Neurotoxicity

Neurotoxicity occurs when toxins accumulate in the neurological tissue of the body and undermine the functioning of the brain and nervous system. These toxins are refer to as “neurotoxins” and can be either manmade (ex: pesticides, poisons, metals, drug therapies) or biological (ex: insect bites, molds, venom). Long-term exposure to radiation, chemicals, food additives, pesticides, and other naturally occurring substances can all cause neurotoxicity. Prolonged exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, iron, or aluminum (heavy metal toxicity) also can lead to neurotoxicity, as can exposure to poisonous plants, animals, or molds.

Our providers have years of experience identifying and treating neurotoxicity. Depending on the type of toxin and how the brain is affected, nervous system damage can cause many different symptoms. If you have any new or worsening symptoms described below, please give us a call, we can help.

Symptoms of Neurotoxicity

When there is an influx of toxins in the body, the body’s natural response is to initiate an inflammatory response. However, if the exposure is chronic and toxins build up in your body, the inflammatory response is unable to turn itself off and widespread inflammation results. This inflammation can cause a number of symptoms including:

• weakness
• numbness/tingling
• headache
• fatigue
• memory loss
• visual disturbances
• cognitive difficulties
• decreased libido
• behavioral changes

The painful symptoms of neurotoxicity are similar to the symptoms of a variety of other disease conditions, such as fibromyalgia, migraine or chronic headaches, depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic fatigue syndrome, recurrent sinus infections or chronic sinusitis and asthma that is unresponsive to conventional therapy. Neurotoxicity symptoms can also mimic those of certain autoimmune diseases, such as Celiac disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the similarity to other illnesses and disorders, neurotoxicity is often overlooked as the cause of your symptoms. The problem is, if the underlying cause of your pain or illness is neurotoxicity, and your treatment plan does not include a detoxification regimen, your overall recovery is very likely to be incomplete and slower than it needs to be.

Treating Neurotoxicity | How We Can Help

At your first visit, your Kaplan provider will take time to explore the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

We offer a multitude of effective treatment options, including:

• Detoxification Protocol – Our detox protocol is a 2-step process whereby toxins are first drawn out of whatever tissue in the body is storing them, and then bound at the molecular level so they can be eliminated from the body.
• Acupuncture – Acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms during the detoxification process.
• Herbal Remedies & Nutritional Supplements
• Nutritional Counseling
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Prescription Medication
• Sleep Evaluation & Management
• Vitamin & Magnesium IV Supplementation

Lifestyle modifications may also be recommended.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your provider will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be causing or aggravating your symptoms.

Benefits of Detoxification

A successful detoxification program can help improve or eliminate many of your symptoms, including:

• An improvement in your overall mood, brain clarity, and memory
• An increase in your energy level and improved sleep
• An improvement in pain symptoms
• Less inflammation and a lowered risk of developing chronic illness in the future
• An improvement in digestive symptoms
• Detoxification will lower the amount of free radicals in the body that cause oxidative stress and premature aging.

Additional Resources:

Article: Mycotoxin Illness: Could the air you breathe be making you sick? by Dr. Lisa Lilienfield