We are not doctors and we can never take the place of doctors. The information below is placed here as a resource for discussing different health options with your medical professional. Right now most doctors are treating the symptoms and trying cognitive and behavioral therapy.

Please beware that some of the sites below are promoting the sale of their products which we no in way endorse. If we link to their site it is for the educational discussion only. Please don’t get hooked into buying any of these products without talking to your doctor first. There may be a cheaper and healthier option. 

Most research we have seen makes the case that inflammation in the brain may speed up CTE and CTE causes inflammation, so it is a cyclical process. If symptoms are severe, your brain may be very inflamed. A healthy diet, exercise, and vitamins should help. Avoiding further head impacts is also key. It can take years for an inflamed brain to heal. The other suggestions listed below are pretty comprehensive on what is out there right now. We have heard positive and negative on most of them so read what is offered below with a discerning mind. 

Every brain and injury is different. Good luck on the road to wellness. A lot of researchers are working hard to help you. Hope is on the way. 

When planning a doctor visit please use this great tool to get the help you need.

Click Here to see the Healthcare Navigation Form

Psilocybin Shows Promis in Repairing the Brain:

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/psilocybin-shows-promise-in-repairing-brain-damage-from-mild-head-trauma/

How to Control Inflammation with Your Brain:

Brain researchers are seeing a cyclical link between brain inflammation and CTE. Try to reduce the inflammation and maybe curb CTE:

http://www.integrativepsychiatry.net/brain_inflammation.html

Glaucoma Drug Reduces Tau Buildup in Neurodegeneration Model

https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/glaucoma-drug-reduces-tau-buildup-in-neurodegeneration-model-392959

Sildenafil (‘Viagra’) improves brain blood flow and could help to prevent dementia

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-06-07-sildenafil-viagra-improves-brain-blood-flow-and-could-help-prevent-dementia#:~:text=to%20prevent%20dementia-,Sildenafil%20(‘Viagra’)%20improves%20brain%20blood%20flow%20and,could%20help%20to%20prevent%20dementia&text=A%20new%20trial%20conducted%20by,heightened%20risk%20of%20vascular%20dementiahttps://nootropicsexpert.com/n-acetyl-l-cysteine/?fbclid=IwAR20byGZhpT8ykddbCeDICcXrASKEMONbvK6N5t–ZvTtXEuMTEueQS4TcI

N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC) is a powerful anti-oxidant, may boost mood, lower anxiety, improve memory, and reduce compulsive behavior

https://nootropicsexpert.com/n-acetyl-l-cysteine/?fbclid=IwAR20byGZhpT8ykddbCeDICcXrASKEMONbvK6N5t–ZvTtXEuMTEueQS4TcI

Medical Marijuana May Help Manage Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Pain, And Even Slow Disease Progression:

https://www.medicaldaily.com/medical-marijuana-nfl-players-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-372648

Neurotransmitter Testing

https://www.integrativepsychiatry.net/neurotransmitter_testing_what_can_it_do_for_you.html

The Best Supplements for Your Brain:

http://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/supplements-for-your-brain/

Folic Acid May Help with Suicidality

In the cohort that was prescribed folic acid over the 5-year period, there were 261 “suicidal events” (suicide attempts and intentional self-harm) specifically during times when folic acid was being taken. There were 895 such events recorded when folic acid was not being taken by the same individuals. When adjusted for various statistical factors, this worked out to a 44% lower rate of suicidal events while folic acid was being taken—in most cases, at the dosage of 1mg/day, which is typical and considered the “upper tolerable limit.”

Feed Your Head:

http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/nutrition/art3258.html

Beta-Blockers for Anxiety: Benefits, Side-Effects & Risks

https://www.healthline.com/health/beta-blockers-for-anxiety?fbclid=IwAR1T3pfe_7ULCJFx_hbpkS9xNP5LZ420_YVpnPB7qhwvWbIw7n9TDEz-FaQ#benefits

Mushroom microdosing is gaining momentum:

https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/compass-pathways-psilocybin-depression/

Everyday People Fear They Have CTE A Dubious Market Has Sprung Up to Treat Them?

https://www.npr.org/2021/12/23/1049814853/everyday-people-fear-they-have-cte-a-dubious-market-has-sprung-up-to-treat-them?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

FDA Clears SAINT Rapid-Acting Brain Stimulation Approach for Those Suffering From Resistant Major Depression

https://www.bbrfoundation.org/content/fda-clears-saint-rapid-acting-brain-stimulation-approach-those-suffering-resistant-major#.YytvkWV0Sr4

Dementia Symptoms Have Been Reversed in Mice

https://interestingengineering.com/dementia-symptoms-have-been-reversed-in-mice

Blueberries:

Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Fame Steeler, ate two pints of blueberries a day.

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2006/2/report_blueberries/Page-01

Vitamin D

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-d-make-a-difference/

 

81 Awesome Mental Health Resources When You Can’t Afford a Therapist:

http://greatist.com/grow/resources-when-you-can-not-afford-therapy

Exercise + Sleep = Recovery:

Drs. at the National Summit on Sports Concussions suggested 4 days a week of 120+ heart rate exercises for 20 minutes per day and a regimented sleep improved brain health

SLEEP DIARY

Psychedelic Drug May be Approved for PTSD Therapy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/ecstasy-could-be-breakthrough-therapy-for-soldiers-others-suffering-from-ptsd/2017/08/26/009314ca-842f-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.html?utm_term=.aa756fffdb1a

Therapeutic benefits of a component of coffee in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25034344

Vestibular Rehabilitation:

http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/treatment/treatment-detail-page

Power of Vitamin D :

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2013/10/dr-l-ray-matthews-unleashes-the-power-of-vitamin-d/page-01

Mindfulness :

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition

Testosterone Levels and Brain Health:

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/testosterone-and-brain-function.html

This website offers many factsheets on dealing with brain injury symptoms:

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets

The following information is from the Bart Foundation:

1. Introduction, Preliminaries and Caveats:

Please read our Disclaimer Page again before using this resource guide.  There are no definitive, uniformly accepted standards for persons claiming to offer alternative therapies.  In some states anyone can hang out a shingle, even without suitable training or credentials, and claim to be a craniosachral worker, neuro-feedback practitioner, nutritionist or other therapist.  To address this critical pitfall we have consulted acknowledged thought leaders in each field, followed their guidance, and presented lists of practitioners that are likely to be well qualified.

Even then there are no guarantees. One should seek a frank discussion with each prospective physician or therapist in order to explore their background.  How long have they been practicing their specialty?  What prior experience do they have in treating patients with brain injuries?  Can they offer references or testimonials?   Nothing is 100 percent effective, not even aspirin or acetaminophen.  With alternative therapies, as with mainstream approaches, there is always an element of chance, luck, randomness.  What works brilliantly for one survivor, may not work for another, and we may never know why.  All one can do is try one’s best, and hope to be lucky.

 

2. How can I locate practitioners in my area?

We are unable to make specific referrals – not only for liability reasons, but also because we don’t personally know most of the practitioners. Please review their information posted and then call prospects to inquire how they might help your personal condition.  Most physicians and therapists will let you know if they feel they can help, or will offer an alternate suggestion.

Craniosachral Therapy (CST)

We are not aware of any comprehensive listing of Craniosachral practitioners in the USA.  What we have been able to find thus far are partial listings, compiled by different organizations, each with an interest in CST.  These are no overarching requirements or certifications for CST practitioners – in many states anyone can claim to be a craniosachral worker, even without suitable training or credentials.  Here are two relatively safe and reliable ways to find a CST practitioner:

• A physician who practices craniosachral therapy,(usually a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a DO) or
• Some practitioner with suitable credentials from The Upledger Institute – a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), nurse or other health care professional.

Accordingly, here are two lists, one from the Osteopathic Cranial Academy, and the second with candidates who have been credentialed by the Upledger institute, the premier School of CST.

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy: DO’s and Dentists who practice within the cranio field:

To find a physician:  http://cranialacademy.org/find-a-physician/

The American CranioSachral Therapy Association: Endorsed by the Upledger Institute

To find a practitioner:  http://www.iahp.com/pages/search/index.php#result

 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):

We are not aware of any comprehensive listing of HBOT facilities in the USA.  What we have been able to find thus far are partial listings, compiled by several different organizations, each with an interest in hyperbaric medicine.  Note that usually only free-standing independent HBOT clinics are willing to treat brain injuries or other neurological conditions off-label. Hospitals do not generally allow HBOT to be used for such conditions.  Most of the lists are searchable by location, or at least by State.

• List of HBOT centers compiled by the Program in Integrative Medicine of the University of Colorado College of Medicine:

http://www.healing-arts.org/children/hyperbaricoxygentherapy_hbot.htm#Arizona_HBOT

• Hyperbaric Link: List of HBOT centers, mostly hospitals, but includes independent free-standing clinics that treat off-label neurological conditions.

http://www.hyperbariclink.com/treatment-centers/treatment-centers.aspx

• treatnow.org: centers treating wounded warriors, veterans and others:

http://treatnow.org/treatments/treatment-centers/

• International Hyperbaric Medical Foundation:

https://www.ihausa.org/resources.html

• Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society:

https://www.bestpub.com/periodicals-and-subscriptions/find-a-hyperbaric-chamber.html

Neurofeedback

We are not aware of any comprehensive listing of neurofeedback (NF) practitioners in the USA.  What we have been able to find thus far are partial listings, compiled by different organizations, each with an interest in neurofeedback.  There are no overarching requirements or certifications for practitioners – in many states anyone can claim to be a NF worker, whether or not one has suitable training and credentials.  Safest to do one’s own due diligence, including inquiring what experience, if any, the therapist has with brain injuries.

For Traditional neurofedback, there are a couple of good sources:

The Biofeedback Certification Institute of America    https://www.bcia.org/consumers-find-a-practitioner

For LENS neurofeedback, the safest source is Ochs labs:

http://www.ochslabs.com/providers.php?country=United+States&search=country

Omega-3 Fish Oils

These are widely available, but not of uniform quality. Dr. Michael Lewis, thought leader in this area of research, recommends only using fish oils that have been double distilled, and preferably reconstituted in their original triglyceride form. Here is a link to his site: http://www.brainhealtheducation.org/omega-3-protocol/

LED Light Therapy

The use of transcranial LED therapy, sometimes called Photobiomodulation, is an emerging approach to brain healing.  Like HBOT, there are already some FDA approved applications, but these do not include ABI.  There is a wide array of organization representing practitioners but we are not aware of any easy way to access lists of practitioners.  There are dozens of organizations devoted to study of light therapies worldwide including the North American Association of Laser Therapy, the International Academy of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.  Some of the notable journals covering this field include:  Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, and Lasers in Medical Science and Physiotherapy Practice and Research.

3. Cognitive Rehabilitation:

Cognitive rehabilitation: (These health professionals, generally neuro-psychologists or clinical psychologists, map the injury and devise individualized strategies to remediate/overcome functional deficits):

Center for Neuro Skills – Several locations in CA, and one in Dallas, TX
Kessler Institute – Saddle Brook, NJ
Mount Sinai Hospital Neuropsychology Dept. – NYC
Neuro Psychologic Rehab Services – Albany, NY
Rusk Institute of Rehab Medicine- NYC

4. Physicians and Therapists:

The following physicians and therapists advocate and practice alternative therapies, including HBOT, neurofeedback, neutraceutical supplementation (e.g. omega 3’s) craniosachral therapy, neurofeedback and other approaches.

Dr. Steven Best (Psychiatrist, Chicago, IL)
Dr. Philip DeFina (Neurologist – NJ)
Dr. Guiseppina Feingold (Pediatrician – Nyack, NY)
Dr. Paul Harch (Emergency Medicine and Hyperbaric/Diving Medicine – New Orleans)
Dr. Carol Henricks (Neurologist – Tucson, AZ)
Dr. Stephen Larsen (Psychologist neurofeedback – New Paltz, NY)
Dr. Michael Lewis (former US Army Colonel, DC area)
Dr. David Perlmutter (neurologist – Naples, FL)
Dr. Stephen Xenakis, (former US Army general, DC area)

 

Advice from someone with suspected CTE:

‘THE PLAN’

BRINGING LIGHT INTO THE DARKNESS OF CTE

CREATING HEALTHY CONSTRUCTIVE HABITS

CHANGING NEGATIVE TRIGGERS INTO LAUGHTER

 

• Forgiveness party – everyone sits down and everyone forgives each

other. except unlike 12 step programs that say you are ‘powerless’,

everyone determines that they are powerful, and will use this plan and

their power to heal. finally everyone will determine to ‘begin anew’,

meaning from this day forward you can’t bring up old things that can be

triggers in the present. begin anew can happen more than once, and often

if needed.

 

• Being present – old Buddhistsaying – when we are anxious, it is be cause

‘we are living in the future, and when we are feeling depressed, it is

because ‘we are living in the past, only in the present can we truly be

happy. these are facts. practice this mantra. share it with others.

 

• Transforming our suffering in to happiness for ourselves and those

around us

3a) diet, exrecise, meditation, rest, & a healthy constructive hobby

3b) rest overrides everything when needed

3c) things wont go perfect, when they do, revert to ‘begin anew’

 

• Faith – faith that you are powerful and not powerless in your abilities to

help yourself and to help others. denomination not important, but faith

in a higher spiritual power is recommended.

 

• Transforming our suffering in to happiness for ourselves and those

around us through being present, prayer, meditation and a healthy

constructive hobby (mine is working on bikes and riding bikes) we call it

bike therapy. my buddy chris was bound to wheelchair his entire life but

he was the happiest person i eve met. he learned early to use his suffering

as a tool instead of a disability, transform it to happines and help others

become happy. be a beacon of positivity despite your suffering and use it

as a tool to help others becoming a link in the chain of healing, rather

than remaining a link in the chain of suffering.

 

• Limiting stimulito positive stimulus only to avoid triggers, meditation,

walks, nature, gardening, chess, playing an instrument, riding a bicycle

all of these things are positive and constructive. these things are

exercise and meditation combined. no alcohol ever. never! it’s a

neurotoxin and needs to be avoided. alchol intesnifies emotions as well

as a neurotoxin to the brain and your neurlogical symptoms. i do not

watch tv or own or use a ‘smart phone’ i do not paryocipate in social

media.

 

• Limits, know them, don’tgo for far bike rides or far walks. stay within

your limits. have a buddy. go rest! you made it this far, you need a nap!

 

• Having a pet or service dog

goooood morning! nice nap? it’s still afternoon. lets go walk the dog!

having a pet or service dog is crucial. i have had my service dog for 6

years. he keeps me positive and full of love.

 

• Daily routine

get up early, walk, eat, drink lots of water

drink a healthy smoothie

mine:

fresh spinach

fresh kale

fesh carrot

frozen banana

ice

frozen mango

frozen blueberries

fresh garlic

fresh ginger

colloidal silver

local honey

ionized kangen water

walk

meditate

practice your healthy hobby

help another person suffering

eat a healthy lunch

practice/work on your hobby

meditate

take a nap

evening neurological exercise (neuroplasiticity): mine is scrabble. me

and my mom play scrabble every night. creating words and adding up the

score keeps me sharp. and we laugh a lot too.

eat a healthy dinner

meditate/ pray

sleep

 

• Caretaker:you cant do this alone. you need a caretaker. you cant drive once you hit stage 3/4, the neurological phases as walking speaking and vision can be difficult as well as eye tracking and perceiving judging distances and

speed. your caretaker will participate in your daily routine with you.

 

11 Work: unless for yourself or a family member or understanding friend, work is not recommended. it’s a trigger and your rest routine trumps any job or

responsibilty to others. if you are forced to work, and cannot devote

time to rest your job will need to understand that you need special

accomodations.

 

• Understanding the stages

like fight club, we never talk about them, but today and for ‘the plan’

they are important

 

stage 1)

migraines

migraines lead to severe migraines, they call you a malingerer or tell

you it’s your sinuses or something else.

 

stage 2)

the rage phase!

the worst phase of all. you may experience rage, losing control of

emotions, paranoia, social disfuctionalities, legal problems, problems

with the law. the pattern of getting fired or legal trouble begins.

 

stage 3)

depression

neurological conditions begin and the rage starts to settle but your

relationships are all destroyed and you are alone. now you are

depressed, and reaching out for help. there’s not much help and this adds

to depression. stage 3 is when you just quit or got fired from your last

job and you can’t drive anymore. you’re falling dow, you have vertigo,

and your vision is poor. you may have super low blood pressure. all of

your mri’s up to this point show nothing.

 

stage 4)

the neurological phase. tremors, vision issues, difficulty speaking,

difficulty holding thoughts, etc

welcome to stage 4! you made it to ‘the club’

no time for depression, you have to focus on the neurological issues.

training yourself to laugh at things that used to trigger you. you can

do this in any stagem but by stage 4, this must be implemented.

moving on,

you are unable to work. your relationships have all deterriorated. your

service dog is old. you are not young anymore either and its time to

develop this plan and put it to action. if a veteran and your cte is service

related or service connected, you need to dig for your records and file

for your va benefits.

aside from this plan, we really don’t discuss phases.

if you are a civilian, you will need to apply for social security now

before you lose all the work credits you have accumulated. you will

need help. social security is beyond brutal.

 

• Helping others and implementing ‘the plan’. first off you have to tell

anyone you are offering help to that they must implement this plan. if

they do not, they are basically bringing you in to their darkness,

drowning the both of you essentially.

 

14) Speaking of drowning!

drink water.do it now. you need to drink lots of good water. your brain is

mostly water. i drink kangen water. its ph upped and ionized. you can get a

kangen water machine anywhere.

 

• Helping others

time to help others train themselves to laugh at triggers and develop a

daily routine and put this plan in to action!

 

• The plan always allows for rest. rest often anytime!

diet

exercise

rest

meditation

prayer

faith

healthy daily hobby

daily affirmations

 

• Article of clothing that lets people know you have CTE.

mine is a hat that says ‘nope’ on it. when im out walking the two people

who made unwelcomed comments to me stpped after i started wearing my

‘nope hat’. i also have a hat that says ‘disabled veteran’ i can wear. this

lets people know you need a little more space, understanding and

patience. it could be a shirt that says ‘ptsd sufferer’, as cte is ptsd in many

ways. just an article of clothing that gives you a little more confidence

that lets others know you need some space and patience.

 

• Changing destructive habits in to constructive habits..

your metaphorical toolbox.

these are tools:

begin anew, forgiveness, constant forgiveness from all parties daily,

diet, exercise, rest, meditation, prayer, lots of water, a healthy

constructive hobby.

you have a ‘toolbox’ now.

when problems arise you go in to your tool box and pull out the right

tool for the job. weather it’s ‘begin anew’ or laughing at triggers, or

meditation g on the spot, you keep your tool box with you and you train

others to develop their own toolbox and develop their own resource

‘tools’ as discussed here to tackle this obstacle, no pun intended.

every obstacle you overcome is like a handful of sand, each win, and

over time all those handfuls of sand become a mountain. wind blows

sand. nothing moves a mountain. especially wind.

 

• Healthy hobby

a healthy hobby is so important. mine is bikes. i work on them. i buy them. i

sell them. its constructive and it brings me happiness

 

• Helping others implement this plan

becoming a link in the chain of healing rather than being a link in the

chain of suffering. you are now going to bring light in to someones dark

CTE world of suffering. it’s a domino effect.

 

• Cannabis helps. research it. I’m using it for years. it helps with pressure in

my head, tinnitus, appetite, tremors, and neurological conditions. my

neurologist said ‘ i love cannabis for you! use it!’ were her exact words.

Daniel carcillo (former hockey player) use psilocybin mushrooms to

heal/treat his CTE. check it out.

 

• Creating your own CTE bringing light in to the world of darkness.

surround yourself with only positive people and positive stimulus. turn

off the TV. put down the phone. go read. go meditate, go pet your dog, take

a nap, drink some water. practice your healthy hobby.

if you don’t take steps to bring light in to your world and those around

you you will end up bringing others in to your world of CTE darkness

drowning those who are trying to help you.

you can do this.

i have faith in you

your condition is not a curse. it is a blessing.

know this.

help yourself, help others, implement this plan. heal.

 

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ANONYMOUS

More advice from someone else with suspected CTE: Thank you Anthony!

# Cognitive and Emotional Changes

# Remedies:

# Loss and Grief

# Remedies:

# Social and Relationship Challenges

# Remedies:

# Physical and Mental Health Comorbidities

# Remedies:

# General Tips for Managing CTE

# Conclusion

# Important Notes