Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries
By Heathar Shepard/ September 21, 2020
Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries
In my early 20’s, I was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This event quickly and unexpectedly changed the trajectory of my life. I went from being a super athletic, Type A kind of person - working out at the gym, running trails in nature and engaging in rigorous weight lifting routines - to being completely sidelined from physical activity.
It took me nearly 12 years to begin to reclaim my health from that accident. While my CAT scans, MRI’s and other medical tests came back clear, I certainly didn’t feel clear. I had hit my head on the steering wheel and, as a result, developed migraine headaches, pain and nerve tingling in my head, I had sudden, unexpected spurts of vertigo and every time I took a step, the pressure that traveled from my foot to my brain was unbearable.
All I wanted was to get back to my old life. Today, I can see clearly that getting back to my old way of living was exactly what the car accident was trying to prevent me from doing. I wasn’t supposed to go back to the old way. It was time to pave a new way of living that supported my life, my passions, my health and longevity.
Throughout the 12 years when I was questing for my cure around the TBI and all the side effects that came along with it - debilitating anxiety, agoraphobia, heightened sensitivities to smells, sounds, light, EMF’s, compromised digestion, poor sleep and low energy - I tried every modality you could possibly think of seeking, hoping for relief.
Acupuncture, massage, therapy, TBI rehab, herbs, supplements, diets, chiropractic care - I tried them all. Of course, these are amazing tools and resources, they’re potent medicines. However, they didn’t help my TBI and the nagging side effects that went along with it. Simply because, they didn’t get to the root of my suffering.
This post is an introduction to the 3 main modalities that I’ve found to be exceptionally helpful for healing my TBI as well as the hundreds of brain injury clients I have seen over the past decade. They’ve provided the most relief and the surprising thing…they’re all forms of holistic healthcare that are affordable and easily accessible to all.
If you, a loved one or your clients struggle with side effects from a TBI, I encourage you to share this post with them in the event that it might be as life changing for them as these approaches have been to me and my TBI clients.
Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, Modality #1: Homeopathy
We all know how important the brain is to life. Like the heart, we need optimal brain function to have a functional, happy, healthy life. In homeopathy, the brain is considered the most vital organ. If there is damage to this organ, it is of utmost importance to treat the brain first and to treat it as quickly as possible.
Homeopathy has the unique ability to access and heal physical, emotional and mental disturbances and is a modality I’ve found to be paramount for helping to overcome the physical, emotional and metal pains and disturbances that often tag along with a TBI.
Unlike western doctors, homeopathic doctors take into account the whole individual. To do so, the intake process is often detailed and lengthy. While the average western physician spends about 13 minutes with their patients, the average homeopathic doctor spends around 2-3 hours during their initial intake and 60+ minutes for follow-up visits.
Getting to know and understand the patient as a whole, is vital to 2 things:
- Determining the correct remedy, potency and dosage for the patient
- Stimulating the patient’s defense system in an effort to lead them towards the cure
So, if you’re someone suffering from a TBI, I would encourage you to seek out a healer that truly gets to know you, is invested in your case and spends time evaluating your case.
What we also need to consider when it comes to healing a TBI, is the multiple layers meshed into the TBI event. Often, any traumatic experience will bring to the surface previous traumatic experiences—griefs, hurts, physical symptoms and emotional pains that the individual hasn’t yet healed. Or, the individual has healed these areas but the traumatic event triggers the body in such a huge way that old symptoms begin to resurface.
After my TBI, I suffered tremendous shock. The accident was sudden, unexpected, it was disorienting, by body was in total shock for years. That is, until, I began to remove the shock with homeopathic remedies. Shock is a huge block to healing - the body cannot move in a forward direction towards optimal health if shock isn’t removed first. And, depending on how destabilizing one’s TBI is, you may need repeated doses of the same remedy, often with varying strengths, or multiple different remedies throughout your healing process.
Every TBI patient I’ve ever worked with, including myself, literally hits a wall with their healing until the shock is removed. Homeopathy is an incredible resource for helping to remove shock from the body.
There are also amazing remedies for head injuries - Natrum Sulphuricum being one of them. But again, it would be unwise to simply take a dose of this remedy without considering the full picture of the patient because, every TBI patient is going to present with different symptoms. One person will have constant headaches all day every day. Others will get a headache from time-to-time in their occiput, others will get a stabbing headache in their temple for a few days in a row and then it suddenly vanishes. Some will have vertigo, some will be aggravated by heat, others will be aggravated by cold or drafts. Some will have vertigo, others will develop fears and phobias. This is why we have to treat the individual, not the symptoms to make real, lasting progress that moves the individual towards optimal health.
Remember, allopathic medicine doesn’t treat people, it treats symptoms. If you have a headache, take an Aspirin. After several days of taking an Aspirin, your stomach starts hurting, you develop acid reflux and have stomach acid issues. So, an antacid is prescribed. However, that makes you constipated, lethargic and bloated. So, you take a laxative. And on and on the Merry Go Round you go.
Homeopathy on the other hand, takes a holographic approach to helping the patient heal with the intent to remove root causes of the persons suffering. This is of great importance for those seeking long-lasting relief from any health condition, including TBI recovery.
When TBI’s fail to receive the attention and care that they need to fully heal anxieties, phobias and fears start to develop. Many TBI patients develop agoraphobia, fear of dark, fear of death to extreme degrees, fear of being alone, fear of water, fear of animals, etc. and they can become super introverted because the world becomes too overstimulating for them.
This was the case for me and for most of the TBI patients I’ve worked with over the past decade. When the shock and trauma aren’t addressed, the phobias and fears amplify as a protective defense mechanism of the body. Shock and the stress of shock and trauma is incredibly draining on the body, the hormones, the nervous system and, in return, the body produces counter symptoms in an effort to bring healing to the organism and in an effort to prevent the pathology from going deeper into the body.
In the early 1900’s, 1-in-4 physicians in America was a homeopath. Today, this medicine has become replaced with allopathy. Allopathy is convenient—it can treat the “same” symptoms, using the same drug, in millions of individuals (albeit, with horrible side effects and very poor results), doctors can see clients in a 10-15 minute window. More people get seen and treated. It’s the GMO’s of healthcare.
If I hadn’t sought out the help of a homeopathic doctor, I wouldn’t be in the enhanced state of health that I am today. I would still be suffering from the debilitating side effects of my TBI and my condition would continue to compromise my life, relationships, creativity and health.
If you’re someone struggling with a brain injury, you can contact me to learn more about homeopathy for TBI recovery.
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Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, Modality #2: The Sunlight Rx
When it comes to brain injuries or any chronic, nagging condition for that matter, we want the sexy, cutting-edge devices and tools and supplements. We want the leading-edge diet plan. We want the new trial drug that's going to make all our health struggles disappear. And we want these things to come in and sweep our health struggles away.
This nostalgic fantasy has been ingrained in our minds by the medical system - - if it doesn’t cost thousands-to-millions of dollars, it’s snake oil, it lacks scientific basis and it flat out won’t work.
However, along my path to healing my TBI, I discovered just the opposite to be true.
About 12 years into my TBI healing path, I started to learn about the healing potential of sunlight. I read texts and studies correlating increased sunlight exposure to decreases in every single modern disease including, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, MS, osteoporosis, psoriasis, scoliosis, autoimmunity, depression and infectious disease including, tuberculosis and COVID.
This inspired me to experiment with sunlight as a mode of healing my brain. I knew that sunlight increases dopamine production, recycles melatonin, improves vitamin D production and stimulates feel-good chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and POM C.
Initially, I was hesitant to increase my sunlight exposure because after my TBI, I struggled with sun induced migraine headaches. However, I quickly learned that my migraines were spearheaded by a red light deficiency - most migraines are drastically improved with red light.
Red light is the light that dominates the solar spectrum during sunrise - it’s anti-inflammatory, stimulates healthy hormone release and supports healthy metabolism. Red light is also super rejuvenating to any cells or tissues that have been injured. As I experimented with sun as a healing modality, I quickly learned that I could prevent migraine headaches simply by improving my red light exposure at sunrise. And, by doing so, I was able to be in afternoon UV-B light for hours without getting a headache.
As I continued experimenting with sunlight through what I now call, The Sunlight Rx, the most unexpected and positive health shifts continued to occur each day. Within the first month, my insomnia and anxiety levels were markedly better. After two months, I no longer had sun sensitivity, and the weight I had gained from the immobility induced by my TBI was slowly coming off. After three months, I was having better energy levels than I’d had in years and my outlook on life was positive. And, the best news, I was able to start physical activity again sans the negative side effects that had occurred from my TBI.
When these health improvements began to occur, honestly, I was floored. And I'm still floored today knowing that the sun - literally, universal health care - was the pillar to my TBI recovery.
However, it’s important to disclose that I didn't just spend a few minutes per day in sunlight. My sunlight exposure went from minutes per day to two hours per day to several hours per day. The sunlight helped me heal my brain and TBI side effects so drastically that I committed to living in a sunny environment and to traveling to sunny places during low light seasons to support my brain healing.
So, why did sunlight help heal my TBI? There is some incredible science behind why and how this occurred. I discuss this in detail in The Sunlight Rx eBook. But, the stimulus behind sunlight and brain health can be summarized in these 3 ways.
- Improved Mitochondrial Health. Science shows that inner mitochondrial membrane contain 5 cytochromes or proteins. And, these proteins rely on red light and UV light in order to function. The mitochondria is our engine - it’s how we produce energy, oxygen and water - 3 keys aspects to a healthy life. The brain contains more mitochondria than any other organ in the body, the heart coming in at a close second. So, there are literally thousands upon thousands of mitochondria in the brain. In TBI’s, brain health is compromised and what this really translates to is that the mitochondrial health of the brain are suffering. The photons emitted by sunlight, including the red light and UV light frequencies restore mitochondrial health. They enliven and reinvigorate the mitochondira. This makes The Sunlight Rx absolutely vital to anyone struggling with a TBI.
- Increased Redox Potential. You want your redox potential to be super high, through the roof even. The higher your redox potential, the more energy you’ll have, the better you’ll sleep at night and the better detoxer you will be. Raising your redox potential, AKA the net negative change in your cells, is paramount to TBI recovery. TBI patients can’t sleep, they’re always fatigued, they struggle with depression and lack of self-worth and they become very sensitive to foods, chemicals and smells because their body cannot detox effectively. The Sunlight Rx raises one’s redox potential turning the sluggish and worn TBI patient into a completely different person - vital, energized and optimistic.
- Improved Chemical, Hormonal & Metabolic Signaling. We often think of diet as the sole gateway to improving our hormonal and metabolic health. However, light is queen when it comes to our metabolic and hormonal health. This is because, light, not food, is the primary driving arm behind our metabolic and hormonal health.
Artificial light totally destroys metabolic and hormonal signaling throughout the body. The production of dopamine and serotonin are completely depleted in an artificially lit environment. However, the solar frequencies found in mid-morning sunlight stimulate and improve the production of dopamine, serotonin, thyroid hormone and even melatonin - all of which are compromised in the TBI patient.
Additionally, the TBI patient often struggles with vagal nerve damage. The vagus nerve is the telephone wire that delivers messages between the gut and brain yet, is often damaged in the TBI patient. Not only does The Sunlight Rx stimulate the feel-good neurotransmitters as well as melatonin and thyroid hormone production, it helps to repair damage to the vagus nerve. This is huge because the TBI patient often struggles with brain fog, poor memory, forgetfulness as well as digestive complaints which can occur when the vagus nerve is injured. The Sunlight Rx is an amazing remedy for these issues.
Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, Modality #3: Metabolic Reset Diet
There are hundreds of diets out there claiming to revive brain health. And, I’ve tried all of them. From keto-to-paleo-to-vegetarian-to-Ayurvedic-to-Meditrannean. However, none of them gave me lasting relief. This is because, I didn’t take the most important aspect into consideration when it comes to a healing diet for TBI patients. That is, metabolic health.
TBI patients often struggle with their metabolism because the trauma of the event disturbs metabolic signaling. The trauma creates a disorientation on the metabolic level making it crucial to restore the body’s metabolic signaling back to a state of balance. Until this is achieved, the TBI patient will likely struggle with blood sugar issues, weight issues (cannot gain or cannot lose weight), hormonal imbalances, blood sugar induced headaches, low energy, feeling too hot or too cold and other health issues related to poor metabolic function.
We rarely think of the brain as a metabolic organ. However, the brain is a key organ that houses the hypothalamus and pituitary gland where the bulk of metabolic signaling takes place. When there is an assault to the brain, the metabolism and hormones are deeply impacted for this reason. Resetting the metabolism via diet and sunlight is a very counterintuitive yet wise and effective way to support brain health and healing.
The reason why generic diets don’t work long-term for TBI patients is because they fail to reestablish metabolic and hormonal signaling at a core level (core level meaning, where metabolic and hormonal signaling stem from which includes the skin, brain, gut and eye). And, to do so requires 2 key principles:
- Metabolic Reset Diet
- The Sunlight Rx
Remember, sunlight is the primary influencing factor that drives the state of our metabolic health. So, we cannot completely heal and reestablish sound metabolic health until:
- Sunlight exposure increases as outlined in The Sunlight Rx
- The metabolic reset diet is simultaneously incorporated into the healing protocol
Diet, combined with light, are the most effective ways to restore healthy metabolic and hormonal signaling. And, resetting metabolic signaling is absolutely key for the individual struggling with TBI.
Hi, I am Heathar
With over 12 years experience as an alternative healer, integrative health coach and one who has been through severe physical injury trying every remedy under the sun to heal myself with no avail…I’m here to tell you, all of those things are not only attainable but are foundational to achieving optimal health and are core elements to overcoming all chronic and stubborn diseases.
At the age of 23 I suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) preventing me from the ability to engage in physical activity for over 12 years post my car accident. Today, I know I could have recovered from this injury much quicker if I had known then what I know now! But….the accident lead me down the healing path. A path that I was destined to take to help myself heal and to learn how to help others heal complicated and chronic disorders as well.
During this time, I learned two things: How to harness the healing power of sunlight and how to utilize frequency based medicine to facilitate biological transformations in the body - all the way down to the mitochondrial level.
Today, I lead an active life and you can bet I’m uber passionate about teaching others how they can overcome even the most daunting health experiences that most medical professionals have band-aid solutions for, at best.
And today, my health continues to improve each day and I now lead an active, healthy lifestyle - all of which I thought would never be possible to achieve again. All it took was discovering the most effective path to health and healing to get me there and now, to help my clients get there as well!
Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries: Yes you can!
When I started on my TBI healing path, I was hopeful and thought I could heal my brain in a few weeks so I could get back to life. However, I was disheartened modality-after-modality, year-after-year from all the effort and money I was throwing at my healing process.
While the road to healing my TBI has been a long, arduous path to trek, it led me to discovering what actually fuels brain health and TBI recovery from a root place. Homeopathy, The Sunlight Rx and The Metabolic Reset Diet are absolutely crucial for anyone struggling with a TBI or other brain health issue because of their ability to get to the heart of compromised brain function.
I hope this article has inspired those of you struggling to recover from TBI and brain disorders to seek out natural, holistic and effective ways of healing the brain. I know that the quest for long-lasting relief from TBI and brain conditions can seem like an uphill, ongoing battle. However, I want you to know that there's light at the end of the tunnel. And, it doesn’t have to take you as long as it took me to heal and recover from my TBI. You can start recovering from your TBI by picking up a copy of The Sunlight Rx eBook - this will walk you through step-by-step how to use sunlight to overcome acute and chronic health struggles, including TBI recovery using natures medicine and gift to us all, sunlight.
And, for those of you ready to deep dive into homeopathy & The Metabolic Reset Diet to support your TBI healing process, you can contact me to get started on your path to TBI recovery and improved brain health.