Why a holistic Approach is needed for Neuroplasticity

Chronic Fight-Flight or sympathetic dominance underscores the necessity for a paradigm shift towards treatment strategies that go beyond merely addressing the symptoms of spasticity. It highlights the need to resolve the underlying issue of sympathetic dominance—a persistent fight-or-flight state which inhibits the parasympathetic system, essential for rest, repair, and digestion. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of neuroplasticity, its principles have not yet been fully integrated into the curricula of either modern Western medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Both fields often still adhere to outdated timelines for effective treatment, overlooking the evidence that nerves can regenerate well beyond previously accepted limits.

Although traditional beliefs in medical training have long suggested that effective treatment for neurogenic trauma began within weeks to months post-injury, recent advancements have significantly extended these timelines. By 2005, the recognized effective treatment period had expanded to five years post-injury, and by 2010, it had further extended to ten years. Current research now supports that there is no absolute timeline for initiating such treatment as long as the body is not in a chronic state of sympathetic dominance. This dynamic evolution in understanding underscores the critical need to continually update our approaches, ensuring they align with the latest scientific insights.

To truly harness the potential of neuroplasticity, resolving sympathetic dominance must be as much a priority as symptom relief in cases involving the nervous system. Discoveries from modern neuroscience and myofascial theory shed light on the development of the nervous system, particularly the impact of primitive reflexes and PVT includes the role of vagal tone in maintaining parasympathetic health. These insights empower us to apply Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in innovative ways, creating targeted interventions that effectively address spasticity patterns and neurogenic trauma for the first time

My integrative understanding of spasticity reflecting deep internal disharmony within the ANS developed when I began vestibular work for my own traumatic brain injury (TBI). During this period, I realized that 100% of my clients exhibit patterns of spasticity, regardless of their childhood or medical history. This observation also suggests that sympathetic dominance as a physiological state is far more prevalent than previously realized.