Head injuries are occurring more often today. Not only among members of the military who serve in combat zones, but also among young people involved in sports. Currently, the methods of care for the concussions that come with these head injuries do not offer much promise for a full recovery. Because of that, a number of alternative remedies for post-concussion syndrome have arisen, and some do appear to hold promise for good results.
A concussion occurs when your head either strikes or is struck by another hard object. Your brain sustains a bruise from the blow. It can also occur due to violent shaking or violent motion of the head as the brain is also shaking inside the skull.
Post-concussion syndrome consists of a complex set of symptoms that occur following the concussion. Headaches, dizziness, and other significant symptoms tend to show up in the first seven to ten days following the injury. These symptoms may clear up within a few weeks, but also may continue for months or even years after the injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report between 2.5 to 5 million head injuries occur every year. That number may prove conservative because some athletes do not report common symptoms of a concussion so they can continue playing.
The major problem with post-concussion syndrome exists in the recovery from it.
Conventional remedies for post-concussion syndrome involve managing the symptoms. Those symptoms include:
Unfortunately, there are no comprehensive, specific remedies for post-concussion syndrome. Each case presents with unique symptoms that primary healthcare providers must address. One problem with this is that most primary healthcare providers know little about dealing with post-concussion syndrome.
Any head injury that results in a concussion consists of two phases. The first phase involves the physical injury itself. While the damage caused by the injury may be serious, it pales in comparison to the damage brought on by the second phase. This second phase consists of a cascade of biochemical changes and effects that can continue to damage the brain for years.
This second aspect of the damage caused by a concussion forms a trove of information so lacking in conventional healthcare professionals’ knowledge and experience. The unconventional remedies for post-concussion syndrome deal with the aspects of this secondary damage so often overlooked by healthcare professionals.
These aspects include how to manage the neuroinflammation that occurs with concussions, how to gain neuroprotection for the physical structure of the brain, and finally, how to promote more neuro-regeneration to rebuild lost neurons.
Contrary to conventional approaches, alternative remedies for post-concussion syndrome encourage physical exercise early in the period following a concussion. Research shows the longer the delay in returning to physical exercise, the more likely it will be that damage occurs.
The main reason for an early return to physical exercise concerns blood flow to the brain. Keeping blood flowing to the brain following a concussion allows nutrients and natural healing elements to access the damaged area. Also, it promotes increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which in turn promotes neuroprotection, recovery of neurons, and growth of new neurons.
The right diet is a critical aspect of remedies for post-concussion syndrome. The standard American diet contains too much of the wrong types of fat, too many sweets, and too much processed food.
The Mediterranean diet may be the most effective to combat the effects of a concussion, including the cognitive aspects. An appropriate diet supplies your brain with the nutrients and calories it needs to heal more effectively, including plenty of healthy fats and anti-inflammatory foods.
Great foods for your brain include blueberries, walnuts, fatty fish like salmon or trout, and avocados.
Research shows CBD to influence the inflammatory system in your body. When any kind of stress hits your body (and brain injury is definitely a stressor) it brings on an increase in fatty acid amide hydrolase or FAAH. This enzyme breaks down anandamide, a natural cannabinoid compound that plays a role in cell regulation and reproduction. Breaking down anandamide leads to increased inflammation. CBD suppresses FAAH and thus reduces inflammation.
Other research shows CBD to serve as a neuroprotectant which will help in the healing of the brain following a concussion. In addition, it provides pain relief as well as relief from anxiety and sleeplessness.
CBD research also indicates its effectiveness in normalizing the natural endocannabinoid system in your body. This leads to healing damaged or toxic receptors in order to decrease swelling, inflammation, and pain.
Supplements also provide great benefits. If you suffer from post-concussion syndrome, here are a few supplements you can try to help alleviate the situation. Keep in mind that whatever you try, you should consult with your healthcare professional first and work with him or her to get the best results without causing more harm. Your healthcare professional can help you with the right supplements and the right dosage.
One of the first things to keep in mind involves taking a lot of Omega-3s either in foods or supplement form. Up to 3000 mg per day, in the beginning, may constitute a starting dose. Research indicates Omega-3s protect the brain from necrosis after a stroke. The same may be true with the brain damage following a concussion.
Cut down on Omega-6s. They promote inflammation.
Specific supplements to consider include:
Always be careful of taking supplements without first consulting an experienced professional who understands your body and can personalize the supplement regimen for you along with lifestyle changes. Those suffering from some conditions, like adrenal fatigue, might be more sensitive than others and might need lower dosing, so don't try supplements without getting the right help.
Brain injury is one kind of severe stressor that can contribute to an overwhelmed stress response in your body, which can affect many systems.
When stress from any source occurs, your adrenal glands become stimulated to release cortisol, the stress-fighting hormone. Clearly, a concussion is a source of stress. As more stress occurs, your adrenals receive more demand for cortisol. When stress continues and becomes chronic, the adrenals can no longer meet the demand. Thus begins Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS). Initially, symptoms appear vague, and conventional lab tests do not pick them up. However, as AFS progresses symptoms become more severe and may ultimately become debilitating.
Your body also contains a built-in mechanism for dealing with stress once the adrenals become fatigued. The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response consists of six overlapping circuits made up of three organs or organ systems each. Each circuit performs a specific critical role in dealing with stress. As they work together, they serve to keep your body working optimally. However, these circuits also can become dysfunctional in the face of severe, chronic stress. Very significant symptoms begin when the circuits become dysfunctional.
The Neuroaffect circuit of the NEM involves the brain, the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and the microbiome. This circuit uses neurotransmitters as the main form of communication among the triad of gut-brain-ANS. This identifies one of the major difficulties that appear in the case of remedies for post-concussion syndrome. Concussions shake up neurotransmitters in the brain leading to an impairment of the brain’s ability to communicate with other parts of the body.
This difficulty in communication from the brain leads to impairment in the microbiome and gut, where many neurotransmitters are produced. This keeps the microbiome from functioning effectively, reducing nutrients that normally would feed the brain. It also increases the likelihood of leaky gut developing, which can lead to overactive immune function and increased inflammation throughout the body, including in the brain. This increased inflammation in the brain then worsens symptoms of post-concussion syndrome.
The stress caused by the breakdown of communication from the brain to the microbiome and the resultant increase in inflammation stimulates the ANS to release more of the hormones/neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine. The purpose of these biochemicals is to fight the effects of stress.
Norepinephrine, the weaker of the two, works on mild to moderate stress. With continuing stress, it becomes less effective. Thus, the ANS releases epinephrine, a stronger hormone/neurotransmitter, to deal with the stress. Ideally, once the stress stops, another part of the ANS, the parasympathetic nervous system, takes over and helps the body relax and recover.
However, with continuing stress such as comes with the biochemical cascade accompanying a concussion, the ANS continues releasing epinephrine. This adds to the burden on your adrenals to release more cortisol. In the case of AFS, the adrenals can not meet this demand.
In AFS, the sympathoadrenal system can trigger a Reactive Sympathoadrenal Response (RSR) in which more and more epinephrine floods your body. This is one way your body tries to deal with stress.
This flood stimulates your heart to beat faster, palpitations appear, anxiety increases, panic attacks begin, and irritable bowel issues can occur. This kind of overstimulation of your body adds to the stress load you endure.
The overload of stress hormones, such as cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, affects brain function. Those brain centers dealing with emotional response and cognitive abilities become less effective in regulating these functions. This leaves you vulnerable to increased depression and anxiety, as well as less able to function well cognitively.
All of these symptoms also result from a concussion.
With brain injuries, conventional remedies can lead to worse outcomes than unconventional ones. Rather than continued rest following a concussion, rapid resumption of mild to moderate exercise, especially aerobic exercise, seems to bring more positive results. The importance of diet must be considered as well, especially for cognitive functioning. Diets similar to the Mediterranean diet appear to work very well. Since one of the major problems following concussion appears to center around inflammation, the use of CBD oil may prove beneficial. Supplements may also be beneficial.
Also of importance is dealing with pituitary dysfunction. Often in concussions, the pituitary sustains damage as well. This gland basically affects everything in your body, including insulin levels, thyroid function, and hormones such as testosterone levels.
If you would like to know more about or need assistance with post-concussion syndrome the team at Dr. Lam Coaching can help. We offer a free** no-obligation phone consultation at +1 (626) 571-1234 where we will privately discuss your symptoms and various options. You can also send us a question through our Ask The Doctor system by clicking here.
The natural remedies for post-concussion syndrome symptoms include getting the person physically active quickly following the concussion, following an appropriate diet to supply needed nutrients, supplements to increase micronutrients, and dealing with pituitary dysfunction. The use of CBD oil may be of use as well.
