“The Effects of Cocaine and what it does to the brain not only affect the user but also by society. Most people believe that cocaine offers low threat these days. And in some ways, there is a good reason for this. According to the Substance Abuse and Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cocaine use peaked in the early 1980s, and steadily declined until the early 1990s. Since then, cocaine use has been rising again in the United States.”

Looking back, cocaine was easy to use because it was easy to get and no one really understood it’s affect on the brain. A quick trip to the local dealer was easy for many kids and if the local dealer was unavailable there was always Mexico. The Mexican drug dealers would always sell to the local teens from the United States. There were many shocking stories that came back from Mexico. Buying drugs there was as easy as ordering dinner in a restaurant and the cost of the drug often appeared on the food bill. It is easy to feel the effects of cocaine but not so easy to understand its relationship to brain injury.

The Effects of Cocaine appear almost immediately, and disappear within a few minutes or hours. Taken in small amounts cocaine makes the user feel

It also makes it hard to eat or sleep. Some users find that the drug helps them perform simple physical and intellectual tasks more quickly, while others experience the opposite effect.

The duration of cocaine’s immediate euphoric effects depends upon the route of administration. There are many ways of administration

Hard core users simply turn to needles because the high is more intense but also much more dangerous,

The short-term physiological effects of cocaine include

These users may experience

StemEnhance is a blend of two compounds extracted from the widely consumed aquatic botanical Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). One extract supports the natural release of stem cells from the bone marrow. The other extract supports the migration of stem cells out of the blood into tissues. The effect of StemEnhance on stem cells has been tested in a triple-blind study and proved that it triggered a significant 25% increase in the number of circulating stem cells.

Super supplements implemented with muscle building can be a very effective rehabilitation process. The muscles need strength in order to carry out daily activities.

To order StemEnhance

There are many supplements on the market that can help with brain injury but the above named list are among the most important.

]]> http://hope-happens.com/blog/2009/03/super-supplements-help-repair-your-brain/feed/ http://hope-happens.com/blog/2009/03/muscle-building-supplements-an-important-part-of-brain-injury-recovery/ http://hope-happens.com/blog/2009/03/muscle-building-supplements-an-important-part-of-brain-injury-recovery/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:23:08 +0000 leann http://hope-happens.com/blog/?p=49

Muscle building supplements are an important regime that should be followed immediately after brain injury. New findings show that the brain consumes enormous numbers of calories while it tries to repair itself even destroying muscle tone in the process.

So feeding a comatose patient with supplements from the very beginning aids in recovery.

Our son had lay in ICU for five weeks and upon transfer to the sub acute hospital his weight showed that he had lost over 40 pounds. His frail skeletal frame didn’t display any muscles whatsoever. The once knotty built 145 pound man had wilted into a body that wasn’t capable of supporting it’s own bones.

Muscle building has several important health benefits other than looking good at the beach.

There is scientific proof that vigorous exercise increases lactate which is important energy for the brain and accelerates repair.

DHEA, growth hormone and testosterone are hormones that can restore muscle mass and it’s important to supplement all three.

The key to successful muscle building is to combine resistance training with proper nutrition and effective muscle building supplements.

As one of the muscle building supplements, Testosterone replacement therapy, may be indicated along with other super supplements.

The amino acid glutamine aids in protein synthesis and building muscle.

And lastly, human growth hormone therapy is useful in the brain injury rehabilitation process.  It raises levels leading to increased lean body mass.

Another important supplement, Piracetam, is used in stroke recovery management.  It is said to enable the left and right hemispheres of the brain to more effectively communicate between each other. 

We have placed our son on many supplements and have begun to see evidence of his muscle’s returning. His legs have gotten stronger as well as his core and arms. With resistance training and the above regime we expect to see more strength and recovery.

We only wish that we had known more about muscle building sooner.

Our son had been progressing nicely but at a very slow pace when I ran into a physician at the hospital who spoke of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. He had claimed that his father had suffered a severe stroke and after conventional intervention had been returned home to his family.

He lay motionless for over three years. Dr. Baker had heard that there was a center in Fort Lauderdale that used hyperbaric oxygen to treat brain injury and he was all for flying his father across the country in hopes of helping him recover some of the losses he had suffered since the stroke.

The trip was planned and Dr. Baker flew with his father to Florida. There they stayed for three months receiving oxygen with a oxygen mask every other day for the duration.

Our conversation ended with Dr. Baker telling me that his father had recovered so well that he could now interact with his grandchildren. That was all I had to hear.

As quick as I could I began learning about HBOT and putting into action a plan for my son to begin his therapy. I spoke to his doctor’s about the treatment and of course they demanded case studies which I produced. I then was permitted to take my son out. I found several alarming factors:

By placing someone in a 3 psi pressure environment, the increase in atmospheric pressure at sea level goes from 760 mm Hg to 915 mm Hg.

This increase in gas pressure, increases the partial pressure of the oxygen gas and thus forces more oxygen to be dissolved in the plasma. This saturation of oxygen in the blood allows the extra oxygen to be transported to the surrounding body tissues. Thus, oxygen transport by plasma is significantly increased under HBOT. At three atmospheres pressure, enough oxygen can be dissolved in the plasma to support the oxygen demands of the body at rest in the absence of hemoglobin!

After many due diligence calls and finding a convenient center I arranged for our first of many sessions. We were charged a very decent rate of $70.00 per 1/2 hour compared to some quotes of $230.00 per 1/2 hour.

The first session went well as we squeezed our son into a mono chamber with a oxygen mask loosely fitting against his trach.

His spasticity seemed less after hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

No other real changes were noticeable. We continued taking him three times a week for 120 sessions. He slowly improved. “Was this due to hyperbaric oxygen or just progress?” We questioned.

We found more concerns but realize that the different centers and their chambers, methods of administration all play in the role of treatment.

Did it work? Our son continued to progress and the brain activity when measured with neurofeedback did display more brain wave activity. After each session he seemed to experience more energy and cognition.

As for my opinion of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I’d probably do it again if faced with the decision.

Our family was not prepared to comprehend the full magnitude of the life changes that would occur once our son returned home full time. We were among the fortunate to have a loved one well enough to return home but were unprepared for what would come.

Cognitive Behavior therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors not things like people or situations and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel and act better even if the situation does not change.

This therapy may not be beneficial as denial of disability is standard post brain injury. There are lists of words that describe abnormal behavior as a “”sequelae” of TBI.

The days spent in the long term care facility made me aware of the pros and cons of a very well run floor. I wanted the best run facility on the face of the planet for my son’s sake which coaxed me into studying behavior modification techniques and what really makes for a good hospital.

A recent publication which I forwarded to the director said that these techniques were very beneficial for hospital employees.

Many forms of these techniques are available but the most commonly used is positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement could be used to create a better job environment which would promote wellness for the patients and employees.

Now I would wait for him to put the guidelines into action.

As written by Saul Kent and William Faloon from the Life Extension Foundation hospital care remains abysmal. The rules in the hospital are fairly basic. The techniques certainly are in order for the staff in many cases. Just imagine:

The plan is implemented for a very short period of time along with Reiki and Japa .

The various staff members are praised for a “job well-done” when they extend more kindness to the patients, they wash their hands more often than required, they put their patients above themselves and when they extend common courtesy. The positive reinforcement is fun at first but soon other staff members would begin to sit back with envy. The behavior modification technique which was meant to create a more positive environment was creating just the opposite. The staff became sick with jealousy.

Can behavior modification techniques be as effective in the brain injury population as cognitive behavior therapy?

It was obvious that it was time for our son to check out of the hospital which had been his home for the last 3 plus years. Discharge papers were ordered and his belongings packed.

Reiki Meditation is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing and the healing of others.

The small chapel in the hospital was a perfect place and the only place to hold our first session of Reiki meditation. Here we could be free of nosey nurses watching overhead cameras to see what we were up to. I had met this energy healer who suggested that Reiki as a vehicle for wellness.

So here we begin our journey with hands on healing.

Wheeling my son down to the chapel we were greeted by a peaceful, gray haired woman. She was as excited as I was and since I had nothing to lose I included a dear friend of mine, Alin. We found ourselves sitting quietly for three hours while we received the blessings from our ancient ancestors. The process began with blessing the small chapel. With our eyes closed and sitting in a straight line we could hear our Reiki master jump from corner to corner placing symbols on all four walls. With the direction to keep our eyes closed and in a prayer position I would sneak a peek every so often and see our son sitting stone faced quiet and Alin the same.

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an “attunement” given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of “life force energy” to improve one’s health and enhance the quality of life.

As I remember back I remember bearly being able to keep from laughing as our Reiki master growled and hissed as she stood behind us. She drew symbols on our foreheads and chanted words indescribable to man. I sat in wonder and questioned what in the world was I doing here.

Reiki would leave a positive mark on me for years to come. Hours later Alin and I stood and talked about this bazaar experience and as we spoke I felt a warmness and tingling sensation in my hands. Alin’s hands would turn red and hot. There is something to this fascinating meditation as my hands seem to remember the energy flow whenever I recall the experience. My son would call it “Bull shit” as I conducted many “hands on” healing sessions on him in hopes of his full recovery.

“Laying of the hands” is administered by allowing the unseen “life force energy” flow through us. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words

So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.”

Reiki meditation treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include:

Many have reported miraculous results.

Reiki meditation is:

It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness including stroke, drug addiction, speech problems and brain injury recovery. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki meditation puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion.

The background, secrets and symbols of reiki meditation can be found in a very controversial book known as “Essential Reiki” by Diane Stein.

Essentially, Japa means “to say the name of God repeatedly.” Japa Meditation has been around for many years. Regarded as one of the most effective ways of meditation, it helps soothe the mind and clears away any problems or worries. It enables you to experience peace and calmness.

As the road to recovery becomes long and hard, I find different types of meditation and begin the practice of Japa meditation on a daily basis. The commitment to be by our son’s side became a way of life and a full time job. The 1 1/2 hour drive one way to the hospital in Laguna Beach afforded me the time to look into positive reinforcement This is where I found Japa and purchased audio cd’s. With the cd player set to low I could repeat the sound of God for 3 hours a day while I drove.

Now I know you aren’t suppose to meditate while driving a motor vehicle but I didn’t have any other time and the inevitable road rage disappeared. My time spent at the hospital was totally devoted to my son and his rehab and my evenings found me exhausted.

Japa meditation enabled me to stay positive about my son’s recovery and kept me strong for what could be ahead.

An indispensable tool for all, which has been handed down from one generation to another, what does it mean?

Meditation involves focusing the mind on a certain object or thing by quieting our thoughts. This is where we can be still and know (not know about) God. The practice of meditation takes us on a great journey between our thoughts, where all the advantages of a peaceful, stress-free, healthier, fatigue free life are available, but are simply side benefits. We have the potential to obtain the highest good for all concerned and to be miracle workers in our own lives.

Valuable guidelines follow:

Meditation can be achieved by different ways. There exists three distinct types of meditation:

Usually the best ways in which one can practice is by sitting cross-legged on the ground, and chanting the name of God by beading the rosary of 108 beads with concentration, perseverance, and dedication.

Japa meditation helped me in many ways. The many days of doubt transformed into days of hope. I could sit without worry as I knew that I could be in touch with God at any time. I could be sure that there was a greater plan in this all and in some ways knew that what had happened was not all bad, in fact, in some ways it was good.

“Getting into the Gap” by Wayne Dyer is a handy little book that can help you learn the Japa way of meditation.

Meditation enables you to do whatever you want to do; it will work for you. You can place your attention on healing yourself or a loved one and the next breath focus on a more loving relationship. I find staying focused on the connection with God allows my thoughts to diminish and my worries to end. I have practiced Japa Meditation to attract wellness for my son and it always helped.