IF YOU'VE HAD A CONCUSSION – You Need More of this Mineral STAT
Following a concussion (traumatic brain injury; TBI) – which can be either mild, moderate, or severe in nature – the brain suffers a significant loss of magnesium, which needs to be corrected for healing to take place.
An excerpt from “The Next Generation in Brain Recovery and Neuroregeneration” (1) – JPANDS 2017 – “Brain magnesium levels fall rapidly following the acute phase of a TBI, and replenishing levels to their normal values has been shown to prevent and reverse neurological injury (2, 3). Magnesium has also been shown to promote sciatic nerve regeneration (4) and rapid recovery from major depression (5).”
The magnesium depletion (deficiency) that occurs post-TBI increases oxidative stress and inflammation within the brain and nervous system, which leads to impaired healing, greater tissue damage, and eventually neuron (brain cell) death. So, if you’ve had a traumatic brain injury, what can you do?
Taking 400-800 mg per day of a high-quality, highly bioavailable (i.e. well-absorbed) magnesium supplement such as magnesium glycinate, lysinate, taurinate, or threonate will assist in correcting this deficiency, and increase tissue levels of magnesium in the brain and nervous system. I prefer the “glycinate” form of magnesium since glycine (the simplest amino acid) further supports the calming, soothing, “anti-stress” effects of magnesium on the nervous system, which most people need more of these days.
To optimize brain healing and recovery, magnesium works with a number of nutrients in the body such as lithium, zinc, selenium, oxygen (HBOT), B-complex, vitamin C, D, E, and calcium, so getting additional amounts of these elements will also be beneficial.
About the author: Dr. Marshall is a neuropharmacologist, nutritional biochemist, functional medicine consultant with a passion for natural approaches to healing and nutrient therapeutics. Dr. Marshall completed his doctoral training in Medical Pharmacology (specializing in Neuropharmacology) at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine with sub-specialties in Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology, and has a Master’s in Chemistry and Bachelor’s degree. in Biochemistry from the same institution. He is on the board of Healing Arizona Veterans (Tucson, AZ; Patriot Clinic), and is the author of the landmark publications, "The Next Generation in Brain Recovery and Neuroregeneration" (JPANDS 2017), “Lithium as a Nutrient” (JPANDS 2015), "Lithium: An Essential Micronutrient (2013), and has two revolutionary, patent-pending, brain supplements, BrainFood-7 (General Public) and MagLith+ (Clinical Use), which will be available soon online and at a store near you!
1. Marshall TM, Henricks CL. The Next Generation in Brain Recovery and Neuroregeneration. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. Summer 2017. Volume 22, Number 2.
2. Hoane MR, Knotts AA, Akstulewicz SL, Aquilano M, Means LW. The behavioral effects of magnesium therapy on recovery of function following bilateral anterior medial cortex lesions in the rat. Brain Res Bull 2003;60(1-2):105-114.
3. Hoane MR. Magnesium therapy and recovery of function in experimental models of brain injury and neurodegenerative disease. Clin Calcium 2004;14(8):65-70.
4. Pan HC, Sheu ML, Su HL, et al. Magnesium supplement promotes sciatic nerve regeneration and down-regulates inflammatory response. Magnes Res 2011;24(2):54-70.
5. Eby GA, Eby KL. Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment. Med Hypotheses 2006;67(2):362-370.
