Concussions and other TBIs take us out of the know by damaging our brain health. From the young child to the professional, sacrificing the head for the sake of excelling on the playing field is part of the unspoken package of success. This is a shout out to all of us to get ‘in-the-know’ around prevention and rehabilitation. One way we can do this is by learning about the therapies available and effective for brain health.

The resources are growing exponentially and are explained online through articles and videos revealing all angles. But here are four therapies I believe are pretty easy to find and try in most cities.

1. Acupuncture is the first one. Not only is a D.O.M. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine,) fairly common, but America is boasting solid schools to train us westerners in this ancient medical modality, enculturing us into some of the wisdom originating about 3500 years ago in chine.

Acupuncture works with the life force, which is called Qi or Chi of the body bringing balance and flow between the surface and the organs. In the system there are 2000 points on the body connected by pathways called meridians. Once an analysis is conducted usually feeling pulses and looking at the tongue the doctor will use needles lightly inserted into the surface of the skin to modulate or effect the flow of Qi and bring balance to the body. Where there needs to be stronger Qi the needle will be turned in one direction, and where Qi needs to be tempered it will be turned in the opposite direction.

2. Massage is the second therapy and is, as you know, much more hands-on. This is much more than instant gratification, though the effects of nurturing and touch are not to be underestimated. It also detoxifies the lymphatic system, helps release metabolic waste build up, improves blood flow, helps close the gate of pain messages which is the path of trauma speaking to the brain reinforcing the pattern instead of releasing it. Massage also bring the anatomy into alignment and even stimulates health production of hormones to relieve stress, anxiety and depression.

3. Reiki is on the opposite end of physical body manipulation. It is perhaps the lightest touch of the therapies, if you are even touched at all. The practitioner focuses upon being a channel or vessel of Chi to strengthen the non-physical energy of the person, ultimately bringing health to the physical body. The physical body is seen as the densest of ‘what we are,’ and therefore the product of our more subtle energy. Reiko operates under the premise that Chi/life force/energy is what informs the universe, and by virtue of us being part of the creative universe, us as well. The practitioner oftentimes lays hands upon the body in a stationary and systematic fashion, being a point of focus for Chi to go where it will. Since Qi/Chi always seeks full health, it will always move as it will and where it will to accomplish this end.

4. While there are many more modalities to share with you, this last reference is to Craniosacral therapy which situates itself (in the manner of touch) between Reiki and massage. Most CST practitioners draw upon both of these however during a session. The Upledger pioneered technique works with the craniosacral system (its membranes and cerebrospinal fluid,) through gentle touch to enhance the system and improve the central nervous system. CST is shown to help an ever widening array of conditions including concussion and TBI since it works with the fluid in the brain it is directly helpful for all head injuries. IN addition CST helps autism, chronic fatigue, spinal chord injuries and my passion the prevention and reversal of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

These are just a few, there are many more. So email me to learn what you can do for your own brain health. With so many easily accessed options, why not be in-the-know?