Do You Have an Inflamed Brain?
By Adam Breiner, ND
ary, a 53-year-old working professional, came to my clinic complaining of memory and concentration prob- lems, as well as gas and bloating. Scott, 48, had been feeling anxious and depressed and was in what he described as a state of "brain fog" for the past year, in addition to feeling muscle and joint pains. Tyler, a 15-year-old football player, had suffered a concussion several months ago, but his symptoms of headaches, insomnia, concentration, and memory problems have yet to re- solve. What do all these patients have in common? The answer: an Inflamed Brain.
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It seems that many neurological and psychological condi- tions are being discussed more and more these days. Whether it be depression, anxiety, insomnia, attention deficit disorders, au- tism, concussions, Alzheimer's Disease, or Parkinson's Disease; we see an increase in many of these conditions. While there are many complicated aspects and underlying causes for each of these conditions, neuroinflammation is a feature that they have in common.
Neurodegeneration
Our brain is a very sophisticated organ that has specialized immune cells known as microglia. These microglia, which com- prise about 10-15% of our brain cells, are in charge of cleaning up the central nervous system's environment. They dispose of cel- lular debris and dead neurons when damage or infection occurs. As part of this process, they create inflammatory mediators, also known as cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, as well as other mediators like proteases and Reactive Oxygen Species. You may think that this all sounds bad, but it is a natural process needed for healing and repair. If the process of healing and repair does not take place, then long-term issues such as neurodegeneration can result. When environmental toxins, like the pesticide Roundup, are coupled with deficiencies in essential minerals such as magnesium, sulfur, and zinc, as well as deficien- cies in neuro-essential fatty acids, such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), they contribute to keeping the microglia in a proinflam- matory state. Combine this proinflammatory state with a challenge to the brain, such as a head injury or an infection, and you have a dangerous scenario allowing brain inflammation to increase.
Brain Dysfunction We use an EEG baseline to see how different areas of the
brain are communicating and if there is any dysregulation. Usu- ally, the inflamed brain shows specific key biomarkers, such as increased Delta and Theta waves. Other brain wave patterns also give indications of brain dysfunction. We look further into the
30 Natural Nutmeg - November/December 2019
patient's case by trying to identify toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides, as well as stealth infections such as Lyme disease. In many cases, dysfunction in the gastrointestinal tract needs to be addressed. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the GI bacteria, often leads to inflammation which travels along the Vagus nerve to the brain and further fans the flames of inflammation.
Treating an Inflamed Brain If you have an inflamed brain, what can be done? Many tools
are available. The contributing factors in each case will determine which path to take. The first thing is something that everyone can work on right away, and that is sleep. The deepest stage of sleep is when Delta waves are most prominent. This is the anabolic or restorative state of sleep. It has recently been discovered that the brain has its own lymphatic system for clearing toxins and other inflammatory elements. It is during Delta sleep that this lymphatic cleaning system is most effective. When people are having trouble with sleep, we use certain neurotherapies, such as neurofeedback and transcranial stimulation, to calm the brain and achieve a bet- ter transition to sleep.
The second thing to address is proper nutrition and elimina- tion of foods that may be causing systemic inflammation. Despite eating a low sugar diet, rich in organic vegetables, fruits, and good quality protein, you still may not be getting enough nutrients. This is where nutritional assessment testing is of value. Sophisticated diagnostic tests, such as the NutrEval®
and the Oligoscan, help
uncover nutrient deficiencies and guide us in supplementation and dietary recommendations. Also, blood testing to identify pro- inflammatory environmental and food sensitivities and allergies are essential.
We use other modalities to help our patients reduce inflam- mation in the brain. One of these, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), is one of the most potent and effective therapies avail- able. The patient lays in a specialized chamber that is filled with 100% oxygen. The hyperbaric chamber is pressurized to allow oxygen to dissolve into every cell in higher concentrations than can be achieved by any other means. This pressurized oxygen signals all cells in the body, including the brain, to reduce inflam- mation and swelling and to upregulate repair. Likened to a special genetic therapy, over 8,000 genes are affected after just a one-hour session in a hyperbaric chamber. Many patients with everything from stroke, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and Lyme Disease have benefitted from this remarkable therapy.
Intranasal PRP is another effective therapy to help reduce neu- roinflammation. PRP combines platelet-rich plasma with insulin and other nutrients. This powerful combination of the patient's
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