In the United States alone, the National Institute of Health ( www.nih.gov ) estimates that close to 1.4 million people are affected each year with Traumatic Brain Injury.  Traumatic Brain Injury is defined as a blow or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts function of the brain. The severity of such an injury may range from "mild" i.e. a brief change in mental status or consciousness to "severe", i.e. an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. Of those 1.4 million TBI incidents per year, 1.1 million are the classic concussions that are medically evaluated and then sent home to watch, rest, and recover. 

Now add the millions who never seek medical attention after sustaining a mild to moderate concussion, and the statistics of accident victims who don't actually hit their head, but sustain what are called acceleration-deceleration injuries like whiplash, spinal traumas, or hits to the body that result in the brain "hitting" the skull, and the head trauma numbers become staggering.

Populations that are most affected by head trauma and TBI are:

1) Men:  They participate in contact/impact sports, have higher rates of assaults, and tend to work "higher" risk jobs. 

2) Children between the ages of 0-4: think of your average toddler learning to walk, jumping off the coffee table, falling down the stairs, and being at the mercy of older siblings and adults.

3) Teenagers between 15-19.

4) Military: combat personnel are exposed to mortar attacks and "brain rattling" booms that alter brain function. There are thousands of veterans returning from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq who look normal and never sustained a penetrating head wound, but have brains that are damaged.

Even "minor" hits on a repetitive basis can cause biochemical and structural brain change, relating to many long term symptoms and diagnoses such as ADHD, Depression, Migraine, Fibromyalgia, OCD/Anxiety, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's Dementia. A recent study commissioned by the National Football League (NFL) reports that Alzheimer's disease or similar memory-related diseases appear to have been diagnosed in the league's former players vastly more often than in the national population - including a rate of 19 times the normal rate for men ages 30 through 49. 

Increased scrutiny of head trauma and how to prevent it is a hot topic of discussion in the medical world today. Treatment options however remain minimal and consist of watch and wait, medications such as anti-seizure, anti-depressant, narcotics, and possible behavioral therapy.  Structural integrity and nutrient imbalances experienced by the brain after trauma are important to address.

 NeuroCranial Restructuring (NCR), a structural therapy that addresses cranial shape, cerebral spinal fluid dynamics, and connective tissue tensions throughout the skull and muscular system can help treat the symptoms of head trauma.  NCR can restore balance, decrease or eliminate symptoms of headaches, pain, mental imbalance, and improve blood flow. It is only minimally invasive, requires no drugs, no anesthesia, and most patients walk out feeling better than when they arrived.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT), of which we offer in our clinic,  has also shown results in helping diminish symptoms of head trauma.  Headaches are a common symptom of head trauma, PEMFT has been shown to decrease  headache pain and intensity.  

"In the active-treatment group, all assessed criteria were significantly improved at the end of the migraine/headache study. 76% of active-treatment patients experienced clear or very clear relief of their complaints. Only 1 placebo-patient (2.5%) felt some relief; 8% noted slight and 2% reported significant worsening of symptoms. No side effects were noted. " Advances in Therapy   PMID: 11571822

Addressing the biochemical imbalances with drugs, nutrients, and hormones, can also help improve recovery outcomes. NCR and PEMFT, when used in conjunction with a biochemical protocol, can have amazing outcomes for those suffering from the short and long term effects of head trauma. 

Quality of life is important to everyone, so if you or someone you love is living with lasting effects of Traumatic Brain Injury or head trauma, seek out all your options.  In the meantime, wear your helmet, your seat belt, and avoid activities that involve hitting your head- your BODY and BRAIN with thank you.

 Dr Hillary 

The Basics Of Head Trauma & NCR

About This Video:

Dr. Hillary gives a simple 6 minute introduction to the basics of how to treat the effects of head trauma with NeuroCranial Restructuring (NCR). She covers the three classes of concussion, the leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), who is most at risk for TBI (men, children and teens, athletes, and military personnel) and why, statistics about TBI, common treatments, and why NCR improves the fluid dynamics in the head and neck to improve the neurological function of the body.

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The Basics Of Head Trauma & NCR

 Just in time for National Nutrition Month, a landmark study published in the Lancet, found that 64% of ADHD diagnosed and medicated children benefited MORE from removing food allergies and sensitivities than taking drugs.  Simply put, diet is more effective than medicating children with ADHD.  Dr Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands found that many of the children who are diagnosed with ADHD actually have food hypersensitivities that are influencing their behaviors, and when a stricter, and healthier diet is imposed, these children become "normal".  With around 10% of US children being diagnosed with ADHD (which is an enormous percentage- anyone else shaking their head?), and over 3 million of those children on drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, and other stimulant medications, there is no doubt ADHD diagnosis is big business. 

If your child is exhibiting symptoms such as hyperactivity, poor focus, temper tantrums, separation anxiety, or is one of the three million medicated children, this study proves that diet should be your first line of treatment.  Also, a majority of the ADHD/Autism spectrum children that I run biochemical tests on, have food allergies plus significant nutrient deficiencies such as low Vit D, B vitamins, Vit C, and minerals- all of which are essential for optimal cell function.

Nutritional biochemistry is the cornerstone of Naturopathic care, so if you are looking to improve your child's health and reduce their dependence on stimulant medications, I highly encourage you to seek out Naturopathic care and nutritional counseling.  Overall care is inexpensive and could not just transform your child, but your entire family.  Refer to my past blog to find out other ways to help your ADHD child without drugs.  The key is education, take control of your health, and you will transform the lives of generations that come after you!

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Each day in my practice I am confronted with the frustration that many parents feel is their lack of options for their child with ADHD/ADD. Shuttled around from doctor to doctor, many children are given nothing but diagnoses, medications, counseling, physciatric evaluations, and in many cases no help at all. Parents who find themselves exhausted, worried, fearful, and in many cases battling with ADHD themselves, lose hope that their child will ever be "normal". As a Naturopathic Physician who specializes in Neurological conditions, I strive to give power back to who so rightly deserves it, the parents AND the child.

During my clinical training at Bastyr University I was lucky to be chosen to see patients on the ADHD Research Shift (it is a hard shift to get on). There I saw and treated children and adults along the entire Attention Deficit /Autistic spectrum with homeopathy, dietary changes, detoxification, and structural work, and even though it was one of my most emotional and heartbreaking shifts, it was one of my most rewarding.
If you are an adult with ADHD or a parent of a child with this condition please take into consideration the following "alternative" options that could give you back your POWER!

1. Many people self-diagnose and are afraid of seeing a medical professional for this condition because they do not want conventional medications pushed on them. Naturopathic doctors cannot prescribe the amphetamine medications commonly prescribed and thus work on more holistic levels. Getting help is the first step to recodvery. Medications are not evil, but the wrong medication can cause more problems. Addictions tend to be high in this population due to self medicating. Read more about this below related to BRAIN SPECT.
2. If your child is medicated and it IS working, then supplementing with other lifestyle factors is a must. Many of the stimulating effects of the medications cause side effects that could over the long run be hard on other organs and create adrenal fatigue. Nutritional and herbal support can help to counteract these side effects.
3. Tests that should be run but AREN'T by many conventional doctors:
   • Organic acids- these show how well the energy pathways of the body are working.
   • Neurotransmitter levels- these are chemicals that create communication between the brain and the rest of body, and deficiencies or excess in one or many can have great effect on brain chemistry. Done alone or with brain SPECT, results can be amazing!
   • Food allergies and Toxins- almost every child with ADHD I have tested has a food allergy that is significant. The gut is essential for proper nutrient assimilation and must be addressed. These individuals also show a moderate to severe toxic exposure from chemicals, heavy metals, flame retardents, and plastics.
   • Brain SPECT- imaging of the brain can show what the brain is really doing, its an amazing way to look at the prefrontal cortex, the part of brain that differentiates of us from animals. Many ADHD children are conflict driven, meaning they need conflict, they like the excitement, and this is because their prefrontal cortex is not working properly. Improving brain health makes these children more predictable and less likely to become a teenager or adult with dangerous behavior. This can also help to determine which type of medication would be the best instead of doing trial and error.
4. Improve your nutritional status and your child's. Hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, and all the food additives in them create hyper, over active brains. Read "What Are We Feeding Our Children?" If you do one thing, do this, and GET HELP, nutrition is hard but well worth it!
5. Homeopathy can do wonders, especially for children! Case in point - I treated a 21 year old woman who had cyclic anger ADHD x 10 years with nutrition and homeopathy- within 4 weeks she felt that we had saved her life and she was able to wean off her Clonazepam within 3 months. 
6. Do a detoxification. Body burden of chemicals is highest in children, and these can be endocrine and nervous system disruptors- these levels can be checked in blood (heavy metals, plastics, styrene, household allergens) or urine.
7. Improve structural health. I specialize in NCR, a therapy that can help decrease some of the signs of ADHD by improving cerebral blood flow, cerebral spinal fluid flow, and decrease pain. Also, birth trauma and/or head injury has been shown to be a common predecessor in childhood diagnosis of ADHD, read my blog for the current study done in Britain on head injury and ADHD. If you do anything make sure your child wears a helmet doing dangerous sporting activities and discourage activities that head injury is a possibility.
8. Exercise!!! Research shows that the best thing you can do for your brain is exercise regularly- children need exercise to burn off stress, calories, and hyperactive brain activity- and so do adults! 
9. Sound and Light Therapy. In our office I am using a device that uses pulsed electromagnetic fields along with Sound and Light Therapy to calm down overstimulation of the brain. The light and sound patterns that ADHD patients see and hear would be too stimulating for most people, but just like the stimulant meds used to treat this condition, this stimulation calms them down! Its safe, fast, effective, and the research is extensive!
10. Ask for help if you need it, and don't give in that there isn't hope, because I know there is. It may be hard work, but what I've learned from these patients- their not scared of hard work, and regaining health has been the reward!

Pop Tarts, apple juice, a bowl of Fruit Loops with milk, maybe a banana for breakfast. Jiff peanut butter (which contains high fructose corn syrup) and jelly on "wheat" bread, fruit roll-up, an apple and Cheetos or crackers for lunch. Top Raman and a coke as an after school snack and Mac n Cheese for dinner with canned green beans or take out. If this doesn't resemble your child's food intake then good for you, however at school there are plenty of sugary, processed foods with lots of artificial additives available for them to choose from.

Even more so than adults, children need whole fresh foods filled with nutrients, Phytochemicals and essential fats for proper brain and body development. The nutrients in whole foods help their bodies mature optimally, the Phytochemicals protect their growing cells from premature damage and the essential fats are crucial for learning, attention and memory. If we look to our grocery stores they have more processed foods, which lack these components and have ample amount of artificial ingredients, than whole fresh foods.

One explanation for the increasing number of children with ADD and hyperactivity are these additives... they are in everything... except whole unprocessed foods. If your child has ADD/ADHD I challenger you do an experiment. For three weeks take them off everything processed and replace it with only fresh veggies, fruits, meats, un-milled or sprouted grains, legumes, seafood and healthy fats like nuts and seeds, avocado and olives... see how they do. If this alone doesn't solve most of the problem add extra omega 3's to their diet like wild salmon, ground flax seeds or oil, sardines (mix it up just like tuna) or consider a high quality supplement from Nordic Naturals or Designs for Health.

"But, my child won't eat that...." Only because they are not used to it! Start slowly introducing new foods or incorporating them into the routine and eliminating the processed foods. Do this over a few months and they will adapt, the younger this happens the easier and better.

Remember, children are even more sensitive to food additives, sugars and refined grains and fats than adults and they need a wide range of nutrients for all cells of the body, including the brain, to function properly and optimally. Don't trust the health of your child to packaging and advertising; get advice from a qualified source. Together we can work to get the two million children that are on drugs for ADD/ADHD, drug free!

Cheri Soraparu is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer.

My first child was born in January and since then my life has been in fast forward. Almost every minute of the day is filled with new experiences for her, and at the same time everyday bodily functions such as eating, sleeping, peeing, pooping, touching, and feeling become exciting and new for a grown up adult such as myself. Watching her discover her world around her, increasing her coordination and being able to hold a toy, laughing for almost no reason, and giving unconditional love to me and her father, has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. This world is so new for her, and I can see her brain absorbing all her new surroundings like a sponge.

 In April, I took my daughter to Colorado to see my paternal grandparents who are living in an assisted living home. Married over 60 years, these two were instrumental in my life and have given me immense lessons in love and family. My grandfather was a survivor of Polio, left with a slightly deformed foot, but not willing to accept being held back by such a "disability". He went on to be a successful baseball player, coach, teacher, and principle of a high school. My grandmother was a homemaker, raising three children, and was a talented musician and worked for many years with a school for the deaf. My grandmother began having tremors many years ago, and eventually was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. My grandfather's mother died of Alzheimers Disease when I was twelve, and now he has been diagnosed with beginning stage Alzheimers.( His sister also had some Alzheimers).

They are interesting to watch together now, my grandmother is mentally strong, but her body is slowing failing, while my grandfather looks the same as he always did, but he tells the same story over and over again and has a hard time discerning who is in the pictures hanging on his wall. It is hard to see them this way, but as they move into their mid 80's, seeing their world become simple as my daughters life becomes complex has turned on something in me that makes me want to preserve my brain as long as I can. After medical school, I had a series of blood tests on me as I hadn't been feeling well for years, most likely due to stress. One of the many things that was found, was that I was deficient in CoQ10 and some essential amino acids essential for dopamine (a neurotransmitter) production. I was told at that point that I was setting myself up for Parkinson's Disease, and since I may have a genetic predispositon to this, it was ESSENTIAL for me to address these deficiencies.

So where am I going with this long story you ask? I guess it's in witnessing life beginning and life ending, and how the brain can be as it's healthiest. Did my grandmother have the same genetic marker for deficiency and could she have prevented her Parkinsons? Was my grandfather genetically low in acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter) and thus inheritied Alzheimers from his mother?

Neurology has always been my greatest interest, and so I want to continue my research into the chemicals and personality that we all possess when we are born, and how our environment and choices through out life either enhance or inhibit health. I have family history of neurological disease, and I must be PROACTIVE in my brain health, so that my daughter or grandchildren never have to worry about me or themselves. This is why I have to figure out my brain... and if you relate to this story, I can help you understand yours.

Stay tuned to this blog each day for the simplified learning of the biochemicals that make up your nervous system! As always I look forward to your comments!