Brain Injury

Concussion, mTBI, Neurodegeneration

Brain injuries, including concussion (aka mTBI) and more severe traumatic brain injuries, are a mystery to most practitioners of mainstream medicine. The lack of understanding of concussion and TBI has led to an epidemic of underdiagnosed and untreated brain injuries. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people in Colorado have experienced a concussion with many of these patients never receiving proper treatment. To effectively treat concussions, a practitioner must know that a brain injury leads to a hypermetabolic crisis: causing brain cell death, electrolyte imbalances, change in neurotransmitters (including extreme drops in serotonin levels), hormone imbalance, and oxidative stress. Also, the kind of energy crisis caused by brain injury makes it difficult for patients to heal. The brain is always working to keep us alive and it does not have the ability to be immobilized and rest, as one might do for a sprained ankle or broken arm. Without energy to heal, many patients suffer from long-term, post-concussive effects of the brain injury.

In addition to causing acute headaches or head pain and pressure, a concussion can result in significant brain malfunction including: fatigue, sound sensitivity, light sensitivity, nausea, memory loss, impaired speech, motor dysfunction, difficulty concentrating, difficulty making decisions, dizziness, feeling off-balance, confusion, irritability, mood swings, depression, insomnia, loss of motivation, and decreased libido. Patients who’ve experienced a concussion or more severe brain injury have one or many more of these post-concussive symptoms although some of them may look absolutely normal to the public. Mainstream practitioners, including many neurologists, prescribe patients a polypharmacy of medications (including SSRIs, pain medications, muscle relaxers including Baclofen or Botox, sleeping meds like Trazodone or Ambien, or nerve medications such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, or Neurotin) with little actual long-term healing benefit for the brain injury patient. Some patients are eventually told to see a psychiatrist or counselor and encourage them to learn to cope with the effects of their brain injury.

At Aspen Integrative Medicine, Dr. Hughes and associates address the root metabolic crisis that results because of a concussion and brain injury. The treatments provided by Aspen Integrative Medicine (through TBI Therapy) include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is provides the primary nutrient, oxygen, in a pressured manner at up to 10x the normal inhaled levels, to decrease neuroinflammation, increase blood flow, encourage autophagy, increase serotonin, and resolve the metabolic crisis of a brain injury.

Intranasal insulin (IN insulin) is a powerful therapy to help with patients who suffer from concussion and traumatic brain injuries. Intranasal insulin has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation, decrease cortisol levels, improve glucose utilization, increase ATP production, increase neurogenesis, reduce tau and amyloid deposits, and improve alpha waves on QEEG. IN insulin, clinically, has been shown to improve balance, enhance word recall, decrease head pain, and reduce perceived levels of stress.

Intranasal PRP (aka as platelet rich plasma or bioactive plasma cocktail) derived from the patient’s own blood is also effective at helping patients with brain injury. IN PRP and IN PBSCs (Peripheral blood stem cells) treatments for brain injury aid the brain and central nervous system in the following ways:

Brain collagen regeneration, a type of protein that strengthens and builds.
Reduce the amount of amyloid protein, which leads to memory loss.
Stimulate the formation of new blood vessels.
Reduce inflammation in the brain, affecting its function.
Specifically target and activate stem cells to promote regeneration and differentiation.

Adjunctive Therapies: Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) is also very helpful in managing patients with brain injury, brain degeneration, and to improve overall brain health. OMT works to balance the cerebrospinal fluid and increase its amplitude for greater nourishment of the brain and spinal cord. Red light therapy (including the VieLight) and low level laser therapy are excellent therapies for enhancing the brain’s metabolic activity and to calm inflammation. Alpha-Stim therapy and binaural sound therapy enhance the brain’s ability to function in a relaxed, efficient manner. Dietary and nutritional therapies, such as ketogenic and low glycemic diets reduce oxidative stress and improve GABA, a calming neurotransmitter. Neurofeedback can also be very beneficial in calming stress, anxiety, and helping to balance out beta, alpha, theta, delta, and even gamma brainwaves for overall brain health and enhanced neuroplasticity.

Brain Degeneration (Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Stroke)

Degenerative brain conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, stroke can be effectively managed with many of the same protocols as with brain injury, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, intranasal insulin, and intranasal plasma and peripheral blood stem cells. Along with some nutritional interventions and detoxification protocols, degenerative brain conditions respond well to hyperbaric oxygen and intranasal therapies, but these regenerative protocols often have to be repeated on a four to six month basis.

Brain Health (Cognitive Enhancement, Longevity)

Overall brain mastery and health can be enhanced as patient’s get older. In fact, many hyperbaric oxygen protocols have historically been used to maintain IQ for patient’s seeking longevity in their mind and bodies. Patients report improved cognition, better creativity, mental clarity, and more energy after getting intranasal therapies of bioactive plasma cocktails and peripheral blood stem cells.

Mental Health (PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD)

Mental health concerns, particularly PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, respond well to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, intranasal insulin, and intranasal plasma and peripheral blood stem cells. In addition to these therapies, neurofeedback, ketamine therapy, and TMS (in low dose) can also be helpful for patients seeking mental stability.