If you suspect you have a concussion, you should seek medical support. You may need tests to help you diagnose and treat the concussion. This article is not intended to replace medical advice and is provided for natural health education only.
My family was riding in the car together on a Saturday afternoon last August, when an uninsured driver rear-ended us at a stop sign. The cars were damaged but not in an extreme sense. I was a little shook up from the impact; had ringing in my ears and felt lightheaded. My husband spoke to the other driver while the police were called and later arrived. I tried to brush off the accident that evening hoping we were not injured. When my head and neck started to hurt that night, I went to bed thinking I would wake up and the headache would be gone. Little did I know what we were in for in the subsequent months. To make a long story short, I suffered from a concussion and whiplash and was unable to work more than short intervals for the initial weeks. I kept up with the office's supplement orders during this time but took frequent breaks to rest under the tree outside (pictured below) and lie on the Biomat/infrared sauna mat. When I did manage to meet with clients, I would have a lot of pain afterward so I minimized meetings until October when bodywork (thank you to the members of my wellness team, see below), special diet, and key supplements helped me to return to work.
Our youngest daughter who is thirteen suffered from a concussion and lightheadedness. She could not get out of bed most mornings. She was unable to attend school in the mornings and was diagnosed with a POTS-like dysautonomia after the accident. I will write about natural ways to address POTS and dysautonomia in the future.
Natural supplements and therapeutic diet can provide valuable support for concussion and whiplash recovery. If you suspect you have a concussion, you should seek medical care. I felt the most obvious effects of the concussion wear off within weeks after taking it easy but it has been a much more gradual process to heal the whiplash and ten months later, I am almost back to "normal". The natural interventions below have broader uses for other injuries or conditions that may be slow to heal or respond, too. Most people need a healthy lifestyle and nutritional base in order for these items to work. If you have suffered from a concussion or injury, I encourage you to schedule an appointment with me to have your basic labwork functionally evaluated, because this process targets where you need support so your body can heal.
A healthy sleep schedule, daily sunlight, gentle activity, clean diet, and anti-inflammatory supplements like NAC, turmeric, Magnesium, digestive support, adrenal support, perimenopausal hormone support, and multi-vitamin were already a part of my base routine. The items below built off of this base to help me recover:
Creatine powder by Ortho Molecular. The brain and the muscles love creatine as a source of fueld. If you are just learning about creatine, I talk about it in this video entitled More Energy. Creatine powder was undoubtedly the most helpful supplement I took for the concussion, and I felt immediate relief from the symptoms. There are numerous studies on creatine and concussions demonstrating it can help when taken pre-injury, as well as help with recovery for concussions and post-concussion syndrome. Creatine is one of the longest-studied supplements with a great safety record. Typically, one teaspoon or a 5 gram scoop is added to water or a cold- or room-temp beverage and taken daily. It may be taken multiple times daily in the case of needing more cognitive support, stress recovery, and it can also help with sleep. You may have heard of it for helping build muscle and slow muscle loss but it excels in supporting and fueling the brain. Thus it can excel in helping with focus- and brain-based symptoms.
Soft Tissue Support Pack by Ortho Molecular
Knowing about the side effects of over-the-counter pain relievers, I opted for Ortho Molecular's Soft Tissue Support Pack which also helped keep inflammation at bay to repair and heal. This has become a household remedy for us in cases of physical injury or strain.
The Body Tune-up book. Once I realized the gravity of my situation, I put myself on the The Body Tune-up diet outlined in the book. Scientists have shown that concussions can trigger leaky gut, so I took my diet seriously and continued with daily l-glutamine powder and other digestive supports for gut health. Did you know that scientists have shown concussions are linked to a host of other health issues like auto-immune conditions, mood disorders and cognitive decline? After a concussion or injury, it's important to take nutrition seriously and, in doing so, keep inflammatory symptoms better managed.
PRM Resolve by NutriDyn. This is the best Omega-3-type supplement for physical injuries or chronic health issues, in my opinion. Most people know how important Omega-3s are to reduce inflammation. PRMs are derived from Omega-3s so they go an extra step to help in difficult immune problems or physical injuries. Scientific studies claim PRMs are neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory. Typically, I eat fish daily as opposed to taking a supplement, but for many months after the accident, I was still having stiffness and issues using the computer and strength training. I found NutrDyn's PRM Resolve to work much better to relieve inflammation and stiffness in my neck and shoulders.
CollaGEN powder by Ortho Molecular. This powder is more effective than other collagens when there are connective tissue issues, like hypermobility, or injuries involved. I had to take a break from strength training workouts due to the whiplash/concussion. Now physical therapy, massage therapy, and chiropractic, among other interventions, are helping me to lift weights again. I use Ortho Molecular's CollaGEN for superior results in workout recovery. Learn more in this video about CollaGEN.
There are many additional natural supports for recovery from concussion and injuries. Make an appointment with me for your individualized program.
A number of health practitioners have aided my recovery to this point in time. Thank you to Springtime Health and Wellness (chiropractic), Ayaa Massage, Wildwood Clinic and Physical Therapy, Capitol Physical Therapy, Heartpath Acupuncture, Advanced Healing!