anyone try herbs?
 

As people know with PCS, it's very hard to decide what treatment to try to help your symptoms. Right now I'm focusing on vitamins and herbs instead of seeking some other expensive treatment options.

I've started to take daily vitamins consisting of

GNC Mega Men Multi
Fish Oil 1,000 mg
B-12 1000 mcg
Super Magnesium(as aspartate, lactate, and citrate) 400 mg
Calcium Citrate 1000 mg
Zinc 30 mg
I was taking B-100 complex but it made me feel flush(maybe from the 100mg of niacin?)

In the book Brainlash, Gail Denton who suffered a mTBI also suggest C-Complex with bioflaninoids, Lecithin, chromium picolinate, psyllium seed husks, germanium(Q10) and proanthocyanidin.

For herbs, she suggest Vlaerian root to repair the nervous system and allow for restful sleep and Gotu Kola and ginkgo to improve clear thinking and invigorate the brain. Astragalus to boost the immune system and ginger.

My biggest problem from PCS is headaches and brain fog(lack of clear thinking). 25 mg of Amitryptaline helps some with the headaches. Has anyone tried these herbs and notice improvement? I know it's hard to single out one item. My Primary Care Dr. or Neuro know nothing about head injuries so I should I see an alternative medicine Dr. to figure out what I should be taking.

The last time I went to alternative Dr. they diagnosed me with ADD after talking me for an 1hr and prescirbed this powerful drug Vyvanse and it messed me up pretty good. They also just pushed me to buy their vitamins so seemed like a money making scheme to me.

I tend to trust Eastern Medicine more This link has a bunch of herbs for post concussion symptoms. I'm at my wits end with PCS so am willing to try anything to start feeling better. It's funny, for evidence that herbs worked, the article says in 16 cases, 6 people recovered fully and 9 people saw improvements. Not the largest sample size but if it can't hurt, why not give it a try?

http://www.hnmrc.net/pd-914360328.html

I was on herbs for 10 years for crohns disease. It's difficult to say if they worked or if my body got better with time and diet and fitness.
However with my TBI I am entrusting a friend who has done her masters in homeopathy.

She is focusing on the injury and keeping my nervous system calm.

The trouble is a side effect of a TBI as you will know is a lack of emotion. So once again who knows if it's the homeopathy or the physical brain change that will result in me being a calmer person.

I'd double the Fish oil to 2000 mg (Dr. Weil says up to 3000 mg is good) and add Turmeric. Both have been shown to help brain health and promote healing.

As for combating brain fog, nootropics have helped me. They're known to enhance brain function temporarily. People take them before taking tests etc.. I take 1-2 750mg Aniracetam 2X daily (depending on severity of brain fog that day) + 300 Choline daily (It complements the Aniracetam).

I hope that helps. Report back with your findings.

Ive been taken chinese herbs now for about 8 months and I love them! I have an acupuncturist is also a licensed herbalist. he mixes my herbs specifically for whats going on with me and what my assessment shows. Im not sure what he puts in them each time (he usually tells me and I trust him enough to forget, haha). I also take Turmeric....best supplement i have added to my regimen in the past 4 months or so. I also take fish oil, b complex, b12, and a multivitamin.

On a side note, i consider myself healed from my brain injury, i have no symptoms at all for many months now. I receive acupuncture, healing touch, and practice yoga on a regular basis.

Good luck in whatever you choose!

Re: herbs
 

The fish oil/omegas are the one supplement I still try to maintain in my budget. I've used turmeric daily in much of the foods I prepare, along with curry blends to balance the flavor, e.g. in eggs, soups, stir-fry, chicken salad, tuna salad, fish, rice, etc.

When I could afford them, the Rx nootropics, I was noticeably helped by them also. My experience was likened to a fine-tuning of radio signal.

When I could afford them I used tincture of gingko biloba, which helped my mental clarity. I used to get it wholesale by the quart. The capsules, i.e. the dried herb didn't set well with my stomach.

I also used sweet basil oil, for alertness; it has a very mildly stimulant effect.

Theta ;)