Can injected tree pulp relieve Traumatic Brain Injury? Studies and a pending FDA-approval trial are examining the use of DSMO, a byproduct from trees, as treatment for TBI.

Traumatic brain injury is an injury that disrupts brain function, according to Katherine Helmick, senior executive director for traumatic brain injury at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. TBI can range from mild (concussion) to severe and penetrating, she said, and military duties increase the risk of sustaining a TBI.

"Penetrating TBI usually results from small arms fire or shrapnel from explosions," she said

Blasts in war zones also account for TBI cases. Its symptoms included headaches, inability to concentrate or memory loss, and other neurological disturbances.

"Rehabilitation is most commonly provided by a team approach that may include a number of different therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing care, psychologists, social workers/case managers and other healthcare practitioners," said Helmick.

Patients may undergo treatment at outpatient facilities, inpatient care at a military treatment facility or VA Polytrauma hospital, based on the severity of their injury.

But naturopath Thomas Griffith believes another treatment may be a more effective way to get TBI sufferers back to health. Griffith offers intravenous injections of DSMO, dimethyl sulfoxide, as an alternative to conventional treatment of TBI at his clinic Vital Healthcare in Olympia.

DSMO, dimethyl sulfoxide, is an FDA-approved treatment for interstitial cystitis, a rare pelvic disease in women, according to Griffith.  Dr. Stanley Jacobs at the Oregon Health and Science University discovered the medical properties of DSMO and has been conducting studies on its medical potential since the 1960s, said Griffith. Studies using it as treatment for spinal cord injury, stroke, and other diseases are being conducted, he added, including a phase two (of three) FDA-approval trial for use as TBI treatment.

The treatment Griffith provides is intravenous infusions of DSMO one hour, once a week, for about five weeks. The treatment works by "penetrating brain tissue, releases swelling, and taking pressure off the brain," said Griffith. "It's very safe. Safer than aspirin."

From the preliminary research results available, DSMO appears to relieve TBI by reducing the pressure from fluid build up in the brain. "In all the research, it (DSMO) has been hands down more successful than anything conventional medicine has to offer," said Griffith.

But as an alternative treatment, DSMO treatments are not covered under most insurance, including Tri-Care or Medicare, and for those seeking the treatment, it is an out of pocket expense.  But Griffith believes in helping TBI suffers, offering reduced rates for soldiers and works with people's budgets. "It's high time someone looked at it seriously instead of letting people suffer needless."

Griffith hopes that one day this treatment will be prove to be an effective TBI treatment and will be available who need it. "It's really exciting to have a chance to use it on people who could benefit from it and nobody deserves to benefit from it more than the soldiers."