This geek is in science heaven with all of the opportunities they have to help boost cognition and calm down some of the racing thoughts that heroes might struggle with. Their superpowers include Auricular Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen and Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation is one of the most exciting areas of medicine that we are exploring at Hero Academy. This field of study uses photons and light at specific wavelengths and frequencies to modulate or affect the brain in positive manners. Lasers are shone transcranially into the brain to reduce inflammation and also to promote brain function.
Auricular Therapy
The use of Auricular Therapy has been proven in studies to help with attention, concentration, hyperactivity, and other challenges faced by those with ADHD.
Small sterile needles are placed at specific points on the ears to stimulate brain balance and assist the body to detoxify.
All superheroes have weaknesses - and many of the young ones share a fear of needles. No worry at all - the therapy is also done with gold plated magnets or seeds that are placed on the relevant points and kept on for a time period. The magnets or seeds are replaced weekly for the duration of the therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
It might be challenging not become jealous of the amazing gadgets that the superheroes get to work with at Hero Academy.
Nothing stops you from joining them for a couple of sessions to enhance your own brain function!
Climbing into the hyperbaric oxygen chamber allows superheroes to inhale oxygen under pressure – much like divers do when they are underwater.
The effects for our superheroes are less brain inflammation and more oxygen in the blood (and brain), which has shown positive effects on cognition, attention span and reaction time.
Sources
- Leisman G, Machado C, Machado Y, Chinchilla-Acosta M. Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018;1116:111-130. doi: 10.1007/5584_2018_234. PMID: 29956199.
- Gonzalez-Lima F, Barrett DW. Augmentation of cognitive brain functions with transcranial lasers. Front Syst Neurosci. 2014;8:36. Published 2014 Mar 14. doi:10.3389/fnsys.2014.00036
- Rojas JC, Bruchey AK, Gonzalez-Lima F. Low-level light therapy improves cortical metabolic capacity and memory retention. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;32(3):741-52. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2012-120817. PMID: 22850314.
- Binesh M, Daghighi MR, Shirazi E, Oleson T, Hashem-Dabaghian F. Comparison of Auricular Therapy with Sham in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Jun;26(6):515-520. doi: 10.1089/acm.2019.0477. Epub 2020 May 20. PMID: 32434376.
- Demchenko IT, Boso AE, O’Neill TJ, Bennett PB, Piantadosi CA. Nitric oxide and cerebral blood flow responses to hyperbaric oxygen. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 Apr;88(4):1381-9. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.4.1381. PMID: 10749833.
- Ezra N, Dang K, Heuser G. Improvement of attention span and reaction time with hyperbaric oxygen treatment in patients with toxic injury due to mold exposure. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2011;30(1):1-6. doi:10.1007/s10096-010-0937-8
- Alvarez-Arellano L, González-García N, Salazar-García M, Corona JC. Antioxidants as a Potential Target against Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Feb 21;9(2):176. doi: 10.3390/antiox9020176. PMID: 32098021; PMCID: PMC7070894.
- Godman CA, Joshi R, Giardina C, Perdrizet G, Hightower LE. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment induces antioxidant gene expression. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Jun;1197:178-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05393.x. PMID: 20536847.
- Benson RM, Minter LM, Osborne BA, Granowitz EV. Hyperbaric oxygen inhibits stimulus-induced proinflammatory cytokine synthesis by human blood-derived monocyte-macrophages. Clin Exp Immunol. 2003 Oct;134(1):57-62. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02248.x. PMID: 12974755; PMCID: PMC1808843.
