Heroin and amphetamine addiction

Periodically, I am asked whether neurofeedback can help heroin or amphetamine addiction. The answer is yes and no. While I have had excellent success with marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine dependency, heroin and amphetamine are far more difficult to treat. I have found that the best initial treatment is Ibogaine for these two drug dependencies. Ibogaine is a plant alkaloid found in the root bark of a West African shrub. It has the unique property of removing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings from heroin and amphetamines. It has a long history of traditional use as a medicinal and spiritual tool in West Africa. For the last 40 years, it has increasingly been used in western society as a tool in addiction therapy and psychotherapy. Ibogaine is legal in most parts of the world, but is illegal in the US. One has to go to Mexico for this treatment. My role can be to offer follow-up neurofeedback to further stabilize the brain and minimize relapse. For further information, you can go to websites:
http://www.ibogaine.co.uk/ibogaine6.htm
http://www.awakeninginthedream.com/
http://www.lunartproductions.com/

Autism can be helped

I found this report in Science Daily Feb 2008 on a recent study published in Biofeedback. “Research on autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) shows that neurofeedback (EEG biofeedback) can remediate anomalies in brain activation, leading to symptom reduction and functional improvement. This evidence raises the hopes for a behavioral, psychophysiological intervention moderating the severity of ASD.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a lack of appropriate eye contact, facial expression, social interaction, communication, and restricted repetitive behavior. Research has shown that related symptoms of ASD are the result of brain dysfunction in multiple brain regions. Functional neuroimaging and electroencephalography research have shown this to be related to abnormal neural connectivity problems. The brains of individuals with ASD show areas of both excessively high connectivity and deficient connectivity. In other words, some areas of the brain are chatting excessively with themselves, while failing to communicate normally with other relevant regions.

In one 2006 study using connectivity-guided neurofeedback, pre-post analyses showed a 40 percent reduction in autistic symptoms, enhancement of function between the brain and behavior, and reduction of hyperconnectivity. These results begin to verify the theory that interhemispheric, bipolar neurofeedback montages can lead to reduction in hyperconnectivity based on the reward band trained.”

Interhemispheric bipolar training can be done using the Cygnet/NeuroAmp EEG neurofeedback unit, which is available in my office. I have been trained to use this system and can assist children and adults who have an autistic spectrum disorder.

Amino Acid Therapy for ADHD

The University of North Texas is conducting a study using NeuroResearch amino acid protocols that I use in my practice for ADHD. Twelve school districts in north Texas were recruited and have signed up to participate in the study. In the pilot study leading to this research project, Ross Stewart, PhD from Dallas, Texas, reported that 82% of children achieved relief of ADHD symptoms. Of the 18% that did not respond the problem revolved around not taking pills properly. The two primary problems encountered being oppositional defiance on the part of the child who refused to take the pills or parents that did not give the pills to their children properly. I have seen excellent results with the amino acid therapy for not only ADHD, but also depression, migraine headaches, menopausal symptoms, panic attacks, and obesity. It is a very useful adjuct to neurofeedback as it offers the brain nutritional support.

70% of Migraine Patients Find Neurofeedback Cuts Headache Frequency in Half

I found this article on the Internet. “At the most recent Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Conference, Deborah Stokes, Ph.D, presented her study on neurofeedback and migraine headaches. The findings showed that 26 clients, or 70% of the 37 migraine sufferers, experienced at least a 50% reduction in frequency of their headaches. This data was collected after an average of 14.5 months following treatment, which suggests that results are long-lasting. The study also showed that clients experienced a reduction of symptoms in other co-occurring conditions such as attention deficit disorder, depression, anxiety, other headaches, insomnia and other pain syndromes.

Neurofeedback or EEG biofeedback is a painless, non-invasive method that targets specific brainwave frequencies in order to alleviate symptoms such as inattention, depression, anxiety, headaches and insomnia. Sensors are attached to the scalp and project the brainwaves onto a computer screen in the form of a video game. Clients are instructed to play the video game by using their minds. They are able to eventually shift the targeted brainwave frequencies implicated in their presenting problem and thereby alleviate their symptoms.

"Prior to neurofeedback, I would have approximately 16 yearly visits to the emergency room for migraine treatment. Having tried numerous medications and other treatments over a 15 year period, neurofeedback is the only one that has been successful in reducing my headaches by 80% and the results have lasted for five years now." Lynn Hertel, Arlington, VA.

Many migraine patients also have depression or anxiety and these clients often have a heightened stress response. Neurofeedback has been shown to be helpful for these conditions by decreasing stress patterns that are reflected in the brainwaves."