Hi Mindy,
The active ingredient in aspartame is aspartate (aspartic acid). To nerves aspartate is an excitotoxin. To all cells aspartate is a metabolic nightmare. Glutamate (glutamic acid) is the bad boy behind MSG (monosodium glutamate). Glutamate is in the same functional class as aspartate, both nervous and metabolic. Someone with a brain injury should avoid all aspartates AND glutamates. For starters, grassy grains (wheat, barley, rye and oats) contain roughly 1/4 glutamate. Stop ingesting them. Read food labels. Stay away from "modified starches". They are glutamates. Better yet, stop ingesting processed foods all together.

Nerves are protected by, and operate behind, the blood brain barrier (BBB). Most cells do most of their chemical chores by manipulating water soluble chemicals. Nerves do not. Nerves do most of their chemical chores by manipulating fat soluble chemicals. So one of the main characteristics supporting the blood brain barrier is the proper feeding and maintenance of fats. You need to concentrate on providing your brain with *abundant* animal fat and fish oil in the form of fresh seafood.

Cold compresses help on the back of the neck. Also, stay away from high concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin. They concentrate in the retina and elicit autoimmune attacks against the visual cortex. Lutein and Zeaxanthin are extremely concentrated in yellow corn and egg yolks.

Good luck.
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