Brain-Building Nutrition: How Dietary Fats and Oils Affect Mental, Physical, and Emotional Intelligence (Book Review)
Archives
All entries, chronologically...
Electromedical Products International Inc. (EPI) issued an urgent call-to-action this past week for practitioners who prescribe Alpha-Stim to their patients. The complete details and formal announcement from Tracey B. Kirsch, President of EPI are below. Briefly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intend to review current evidence for the safety and effectiveness of Alpha-Stim. The FDA posted a notice whereby this matter is now open for public comment, and EPI asks that those who prescribe/use Alpha-Stim to get involved. If the FDA ignores the current positive and plentiful safety/effectiveness data, which they appear set to do, this could mean that Alpha-Stim is removed from the United States’ market until EPI goes through a lengthy and expensive FDA validation process. EPI invites all clinicians and patients who use Alpha-Stim to get involved. Included in this report are detailed instructions on how to get involved, including a suggested letter template and additional background information on this issue.
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eric Newhouse illuminates the dire circumstances that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently encounter in his book, “Faces of Combat, PTSD and TBI: One Journalist’s Crusade to Improve Treatment for Our Veterans.”
Brain stimulation therapies have received increased attention as of late. These treatments involve activating or touching the brain directly with electricity, magnets, or implants to treat depression and other disorders. One type of brain stimulation, Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), was previously detailed in “What is CES?” Part 1 and Part 2. BMED Report even created [...]
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an acute medical condition that results from a significant impact to the human skull. Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) occurs when mTBI symptoms, such as dysphoria, anxiety, and chronic pain continue for an extended period. There is much debate over the causes of PCS with physical attributions (i.e., physiological/neurological changes) on [...]
In a new contribution to the field of psychoneuroimmunology, researchers at Ohio State University report that stress and anxiety worsen allergy attacks, even to routine allergens. Anxiety impacts not only the severity of the response, but also causes a “carry over” effect whereby allergies linger into a second day. The researchers also explore the connections [...]
In Part 1 of this series, a basic introduction to Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), also known as Cranial Electrical Stimulation and Cranial Electrostimulation, was given that included a technical overview, typical treatment protocols, and common side effects. Next, Part 2 details CES’ proposed mechanism of action and treatment effectiveness with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain, as well as a few closing thoughts. Readers can expect many more future posts on CES and its treatment of various ailments. I anticipate that the first will cover a well-designed CES for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) study.
Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), also known as Cranial Electrical Stimulation and Cranial Electrostimulation, falls under the branch of alternative medicine called Electromedicine, which treats physical and psychological conditions with varying levels of electrical current (Kirsch, 2006). CES is the application of a very low level alternating electrical current generated from a 9-volt battery to the brain via clips placed on the ears. In this review, I focus on a particular brand of CES: Alpha-Stim. I do not intend to advocate one brand over another; however, I select Alpha-Stim because I have been trained and conducted research at the doctoral level with this device, as well as received continuing education training specific to this brand. Additionally, Alpha-Stim has a great deal of published research available for discussion and analysis.
