tao Daily, a netizen shared on Threads: “The vast majority of people who claim they can hear, see, or sense spirits will see their symptoms greatly alleviated simply by adjusting their lifestyle—increasing outdoor activity, letting go of obsessive thinking, and supplementing with vitamin B complex plus calcium and magnesium.” While this claim hasn’t been rigorously scientifically verified, from a nutritional standpoint, vitamin B group is indeed related to nervous system health; lacking it can cause anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, and more.
Nutritionist Lee Wanping once shared that the vitamin B group includes B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12, each with its own role and a deficiency in any of them brings specific health problems:
Vitamin B1 (also called “mental vitamin”): fatigue, enlarged heart, numbness and swelling in legs
Vitamin B2: cataracts, oily skin, angular cheilitis
Vitamin B3 (niacin): itchy tingling skin, diarrhea, dementia
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): thinning hair, loss of luster
Vitamin B6: allergies, depression, insomnia
Vitamin B7 (biotin): hair loss, premature graying, dull complexion
Vitamin B9 (folic acid): poor memory, anemia, cardiovascular effects
Vitamin B12: numbness in limbs, sore shoulders, back pain, megaloblastic anemia
Lee Wanping points out that vitamin B1 is also known as the “mental vitamin,” helping maintain the functioning of the nervous conduction system. Its deficiency can easily trigger emotional issues like anxiety and irritability.
Vitamin B2: cataracts, oily skin, angular cheilitis
Vitamin B3 (niacin): itchy tingling skin, diarrhea, dementia
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): thinning hair, loss of luster
Vitamin B6: allergies, depression, insomnia
Vitamin B7 (biotin): hair loss, premature graying, dull complexion
Vitamin B9 (folic acid): poor memory, anemia, cardiovascular effects
Vitamin B12: numbness in limbs, sore shoulders, back pain, megaloblastic anemia
Lee Wanping points out that vitamin B1 is also known as the “mental vitamin,” helping maintain the functioning of the nervous conduction system. Its deficiency can easily trigger emotional issues like anxiety and irritability.
“Seeing ghosts” may be related to vision issues
Aside from nutritional deficiencies, “seeing ghosts” may also be linked to vision disorders. The British medical journal Lancet once published a study, noting that many elderly with poor eyesight experience “visual hallucinations,” that is, seeing objects that don’t exist—commonly known as “seeing ghosts” or “spiritual eyes.” Among 500 visually impaired patients, 60 admitted to having visual hallucinations, with frequencies ranging from once or twice a year to twice a day.
The study explains that Charles Bonnet syndrome refers to vivid, clear, and recurring hallucinations in mentally normal (not psychiatrically ill) patients with impaired vision. When the visual signal to the brain decreases (such as from macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye diseases causing vision loss), the visual cortex of the brain becomes “bored” or “disinhibited,” and spontaneously creates images. This suggests that some experiences of “seeing ghosts” might originate from visual system problems rather than supernatural causes.
Critical care physician Dr. Huang Xuan once shared that many phenomena considered “spiritual sight” or “seeing ghosts” actually stem from physical disorders but are often misinterpreted as paranormal events, leading to delayed treatment. If “spiritual eye” symptoms appear, he recommends these three examinations:
Ophthalmological exam: fundoscopy, retinal check to rule out cataracts or macular degeneration.
Brain imaging: MRI or CT scan to detect tumors, inflammation, or cerebrovascular abnormalities.
Psychiatric assessment: to rule out effects of alcohol, drugs, or psychosis.
Dr. Huang states that as long as the underlying issues are treated (such as laser surgery, tumor removal, or medication control), the “seeing ghosts” phenomena will often disappear accordingly. He urges the public to pay attention to physical warning signs and seek medical care early, avoiding blind faith in folk remedies.