“Every patient carries his own doctor inside. ” Nobel Prize winner, Albert Schweizar
Craniocerebral trauma is the most common of all types of mechanical injuries. In the age of technological progress, machines and high speeds there is an increase in the frequency and severity of traumatic brain injury.Craniocerebral trauma is one of the leading causes of disability of the population. The outcomes of craniocerebral trauma are largely determined by the age of the victim. The central nervous system is an immunologically privileged organ, low reparative activity of nervous tissue sharply limit the possibilities of rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury. Even with mild craniocerebral trauma and craniocerebral trauma of moderate severity, the consequences make themselves known within months or years. The so-called “post-traumatic syndrome” is characterized by headache, dizziness, increased fatigue, decreased mood, memory impairment, reduced mental or physical abilities to a certain extent. These disorders, especially in old age, can lead to disability and family conflicts. Modern drug treatment based on the use of neuroprotectants, antioxidants, hormones, as well as drugs that improve cerebral blood circulation, is essentially unable to solve this problem.
Therapeutic fasting can naturally stimulate reparative capabilities of the CNS, thus opening new possibilities in the treatment of neurological disorders. The use of fasting for brain injuries among naturopathic healing methods, and medication as well, can be recognized as a clear leader and is the most prominent and reasonable way to normalize mental disorders. Medical science faces huge limitations when it pertains to brain healing. Prescribed medications can have dangerous side effects on the delicate balance of the brain. Performing fasting is not the solution to every health problem, but it has a powerful effect in eliminating pathology and establishing a foundation for good health. It is not a cure, but a natural physiological process and the oldest strategy for human self-healing. Nature is a wonderful healer and physician. Starvation means physiological rest for the body. It is a biochemical, biophysiological process to be applied deeply and skillfully. Participating in fasting is not a stereotypical method of treatment. Suppressing signs of illness and pain through the use of sedatives and pain relieving drugs will ultimately end in illness becoming chronic. In fact, participation in fasting can be considered the cornerstone of the body’s “natural healing” and has no equal in value.
The strongest stress for the body and brain encompasses not only the elimination of the painful focus, adhesions, fluid circulation disturbances, but also causes a profound effect on all levels of brain energetic activity, contributing to an increase in the plasticity of the nervous system. The weight of the brain almost does not change at a total loss of 15-25% of the whole body weight, as nervous tissue loses only 3.9% of its mass in the process of prolonged starvation, and fatty tissue – 97%. In this extreme situation, the mechanism of biological defense ensures the preservation of the brain as a vital organ, supplying it primarily with plastic and energy materials at the expense of using other organs and tissues. For example, the liver and intestines typically lose the highest percentage of their own weight during starvation.
● Starvation corrects incorrect and unbalanced psycho-physiological brain systems and effectively restores the body’s health by utilizing the body’s own dormant healing energies.
● Disturbed concentrations in blood of levels of hormones of internal secretion glands (sex, pituitary-hypothalamic, adrenal, thyroid and others) can be recognized as the main cause of emotional and psychological disorders, which is also a powerful factor of physiological destruction of the body. The activity of endocrine glands in the process of starvation decreases and resembles the state after stress, when after a short activation of the glands’ function there comes their functional insensitivity to any new stimuli.
● Starvation provides a welcome period of rest and recovery for overloaded physiological and metabolic processes, allowing them to regain a level of basic function without destruction or interruption.
● It is also established that fasting can naturally stimulatephysiological regenerationin the body and restores pyramidal cells of the brain and even increases them. This was proved by I.K. Arshavsky.
When liver carbohydrate stores are rapidly depleted and the demands of the brain’s own fuel, glucose, must then be replaced by new sources of energy production. Ketone bodies (acetone, acetic acid, and hydroxybutyric acid), derived from the hydrolysis of fat from fatty acids, are thought to be a conserved physiological adaptation to prolonged food restriction and the maintenance of adequate cerebral function while conserving protein. These ketone bodies pass from the blood through the blood-brain barrier and become available to brain metabolism as a basis for energy.
Accumulating in the blood, keto acids inhibit the secretion and specific activity of glucocorticoids (adrenal hormones), thus preventing proteolysis, i.e. the destruction of structural proteins of the body. Thus, by inhibiting proteolysis and gluconeogenesis (glucose formation), keto acids save the structural proteins of the body, inhibiting the activity of the enzyme glucagon, prevent excessive formation and dangerous accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood. It is essential that the level of keto acids in the blood does not exceed the buffering capacity of the blood. This is approximately 10 mmol/L.
Unlike glucose,ketone bodiesbypass cytoplasmic glycolysis and directly enter the mitochondria where they are oxidized to acetyl-coenzyme A. In addition to increasing ATP production while reducing oxygen consumption, ketone metabolism may also reduce the production of free radicals that damage body tissues. The levels of these ketone bodies increase dramatically during the first two weeks of fasting and then slowly increase thereafter. Ketone bodies, reaching a concentration of 5 mmol/L, supply the brain with approximately 50% of the substances required for ATP production. During the fasting period, approximately 50% of the brain’s energy must come from glucose utilization. From the second week of fasting, serum glucose levels stabilize at approximately 3.5 mmol/L.
The new energy starvation concept explains that mitochondria are responsible for the majority of energy production within the cell and play a major role in regulating their lifespan. Ketosis is the most efficient mechanism of adipose tissue catabolism.
In continuous ketosis during fasting, the brain is signaled to store both glucose and protein. The body begins to conserve glucose, signaling many organs and tissues to use ketones rather than glucose as an energy source. The preservation of protein is ensured by using less of it for glucose production, because in the absence of dietary carbohydrates (which happens in starvation), the body produces glucose from protein. Thus, by switching to ketones, protein stores are conserved. In addition, for this purpose, the body also controls that the protein for glucose production comes from pathological tissues. And can one think of more irrelevant sources than unnecessary waste drifting through the cells? Ketones themselves stimulate the CMA process to recycle protein waste for glucose. And isn’t Nature wise after that? So, all that is needed to suspend aging processes and renew the whole organism is to conduct systematic therapeutic fasting, unloading days, or follow a low-carbohydrate diet, which will allow nature to do its job, sweeping out the garbage from the “cellular nooks”
Thus, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis after brain injury or inflammation reduces tissue damage to neurons – brain cells. Scientific studies have proven that fasting can protect neurons against degeneration in animal experiments with animal models of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and paralysis. In addition, fasting can stimulate the production of new neurons (neurogenesis) and increase synaptic plasticity to restore function, including in spinal cord injury. During fasting, a small decrease in glucose levels causes a greater decrease in insulin levels, leading to a decrease in glucose metabolism and a slowing of chronic sympathetic nervous system activity. Even short periods of participation in fasting lead to increased mood and emotional harmonization, get rid of anxiety, fears, reduce obsessions, increase mental acuity, concentration, memory and cognitive functions, improve spirituality and behavior, cure depression and restore the patient’s adaptive abilities to stressful situations, normalize the body’s bioenergetics.
The use of therapeutic fasting significantly improves cerebral and peripheral blood flow, having a noticeable positive effect in cases ofosteochondrosis,protrusion and herniated discs ofthe spine, impaired mobility in the spine, migraine and pain syndromes, muscle blocks, lumbago, sciatica, neuritis, peripheral neuropathy, neuralgia, neuroses, dystonias, initial manifestations of multiple sclerosis, spinal artery syndrome, fibromyalgia, in the distant consequences of brain injury, paralysis, stroke, after inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord – arachnoiditis, encephalomyelitis and others., with increased intracerebral pressure, with disorders of the senses (impaired vision, hearing, smell, touch), chronic fatigue syndrome,depression, psychosomatic diseases, vestibular disorders, etc., etc.
It was Japanese researchers who reached a similar conclusion. After participation in fasting of 382 patients suffering from psychosomatic diseases, 87% showed an improvement in health (2000). Clinically, during fasting, sleep gradually normalizes, headaches disappear. By the 4th – 5th day of fasting euphoria (mood elevation) is noted, and by the 10th day it stabilizes. In some patients who before treatment had persistent insomnia, nightmarish dreams, irritability, the process of final normalization of sleep and the state of the central nervous system reaches 15 days of therapeutic fasting. That is why this method is so effective for overcoming manifestations ofdepression.
The most instructive evidence regarding mental acuity during participation in a fast is proven by Dr. Herbert Shelton, who monitored the participation of more than 40,000 people in a fast for fifty years. Large amounts of blood and energy need to be sent to the digestive organs to digest food. If this energy is not required there, it can be utilized by the brain for better thinking. This increase in mental acuity doesn’t usually happen until after the first few days of fasting because the body is busy cleansing itself of additional toxins and substances. Therefore, the first few days can be a period of depression, with the onset of headaches and various aches and pains as this process is in progress. This makes the first stage of participating in fasting stressful, but after the body has thrown off the load of toxins, there are fewer of them coming to the brain, so clarity of thought and other feelings become sharper.
Mental and physical senses are heightened and there is often a sense of euphoria, especially during prolonged fasts. Some patients will experience emotional stability for the first time. Eliminating emotional dependence on food, eliminating stimulants like caffeine, sugar, fats, drugs, and tobacco prevents destructive effects on the subtle emotions.
Dr. Ehret said back in the early 20th century that 21 days of water fasting awakens higher functions of consciousness: intuition, creativity, mental acuity and deeper spiritual questions. The nervous system becomes balanced, and energy levels and sensory perception increase. The longer the fasting period, the greater the increase in energy and vitality. During a fasting period, you usually need less sleep. Participating in a fast improves the quality and depth of sleep. Brain synthetic processes occur in deep sleep or are used in sleep to restore brain function. Therapeutic fasting normalizes disturbed human biological rhythms (day and night, lunar stage, seasons of the year, endogenous rhythms of metabolism and behavior). During participation in fasting, certain endogenous substances known as endorphins are produced in the body. These cause calming or mood elevation. They are also probably responsible for preventing psychosomatic illnesses, including slowing metabolism to conserve energy and reducing appetite.
When participating in fasting, the body begins to consume stored energy; the autonomic and hormonal systems begin to work actively, increasing metabolism. Soon the mind becomes very calm, free from anxiety. As soon as you begin to participate in the hunger strike, you become fatigued. Some people feel a little nauseous and are bothered by headaches. These are signs of developing hypoglycemia (lowered blood glucose levels), which indicates that the body is beginning to use stored energy. Performing breathing exercises eliminates dizziness, nausea and headaches. Abdominal breathing can activate the autonomic nervous system and is very effective when participating in a hunger strike. It is necessary to breathe deeply, concentrating on the point below the navel, and a feeling of warmth appears. In the recovery period, when one starts eating plant food, there are feelings of vigor, clarity and brightness of perception of the surrounding world, inner calmness and relaxation. Thinking processes are sharpened, memory, disturbed sensitivity are restored, pains and muscle blocks pass, functions of sensory organs are sharpened: vision, hearing, sense of smell and others. Thus, we can accept the facts that participation in fasting significantly renews the life of patients with severe lesions of the nervous system and effectively contributes to their readaptation.
Duration of fasting periods depends on medical condition, body weight, lifestyle, reactions and other individual factors: water fasting for 15 – 25 days or dry fasting for 5 – 7 days, with a recovery period of 7 – 30 days to 2 – 3 cycles in a row (ideallydry fractional fasting).
In fact, biochemical asphyxiation (interference with normal metabolism and cell regeneration) is believed to be the principle cause of disease and aging. Participating in fasting induces a truly unprecedented cleansing process that reaches every cell and tissue in the body, accelerating the elimination of dead and dying cells while stimulating the growth of young cells. A person’s comfort or discomfort on fasting depends on the condition of the digestive tract, liver, kidneys, nervous system and degree of constitutional impairment. Instead of drugging the sick body with drugs that are questionable and useless in most cases, even as emollient agents, it would be better to give the body a chance to cleanse itself of impurities that irritate the skin and mucous-membrane structures. This can only be done by engaging in fasting.
Short-term dry fasting for injuries – bruises, fractures, sprains – can be an invaluable aid.
Whatever the injury, it is always accompanied by soft tissue swelling and pain. The pain in this case is due to the fact that the swollen soft tissue presses on the nerve fibers and causes pain. This happens with any trauma. Starvation will not cure a fracture, but if you, God forbid, broke something, immediately start starving. Swelling, pain, inflammation will pass as quickly as possible and a cast will be put on your normal limb, not on the swollen one. Otherwise, it will happen that in a few days the swelling will go down and the cast will start to “dangle”, not fixing the bone fragments properly. In this case, fasting plays an auxiliary role. Whatever injury you have not received, starting from a slight bruise and ending with a severe fracture, immediately start dry and no other fasting. With or without a colon cleanse. This will help relieve soft tissue swelling and eliminate the effects of the injury as quickly as possible. If the injury is so severe that surgery is necessary, fasting is all the more necessary. After surgery there is always postoperative swelling, because surgery is also a trauma. And the sooner the postoperative swelling goes away, the faster the healing will go.
A concussion even without loss of consciousness (knockdown) requires mandatory short-term fasting, let alone a concussion with loss of consciousness (knockout). The leading symptom of a concussion is swelling of brain tissue. That’s where all the trouble comes from. Therefore, the sooner you deal with this swelling, the sooner you will be able to get out of this condition without any consequences for the brain.
Based on my practical experience, I can say with full confidence that there is another effective method of treatment of this pathology – craniosacral therapy (popularly called “head straightening”). There are things that are difficult to explain, they are not visible to the eye, you need to have a special sensitivity to notice and understand them. For example, no matter how long you do not look in the mirror throughout your life – you will not notice that your skull is breathing. But it is. A breathing flower – that’s how you can visualize the movements of the bones of the skull. Like the petals of a wonderful flower, they open and close according to the natural laws established by nature.
The bones of the skull make respiratory movements. These movements are inextricably linked to the production of liquor (cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord from the skull to the sacrum). The process of producing and distributing liquor in the ventricles of the brain causes the head to increase in volume and decrease in size. Our head experiences these periodic changes in volume from 6 to 12 times per minute. These fluctuations are called craniosacral rhythm (from “cranium” – skull, “sacrum” – sacrum). And the science that studies these changes is called craniosacral therapy.
Craniosacral therapy is one of the effective treatments for headaches. All the large and small head injuries that we suffer during our lives, starting from the moment of birth, can lead to a slight displacement of the bones of the skull, which limits the mobility of the bones and disturbs the normal rhythm of movement. Careful manipulation of the sutures (the joints that hold the bones of the skull together) by the sensitive hands of a specialist can change the position of the bones of the skull in relation to each other and restore the damaged synchronization of their movement. The adjusted rhythm of movement of the skull is in turn a favorable condition for the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
Craniosacral therapy is primarily indicated for people who have suffered a head injury. By combining therapeutic fasting and this method, amazing results can be achieved. And, of course, it is safe to say that this procedure is the most pleasant in our center.
