Denton County Living Well Magazine November/December 2017 | Page 35

Concussion:
It Need not Ruin Your Life
By Brenda Briscoe, LMT
C
oncussion is a traumatic brain
injury (TBI) caused by an injury
that jars or shakes the brain in-
side the skull. Although there
may be cuts or bruises on the
head or face, there may be no other visible
signs of brain injury.
Some will have obvious symptoms, like
passing out or forgetting what happened
right before the injury. But others won’t.
After a concussion, the brain is more sensi-
tive to damage. While recovering, getting
consistent sleep and avoiding re-injury is im-
portant. Repeated concussions or a severe
concussion may lead to long-lasting prob-
lems with movement, learning, or speaking.
Studies are being done to gain understand-
ing of the short and long term effects. Re-
cent clinical studies indicate that, in ado-
lescents, boys recover more quickly than
girls. Mice studies have revealed that,
even when there are no outward symp-
toms, repeated concussions have long-last-
ing cumulative effects. We need to know
more about the effects of repeated concus-
sions, especially for young athletes, but the
mouse data support the idea that the ef-
fects are cumulative and the consequences
are real.
In children, rather than the younger brain
being more “plastic” and better able to
bounce back from concussion, early insults
may result in longer recovery time and can
impact later development. Undeveloped
or developing skills, particularly executive
control processes, are considered particu-
larly vulnerable.
What are some ways to a quicker than nor-
mal recovery? In previous editions, you’ve
read articles on LED Phototherapy and
Bowen Therapy.
LED therapy is similar to laser, but uses puls-
ing and diffuse, rather than coherent, light.
Near-infrared wavelengths are especially
effective at draining lymphatic fluid accumu-
lated in the brain from a concussive injury.
Anodyne Therapy LEDs have been cleared
by the FDA for increasing blood and lym-
phatic circulation, and decreasing pain,
swelling and inflammation.
Some herbal remedies can enhance recov-
ery. Gingko Biloba, known for penetrating
the blood brain barrier, can increase mem-
ory, concentration, and blood flow. 30-40
Milligrams of this  herb brewed as a tea
can be consumed for about 4-6 weeks. 40-
120 Milligrams can also be taken orally in
powdered form or a tincture 2 to 3 times
a day.
St. John’s Wort has anti-inflammatory prop-
erties. 900-1800 Milligrams of it can be
consumed orally every day. For children,
the dosage used in clinical trials has been
150-1800 milligrams.
Arnica Montana is great to have on hand
for many applications. Known for reducing
inflammation, pain, and bruising, it’s one of
the herbs used as a remedy for concussion.
Arnica ointment can be applied to the base
of the skull or temples. It can also be taken
as a tincture or, if taking it as homeopathic
pills, one can take 4 pills or pellets every 2
hours during the first 24 hours of the concus-
sive incident.
At Living Well Health & Wellness, we’ve
seen concussion cases with more severe
symptoms. A high school student, injured in
a sporting event, could not pay attention in
class, had daily headaches, mood swings,
trouble sleeping, reading difficulties, and a
general malaise. After two treatments, his
headaches and mood swings were gone,
he was able to sleep and pay attention in
class, and he had a much happier mood,
allowing him to participate in school and
family life again.

Another client, a 51-year-old woman who
experienced an auto accident a couple
months before coming for treatment, had
the following severe concussion symptoms:
• Inability to stay awake for nearly two
weeks without great effort
• brain fog, affecting her clarity of thought
• memory loss
• slurred speech
• complete exhaustion on demand without
warning, affecting her ability to drive
• Severe and debilitating migraines
• Inability to sit very long and work at a
computer
Her physician told her it could take 9
months to a year to recover and return to
normal. After receiving 4 weekly Bowen
and LED Phototherapy treatments, she
was sleeping through the night, think-
ing