The Brain-Gut Connection: How Your Brain and Gut Health are Intertwined
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Helping Your Body and Brain Play in Concert
Your brain, a complex organ with many different parts, controls the harmonious function of many distant interwoven systems (cardiac, digestive, urinary, reproductive, musculoskeletal). Your brain must organize and time itself to achieve peak efficiency, like an orchestra. Each neuron plays a role in the function and stability of your entire body.
To help you reduce negative symptoms and return balance to your brain, a functional neurologist / specialized chiropractor offers various exercises, procedures, and lifestyle modifications. We work together with you to activate specific parts of your brain that are under- or overactive, improving symmetry and timing — so you can feel better!
Functional neurology chiropractic aims to strengthen weaker segments of the brain and improve the integration and timing of the left and right sides of your brain and body.
Austin Functional Wellness is your local chiropractic neurologist in Lafayette, CO. We offer several non-pharmacological treatments, such as unique balance exercises, oculomotor (eye movement) training, timing exercises (Interactive Metronome) and more to electrically stimulate hypoactive parts and inhibit the hyperactive segments of the brain. We want your brain to properly “cross-talk.” Processing speed, memory and cognitive abilities can be improved.
Our treatment methods increase permanent changes (neuroplasticity) in the electrical firing patterns of your brain and body. Chiropractic neurology treatments result in an increase in neuroplasticity and the production of neurotransmitters such as GABA, Catecholamines, Serotonin, Dopamine, and Acetylcholine. This helps repair your brain and heal your body.
Inflammation occurs as part of the immune system’s response to trauma, infection, dehydration, stress and overuse–to name a few concerns. While not all inflammation is harmful, silent, ongoing, and uncontrolled inflammation underlies most health conditions.
For instance, when inflammation occurs in the gut due to food sensitivities, dysbiosis or infection, the inflammatory chemicals produced by the immune system can pass through the intestinal barrier (via increased intestinal permeability AKA Leaky Gut) and into the bloodstream, which is a highway to the rest of the body. The chemicals then inflame other tissues like organs (causing bladder weakness or sexual dysfunction), muscles and joints (causing joint degeneration or stiffness/pain) or the brain (causing headaches/brain fog or emotional imbalances). A certified functional neurologist can help to diagnose and treat these symptoms.
At Austin Functional neurology chiropractic center, we believe that spinal “subluxation or segmental dysfunction” often results from disease and dysfunction in higher levels of the central nervous system. These higher areas (i.e. cortex and brainstem) fail to correctly regulate the body’s systems, particularly the musculoskeletal system resulting in spinal dysfunction, pain and degenerative changes over time.
As a certified functional neurologist, Dr. Paul is highly trained to know when it is appropriate to recommend standard medical treatments for these symptoms, including drugs and surgery. However, most medical treatments using pharmaceutical drugs are designed to suppress function, not improve it. Dr. Austin uses less invasive and natural techniques to improve the functional balance of your body’s “orchestra,” and not just relieve or suppress symptoms.
Have you been googling for a “functional neurologist near me” or looking for treatments for brain injuries or accidents? If you are in Lafayette, CO, and the surrounding areas seeking the care of a functional medicine neurologist, Dr. Paul can help. Check out the different functional neurology methods and devices that Dr. Paul uses below and make an appointment that could change your life.
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IM has been tested with excellent results on populations with Neurobehaviorial disorders such as ADD/ADHD and ASD, Traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, Post-Stroke and Amputees.
Similar to the way a metronome is used by musicians to keep tempo, IM uses auditory and visual feedback to gauge if a patient’s kinesthetic performance is in sync with the beat. Through rhythm and repetition, this training can improve timing in the brain.
Dr. Austin is one of the few providers in our area who uses this engaging, evidenced-based assessment and training tool to improve patients’ cognitive and motor skills. He has been certified to provide IM services since 2005 and is an expert in the area of Brain Timing.
To learn more about this therapy, visit interactivemetronome.com or watch the video with Dr. Austin.
IM can alleviate symptoms which children and adults may experience (who are frequently unnecessarily or unsuccessfully medicated), including:
Home IM units are available at our office.
Using a 50 inch HD TV and touch screen, the NSI is designed to offer a host of therapy procedures to a wide range of patients requiring visual or neuro therapy following: head injury, Strokes, Concussion, Whip Lash, and more. The programmable instrument offers procedures to improve; Pursuits, Saccades, Eye-Hand Coordination, Visual Reaction Time, Speed, Visual Motor Skills and Neuro-Cognitive Skills.
Eye muscles are reflexively linked to core muscles. Sometimes a patient’s eye movement ability can be significantly dysfunctional without them knowing it, especially after a concussion. This can cause dizziness, headache, double vision, nausea, balance problems, core muscle instability and many other conditions. Dr. Austin utilizes in-office training as well as the Focus Builder App for home rehab. He will program a variety of individualized eye exercises which challenge users to voluntarily move their eyes in various patterns, speeds and directions. These eye movements exercise the weaker or less efficient eye muscles and thus activate specific parts of the brain associated with cognitive, motor and memory function depending on which eye exercise is performed. This app is not recommended for use without the expertise of a trained Chiropractic Functional Neurologist. The app can be used on iPhones or iPads.
Eyelights are neurological light and color stimulation glasses used to strengthen the weaker side of the brain, eye function and overall physical and mental performance. The colored lens contain a small unit that emits gentle “low frequency” intermittent “red” light pulses which cause electrical stimulation directly into the brain via the retina at the back of the eye. Glasses can be worn at home, work and school in conjunction with other sensory motor exercises (i.g., balancing on one leg, strength training, aerobics, stretches, cross-crawl, eye exercises, IM and vibration therapy).
Frequently learning challenges are linked to dysfunctional eye movements or the inability of eyes to move together efficiently. Eyelight Therapy can also help stimulate important brain areas that produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, involved with controlling emotions, attention span, motivation, promoting thinking before acting, muscle strength and motor function.
Athletes of all ages can use eyelights to become stronger, recover more quickly, balance muscle tone and increase overall performance.
Eyelights are available for purchase at Austin Functional Wellness and for more information visit eyelights.com. This is a highly specialized therapy and should be programmed and monitored by Dr. Austin or another Chiropractic Functional Neurologist.
There are many routine treatments for foot problems, from anti-inflammatory pills to cortisone injections, to a million different pads, cushions, ointments and, of course, surgery. These have temporary, pain-relieving effects. But, if you want the chance to permanently solve the problem, you must change the way your feet function on the ground. And the only way to do that is to use a true custom, biomechanical orthotic: Sole Supports.
Dr. Austin has been casting Sole Support orthotics for almost 20 years with impressive results. Go to SoleSupports.com to find out more about how different they are from generic orthotics.
Could include Sensory Motor stimulation, balance therapies (both in office and at home), specific Cerebellar activations, Primitive Reflex remediation exercises, Olfactory (smell) therapy, Optokinetic stimulation, Eye movement exercises, Chiropractic manipulative therapy, music or sound therapy and many more.
Brendan Wall2022-01-17I came to Dr. Austin after experiencing dizziness for 3+ months. I had seen several specialists and nothing was working to make me feel better. After a month working with Dr. Austin, I am no longer dizzy. He is not only a great chiropractor, but an excellent neurologist, and a holistic practitioner. I could not recommend him enough!Margaret Balhoff2021-03-20Dr. Austin is incredibly knowledgeable about neurology and the brain. He is quite specific in his assessment and able to prescribe targeted exercises to help improve vision and balance. Dr. Austin is enthusiastic and passionate about his work, and cares deeply about helping his patients lead healthier, more enjoyable lives! I recommend him to my concussion clients to help with their recovery.Phyllis Kretsch2021-03-08Dr Austin saw me on an emergency basis. I was in so much pain and he found time for me on short notice. He diagnosed my issue with precision and clarity and helped me understand what I needed to do going forward . In a very short time I felt so much better and was also helped toward future wellness.Stacey Phillips2021-02-08I’m not even sure where to begin when I talk about Dr. Paul. His wealth of knowledge and ability to treat difficult problems that have plagued people for years is truly astounding. I have heard countless stories of lives changed through his work. I went to Paul (I’m using his first name because we so quickly became friends) because I wanted to see what all of the amazing tools in his office could do and to see if he could help me with eye-hand coordination. I came away with so much more! He also helped me with balance, timing, memory, and pain. And those are just the things I’m aware of; I’m sure he helped me with other things that only my body knows. Paul takes the time to thoroughly test and figure out where your body needs help and then he gets right to work teaching your body how to function at its best. His work can help with countless struggles and ailments from traumatic brain injury to ADD and everything in between. We are all different and have very different needs. To learn how Dr. Paul can help you, his beautiful website is one place to start. However, a phone call and/or consultation in his office will open you up to his brilliance and caring heart.Phil Hendricks2020-08-21I first went to see Dr. Paul Austin about 10 years ago after trying my family MD to resolve very painful muscle spasms in my back without long-term success. They'd always come back intermittently. I was an admitted skeptic about chiropractors, but decided to try Dr. Austin on a friend's recommendation. The two words I can think of to describe my experience with treatment by Paul are "life changing". After following his prescribed exercises, along with his expert adjustments, I was pain free and have had no muscles spasms in my back for nearly 10 years. This summer I started having some pain in my neck and left arm. This time my family physician actually recommend that I try Dr. Austin again. After 5 treatments and some exercises, the pain is gone. No meds. No surgery. For me, the term "miracle worker" is not too strong in describing the value Dr. Austin has brought to improving my quality of life. Now I'm planning to stay on a regular tune-up regimen. I highly recommend Dr. Austin to anyone looking for pain relief, greater flexibility or other functional improvement, or any other aspect of improving how your body supports a better quality of life.Lisa Citarella2020-07-18Dr Paul Austin is an extremely caring and educated doctor. I love that he has experience in sport chiropractic and neurology. What a great combo! His level of professionalism is also outstanding. It is a pleasure to recommend such a highly qualified professional.Mandi Gutierrez2020-06-05Dr. Austin is absolutely incredible. He is extremely knowledgeable and cares 1000% about his clients. I have struggled with dizziness daily since October 2019 and after going doctor to doctor with zero real answers, I found Dr. Austin, who diagnosed me on my very first visit! Within two visits he adjusted me based on my diagnosis and the issue at hand, as well as taught me treatments and exercises that have immensely helped with being dizzy 24/7. I feel about 80-90% better and back to normal every day now! Thank you so much, Dr. Austin! I cannot recommend you and your practice enough.Jackie Nichols2020-06-03"The best there is, for me... Always friendly and really cares about your well being !Julia Munson2020-04-29I've known Dr. Austin for almost 20 years and can attest to what a brilliant practitioner he is. He is kind, warm, smart and so dedicated to his patients. He is a highly gifted chiropractor with the added benefit of understanding SO much about how our brains work. Over the years I've consulted him around nutrition, energy levels, sleep problems while also receiving top notch adjustments. He's a vital part of my healthcare team.Ivy Worsham2019-10-12Dr. Austin is my first phone call every time I have the opportunity to fly back home. I always feel ten times better walking out of his office then I did walking in. He has helped me with chronic neck, sinus, and herniated disc issues. I just wish he made house calls in different states! Thanks for keeping me functioning at my best, you're a life saver Dr. Austin!!
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