The magnesium in most multivitamins is magnesium stearate.

This is an INsoluble form that is used as a filler to make the total
product move thru the pressing machines without sticking.

It is not absorbed and provides no magnesium to your body.

This is my magnesium thread: it explains how much and what type to choose. It also has food sources so you can decide to improve diet so that more magnesium will be available to you.

Magnesium in mixture products like cal/mag...is often magnesium oxide. This type is very inexpensive and historically was always provided. But recent studies have shown that it is not absorbed much either. So now it is mostly a laxative and is
found in Phillips tablets today (as advertised on TV).

So read labels carefully before you take a magnesium product so you will choose one that works.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

The world of supplements is very complicated. Not all are equal in quality, by any means!

Magnesium at night is a good idea, as it is relaxing. Many of us on
the PN forum use a topical lotion for it, and rub it on at night. It will
calm you down and facilitate sleep. Some people are sensitive to the laxative actions of all magnesium products so the topical avoids that side effect.

You can also bathe in epsom salts in a bath tub. This is very relaxing and some magnesium does cross the skin and get into your blood steam that way. Do NOT use hot water... lukewarm only. About 6 ounces to a bath tub and soak at least a 1/2 hr.

Updated and edited Oct. 14, 2013

Here is the nutritional regimen I have followed for decades. It was prescribed for me by a doctor back in 1982. I have fallen off the wagon from time to time. Each time, my wife notices a difference and gets me back on the regimen. I have added a few things over the years.

The injured brain needs to do two things, First, it needs to cleanse itself of the toxic remnants of the injury. Second, it needs to regain strength (heal) in the damaged areas. B vitamins are the most important. I suggest:

B-12 (500 to 1000 mcgs daily)
a B-50 complex, for all the other B's so you get a good balance of B's
a high potency multi-vitamin like GNC Mega Women/Men. Centrum and One a Day are too weak.
Niacin, 200 to 500 mgs
Some extra anti-oxidants, Vit C and Vit E
D3, plenty of this, 1000 to 5000 iu's
Omega 3 fish oil, with a proper balance of Omega 6 and 9
Calcium with magnesium, 500 mgs per day


I also have added
Curcumin (pricy but worth it) 950 mgs daily This is a Turmeric extract
DHEA, 25 mgs , a hormone that helps the body balance the other hormones, If your skin gets oily try 1/2 of a 25 mgs tablet. I only take a half of a tablet.
a Costco High Energy multipack (7 pieces) in place of the multi-vitamin

I have recently added:
Cayenne capsules
Resveratrol, it is supposed to help the Omega 3 fish oil work better
Garlic capsules for cholesterol


<I am currently trying CDC Choline to review it for the manufacturer. It appears to be helping with less foggy brain but after only three days, this could be just a coincidence. I'll post a better review of CDC Choline later.>

I finished the bottle of CDC Choline and did not justify its continued expense. Others may have a different experience.


Good meat protein for the amino acids, pork is the best.
Or for vegetarians, there is a seaweed based spirulina extract that sounds pretty good. Most vegetarians do not like to eat the seaweed directly. There are some concerns with spirulina according to another NT poster. Check out MrsD's comments. Her comments about B-12 are good.
A good amino acid supplement including essential fatty acids and BCAA's (broken or branched chain amino acids).
Vegetarian diets are usually deficient in these so they need supplements. Spirulina is suggested as comprehensive enough .
avoid trans fats.

No caffeine, alcohol, MSG, artificial sweeteners (aspartame, Nutrasweet, Equal, Splenda, sucralose), high fructose corn sweetener, and only moderate natural sugar. Some studies suggest a single serving of caffeine or alcohol per day is acceptable for those who tolerate it.

We should also avoid aluminum compounds. The most common aluminum is found in antiperspirants (aluminum chlorhydrate) and some antacids. They should be avoided. Learn to read labels before putting it on or in your body.

My regimen based on the above costs about $1.30 to $1.50 per day including some non-brain supplements (arthritis).

I was started on the brain basics by a psychiatrist 30 years ago as a way to treat PCS depression and avoid medication. It was very effective. I am tempted to replace my paroxetine with 5-HTP or L-Tryptophan but have not been able to find any conversion factors.

The B-12 and the folic acid in the B-50 is important for repair of the myelin sheath that protects axon and dendrite fibers. The rest are for improving brain metabolism.

This regimen needs to be a long term or lifetime discipline. It take 4 to 8 weeks to see improvements.

After using the regimen for a month or so, it is good to get a blood test for the D3, B-12 and folate to make sure your blood levels are adequate. B-12 should be about 1000 pcgs/mL and folate at about 20 or higher.


There are three valuable resources for you to check out.

The TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com.
Print it out (84 pages)

You Look Great on YouTube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso4qGdlI
The YouTube is a 6 part series that takes about an hour total.

The brain line 'TBI Lost and Found'
http://www.brainline.org/content/201...u-to-know.html

Share these with your family and/or friends. And, try to find a TBI support group to attend with your family. They can be a great source of support and understanding.

For good legal information about concussions and mTBi's / TBI/s for those entering litigation, check out:
www.tbilaw.com and
www.subtlebraininjury.com.
Attorney Gordon Johnson has very good information about diagnostic testing and such.

Home made Ice pack

My recipe for a flexible/crushable ice pack is simple. One part rubbing alcohol with three parts water in a zip lock baggies. Freeze them, three is good, so you can alternate them and always have a frozen one. Wrap the ice pack in a towel to make it more tolerable. Ice frequently for 15 minutes on and 30 minutes off and repeat. If you get any stiffness or head ache, get the ice pack out. The upper neck easily gets inflamed causing symptoms like head aches, etc. This should make a difference.

edit 02/28/2015---- new updated post appears further down on this thread --post #101:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1106982-101.html

Interesting... I'll have to look into the vitamins. Years and years ago, way before the brain injury, my husband was told to avoid B vitamins because, at the time, his doctor felt that they would have a negative impact on his moods. Now I wonder if that doctor had any idea what he was talking about. Over the course of my life, I am finding myself constantly questioning medical advice... We are also vegetarian, and I am extremely conscious of making sure that my husband gets protein. Caffeine and alcohol are the two things I have a hard time getting him to cut out. When he first came home, I bought him decaf, as per his therapists instructions... at the time, he didn't know the difference. I could put it in the coffee container and grind it up espresso style and he didn't know the difference. No fooling him now, though... no matter how much I tell him caffeine and alcohol will harm his recovery, he thinks the doctors are being over dramatic. It doesn't help that the doctors really left him for dead and wanted to send him to hospice before he came out of his coma... so it's easy for him to say "the doctors don't always know best..."

Hi,

I would recommend to look at if you are high in heavy metals, maybe from algae or fillings. I have/had a lot of the same symptoms, but now they have become a lot less after chelation!

I'm not sure if information about lion's mane mushrooms have been posted in this thread yet or not...

I was recently introduced to the research about Lion's Mane Mushrooms that indicate that ingesting them regularly can help improve cognitive functioning - especially in people dealing with mild impairments.

There is even some thinking that these little guys can help your body to regenerate the myelin sheath of axons and promote neuroplasticity.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-s...b_1725583.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510212

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18844328

http://www.superfoods-for-superhealt...ions-mane.html

http://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/lions-mane.html

'Mark in Idaho' has posted this about the subject before: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12675022

After waking up at 430 am feeling like I was having a panic attack I started googling stuff and eventually made my way to this thread. I've been struggling with PCS since June so I decided to try some vitamins. I used to take Gingko Biloba for memory support, but haven't taken that for some time. This morning I took fish oil, B-12, B-complex, and D3. If I usually use Nutiva hemp seed with my yogurt should I still take the fish oil? I was thinking of taking the fish oil only when I'm out of hemp seed because I believe they have the same healthy fats. If there are benefits of using both I will.

rk72....,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Please feel free to start a thread in the main forum and introduce yourself and tell us how we can help you.

If your system tolerates both, the hemp seed and fish oil, there is no reason to not take both.

why no eggs??

Hi Mark,

Have you noticed any adverse effects from Sugar, Alcohol, Caffeine, and Gluten, or any other food? As someone struggling with PCS for 2 12 years I've just started noticing that these all seem to really effect my cognition and cause my symptoms to be worse.
Also do you have a certain brand of fish oil pills that you recommend?

Thanks!

PS- I'd love to PM you- but am new here and don't know how. I have some Idaho specific questions that you may be able to answer and I'd love to pick your brain on! Thanks!

If you read my previous post, I list alcohol, caffeine, MSG, etc as to be avoided. Some have mentioned that gluten causes them to experience what they think is brain inflammation. That is more an individual issue. I also say sugar should be moderated. No HFCS or at least limit the amounts per serving.
You can PM me by left clicking on my screen name and select "Send a Private Message." Look in the upper right for Welcome ilikepolkadots There will be an indication when you have a Private Message (PM) waiting. I sent you one earlier.