Tools to support lasting brain health

Natural ways to stay sharp life-long

This post is updated from its original.

In my healing process from Lyme disease, my top priority has been getting my brain back. Hyper-sensitivity, brain fog, anxiety, and fatigue are common symptoms of neurological Lyme disease (as well as toxic mold infections). It took me years to get normal brain function back, and I still want to improve my short-term memory.

Even if you don’t have Lyme or mold-related infections, we all want healthy, high-functioning brains! There are some really great tools out there to support optimal brain function, even for totally healthy people who just want to stay sharp. Some of these tools are cutting-edge and high-tech, and some are free and accessible to all. Below are three of my favorites.

Frequency medicine for brain health

Pulsed electro-magnetic frequency-based (PEMF) therapies are, in my opinion, a truly amazing source of support for a healthy brain. I personally use both the Ampcoil, and the Wave 1 device (both specifically for Lyme disease – though Ampcoil can also be used for the general population, and I use it for my kids). For me, the results have been way beyond what I hoped for, especially with regard to brain function.

• Ampcoil

  The Ampcoil contains many sound and magnetic frequency-based “journeys” that support your body in cleansing specific pathogens. It also offers more generalized programs for enhancing optimal health, and some target the brain. There are programs to support brain function, positivity, and mental clarity, and programs that help to detoxify the brain from toxins and pathogens common to the general population. Consistently using these programs eliminated my brain fog from Lyme within the first 6 months (unless I get really tired or catch a bug). The Ampcoil is expensive, but you can find them used on ebay. I bought a used Coil from a friend.

• Wave 1

  The Wave 1 device is a lot cheaper than the Ampcoil, and is made only for people with Lyme disease. It’s a little LED light therapy bracelet that you wear on your arm or leg. I sleep with it on. Unlike the Ampcoil, the Wave 1 is completely pre-programmed; the only thing you control is the intensity and duration. To be honest, I didn’t expect this device to work for me – they have an offer where you can return it after a year of use, so I figured, why not? I’ve been surprised to feel my energy and brain function increase while using it. I now work out an hour each day, and I’m a better rock climber than I was in my 20s! They’re not getting it back!

Frequency medicine is completely non-invasive, has zero negative side effects (except perhaps some herxing if you’re working with Lyme disease) and may help combat the range of stressful frequencies we’re exposed to every day from computers, phones, and industry. I’m a fan! I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a PEMF device in every holistic clinic in the future.

Self-massage to move fluids in the brain

If my brain feels overwhelmed, I rely on gentle self-massage to move the lymph, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid directly through brain tissue. For me, this is always incredibly helpful. It helps flush toxins from the brain and out of the body. Here’s a simple example you can try at home.

Lie on your back and place your palms over your eyes. Get cozy and relaxed. Let your eyes relax completely, softening into their sockets.

The brain is divided into two halves, and a lot of fluid drainage occurs between the two. Visualize the split between the left and right halves of your brain as a soft, warm, fluid-filled space, and imagine the two halves gently gliding and sliding against each other. Gently move your hands to encourage this sliding and gliding of the halves of your brain.

There’s no right way to do this. Play, looking for what feels deliciously relaxing. Feel deeply into your brain, imagining the warm fluids softening your brain tissue, and encouraging movement. If it feels great, you’re on the right track.

If you want help with this, try my Cranial Healing meditation. It can help you relax enough to drop into this kind of visualization deeply.

Deep rest and detox

It’s great when you can pair deep rest with a detox practice to restore brain function. If you’re dealing with Lyme disease or mold toxicity, consistent detox practices are invaluable for a return to health. My two favorite detox protocols are sweating in the sauna and using coffee enemas.

• Sauna

  Sweating in a sauna, either traditional or infrared, is an age-old practice that supports detoxification. Metals, pesticides, pathogenic residue, and other toxins exit the body through the skin via sweat, purifying the entire body on a cellular level. If you’re going for the gold, a full-body dry brush in the sauna will move lymphatic fluids and help those toxins wave goodbye. There is research showing that consistent sauna use supports longevity.

• Coffee enemas

  There isn’t a whole lot of research behind coffee enemas, but everyone I know with Lyme uses them to detox. They just make you feel good, especially with regard to brain function. Possibly this is because of the caffeine – but people say coffee enemas help to increase glutathione production in the liver, and to flush toxins. You can’t argue that they relieve constipation, and this is always helpful in terms of removing toxicity from the body. I use green coffee, not roasted.

With saunas and coffee enemas, you can take time to lie down, relax, and focus on your breathing. It’s a little, meditative time-out from the world; a half-hour to prioritize yourself. Both practices clear my head and restore my energy. I like to feel intuitively which one is best on any given day.

Thank you for visiting!

You are infinite,

Shona