Thursday, March 17, 2022
Dr Harch Systematic Review:
Improving mTbi/Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome
“In multiple randomized and randomized controlled studies, HBOT at 1.5 ATA oxygen demonstrated statistically significant symptomatic and cognitive or cognitive improvements alone in patients with mild traumatic brain injury Persistent Post-concussion Syndrome. . . . Improvements were greater when patients had comorbid Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. . .”
Press Release: Arlington, VA — March 17, 2022
Dr. Harch reviewed multiple worldwide scientific studies, settling on eleven randomized trials and studies investigating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) Persistent Post-concussion Syndrome (PPCS). Mild traumatic brain injury results in over 15% of patients progressing to PPCS, a condition with significant consequences and limited treatment options. Untreated, brain wounds are degenerative. Current standards of care for the symptoms of PPCS are palliative, focusing on individual symptoms. Those symptoms, frequently lasting decades, are headaches, sleeplessness, memory, balance, and cognition declines, headaches, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Dr Harch’s findings are aligned with the recently released study out of Israel
(here) that investigated PTSD. “Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by changes in both brain activity and microstructural integrity. Cumulative evidence demonstrates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) induces neuroplasticity and case-series studies indicate its potentially positive effects on PTSD. . . . HBOT improved symptoms, brain microstructure and functionality in veterans with treatment resistant PTSD.”
To put these findings and the persistence of mTBI/ PPCS in perspective, see HBOT-treated Veterans to include a Medal of Honor recipient
(here), a US Navy SEAL (
here), an Army Ranger (
here), and a female warrior (
here).
Congress, the VA, and DoD face a conundrum. DoD and the VA are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on treatments and suicide prevention programs, research into magic mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, cannabinoids and an endless stream of psychological and behavioral interventions. Taxpayers are funding multi-million dollar Public Service Announcements seeking to end service member suicides, even as suicides among the 877,450 post-9/11 brain-wounded veterans continue to rise almost unabated for over 15 years. The VA Mental Health and Resesarch budgets continue to increase at an average of 18% per year, essentially doubling every five years. The DoD and the VA continue to lament the lack of effective remedies. Yet Congress and the Executive branch continue to allow the VA and DoD to deny treatment of TBI/PTSD with a proven safe and effective brain wound healing modality. Too often, combat veterans and veterans with brain wounds are denied required “informed consent” when they are not even told that HBOT is available in 1,156 hospitals and hundreds of clinics all over the U.S.
The information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made.
Key Words: Special Operators, veterans, suicide, athletes, brain health, blast injury, brain injury, brain wound, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, concussion, concussion protocol, Concussion Symptoms, CTE, HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy, TBI, TBItreatment, traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD