24/04/2023
Among the many differing conditions people present with in clinic there has been a notable increased incidence recently of people coming in with brain fog.
There may be multiple causative factors for brain fog, and sometimes there may be more than one for each patient, and it is important to consider what these are to address the problem effectively.
Certainly in the Covid/post-Covid/long-Covid era there are people who come in to clinic where they can clearly draw a connecting line between having had Covid and the onset of brain fog.
Brain fog may be the consequence of other post-viral illnesses too, or also chemical or substance sensitivities - or stress. Covid and the way we have navigated the virus and the ensuing financial and social challenges followed by the natural disasters of cyclones and flooding that we have experienced in New Zealand have spiked people's stress levels exponentially.
But another factor may be head injury, either recent or historical. And, head injury may not only be as a result of trauma directly to the head - it may be even whiplash, or significant impact on another area of the body which may travel up the spine and cause the brain to be knocked against the inside of the skull, causing bruising and inflammation. If it affects the cerebellum (the back of the head) it can manifest as chronic neck or back pain.
While 85% of people do recover from concussion, 15% of people with concussion may suffer from post-concussion syndrome, and this may not manifest until well after the accident or injury (even years afterwards), which is why it may be overlooked as being implicated in symptoms such as brain fog, irritability, anxiety, insomnia & heightened sensitivity or intolerance of things like chemicals, noise, or emotional stress. When regular blood tests return with normal results and people are sent away from clinics, being told that there is nothing wrong with them, this may be because the tests are not sensitive enough or because they may not be appropriate tests for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
While this may seem alarming, this can be approached in a similar manner to any other condition - a holistic practitioner will ask many questions in order to identify what is going on in order to be able to address the various relevant aspects of the disorder, to get the whole picture and treat more effectively or guide the patient towards the most effective therapy.
You may ask - but any physical trauma or accident occurred some years ago, so why am I experiencing this now? The reasons may be various - more stress recently, or recent viral illness, or having consumed a lot of something (food? a new pharmaceutical regime?) which has changed the immune environment of the gut - or something else - which has lowered your thresholds and resilience.
If the naturopath or herbalist has been able to draw up a shortlist of the top likely contributing factor(s) to the brain fog, between you you will have a platform to work on moving forward. If there is physical trauma, and head injury does look implicated, then an appointment with a practitioner who specialises in the treatment of subtle brain injury may prove very valuable in healing and resolution. This may be through Concussion Clinics or with the guidance and programme of a skilled physiotherapist who has head injuries as his/her specialist area.
What you can expect from a naturopath or herbalist is that they may work on supporting the immune system and bringing down inflammation and increasing your resilience. This may be via dietary and lifestyle advice, and/or herbal medicine and supplements. Sometimes a team approach may be necessary until you feel more like yourself again.
Meanwhile, what can you do?
Regular exercise within your capabilities, nothing too strenuous as this may be counterproductive. But increasing blood flow and bringing oxygen to the tissues around the body brings down inflammation.
Diet - consume a diet high in polyphenols - these are found in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables, and also in resveratrol.
Sleep! Try and get a minimum of 6 hours a night, even if they are not 6 consecutive hours. Even if you are in full-time employment, allow yourself short breaks during the day to give the brain a rest or a change of focus. So for instance after 45-60 minutes of screen time, stand up, go and get a drink, and if you can, speak to a colleague (social interaction is very important).
So you can see the causes of brain fog may be varied and it is important to look at the full picture in order to get the best result.
Please contact me if you would like to make an appointment with me to explore this further.
