I understand every brain and every brain injury are different. But I've been eating really healthy lately and I've noticed that I'm a lot more sensitive to caffeine. I'm down from drinking like 3-5 cups of tea a day to one. And I feel like that one cup isn't even "necessary." I'll try a few days without tea and see how I feel.

I have been declining the past few weeks, and I'm not sure what from. I'm not sure if it was from exercise, over-activity or what. I actually have been moderating my life very well. I don't think the decline is withdrawal from the caffeine I should add. I am getting headaches more frequently, but they're brought on by the normal things like reading, writing, and studying.

I started taking liquid melatonin which has alcohol in it about two weeks ago. I also have been using vanilla extract and stevia in my cooking, which also have alcohol in them.

I've heard stories of things like a few drops a day of CBD oil drastically reducing seizures of a baby with epilepsy and other almost "miraculous" stories of people healing cancers with a good diet and essential oils. I've also heard that alcohol can make some with brain injuries feel completely smashed after only a little bit and cause some serious setbacks. My point is that chemicals can be extremely powerful. I know this firsthand. I take a small 15mg anti-psychotic that levels me out, and in my natural state (now), I'm very psychotic and delusional.

I will be avoiding the alcohols in the melatonin, stevia, and vanilla for a while, and will stop the caffeine as well.

The loose rule is the alcohol equivalent to one drink serving per day is OK. A normal serving size glass of wine at dinner is sort of the standard. If you added the total alcohol by volume, I doubt you exceed a single serving amount. The bottles list the alcohol contents. Do some math. Plus, any alcohol used in cooking is evaporated in the heating process.

Alcohol sweeteners (manitol, sorbitol and such) do not need to be included.

If you are melatonin deficient, you could be serotonin deficient, too. They both come from T-Tryptophan to 5-HTP to serotonin/melatonin.

Are you adding any flavorings to your cooking ?

If you want to post the amounts of each extract and the alcohol content, I can do the numbers. Others might benefit from seeing how to calculate the amount.

Nope, no flavorings to the cooking. I don't think I'm melatonin deficient, I've just been using it to get back to a more regular sleep schedule ( falling asleep around 10 or 11 instead of 1).

I used 1-3 tsp of vanilla extract (41%) alcohol. And like 5-10 drops each of stevia and melatonin (11%) alcohol. It certainly can't be much alcohol.

And for caffeine, I've been having around 8-12 ounces of tea. So 30-60 mg of caffeine.

Stevia makes me feel terrible. I do eat it because I cannot eat well now and make bars. Almost ALL the protein powders have it unless I used whey.

I drink green tea a lot. It helps me unless I drink too much. Then I feel sick.

No alcohol here. Not even in tinctures. Can't do it.

I am 9 months into post concussion syndrome and I still can't have caffeine in my coffee. I have to stick with decaf. For me, it overstimulates my brain just the same as trying to multi-task or be in a busy atmosphere.