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Category: Neurofeedback

Beyond Why We Can’t Just Be Getting By on Little Sleep –

Posted on by Dana

 An exciting new physiological reason why optimizing your sleep can dramatically improves your health

Do you struggle with sleep? Perhaps you have difficulty falling asleep at night, or you wake up throughout the night, and/or you feel chronically exhausted during the day. Or maybe you fall asleep fine and stay asleep, but force yourself to wake up early for certain obligations and therefore lower the total time you sleep per night. No matter the reason, a great amount of Americans find adequate sleep to be elusive. In fact, 40% of American get less than 7 hours of sleep while the recommended number of hours is between 7-9 hours for adults according to the National Sleep Foundation (Jones, 2019).

Why does this matter? While countless studies have shown that getting enough sleep is important for our health, earlier this year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that insufficient sleep has become a public health problem (Lichtenstein, 2015). According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, people with sleep deficiency have a greater risk of many health complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and obesity (Lichtenstein, 2015). A cumulation of research raises the concern that if a person is not getting adequate sleep, all other health practices, such as diet and exercise, potentially become irrelevant as sleep optimization may take the gold medal when talking about maximizing health.

While sleep is certainly essential to many known physiological functions, such as hormone regulation and metabolism, an increasing body of research suggests that another one of those essential functions may also include the theory of the glymphatic system (or paravascular clearance pathways), highlighting the critical role of sleep in the clearance of many brain toxins (Lliff et al, 2012).

The glymphatic system is a newly discovered pseudolymphatic system in the brain. The word glymphatic is a combination of the words “glial” and “lymphatic” as the glymphatic system is theorized to work through the utilization of glial cells to help clear the brain of waste in a way similar to the lymphatic system. Glial cells surround neurons and hold them in place, supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons, insulate one neuron from another, and destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons. The lymphatic system is part of the vascular system and an important part of the immune system, composed of a large network of lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph. Put these two systems together and there is the glymphatic system theory. Essentially, the glymphatic system  is suggested to actively transport cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through brain spaces, pushing CSF into glia cells that line the paravascular space and at night, this space expands and harmful proteins and waste products are transported out of the brain (Rasmussen, 2018). Although a full and concrete understanding of the fluid dynamics has not yet been reached, there is promising research suggesting that sleep is critical for this pathway’s brain toxin clearance mechanisms.  What is a consequence of poor glymphatic function? More than likely brain fog, fatigue and depression to name a few!

During sleep, the extracellular space (the space surrounding all the cells) of the brain expands, promoting toxins to be exchanged from CSF into interstitial fluid (part of the extracellular fluid, fluid between cells, Lliff et al, 2012).For example, the protein amyloid beta, which the build up of  is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s, is transported out of the brain via this pathway in rodents (Lliff et al, 2012), and imaging studies have highlighted similar findings of amyloid beta accumulation during sleep deprivation in humans (Rasmussen, 2018). Furthermore, research suggests that this paravascular system may also be imparied in patients with metabolic syndrome/elevated blood sugar and ultimately may contribute to diabetes-induced dementia (Kim et al, 2018). In addition, decreased CSF pressure and volume are correlated with increasing age in humans, which likely also decreases glymphatic flow (Fleischman et al, 2012; Bothwell et al, 2019). Essentially, the increase in interstitial space during sleep is what permits this pathway to be active, as rodent studies have shown that there is reduced or no flow during wakefulness (Jessen et al, 2015).

Ultimately what this all means is that getting sufficient sleep (both time asleep and quality of sleep) is critical. From longitudinal studies, we can see that increased levels of certain toxins, like BPA, may contribute to sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (Berydoun et al., 2016), while an increase in other toxins such as urinary arsenic, phthalates, and polyfluoroakyl compounds have been correlated with more waking episodes during the night (Erden et al., 2014; Shiue, 2017)). Could this be from an overload to the glymphatic system? At the same time, better self-reported sleep has been correlated with improved health outcomes, significantly for mental health and moderately for physical and cognitive health (Gadie et al., 2017). In addition, research has demonstrated sleep’s role in a huge range of illnesses. For example, the liver plays a significant role in biotransformation, and in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sleep disturbances and quality have been found to predict 20% of the variability in liver stiffness, suggesting that at least in a compromised liver, sleep is vital (Marin-Alejandre etal., 2019).

Furthermore, a meta-analysis also found a small but significant increase in the risk of NAFLD in patients with shorter sleep duration (Gadie et al., 2017). When research on sleep’s significance with brain health is considered in conjunction with research on sleep’s significance on whole body toxin clearing, the glymphatic system theory of sleep’s critical role in brain toxin clearing becomes increasingly promising.

For many, understanding sleep’s vital role in human health seems like the easy part, as in reality, physically practicing better sleep hygiene can be very difficult. So, what can you do to optimize your sleep? Below is a list of sleep hacks that will help you get a better not sleep, not only leaving you feeling more rejuvenated and alert throughout your days, but also dramatically affect both your mental and physical long term health.

Sleep Hygiene Hacks:

  1. Limit blue light before bed/Wear Blue light blockers!
    • So many people like to watch TV before going to bed (or like scrolling through your phone) — but did you know that you could be affecting the quality of your sleep by doing that?
    • The blue light emitted from TV screens, laptops and even smartphones causes your brain to think that it’s daytime and that can inhibit, or at least suppress, the release of melatonin, your body’s sleep hormone.
    • To combat that, you can wear amber-colored glasses that can reduce blue light-induced melatonin suppression by about 60%! That means a higher likelihood of getting to sleep faster and sleeping more soundly after binging your favorite TV show before bed.
    • Such blue light blockers can easily be found on amazon and are not expensive.
  2. Keep your room like a cave:
    • Dark
      • Invest in some black out curtains or a sleep mask.
      • Research shows that even dim light during sleep can affect your cognitive function the next day as light mimics your circadian rhythm’s response to natural sunlight, which elicits a physiological response in the body to wake you up.
    • Cool
      • When you go to sleep, your set point for body temperature – the temperature your brain is trying to achieve – goes down, aiding to induce sleep.
      • If you go to sleep in a cooler room, it is easier for this mild body temperature reduction to occur, and therefore easier for you to sleep.
      • Although it differs per individual, it is suggested to keep the temperature of your room between 65-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Quiet
      • Just like light can wake you up and offset your circadian rhythm, so can sound.
      • Anything that alters your attention elicits cortisol release and inhibits melatonin, making falling and staying asleep more difficult.
  3. Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time.
    • Our bodies rely on routine and timing of those routines. Not only is sleep reliant on timing of hormones released in the body, but so are so many other physiological cues that contribute to sleep quality as well. For example cortisol. Our bodies naturally release cortisol at specific times throughout the day so that it is lowest when we are falling asleep.
    • If you’re throwing such rhythms out of wack by one night going to sleep early, calm and collected, and then the next staying up super late jumping on your bed, your body will have no idea when to send appropriate sleep promoting signals the following night. Getting on a schedule helps create predictability for your body systems.
    • This also applies to the time you wake up in the mornings, keep it the same!
  4. Limit large meals/eating before bed
    • When you eat a large meal, your body immediately goes to work processing, breaking down, and digesting.
    • Inevitably, when your body needs to be working hard at anything, it is hard for it to simultaneously relax and be in a sleeping state.
    • Also, a full stomach can contribute to not being able to feel comfortably.
  5. Keep the bedroom for sleep only/Night time routines
    • This helps train your mind and body for sleep.
    • It is suggested that making it so your bed is only used for sleep and not working, watching TV, eating, etc., will train your body to know it’s time to sleep the moment you get into bed at night.
    • This also comes into play with night time routines. If you have a nightly ceremony before bed (such as always brushing your teeth and washing your face and then putting on your PJs and then combing your hair), this is train your body to know it’s sleeping time!
  6. Exercise regularly
    • This is both mental and physical.
    • Mentally, exercising makes your more tired, want to sleep, and feel like you released all the pent up energy from daily life.
    • Physically, hormones and other chemicals are released during and after exercising that aides in feeling more relaxed and ready to rest at the end of the day.

What happens when these things don’t work?  Maybe we should look at your brain? Brain mapping is a tool that has been around for over 50 years and can map our “Delta” level, which is essentially our sleep brain wave.  Brain waves reflect function of neurons and if this is elevated it may be driving insomnia! Brain mapping is a non-invasive way to dive further into the root causes and neurofeedback can actually train these pathways back into a healthier place.  Better sleep usually follows so if you are lacking that energy, clarity and vigor maybe we should look at that Delta wave and see if this is a barrier to your optimal health.

Functional medicine testing like salivary cortisol can also clue us into whether stress is driving problematic sleep.  These tests can look at the circadian rhythm (meaning it varies throughout the day) and help us determine where someone needs help.

We will dive further into sleep and discuss melatonin, cortisol and how stress play a major impact in our circadian rhythms in a further blog but this is something critical to our ability to get deep sleep!  Stay tuned…….
These are just a few of our favorite sleep hacks, however there are plenty more out there, such as breathing exercises, meditation, neurofeedback, supplements, and more. We would love to hear some of your sleep hacks!

Here at Dr. Autoimmune, we strongly emphasize optimizing sleep and can work with each patient on an individual basis to uncover what might be behind their sleep issues and how to work towards an amazing nights sleep!

Your Boulder/Denver functional medicine doctor,
Ian Hollaman, DC, MSc, IFMCP
References:

  1. Jones JM. In U.S., 40% get less than recommended amount of sleep. Gallup Well-Being. Published December 19, 2013. Accessed August 2, 2019. https://news.gallup.com/poll/166553/less-recommended-amount-sleep.aspx
  2. Lichtenstein GR. The Importance of Sleep. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(12):790
  3. Iliff JJ, Wang M, Liao Y, et al. A paravascular pathway facilitates CSF flow through the brain parenchyma and the clearance of interstitial solutes, including amyloid ?. Sci Transl Med. 2012;4(147):147ra111. doi:1126/scitranslmed.3003748.
  4. Rasmussen MK, Mestre H, Nedergaard M. The glymphatic pathway in neurological disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(11):1016-1024. doi:1016/S1474-4422(18)30318-1
  5. Kim YK, Nam KI, Song J. The glymphatic system in diabetes-induced dementia. Front Neurol. 2018;9:867. doi:3389/fneur.2018.00867
  6. Jessen NA, Munk AS, Lundgaard I, Nedergaard M. The glymphatic system: a beginner’s guide. Neurochem Res. 2015;40(12):2583-2599. doi:1007/s11064-015-1581-6
  7. Fleischman D, Berdahl JP, Zaydlarova J, Stinnett S, Fautsch MP, Allingham RR. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure decreases with older age. PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e52664. doi:1371/journal.pone.0052664
  8. Bothwell SW, Janigro D, Patabendige A. Cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and intracranial pressure elevation in neurological diseases. Fluids Barriers CNS. 2019;16(1):9. doi:1186/s12987-019-0129-6
  9. Beydoun HA, Beydoun MA, Jeng HA, Zonderman AB, Eid SM. Bisphenol-A and sleep adequacy among adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Sleep. 2016;39(2):467-476. doi:5665/sleep.5466
  10. Erden ES, Genc S, Motor S, et al. Investigation of serum bisphenol A, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. 2014;45(2):311-318. doi:10.1007/s12020-013-0022-z
  11. Shiue I. Urinary arsenic, pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and polyfluoroalkyl compounds are associated with sleep troubles in adults: USA NHANES, 2005-2006. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017;24(3):3108-3116. doi:1007/s11356-016-8054-6
  12.  Gadie A, Shafto M, Leng Y, Kievit RA; Cam-CAN. How are age-related differences in sleep quality associated with health outcomes? An epidemiological investigation in a UK cohort of 2406 adults. BMJ Open. 2017;7(7):e014920. doi:1136/bmjopen-2016-014920
  13. Marin-Alejandre BA, Abete I, Cantero I, et al. Association between sleep disturbances and liver status in obese subjects with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a comparison with healthy controls. Nutrients. 2019;11(2):E322. doi:3390/nu11020322

Diabetes and Alzheimer's – the connection no one's talking about.

Posted on by Dana

Diabetes and Alzheimer’s – the connection no one’s talking about.
By Dr. Ian Hollaman DC, MSc, IFMCP

Until recently, we thought there were only two types of diabetes –  Type 1 and Type 2.  Now we have come to learn that there is another ~ Type 3 Diabetes.  Type 1 is an autoimmune condition seen typically in young children whereas Type 2 is a lifestyle disease due to unhealthy choices that leads to insulin resistance and high blood sugar. Type 2 has also been referred to as “adult onset” diabetes, although children are now developing Type 2 Diabetes due to poor diet and a sedate lifestyle. The symptoms of Type 3 Diabetes affects the brain specifically.  It has another name you may be more familiar with ~ Alzheimer’s disease.Type 3 Diabetes marks the progression from Type 2 Diabetes to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  A dramatic decline in cognitive function and marked memory deficits highlight the key symptoms of Type 3 Diabetes.We can clearly see that your pancreas is not the only organ that changes function due to high blood sugar levels.  Instead of just having insulin resistance in the muscle, liver, and fat cells, we can develop insulin resistance in the brain.

People with diabetes have a 60 percent increased risk of developing any type of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Gary Small, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute said, “these risk factors tend to add up: If you have diabetes, that doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. If you have a first-degree relative—a parent or sibling, for example—with Alzheimer’s, that doubles your risk.” And if you have poorly controlled blood pressure, abdominal obesity, or sleep apnea, your risk of developing dementia is increased even more.How does type 2 diabetes lead to type 3 diabetes and Alzheimer’s?

For starters, high blood sugar leads to inflammation throughout your body and brain. This is a problem because chronic inflammation has been linked with the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, abnormalities in the brain that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Science now understands that it is the lack of insulin — or insulin resistance that not only impairs cognition, but is implicated in the formation of those amyloid plaques.Type 3 diabetes is a form of Neuro-Diabetes. Insulin resistance can impair blood flow to the brain causing damage to the blood vessels.  This means that adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients are not transported to brain cells, thus decreasing their function. This in turn causes the neurons to die off at a faster rate. Type 2 diabetes can cause toxic proteins to accumulate in the brain and it may impair the brain’s ability to clear out waste products compromising important brain functions such as the formation and maintenance of new connections between brain cells.
Just as insulin resistance plays out in the rest of the body, when there’s impaired insulin signaling in the brain, brain cells can’t use glucose properly, and brain function suffers as a result. In case that isn’t worrisome enough, when circulation to the brain is compromised, you’re also more prone to developing strokes.

What you can do

Nutrition.  An anti-inflammatory diet can help add years to your life and life to your years. Enjoying an anti inflammatory diet designed specifically for you that includes healthy food combinations that fight inflammation and address your food allergies and triggers is key to combating diabetes.

Manage your weight and exercise.  Besides being a risk factor for the development of Type 2 and Type 3 Diabetes, abdominal obesity increases your risk of heart disease and impairs brain health, and increasing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Keep your mind sharp.  What you do to help your brain also helps your body. Neurofeedback can help rehabilitate your neurological functioning.  Neurofeedback can retrain and repair areas of the brain that have been damaged by diabetes. Specific areas of the brain can be targeted to have the most impact. Thanks to the brain’s neuroplasticity, which is its ability to repair itself, with proper support from neurofeedback, the brain can regain strength and function in areas like working memory and executive functioning (a set of mental processes that involve planning, organizing, controlling attention, and flexible thinking).

It is essential to get 7-9 hours of good quality sleep.  Sleep is when the body does a majority of its repair and healing.   Managing stress, anxiety and depression are also keys to brain health.

While these can feel daunting, something as simple as Neurofeedback can be most effective!  It can help you overcome the symptoms that are holding you back from taking charge of your diabetes and your health!
We see the daily struggle in our client’s mood, energy and mental clarity when they have elevated blood sugar levels and Type 2 diabetes.  Fortunately we can uncover the root causes of these challenges with functional medicine and link systems together that are creating these complicated challenges!  By addressing the underlying hormonal, gut, environmental and lifestyle factors driving the inflammation in your body and brain, there is great potential for reducing blood sugar levels, optimizing blood pressure, reducing cardiovascular risk markers, improving weight management, lifting the fog that robs the joy from your life, and even improving your brain function!

Dr. Autoimmune is Boulder and Denver’s premier functional medicine clinic focusing on metabolic conditions like Type 2 and Type 3 Diabetes.  With a customized plan, you can have the tools necessary to take back your life!  If you have been suffering, don’t wait!  Your tomorrow will be brighter as your health soars!

Contact Dr. Autoimmune and join us for our FREE health seminar:

Functional Neurology: Supporting the aging brain
October 25th at 6:00pm OR October 26th at 11:00am

Space is LIMITED, call and reserve your seat today +303.882.8447

* CNS Drugs. 2003;17(1):27-45. The role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease: implications for treatment. Watson GS1, Craft S. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12467491

Functional Neurology: the who, what, when, where, & why – With Dr. Henry DC

Posted on by Dana

Hello Colorado!
My name is Dr. Henry Zaremba DC. Working at Dr. Autoimmune has been a dream come true for me! I am excited to be a part of the cutting-edge healthcare that is being provided in this practice. I want to focus on one particular aspect of our practice: Functional Neurology. I thought I would take this opportunity to define what functional neurology is, as well as the principles that shape it.

The primary job for our nervous system is threefold: 1) It takes information in, 2) integrates that information, and 3) generates an output in response. In order to gain an understanding of the principles that govern the function of the nervous system, we must first study the smallest functional unit of the system: the neuron.

Neurons are the building blocks of your brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Like other cells of the body, they require oxygen and fuel (glucose) in order to maintain a healthy state and function appropriately. Neurons also require stimulation from other neurons through electrical signals called action potentials. These action potentials are how information is shared between nerves. Proper stimulation along with adequate oxygen and glucose provide the neuron with the environment and tools necessary to maintain healthy function. A decrease or loss of any of these factors can compromise a neuron’s ability to conduct action potentials and do its job.

The Central Integrated State (CIS) of a neuron (or a group of neurons) is the likelihood of that particular neuron (or group) to generate an action potential, based on the total input received. Essentially, the CIS is how responsive or ‘awake’ a neuron system is at any given point in time. Neuronal systems with a higher CIS make changes at the cellular level to allow the cell to conduct more action potentials in a more efficient manner. Systems or individual neurons that have a lower CIS often undergo a process known as Transneural Degeneration.

Transneural Degeneration occurs when a neuron does not receive adequate levels of stimulus, oxygen, or glucose to maintain a healthy CIS. This process involves cellular changes to the neurons of a system where they become less adept at conducting action potentials. This property can be simplified to ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’. This can lead to functional lesions of the nervous system, where the pathways are still present, but functioning at a less than appropriate level. Over time, functional lesions put unsustainable stress on a neuron or group of neurons and can lead to named conditions like Alzheimer’s/Dementia or Parkinson’s. These concepts are closely linked with another property of our nervous system called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity is defined as changes to the nervous system as a response to changes in our internal or external environment. This principle is the main mechanism through which our brains and nervous system can learn and adapt. Neurons and neuronal systems that receive more input, undergo changes to improve their ability to conduct action potentials. Neuroplasticity is how we can adjust future responses based on previous responses and the outcomes they create. This mechanism is the driving principle behind Functional Neurology examination and therapy procedures. If the brain can learn dysfunction, the same property that mediates this process enables the brain to be re-educated, or re-wired for more optimal function. This often involves reversing transneural degeneration and increasing the central integrated state of the affected pathways or neuroanatomical structures.

To put this into context, consider for example Parkinson’s disease. This is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in an area of the brainstem called the substantia nigra. This leads to a deficiency in a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which presents as movement disorders, balance problems, and cognitive symptoms like inattention, anger and self-deprecation. Early signs like loss of sense of smell can present years before severe symptoms begin to develop since It is the result of transneural degeneration on a large scale. This process happens slowly, however, it is reversible if something is done early on. By selectively stimulating different parts of the brainstem we can use neuroplasticity to prevent or decrease the loss in dopamine and therefore prevent or slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Patients showing early signs of Parkinson’s can benefit from this type of care to the degree of never developing the disease at all but no matter how long you have had the diagnosis or have been suffering you may still benefit from addressing the root cause!

This same approach can also be applied for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Post Concussion Syndrome, Migraine headaches, and virtually any other chronic neurologic disorder. We work with our patients to investigate and address the underlying causes of their condition. Neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s, are often the result of multiple causes including metabolic, neurologic, and auto-immune. At Dr. Autoimmune we are uniquely positioned to address any and all of these causes, resulting in the best outcomes for our patients.

For more information and to seek your optimal health, friend us on facebook, come to one of our FREE health lectures, or call for your first comprehensive consultation! +1 (303) 882-8447

Upcoming FREE Lecture Schedule

  • Autoimmmune Conditions and the Functional Medicine approach – October 11th at 6:00pm
  • Thyroid Conditions – the myths, the truths, & the relief! – October 18th at 6:00pm OR October 18th at 10:00am
  • Functional Neurology – Supporting the aging brain – October 25th at 6:00pm OR October 26th at 10:00am

Space is LIMITED so please give us a call to reserve your seat today!

Yours in health,
Henry Zaremba, DC (pictured center)

PTSD, the monster within.

Posted on by Dana

PTSD and Neuro feedback
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a type of psychiatric disorder that develops after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. It can be as vivid as war and major disasters or as subtle as a being abandoned or alone in a time of need.  It can happen to anyone, at any age and it affects 3.5% of adults in the United States.

Symptoms of PTSD
Symptoms of PTSD may begin within a month after the traumatic event; however, in some cases the symptoms may take years to appear. The symptoms may cause problems in your work or social situations and also in relationships. They may also reduce your capability to do the routine daily tasks.

Symptoms fall into the following four categories:

  1. Intrusive thoughts or memories

Symptoms under this category include the following:

  • Recurrent, distressing, unwanted memories and thoughts of the terrifying or traumatic event.
  • Flashbacks of the traumatic event or reliving the event in a way that it is happening again.
  • Nightmares or upsetting dreams regarding the event.
  • Severe physical reactions or emotional distress to something, which reminds you of that event.
  1. Avoidance

Symptoms under this category include the following:

  • Avoiding places, people, objects, situations or activities that bring back distressing memories.
  • You may try and avoid thinking or remembering about the event.
  • You may resist discussing and talking regarding what happened and what your feelings are about it.
  1. Negative feelings and thoughts

Symptoms under this category include:

  • You develop negative thoughts regarding yourself, other individuals and the world in general.
  • Hopelessness about your future.
  • Problems with memory such as forgetting important aspects about the past traumatic event.
  • Difficulty in maintaining relationships, especially close ones.
  • Feeling of detachment from your friends and family.
  • You have less interest in those activities that you enjoyed previously.
  • You have difficulty in experiencing or feeling positive emotions.
  • Feeling of emotional numbness.
  • You have ongoing feelings of horror, fear, guilt, shame or anger.
  1. Reactive and Arousal symptoms

Symptoms under this category include:

  • You get easily frightened or startled.
  • You always stay on guard for any imminent danger.
  • You may show behavior that is self-destructive or reckless such as you may drive too fast or drink too much alcohol.
  • You may have trouble in sleeping.
  • You may have trouble in concentrating.
  • You may be irritable or have aggressive behavior or anger outbursts.

In children of six years of age and below, the following signs and symptoms of PTSD may also occur:

  • Your child may re-enact the various aspects of past traumatic or terrifying event via play.
  • Your child may have frightening dreams or nightmares of the event.

Physical Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD frequently co-exists with other various mental and physical health diseases ranging from heart disease to depression and among the most common physical manifestations of post traumatic stress disorder is physical or body pain.

Connection between Physical pain and PTSD
A straightforward connection between physical pain and PTSD is that certain traumas are often physical and cause immediate bodily injury and pain.  Some traumas however do not cause immediate physical symptoms. They are more subtle. The emotional signs and symptoms of PTSD may also cause physical pain. Disturbances of sleep, anxiety and hyper-arousal, they all lead to physical stress and tension ultimately damaging your health. Back pain, migraines, body aches and stomach pains can stem easily from symptoms of PTSD.

To further this idea, many other issues, which co-exist with PTSD such as anxiety, depression, obesity and substance abuse, may also trigger the symptoms of physical pain.

PTSD and Neurofeedback
Many people who suffer from PTSD require professional therapy to recover from their symptoms that may be quite disabling and intense. Neurofeedback (NF) also referred to as neurotherapy or EEG biofeedback is an innovative therapy to treat PTSD. This therapy uses the capacity of the brain to change or reshape its networks. It helps by training your brain to function in a better way and research shows that it helps to relieve anxiety, sharpen attention, improve behavior and learning and enhance mood without medication.

The process of neurofeedback is simple, non-invasive and painless.  By simply sitting and watching a movie, you are able to affect your brain waves through the feedback seen and heard in the dimming of the screen and sound. This training creates new, healthy brainwave patterns and allows the brain to function more efficiently and effectively.
According to a study published in the journal PLOS one, NF has been found to produce significant improvement in the symptoms of patients suffering from chronic PTSD. In another study published in the Journal Medical Psychotherapy, the effects of NF on the symptoms of combat related PTSD of Vietnam veterans were studied. The study demonstrated that NF therapy produced relief in symptoms of PTSD and provided long term prevention of relapse of PTSD! Very few interventions exist currently without psychiatric medications which provide such dramatic relief.

Conclusion
PTSD is a kind of psychiatric disorder that occurs after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It may manifest itself as both emotional and physical symptoms. One of the most attractive aspects of neurofeedback therapy is that it does not require counseling or the painful reliving of memories, which drive symptoms.

Neurofeedback is an innovative therapy that is gaining much attention in recent times and is quite successful in relieving symptoms of PTSD.

If you or a family member suffers from PTSD please contact Dr. Autoimmune and schedule your brain map/QEEG so you can let your health soar again!
Ian Hollaman, DC, MSc, IFMCP

References

  1. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mayoclinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355967 Accessed July 30th
  2. What Is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? Psychiatryorg. Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd Accessed July 30th
  3. How PTSD can Cause Physical Pain Symptoms. Theoakstreatment. Available at: https://theoakstreatment.com/ptsd/how-ptsd-can-cause-physical-pain-symptoms/ Accessed July 30th
  4. What is neurofeedback? Neurodevelopmentcenter. Available at: https://neurodevelopmentcenter.com/neurofeedback-2/ Accessed July 30th
  5. Bessel A. van der Kolk, Hilary Hodgdon, Mark Gapen, Regina Musicaro, Michael K. Suvak, Ed Hamlin, Joseph Spinazzola. A Randomized Controlled Study of Neurofeedback for Chronic PTSD. PLOS One. December 2016;
  6. Eugene G. Peniston, Paul J. Kulkosky. Alpha-Theta Brainwave Neuro-Feedback for Vietnam Veterans with Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Medical Psychotherapy. 1991; 4: 47-60.

Brain Camp for Children & Young Adults #2

Posted on by Dana

Are you looking for an individualized program that will set your child up for success next school year?
Dr. Autoimmune’s Summer Brain Camp is just that!

Unlike other camps, ours is individualized to meet your child’s specific needs and the times are flexible to meet your schedule! The brain is highly complex and that’s why we’ve created a program to identify key areas of weakness and use specific tools to develop those areas. The results can be life changing!

We use a three-fold methodology to determine the “weak links” that may be hindering your child from reaching their highest potential. Then we create a customized plan to target your child’s specific needs causing outstanding results! The three areas are: Lab Testing, Brain Mapping, and Functional Neurology. By combining these three areas, we get a comprehensive picture of how your child’s brain is functioning.

1) Lab tests may offer great insight into your child’s health. They look at imbalances in nutritional status, inflammation, and food sensitivities that could trigger the brain. When anyone has inflammation in the gut or doesn’t have enough nutrients it can slow or impede normal function. This could manifest as sensory integration problems, fatigue, mood swings, or disorganized attention! Research is pointing to our microbiome as one of the most common triggers for emotional health. A child may develop a spectrum condition when the microbiome is not in balance.

2) Brain Mapping (QEEG): Brain mapping is a unique way to literally capture information coming from neurons and shows how brain waves are functioning. This has been used for close to 40 years to determine imbalances in brain waves and rehabilitate them into healthy ranges using neurofeedback. Since children’s brains are quite plastic, meaning they accept information and create change easily, neurofeedback is a safe and effective way to exercise your child’s brain to optimal health. Your results are compared to healthy normal values and displayed as a picture to analyze. In the picture below you will notice Delta is elevated (red/yellow) which could cause fogginess or problems with waking up refreshed. High Theta can cause problems with concentration and staying on task. The elevated Alpha may be causing anxiety or just make someone more emotional while lower Beta can affect executive function like managing complex tasks and even learning! As the brain waves become more balanced, it is very common to notice symptoms like attention, mood swings, poor sleep, anxiety, and poor motivation improving – all without medication.

3) Functional neurology: Part of our initial work up with clients is performing a neurologic exam. You can learn an incredible amount by testing areas in the brain like the frontal lobe (mood, drive, motivation), Parietal lobe (association, dyslexia tendencies, coordination), and cerebellum (eye movements, accuracy and coordination). We perform about 50-60 individual tests that look into these areas and determine if the brain has developed properly. Primitive reflexes are at the root of our testing. Primitive reflexes are present in newborns to initiate movement, which develops the brain. Without them, the brain does not develop completely, and if they last too long, it is also an indication of gaps in brain development. Think of these gaps like holes in a foundation. Just as a home built on a foundation with holes is not structurally sound, a brain with primitive reflexes present is not able to fully mature. The result is learning difficulties, attention and focus problems, behavioral issues, and sensory processing issues. Fortunately, there are exercises, games, and bodywork that address the weaknesses and allow the brain to fully develop. This information is explained to you in detail and we incorporate specific home based exercises that can create new connections and improved brain function!

Whatever your goal or challenge for your child we are here to help. Brain Camp can be a great way to finally get at those challenges you were to busy to deal with during the school year! We understand just how busy it gets because we have kids to! We are opening office hours Fri/Sat to accommodate your busy schedules and we can create a team to help your child achieve optimal brain health!

For a limited time we’re offering a comprehensive initial consultation which includes 1.) Neurologic Examination 2.) Brain Map 3.) Report of Findings AND 4.) 2 Trail Neurofeedback Sessions for just $95 ($1,275 value)! We are confident we can shed light on your child’s health and help their brain soar to a new height!
Call 303.882.8447 to schedule your initial appointment!

Brain Camp for Children and Young Adults

Posted on by Dana

Dr. Autoimmune’s Brain Camp

Brain Camp is an integrated approach to supporting families unique goals for their children.  Whether your goal is to improve the function of a child with Autism or ADHD or improve your child’s ability to thrive in life and school, this camp is focused on supporting your child to be his/her best!

Dr. Autoimmune Brain Camp begins with a neurometabolic exam and assessment through a  “Brain Map”, a functional electroencephalograph or QEEG. The brain map records brain waves in real time allowing for accurate information about how your child’s brain is working.  Each brain wave is associated with specific abilities such as sleep, waking, concentration, anger, depression, and anxiety. When there is an imbalance in the brain waves, symptoms result.  Appropriate neurofeedback protocols are utilized to exercise brain waves back into balance, allowing the child to regulate emotions, concentrate, and thrive! The best part is, it’s fun and as easy as watching a movie.

Dr. Ian, DC, MSc, IFMCP has extensive knowledge and experience working with children of all ages.   His expertise in functional medicine and functional neurology allows him to evaluate your child’s primitive reflexes, central nervous system and metabolic problems to have a comprehensive understanding of what could be limiting brain function!  Dr. Ian then creates a program designed specifically for your child to achieve the best results. Customized home exercises, supplements, and possible lab testing will be discussed as ways to increase optimal health. You can then decide if which program works best for you and your child’s needs.

Summer time can be a great time to rejuvenate and prepare for more challenges in the upcoming school year.  Going into school with more confidence can make a world of difference for a child. This program is fully customized to each child and allows their natural abilities to shine through.  If you and your family are seeking more joy, easier transitions and better grades we may have the solution for you; Brain Camp!
Dr. Autoimmune Brain Boot Camp is optimized for:

  • Autistic Spectrum Aspergers
  • AD/HD (attention disorders)
  • Impulse control
  • Behavioral challenges, anger and anxiety
  • Depression
  • High achievers looking for an extra edge
  • “Edge Training” for graduate level students

Brain Map Session

Neurofeedback Session

The best part of this is we get results!  When you invest in your child’s future by setting them up with the tools they need, you can see the explosion of change first hand.  Most camps focus on one issue or are merely a way to play and pass time. This camp is designed to take our normal 4-6 month program and compress it into 8-12 intensive weeks for fastest results over summer break.

If you know something needs to change and you are seeking a different path for your child, Dr. Autoimmune’s Brain Camp is here to help!

Still have questions?? We have FREE informational lectures with Dr. Ian Hollaman DC, MSc, IFMCP on May 10th at 6:00pm or May 11th at 10:00am.

For a limited time we’re offering a comprehensive initial consultation which includes 1.) Neurologic Examination 2.) Brain Map 3.) Report of Findings AND 4.) 2 Trail Neurofeedback Sessions for just $95 ($1,275 value)! We are confident we can shed light on your child’s health and help their brain soar to a new height!

Call 303.882.8447 OR fill out the form below and a member of our team will reach out to provide more information or help schedule your initial appointment!

Anxiety, Depression, Relief! – FREE Webinar & Brain Balancing Handout

Posted on by Dana

We understand the pain involved with living with Anxiety and/or Depression and have successfully taken on the root causes of these conditions and provided relief for hundreds of Colorado residents.

If you’re struggling with one or both of these conditions please take the time to watch the latest webinar covering Dr. Autoimmune’s Functional Medicine approach to taking on Anxiety and/or Depression featuring Dr. Ian Hollaman, DC, MSc, IFMCP.

Scroll down for both patient testimonies AND learn more about one of the possible causes of Anxiety/Depression with “The way to heal the mind is to heal the whole body” by Dr. Ian Hollaman DC.

Register below and you will automatically be taken to our Anxiety/Depression webinar hosted by Dr. Ian Hollaman, DC, MSc, IFMCP.

This is a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION, FREE WEBINAR! Participants will also be sent our Balance Your Brain: Overcome Anxiety and/or Depression handout and the webinar link incase you missed something. Anyone who watches Dr. Ian’s webinar will also be invited to enjoy exclusive, New Patient pricing.
We appreciate your time and looking forward to letting your health soar!

The way to heal the mind is to heal the whole body – by Dr. Ian Hollaman DC, MSc, IFMCP

“I feel like this depression is a never ending story. Will I ever get better and feel good, happy and healthy again? I can’t take this anymore. It keeps pulling me down into the blackness and I wish with all my heart I could take it away. I’m tired, so tired of this constant battle. I want to feel like me again. I used to be so happy. I used to sleep through the night and feel energetic all day. I didn’t use to live with all this pain”.
Do you feel depressed? You are not alone!
What if you could  . . .

  • address the actual cause of your depression or anxiety Safely and Effectively?
  • Take control of your life?
  • Transform your body, your brain, and your experience with an Effective, Integrative, Functional medicine approach to Healing?

It’s hard to face illness, pain, and fear. But it IS possible to move through it and transform yourself.
It takes courage and commitment as well as powerful knowledge, support, and tools from an expert.
Depression isn’t the root disease itself. It’s the outward expression of imbalance in the body, the symptom. It’s the body alerting you to the fact that something is wrong.

Depression is not simple, there are many complex factors involved.

Both anxiety and depression, along with other mood and neuropsychiatric disorders, such anxiety, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or bipolar disorder generally result from a complex interplay of factors. These may include a combination of nutritional, physical, environmental, social and emotional factors, affecting your genetic tendencies and brain biochemistry (meaning that your neurotransmitters, or the chemical messengers within your brain, can be affected by these key components of well-being). You can think of anxiety and depression as disruptions in brain health.

Gut health – heal your gut to heal your mind.

The brain-gut connection.

Did you know we have a second brain? The second one, called our enteric nervous system, consists of some 100 million neurons that are embedded in the walls of our gut. There are incredibly intricate interconnections between the brain and the gut and the vagus nerve (the nerve responsible for a lot of your thinking and brain function) connected from the top of your stomach, all the way up to your brain.
The “brain-gut” connection is essentially what it sounds like: Your gut and brain are directly linked.
As important as the neurons in the gut is the kind of bacteria and other microbes collectively known as our microbiome.  They do many important things like break down our food, fight off infection, and boost our immune system and also play a very important role in our mental health. In addition, about 95% of your serotonin (“feel good” brain chemical) is produced in your gastrointestinal tract.
When your gut is unhappy, stressed, inflamed…your brain is unhappy or stressed.
Inflammation in your gut sends signals to your brain, causing similar responses such as inflammation, stress, anxiety, depression and a host of other mental health issues.

“By improving the microbiome we can actually see positive changes in mood, cognitive function, and executive function,”

A stronger microbiome means less inflammation, which means reduced risk of inflammatory brain diseases and disorders like Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

“Leaky gut” is linked to mental health disorders.

Our gut takes a hit over time when we eat processed foods, eat foods we are allergic to, get overloaded with environmental toxins, medications, and antibiotics.  This leads to a wear and tear on our gut linings, which then leads to a “leaky gut”

Leading to digestive issues (from constipation, gas and bloating to allergies, brain fog, and skin breakouts)…
Which then leads to inflammation in the body (as food particles leak into our bloodstream—outside the digestive tract). Our body sees food in the bloodstream as “outside invaders” and ends up attacking itself (causing an inflammatory response, which impacts our whole body—brain included).

This constant state of stress causes chronic inflammation; the body reacts to the stress as a type of infection and tries to overcome it. Because inflammation is at the root of many diseases, this exposure to prolonged stress can have serious consequences for your health, ranging from high blood pressure to autoimmune disorders to chronic depression and mental health disorders.

Neurofeedback – balancing brain wave energy

Traditionally, depression has been treated with therapy and medication, both of which have limitations, and medications can have significant side effects.

Even with medication, countless depression sufferers continue to struggle. Medications don’t teach the brain how to get out of the unhealthy brain pattern of depression.

Depression is neurological, not psychological.

The left frontal area of the brain is associated with positive emotions and motivation and a desire to be involved with other people. The right frontal area of the brain is more associated with worry, depression, and fear, accompanied by the motivation to withdraw from and avoid other people and different environments. When there is more slow brainwave activity in the left frontal area, this part of the brain is more inactive and the right frontal area is more dominant. Such a person is predisposed to become depressed more easily, to withdraw from other people, and to be anxious.

Neurofeedback training works on the root of the problem, altering the brain patterns affiliated with depression. Neurofeedback can restore healthy brain wave patterns and bring lasting brain changes. It is non-invasive and produces no undesirable side effects making neurofeedback a powerful tool.

We first measure brain function with a quantitative EEG brain map, so that you can see the reason in your brain for your mood problems. The QEEG will show areas of the brain where there is too little or too much activity.

Hundreds of studies have been done investigating EEG activity and many important areas of our daily life functioning, including our attention, mood, anxiety, social functioning, and learning and thinking skills. EEG can be used to identify the basis in the brain for attention deficits and the distinct EEG patterns that have been identified for depression.

Once we determine the source of the problem, we target that area for change through neurofeedback brain training. This allows you to reshape your brain, not just mask your symptoms.
Neurofeedback training will stabilize your depressed mood and other symptoms which keep you depressed like insomnia and anxiety.

Those with depression often notice improvement after only a few sessions, but for the brain to fully learn to make healthier patterns consistently, a number of brain training sessions are required. With sufficient practice, the brain learns to make these healthy patterns on its own and regulate mood independently.

Neurofeedback can help depression sufferers get their lives back. Your brain changes when you are depressed and neurofeedback can help it relearn healthier patterns, giving those who suffer from depression a way out of their suffering.

Neurofeedback is able to make a change to the source of depression symptoms within the brain and central nervous system.

Neurofeedback training for Depression is very promising because it can not only relieve the symptoms of Depression but can also modify the brain’s biological predisposition for becoming depressed by reversing the frontal brain wave asymmetry that predisposes you to depression and help you regain control of your life.
This complex venture is designed to help support your health and healing so you can feel better, energized and invigorated, calmer, and at peace.

Capable, experienced guidance makes all the difference in helping you reach a place of health and happiness faster, with superior and lasting results.

Because every person has a unique set of challenges, at Dr. Autoimmune we support you with a creative and effective individualized approach. Dr. Ian Hollaman has developed a unique, effective, non-drug approach to helping people with depression and anxiety. His program incorporates Functional Medicine, Functional Neurology, Nutrition, Brain Mapping, Neurofeedback and customized Chiropractic care.

Our role at Dr. Autoimmune is to provide support, knowledge, tools, and strategies that directly address the root cause of all your mental and physical challenges in order to enhance and encourage a positive transformation. We can get to the root cause of your depression by using a Comprehensive Functional Medicine Approach.
This and more is possible!

Depression/Anxiety Symptoms checklist

• Prolonged sadness, feeling overwhelmed/hopeless,
• Loss of interest in activities, social interaction, pleasure
• Irritability, easily frustrated, angered, quick to tears
• Changes in sleep – insomnia, racing thoughts keeping you awake
• Weight gain or weight loss, loss of appetite, emotional overeating
• Digestive problems – nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting
• Brain fog – Trouble thinking, concentrating and making decisions
• Unexplained aches and pains, headaches, rashes
• Chronic fatigue, lack of energy
• Excessive guilt and feeling worthless, ruminating thoughts

Depression/Anxiety and the Brain-Gut connection

Posted on by Dana

“I feel like this depression is a never ending story. Will I ever get better and feel good, happy and healthy again? I can’t take this anymore. It keeps pulling me down into the blackness and I wish with all my heart I could take it away. I’m tired, so tired of this constant battle. I want to feel like me again. I used to be so happy. I used to sleep through the night and feel energetic all day. I didn’t use to live with all this pain”.

Do you feel depressed? You are not alone!

What if you could  . . .

  • address the actual cause of your depression or anxiety Safely and Effectively?
  • Take control of your life?
  • Transform your body, your brain, and your experience with an Effective, Integrative, Functional medicine approach to Healing?

It’s hard to face illness, pain, and fear. But it IS possible to move through it and transform yourself.
It takes courage and commitment as well as powerful knowledge, support, and tools from an expert.

Depression isn’t the root disease itself. It’s the outward expression of imbalance in the body- the symptom. It’s the body alerting you to the fact that something is wrong.

Depression is not simple, there are many complex factors involved.

Both anxiety and depression, along with other mood and neuropsychiatric disorders, such anxiety, sleep disorders, eating disorders, or bipolar disorder generally result from a complex interplay of factors. These may include a combination of nutritional, physical, environmental, social and emotional factors, affecting your genetic tendencies and brain biochemistry (meaning that your neurotransmitters, or the chemical messengers within your brain, can be affected by these key components of well-being). You can think of anxiety and depression as disruptions in brain health.

Gut health – heal your gut to heal your mind.

The brain-gut connection.

Did you know we have a second brain? The second one, called our enteric nervous system, consists of some 100 million neurons that are embedded in the walls of our gut. There are incredibly intricate interconnections between the brain and the gut and the vagus nerve (the nerve responsible for a lot of your thinking and brain function) connected from the top of your stomach, all the way up to your brain.

The “brain-gut” connection is essentially what it sounds like: Your gut and brain are directly linked.
As important as the neurons in the gut is the kind of bacteria and other microbes collectively known as our microbiome.  They do many important things like break down our food, fight off infection, and boost our immune system and also play a very important role in our mental health. In addition, about 95% of your serotonin (“feel good” brain chemical) is produced in your gastrointestinal tract.

When your gut is unhappy, stressed, inflamed…your brain is unhappy or stressed.
Inflammation in your gut sends signals to your brain, causing similar responses such as inflammation, stress, anxiety, depression and a host of other mental health issues.

“By improving the microbiome we can actually see positive changes in mood, cognitive function, and executive function,”

A stronger microbiome means less inflammation, which means reduced risk of inflammatory brain diseases and disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

“Leaky gut” is linked to mental health disorders.

Our gut takes a hit over time when we eat processed foods, eat foods we are allergic to, get overloaded with environmental toxins, medications, and antibiotics.  This leads to a wear and tear on our gut linings, which then leads to a “leaky gut”

Leading to digestive issues (from constipation, gas and bloating to allergies, brain fog, and skin breakouts)…
Which then leads to inflammation in the body (as food particles leak into our bloodstream—outside the digestive tract). Our body sees food in the bloodstream as “outside invaders” and ends up attacking itself (causing an inflammatory response, which impacts our whole body—brain included).

This constant state of stress causes chronic inflammation; the body reacts to the stress as a type of infection and tries to overcome it. Because inflammation is at the root of many diseases, this exposure to prolonged stress can have serious consequences for your health, ranging from high blood pressure to autoimmune disorders to chronic depression and mental health disorders.

Neurofeedback – balancing brain wave energy

Traditionally, depression has been treated with therapy and medication, both of which have limitations, and medications can have significant side effects.

Even with medication, countless depression sufferers continue to struggle. Medications don’t teach the brain how to get out of the unhealthy brain pattern of depression.

Depression is neurological, not psychological.

The left frontal area of the brain is associated with positive emotions and motivation and a desire to be involved with other people. The right frontal area of the brain is more associated with worry, depression, and fear, accompanied by the motivation to withdraw from and avoid other people and different environments. When there is more slow brainwave activity in the left frontal area, this part of the brain is more inactive and the right frontal area is more dominant. Such a person is predisposed to become depressed more easily, to withdraw from other people, and to be anxious.

Neurofeedback training works on the root of the problem, altering the brain patterns affiliated with depression. Neurofeedback can restore healthy brain wave patterns and bring lasting brain changes. It is non-invasive and produces no undesirable side effects making neurofeedback a powerful tool.

We first measure brain function with a quantitative EEG brain map, so that you can see the reason in your brain for your mood problems. The QEEG will show areas of the brain where there is too little or too much activity.
Hundreds of studies have been done investigating EEG activity and many important areas of our daily life functioning, including our attention, mood, anxiety, social functioning, and learning and thinking skills. EEG can be used to identify the basis in the brain for attention deficits and the distinct EEG patterns that have been identified for depression.

Once we determine the source of the problem, we target that area for change through neurofeedback brain training. This allows you to reshape your brain, not just mask your symptoms.

Neurofeedback training will stabilize your depressed mood and other symptoms which keep you depressed like insomnia and anxiety.

Those with depression often notice improvement after only a few sessions, but for the brain to fully learn to make healthier patterns consistently, a number of brain training sessions are required. With sufficient practice, the brain learns to make these healthy patterns on its own and regulate mood independently.

Neurofeedback can help depression sufferers get their lives back. Your brain changes when you are depressed and neurofeedback can help it relearn healthier patterns, giving those who suffer from depression a way out of their suffering.

Neurofeedback is able to make a change to the source of depression symptoms within the brain and central nervous system.

Neurofeedback training for Depression is very promising because it can not only relieve the symptoms of Depression but can also modify the brain’s biological predisposition for becoming depressed by reversing the frontal brain wave asymmetry that predisposes you to depression and help you regain control of your life.
This complex venture is designed to help support your health and healing so you can feel better, energized and invigorated, calmer, and at peace.

Capable, experienced guidance makes all the difference in helping you reach a place of health and happiness faster, with superior and lasting results.

Because every person has a unique set of challenges, at Red Tail Wellness we support you with a creative and effective individualized approach. Dr. Ian Hollaman has developed a unique, effective, non-drug approach to helping people with depression and anxiety. His program incorporates Functional Medicine, Functional Neurology, Nutrition, Brain Mapping, Neurofeedback and customized Chiropractic care.

Our role at Dr. Autoimmune is to provide support, knowledge, tools, and strategies that directly address the root cause of all your mental and physical challenges in order to enhance and encourage a positive transformation. We can get to the root cause of your depression by using a Comprehensive Functional Medicine Approach.
This and more is possible!

Depression/Anxiety Symptoms checklist

• Prolonged sadness, feeling overwhelmed/hopeless,
• Loss of interest in activities, social interaction, pleasure
• Irritability, easily frustrated, angered, quick to tears
• Changes in sleep – insomnia, racing thoughts keeping you awake
• Weight gain or weight loss, loss of appetite, emotional overeating
• Digestive problems – nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting
• Brain fog – Trouble thinking, concentrating and making decisions
• Unexplained aches and pains, headaches, rashes
• Chronic fatigue, lack of energy
• Excessive guilt and feeling worthless, ruminating thoughts

Join us Thursday, July 27th at 6pm

CALL (303) 882-8447 to reserve your seat or use the form below.

Attendees to this lecture will also be invited to enjoy their first Brain Mapping, 2 Neurofeedback sessions, and a Report Of Findings for just $90! (regular price $750)

The ADD/ADHD Brain And Gut Connection

Posted on by Dana

BOY BRAIN

ADD/ADHD spectrum disorders are often thought of as strictly brain related.  In fact, that is often what gets addressed when looking for ways to control the symptoms associated with the diagnoses.  However, there is a strong link to what is happening in the brain to what is happening in the gut.  According to Dr. Perlmutter, the author of “Grain Brain” and “Brain Maker”, around 6.5 million children are living with a diagnosis of either ADD or ADHD.

That’s an astounding number when you also consider the high usage of stimulants being used to treat these kids whose brain and bodies are yet to fully mature. Beyond looking at the head as the source of the issues, there are studies that looked at the whole body.

There are connections to ADD/ADHD to babies born via cesarean -they do not get covered in the same bacteria that vaginal birthed babies receive, a link between heavy antibiotic use, and a high incidence of bowel issues and these children.

“A new study evaluated 742,939 children and demonstrated that those children with ADHD had a dramatic increased prevalence of constipation almost threefold higher than those without ADHD. Fecal incontinence was sixfold higher in the ADHD group, and visits to the doctor because of bowel issues was also dramatically increased in kids with ADHD. Importantly, these findings did not differ depending on whether or not the children with ADHD were on medication.”

The human body is covered in billions of bacteria both inside and out.  When a person either lacks enough of the good bacteria or is overrun with the “bad” bacteria, the entire ecosystem is affected.  The undesired bacteria may flourish and produce toxins that travel systemically, including into the brain.  The brain then reacts to the imbalance, trying to regain homeostasis.  The result is expressed as hyperactivity, acting out, and distractibility and low concentration.

Fortunately, medication is not necessarily the only answer or an answer at all.  Along with a healthy diet and taking steps to create a healthy gut biome, neurofeedback is a well-researched adjunct to therapy that can help relieve symptoms of ADD/ADHD.  Neurofeedback works by coaxing the desired brainwaves into a pattern consistent with focus and concentration.  By removing a stimulus when the brain is producing brainwaves associated with hyperactivity and rewarding the brain with a return of the stimulus (in this case a movie and the accompanying sound) when the brain is producing focus-linked brain waves, the brain learns on a subconscious level where its “happy place” is.  Once the brain learns to live in a balanced environment, it will remain there.  Studies thirty years out have shown little to no changes from the learned brainwave behaviors; meaning the positive learned patterns remained!  Beyond the brainwave patterns changing, the relief of symptoms will be greatly reduced.  In the cases of persons on the ADD/ADHD spectrum, they should see a marked increase in their ability to study, focus, and complete tasks.  This can be noticeable in as few as 10-20 sessions.

The brain of the child with ADD/ADHD fully develops, but studies have shown that this happens at a slower pace, on average of three years..  The cerebral cortex and the structure that communicates between both halves of the brain are functionally and structurally behind the curve.  Neurofeedback works using operant conditioning on both halves of the brain along the cerebral cortex.  It does this from a unique algorithm based on a brain map (EEG) done at the beginning and at intervals throughout treatment.  It is a fluid program that coaxes brainwaves  into optimal function both over the cortex and along the individual halves to create a cohesive, smooth system of communication therefore reducing symptoms of ADD/ADHD.

http://www.healthhomeandhappiness.com/the-gut-brain-connection-autism-add-allergies-and-other-diseases.html

http://www.progressivehealth.com/adhd-probiotics-and-gut-health.htm

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/3330.html

Neurofeedback: Training for Your Brain

Posted on by Dana

shutterstock_304868180
Chances are that you have heard the term “neurofeedback” in relation to new techniques being used to help with symptoms of: ADD; anxiety; autism; PTSD; dementia; depression; “brain fog”; insomnia; chronic pain; and other neurologic based conditions. But what is neurofeedback and how does it work?

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive “brain training” neurotherapy that uses real-time EEG readings to look at the brain waves of an individual and employs specific rewards to modify those waves to reflect the patterns that are most desirable. It is based on a similar model to that of Pavlov’s dog, also called operant conditioning; the brain associates the brainwaves that it is producing with the reward or removal of the reward being provided. Over time, the brain works hard to control the subconscious in search for that reward. The goal is for the brain to be re-trained and that the hard work that it emits during neurofeedback sessions will eventually become second nature. All of this is achieved by utilizing both audio and visual stimulation to help return the brain to a more efficient powerhouse.

An EEG (electroencephalogram) is a test that uses electrodes placed superficially to the scalp that monitors the energy of the brainwaves as the test is being performed. The information is relayed to a computer that breaks that data down into measurable units.

For neurofeedback therapy, the examiner will specifically look at the following bandwidths from the lowest frequency to the highest –Delta, Theta, Alpha, and Beta– using what is called a “Brain Map”. Each range of frequencies reflects specific brain function. Delta waves are responsible for sleep, emotions, and the unconscious thought processes. Theta waves are the creative side of a person, but also play a role in insight. A person’s Alpha waves help to regulate relaxation. And finally, Beta waves range from low to high within their spectrum and influence mental alertness, attention span/focus, and conscious thought. People with high levels of Beta waves often express symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety, and hyper vigilance. Based on the Brain Map and reported symptoms, a specific program for neurofeedback sessions is generated to help teach the brain to raise or lower specific frequencies. A brain map is repeated at regular intervals during neurofeedback therapy. This is a tool that is used along with client report of symptoms to monitor effectiveness of the set of parameters; changes may be made to fine-tune the learning process of the brain. The actual process of neurofeedback is often provided in a calm environment with no excess exertion from a client.

Clearmind Develops New Protocols For PTSD!
Clearmind Develops New Protocols For PTSD!

The brain is a pliable, organic machine that is able to learn and rewire itself. Similar to the way the musculoskeletal system works out, the brain also needs exercise to keep it at its highest functioning level. This is where neurofeedback comes into play. It is a mental exercise; think of brain training as a way to keep the mind fit. People with injuries or events that have lead to disorganized brainwaves enter into ruts of poor wave patterns.

Neurofeedback uses operant conditioning to reteach the brain, essentially pulling it out of its undesired repetitions of those Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta waves. The object is a relief of symptoms by teaching the brain over time, utilizing its elasticity.

Here at The Clear Mind Center of Boulder, our Neurofeedback therapist employs the Clear Mind software to both obtain a Brain Map and administer therapy sessions. Over time, the brain works hard to control the subconscious in search for that reward. The goal is for the brain to be re-trained and that the hard work that it emits during neurofeedback sessions will eventually become second nature. All of this is achieved by utilizing both audio and visual stimulation to help return the brain to a more efficient powerhouse. The reward is the desired brain wave, which is connected to normal physiology, or in other words less symptoms.

We are leading the field with the latest protocols specific to PTSD and emotional-oriented conditions. Clear Mind has developed a range of very specific frequencies tailored to individuals who suffer from neuroemotional extremes. In people with PTSD, the ability to remain calm in situations they do not have control of can be key to a healthier, more social existence. One of the most soothing protocols is called “Alpha/Theta” neurofeedback. It is an eyes-closed therapy that encourages the crossing of two frequencies, Alpha and Theta, by lulling a person into the deeper realm of the subconscious. By evoking a relaxation of the mind, the Alpha/Theta program brings a person’s body and mind back to a centered, zen-like state. After several sessions, the brain will draw on its learned patterns and activate the Alpha/Theta waves when faced with anxiety and fear related to uncontrolled emotional responses.

This is a permanent, learned response that will carry with a person for the rest of his/her life.

Neurofeedback | Dr. Diane Brain Health. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2015.
Please visit our website at www.clearmindboulder.com

Clear Mind Center of Boulder
4520 N. Broadway C.
Boulder, CO 80304
303.442.4944

Copyright 2023 Dr. Autoimmune