Concussion & The Omega-3 Protocol By Bill Code MD

Almost all of us have bumped our brain or had someone we care about experience this. Today, we understand a major nutrition tool, Omega-3 fish oil, can assist recovery – even from coma – or, better still, it can prevent the injury from being as severe in the first place.

I spoke of the benefits of extra oxygen assisting concussion recovery in my 2019 book Solving the Brain Puzzle. I recently read the book: When Brains Collide by Michael D Lewis MD. His secondary title for the book was “What every athlete and parent should know about the prevention and treatment of concussions and head injuries.” In this short article I will endeavour to outline the key concepts from the above book and the additional pieces that I have learned since the writing of my 2019 book.

To begin, concussion, or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), is now understood to occur even from a head bump with or without a loss of consciousness. In addition, the regular symptoms may occur immediately or days or even one to two weeks later. This knowledge will wisely expand your enthusiasm for the possibility of omega-3 nutrition treatment.

We now understand injury to the brain from concussion as a two step process. The first step is literally a bruise to the tissues much like a visibly bruised knee. The second is the bruise triggering a biochemical cascade or ‘waterfall of events’ that can happen immediately, but more likely several hours later. You could think of this as a smouldering small fire which in time bursts into flame. The flames are full bore or excess inflammation, which comprises redness, heat, swelling and pain or loss of function. This is extra critical as the brain is in a closed box and therefore swelling is a major factor in the headache experienced.

Secondary to the film “Concussion” starring Will Smith and Alex Baldwin, most of us focus on football as in the National Football League type. This is over simplified on our part. We now realize that  most sports are at risk. These include: ice hockey, especially in the Canadian context, rugby, soccer, wrestling, cycling, skateboarding, horseback riding, baseball, lacrosse and even playgrounds for younger kids. Another critical point is that young women athletes are even more at risk than boys or young men, although all groups are potentially at risk from motor vehicle accidents or simple falls. In the elderly, falls are the reason for 80% of their concussions.

In summary, the latest understood and employed therapy for concussions is ingesting omega-3 fish oils which contain both EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids essential for human health, primarily found in fatty fish and algae. These are typically in a liquid or gel capsule form. This is where the “omega-3 protocol” initiated by Michael D Lewis MD prior to his book of 2016 fits in.

He outlines that there are about four and a half million concussions every year in North America. Of these, nearly 2 million are children aged 19 years or younger. This is definitely a crisis.

Severe concussions can often be assisted by better nutrition, even through a feeding tube, if need be. The overall goal is 5,000 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA in fish oil three times a day for a total of 15,000 milligrams per day. Yes, this is above the regularly suggested amount by the FDA of 5,000 milligrams per day. However, you need the extra amount to reverse the inflammatory cascade. In coma, you will use these 5,000 milligrams  three times a day until a response. Once a response occurs then you would reduce it to 5,000 milligrams twice a day for a week and then further reduce to 5,000 milligrams per day ongoing. If the client regresses, go back up a level of dose until recovery returns.

In mild or moderate TBI  or concussion, which is of course not coma, then, as per the above, the 5,000 milligrams of EPA and DHA three times a day are suggested for a week. Then it is suggested 5,000 milligrams of EPA and DHA twice a day for a week and then ongoing with 5,000 milligrams of EPA and DHA daily.

I am excited to report that prevention is also a key possibility.

To this end, 5,000 milligrams of EPA and DHA per day ongoing is probably very useful in sports or at risk individuals such as the elderly. For example, I am 72 years old with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and I will take Omega-3s for the rest of my life, by choice. My current favourite is Balanced Oil by Zinzino. However, my earlier choices were Nordic Naturals and NAKA fish oils.

If you want to learn more of this very important topic I refer you to:

1. The website http://www.brainhealtheducation.org/resources/brain-injury-protocol/ to download the full Omega-3 Protocol.
2. My upcoming book called “Omega-3s and Oxygen at Home for Memory and More”. This will be printed later this year.
3. Alternatively, to hear me speak on this and other topics please register to attend the in-person “Self-care is Health Care” conference that Canada Health Alliance is hosting from April 24th to 26th on the coast of British Columbia. For further information check-out the event website at: https://www.selfcareishealthcare.ca/
4. Plus you can read Michael D Lewis’s book called ‘When Brains Collide’ which is this week’s Book of the Week (see below). On page 215 of the book you will be able to look up the full ‘Omega Protocol.’