Adventures in Brain Injury Podcast Cavin Balaster

Welcome back to the Adventures in Brain Injury Podcast! In this very special and short episode, I introduce Jacki D'Aries, and our partnership in the Empowered Neuro Community.
 
The Empowered Neuro Community is an online social platform and classroom that we've created to provide resources, therapy tools, instructional videos, and a supportive community for brain injury survivors, their loved ones, and as a resource for practitioners.
 
It is designed to be affordable with a free membership option. A paid version is also available for under $20/month, which provides additional access to live interviews, on demand classes, and practitioner connections.
 
So who is Jackie D'Aries, and why am I partnering with her? 
 
Jacki has experience as an occupational therapist in various settings, from hospital to post acute. Like me and so many others, Jacki saw several gaps in the standard model of neurorehabilitation, which was unsettling. This became the inspiration behind creating an online program to support caregivers and survivors beyond traditional healthcare setting. This is what has now become Empowered Neuro, and for the forseeable future, we will be hosting a livew event every week. 
 
Feed a Brain School:
 
Right now, I am teaching Feed a Brain School every Tuesday at 6 PM CT within the Empowered Neuro community. This is where you can learn exactly how and what to do to nutritionally support recovery and optimal brain function through functional neurology.
 
Join for free live classes and the opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions.
 
How to Join:
Visit empoweredneuro.com to sign up for the community and access the Feed a Brain School.
 
Key Takeaways:
The Empowered Neuro community aims to bridge the gap in brain injury recovery by providing continuous support and resources. The community is built around the needs and feedback of its members, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. Feed a Brain School offers practical tools and knowledge to optimize brain recovery and brain function through nutrition and functional practices. Join the Empowered Neuro community now at empoweredneuro.com and be part of a supportive network dedicated to empowering brain injury survivors, their loved ones, and practitioners. And attend Feed a Brain School for free live on Tuesday at 6 PM CT. 
Looking forward to seeing you in the community and at the next Feed a Brain School sessions on Tuesday!




 

Amy Derksen, ND is a former competitive athlete and Naturopathic Physician with a full scope of practice in Washington State since 2003. She did her undergraduate studies in biochemistry and her medical post-graduate training with Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD for over 2 years. She specializes in working with both Autism and chronically ill patients, including Lyme disease.
Dr. Derksen has been involved in teaching various topics with Dr. Klinghardt since 2004, and has also been a speaker at Autism One, LIA, Academy of Comprehensive Integrative Medicine, American Academy of Restorative Medicine, TFIM and Hope to Heal Lyme conferences. She is one of the first Naturopathic Physicians to become a Fellow with the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs, working to broaden her skills for working with autism. She has additional training in PANS/PANDAS, ILADS, mold illness, genetics/methylation, LDA/LDI allergy treatments, peptide therapies for recovery and BHRT.
As someone who struggles with an autoimmune disease and recovery from significant post-COVID reactions in 2021 extending to now, she can relate with the frustrations when your body no longer feels like something you have control over. Her typical patients tend to be those who have already seen several doctors and specialists, and who have relatively “normal” labs that don’t match with the symptoms they are experiencing. She incorporates a system of testing called Autonomic Response Testing in addition to labs and history to help navigate what can feel like a complicated puzzle of why you aren't getting well.
 
Visit https://feedabrain.com/amy for the resources.

In this podcast, we explore the new research on leaky gut and why it’s time for us to revisit the subject. The latest scientific discoveries have revealed a more comprehensive view of the mechanisms underlying leaky gut syndrome.
Check it out and learn new possibilities for healing and Feeding a Brain to restore balance and promoting overall well-being.
If you get here before July 22nd, 2023 you can get access for only $97 by clicking the link below:
Leaky Gut 2.0 - https://feedabrain.com/leakygut (Use Code CAVIN100 for $100 off)
 
 

Let’s talk neuroscience! 
I first met Garrett when I heard that Dr. Terry Wahls was presenting at Neufit's headquarters in Austin TX. This was the second time I had heard of Neufit that month, and Terry is a friend and colleague who I am a huge fan of. Dr. Wahls’ innovative approach to treating the physical ailments that come with neurological autoimmune conditions like MS is unparalleled, and she is a walking, talking, and bike riding example of the power of nutrition and functional movement in overcoming debilitating conditions.
So what is it about Neufit that earned Terry Wahls’ support? 
Neufit is a method that uses electrical stimulation (e-stim) to effect neuroplastic change and to enhance and restore function to the body. But the e-stim device used by Neufit (Nuebie) is no ordinary e-stim device. 
Most e-stim devices, like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machines, use alternating current (AC)... mostly to reduce the sensation of pain. But I took a course on human physiology, and I knew that the human nervous system operates on its own intricate electrical system based on the movement of charged particles ions across cell membranes… 
and the electrical signals in our bodies are based on direct current (DC). 
 
This is literally in contrast to alternating current (AC), which is constantly changing direction. The Neubie, which stands for "neuro-bio electric" stimulator, uses direct current (DC) to effectively put neuroplasticity on steroids, especially in the peripheral nervous system.
After the presentation, I spoke with Dr. Wahls, and she introduced me to Garrett Salpeter. Garrett is the owner of Neufit creator of the Neubie device. As we talked about neurology, I was blown away his knowledge of principles of neuroplasticity.... principles that had been instrumental in my recovery from brain injury. And his application of these principles with the Neubie device and the Neufit method is phenomenal. He is absolutely passionate about using principles of neuroplasticity to help people to live healthier and happier lives through increased mobility and abilities.
When external AC electrical stimulation is introduced to the human body, it can interfere with the normal bioelectric function in a few ways:
Interference with Nervous System Signals: The introduction of AC electrical stimulation can disrupt the natural electrical signals within the nervous system. This interference can cause confusion or misinterpretation of signals by the body, potentially leading to abnormal sensations or unintended muscle contractions. Changes in Cellular Membrane Potential: The electrical stimulation can alter the normal electrical potential across cellular membranes. This can affect the balance of ions and disrupt the normal functioning of cells, including those involved in nerve conduction and muscle contraction. Unintended Muscle Contractions: AC electrical stimulation can trigger muscle contractions in an uncontrolled or inconsistent manner. This can lead to discomfort, muscle fatigue, or even muscle damage if not properly managed or applied. While AC electrical stimulation devices can be beneficial for certain therapeutic purposes when used appropriately, direct current (DC)  .
 

The prevalence of Alzheimer's and the unfortunate lack of success with conventional medicine in treating patient's with Alzheimer's is disheartening to say the least. 
 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, about 50 million people have dementia, and Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease increases with age, and it is estimated that about 5-8% of people aged 65 years and older have the disease worldwide!
 
Unfortunately, the success of drug therapy for Alzheimer's disease has been limited, with no known cure or disease-modifying treatment currently available. While some drugs may provide temporary relief from symptoms, such as memory loss and cognitive decline, they do not stop the progression of the disease itself while also coming with a list of unwanted side effects.

Additionally, the efficacy of these drugs varies widely among patients, and there is no consensus on the best treatment approach. This has led to frustration among patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike, highlighting the urgent need for better treatments.
 
Luckily, there are treatments that improve brain function enormously! Yet in our current healthcare system, treatments that are not profitable rarely (if ever) become part of the standard of care. 
 
This is why we empower ourselves!
 
In this podcast, Mary Newport and I explore Alzheimer's disease and the role of ketones vs. glucose in fueling a brain with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
 
Mary Newport, M.D. practiced neonatology, the care of sick and premature newborns, for thirty years and was founding medical director for two newborn intensive care units in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.  More recently, she practiced at the opposite end of the spectrum, providing hospice care and health risk assessments.  
 
In 2008, a ketogenic nutritional intervention with coconut and medium-chain triglyceride oil dramatically helped her husband Steve Newport, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, resulting in nearly four better quality years. 
 
Her fourth book Clearly Keto for Healthy Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention focuses on a whole food ketogenic Mediterranean-style diet and other lifestyle modifications to help maintain brain health and prevent Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

The third edition of her first book, Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure? The Story of Ketones will be in published September 2023.
 

Steven Wright is a digestion expert. And he and I started connecting back in 2014 and we ended up working on some projects together, including a leaky gut healing protocol. Steve is a Medical Engineer, and a Kalish Functional Medicine Institute Graduate. He’s spent close to $400,000 overcoming his own health challenges using everything from western medicine to shamans. Steve is the founder of healthygut.com and he lives in my hometown of Boulder, CO with his wife Shay and their two dogs.
He and I are very similar in that we had a serious problem, we empowered ourselves to solve that problem, and we are now helping others to do the same.