The Hidden Path to Healing: Brain Health, Infections, and Recovery

The Made to Heal Show: The Hidden Path to Healing - Brain Health, Infections, and Recovery Episode Overview Join Dr. Kasey Holland as she sits down with Dr. Michelle Eisenmann, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist (DACNB), to explore the intricate world of brain health, traumatic brain injuries, and the often-overlooked connections between infections, toxins, and neurological recovery. This conversation dives deep into functional neurology, dysautonomia, and practical strategies anyone can implement to support their brain health. Guest: Dr. Michelle Eisenmann, DC, DACNB Host: Dr. Kasey Holland Episode Length: 50 minutes About Dr. Michelle Eisenmann Dr. Michelle Eisenmann is a functional neurologist with a unique perspective shaped by personal experience. She holds a doctorate in chiropractic from Parker University, a master's degree in clinical neurology, and is board certified by the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB). She also has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology from the University of North Texas. Her clinical focus includes: Neuroplasticity Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Post-stroke rehabilitation Vestibular dysfunction Dysautonomia Movement disorders Dr. Eisenmann practices at Resiliency Brain Health in Hoppel, Texas (near DFW Airport) and offers online coaching through her Brain Charge program. She provides services in both English and Spanish. Key Topics Covered 1. Dr. Eisenmann's Journey into Functional Neurology (0:45 - 9:45) Dr. Eisenmann's path to functional neurology began with her family history. Her mother was a four-time cancer survivor who also lived with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a peripheral neuropathy that affected three of her four aunts. Growing up as both daughter and caretaker, Dr. Eisenmann witnessed firsthand the limitations of conventional medicine's "see you in six months" approach. The turning point came when she discovered functional neurology through an online case study of a hemiplegic boy (meaning half his body wasn't working) who returned to playing soccer after receiving non-invasive neurological therapies. This stood in stark contrast to the invasive treatments her mother had endured. Her personal connection to brain injuries deepened when she learned about her grandfather's traumatic brain injury from explosives during the Korean War, and when she realized she had suffered an undiagnosed concussion during her cheerleading years. Her bar for healthcare had been set so low—"if I don't have cancer, I'm good"—that she didn't recognize her own injury. 2. Redefining Traumatic Brain Injuries (10:37 - 16:50) One of Dr. Eisenmann's most important messages is removing the word "trauma" from traumatic brain injury. The word psychologically creates a barrier—we assume only dramatic accidents count as brain injuries. The reality is far different. Who can get a brain injury? Anyone. Examples include: Sports injuries Motor vehicle accidents Slipping in the shower Falls Blast exposures (veterans) Even seemingly minor impacts The critical question isn't "Did I have an injury?" but rather "How did my brain recover?" Brain recovery depends on multiple factors: Nutrition at time of injury Gender Stress levels during injury Overall brain resilience Pre-existing conditions A concussion is simply another term for mild traumatic brain injury. The spectrum includes mild, moderate, and severe TBIs. Just because an MRI or CT scan comes back clear doesn't mean someone is healed. These imaging tools show structural damage but miss functional impairments. Dr. Eisenmann advocates for treating brain health like dental health—regular check-ups and maintenance rather than waiting for a crisis. The brain is our operating system, one of the first things to develop and the last to go. It deserves consistent, proactive care. 3. Beyond Structural Damage: The Functional Impact (16:10 - 19:50) Traditional medicine focuses on ruling out life-threatening structural issues: bleeds, swelling, skull fractures. Once those are cleared, patients are often told they're "fine." But functional impairments can persist for years. We don't treat our brains the way we treat other injuries. If you had a knee injury, you wouldn't expect to run a marathon a month later. Yet we expect our brains to perform at high levels immediately after injury—even during menstruation, postpartum periods, or times of high stress. The hidden dimension Dr. Holland emphasizes is that brain injuries aren't just physical. They affect: Blood-brain barrier integrity Immune system function Susceptibility to infections Processing of toxins Stress responses She shares examples of patients who developed Lyme disease seemingly "out of nowhere," only to reveal during conversation that they'd been in a car accident months earlier. The injury compromised their immune systems and blood-brain barriers, making them vulnerable to opportunistic infections. 4. Functional Neurology Treatment Approaches (20:24 - 26:15) Functional neurology uses a rehabilitation model rather than a pharmaceutical one. It's about relearning, reconnecting, and retraining the brain through targeted stimulation and feedback. Assessment areas include: Motor movement and coordination Reaction time Eye movements Balance and vestibular function Cognition Gait patterns Treatment modalities range from high-tech to remarkably simple: High-tech options: Gyro stem (vestibular rehabilitation device that looks like an astronaut ride) TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) VR headsets for virtual reality therapy Whole body vibration platforms Various electrical modalities (TENS units) Red light therapy Simple but effective tools: Popsicle sticks with targets for eye tracking Gait training (learning to walk properly) Chiropractic adjustments The beauty of functional neurology isn't always what you're doing, but how you're doing it. Frequency, intensity, quality of movement, and feedback all matter tremendously. Dr. Eisenmann emphasizes that treatment is personalized, not protocol-based. "What do you need at this point?" is the guiding question. No profession is an end-all-be-all. Patients may work with occupational therapists, physical therapists, and functional neurologists at different stages of recovery. If stranded on an island with only one therapy? Dr. Eisenmann chooses chiropractic hands down. Spinal mobility is the foundation of independence. If you can't move your spine, you're dependent on others, which means you're not moving, exercising, or feeding yourself properly. 5. The Infection-Brain Injury Connection (26:03 - 30:00) This is where Dr. Eisenmann's and Dr. Holland's worlds beautifully intersect. When therapy isn't producing expected improvements—when you're "flipping the light switch but the lights don't come on"—it's time to investigate metabolics and look for chronic infections. The two-way street: A traumatic brain injury makes you much more susceptible to acquiring infections like Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, or cytomegalovirus Conversely, a dormant infection can reactivate after a TBI when the immune system plummets and the blood-brain barrier opens "They're called opportunistic infections for a reason. They're like, 'Ooh, opportunity, let's go.'" Dr. Eisenmann shares a case of a gentleman with cerebellar autoimmunity directly correlated to infections following his traumatic brain injury. While he sees improvement with therapy, the goal is long-lasting improvement, not riding a wave of good periods followed by crashes. Warning signs you need to dig deeper: Working really hard to get better but feeling like you're walking a tightrope Stepping off the improvement path and unable to get back Cyclical patterns of good and bad Check for infections in: teeth, lungs, bladder, and systemic viral/bacterial infections. 6. COVID's Long-Term Impact on Brain Health (26:36 - 28:00) Six years post-pandemic, we're starting to understand how COVID truly impacts brain health long-term. Dr. Eisenmann sees the TBI-infection connection frequently in her practice. COVID can present as an acquired brain injury (ABI), much like hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Viruses don't just cause temporary illness—they can affect neurology, trigger autoimmunity, and create lasting dysregulation. The silver lining? COVID has brought increased awareness and collaboration. Patients are being taken more seriously. Post-COVID programs are implementing physical therapy and occupational therapy more routinely. Functional neurology needs to be added to that list. 7. Daily Brain Health Practices: The Top Two Priorities (30:52 - 38:00) When asked about practical daily strategies for brain health, Dr. Eisenmann gives two answers that might seem anticlimactic—but they're the foundation everything else builds on. Priority #1: Blood Sugar Regulation This is the one thing you have control over daily that sets you up for success. Dr. Eisenmann's hot take: She does not believe in intermittent fasting or fasting for people with traumatic brain injuries who have uncontrolled blood sugar. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Neural circuits, immune health, and other systems need to be in line first for fasting to be beneficial. Blood sugar regulation matters more than: Cold plunging Brushing teeth with your non-dominant hand Single-leg stands Exercise regimens Taking creatine "None of that matters if your blood sugar is unregulated." Warning signs of unregulated blood sugar: Getting hangry (hungry + angry) Getting sleepy after eating Waking up in the middle of the night to urinate What to do: Look at your plate composition—is it too carb-heavy? Include fiber and protein Consider ketogenic or Mediterranean diets for seasons (not necessarily forever) Eat regularly rather than skipping meals Dr. Holland adds critical context: When blood sugar crashes, your brain and adrenals think you're starving. They activate the same fight-or-flight stress response as if there's a physical threat. This has lasting effects: Cortisol release Sleep disruption Impaired glymphatic system function (brain's waste clearance) A snowball effect of downstream problems For people with TBIs, the brain is already working overtime to protect you. Unregulated blood sugar adds unnecessary burden. Priority #2: Follow the Sun Circadian rhythm optimization is crucial. Dr. Eisenmann references Dr. Andrew Huberman's extensive work on this topic. What this means: Pair your activity level with sunlight Get bright light exposure in the morning Dim lights in the evening Avoid overhead lighting when the sun is down Use red light at night Dr. Eisenmann's household practices what she preaches: "When the sun is gone, we pretty much are in red light, like crazy bats." She credits this with why her daughter slept so well early on. For night workers or new moms, this might not be perfectly achievable, and that's okay—things happen for seasons. But aligning with natural light cycles as much as possible supports: Hormonal regulation Sleep quality Immune function Overall brain health 8. The Body's Natural Wisdom (37:05 - 39:00) A powerful theme emerges: Your brain loves you. Your body naturally detoxifies and returns to homeostasis—when it's not overwhelmed. Why not remove the burden of: Unregulated blood sugar Wacky circadian rhythms And allow your body to do what it naturally wants to do? People often believe they need to be constantly taking an "anti-something"—antivirals, antimicrobials, antibiotics. Sometimes that's necessary. But sometimes the answer is: Let's get your body in a state where it doesn't have to fight those battles. See what happens. Then assess what else might be needed. "It is incredible the amount of people that I've seen just from that. They were like a horse. They weren't a zebra." Translation: The solution was simple, not exotic or complex. 9. Understanding Dysautonomia (39:04 - 43:40) Dysautonomia is a hot topic, especially in post-viral and chronic illness communities. Dr. Eisenmann brings a unique perspective. First, what dysautonomia is NOT: It's not like Epstein-Barr virus—something you "catch" or "have forever." It's a neurological system, and talking about it as a fixed diagnosis creates confusion between "having this diagnosis" versus "needing rehabilitation." What's often missed: The autonomic nervous system controls output: Heart rate Respiration Pupillary dilation and constriction Digestion And much more But how does it do that? It needs integration from: Eyes Vestibular system (balance) Neurodevelopmental foundations If your eyes can't track a dot properly, if you don't have good vestibular function, if your brain doesn't understand gravitational positioning (what's up vs. down), your autonomic system will struggle. Common dysautonomia symptoms explained: Feeling weight in your back Slumping all the time People constantly telling you to "sit straight" but you just can't Feeling like your center of pressure is off These may indicate sensory integration issues, not just a heart problem. The concussion/brain injury lens: Dysautonomia may need to be viewed through the lens of brain injury. It's not just about: Salt intake Compression socks Medications It's about: Rehabilitating eye movements Restoring vestibular function Addressing sensory integration Sometimes addressing viral triggers Viruses can trigger dysautonomia, then shift eye movements, which compounds the dysautonomia. The lingering infection affects neurology even without a traumatic brain injury present. This is an acquired brain injury (ABI), much like hypoxia. The rehabilitation message: "A lot of these cases can be rehabbed. A lot of these things can improve." It's a wild ride because the autonomic nervous system is a seesaw between parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight). You might feel like you're on a rollercoaster you asked permission to get on. But improvement is possible. The collaboration imperative: Dr. Eisenmann works with cardiologists to co-manage patients. An EKG doesn't hurt—rule out cardiac issues. But dysautonomia is confusing because people think "heart problem = cardiologist only." The nervous system connection is often overlooked. 10. Empowering Patients: Make Your Doctor Work (44:05 - 48:00) One of the most powerful segments addresses patient empowerment. The common trap: People are overwhelmed by symptoms. They desperately want validation and answers. Finally, they get a diagnosis—POTS, dysautonomia, whatever it may be. In conventional medicine, the response is often: "You have this. Here are medications to make it less symptomatic. That's your identity now." Rehabilitation and alternative approaches often aren't mentioned or known. Many people are sick for 10-15 years before hearing about functional neurology or integrative approaches. Dr. Eisenmann's challenge to patients: "Make your doctor work. Make them work. Don't just take a diagnosis. Ask: What do I do next?" If the answer is only medication, you're allowed to ask more questions. They're working for you. Questions to ask: Is there any therapy I can do that you would recommend? Do you know of anyone who specializes in this? Can you refer me to someone? Your doctor is responsible for making connections with other practitioners. They should have a referral system to know: When do you need someone else? When am I the one who's supposed to help you? "They're not supposed to keep you forever because you're not meant to be kept forever." Dr. Eisenmann sees dysautonomia diagnoses daily. When she asks what's being done, the answer is often: "They haven't referred me out. They haven't done anything. They don't have solutions." Ask "why" like a toddler: Dr. Holland adds her approach: Keep asking "why." Don't stop at surface explanations. "It's because of this infection." But why? Is that infection even active? Because it's opportunistic. But why is your body susceptible? What's driving the imbalance? Why isn't the body in homeostasis? Get to root causes, not just symptoms or labels. 11. COVID's Silver Lining for Medicine (45:14 - 46:00) Despite the devastation of the pandemic, both doctors see a positive shift: Increased collaboration between practitioners Patients being taken more seriously Post-COVID programs implementing physical therapy and occupational therapy more routinely Recognition that viruses can present as brain injuries Acknowledgment that infections can affect entire body systems and nervous systems Functional neurology should be added to standard post-viral rehabilitation programs. How to Find Dr. Eisenmann Resiliency Brain Health Location: Hoppel, Texas (8 minutes from DFW Airport) Open concept clinic with a family atmosphere Services in English and Spanish Walk-ins welcome for tours Not local? Dr. Eisenmann maintains a referral network across the US, including Florida, North Carolina, and California. Call the clinic to ask for referrals in your area. Brain Charge Online Coaching For those unable to travel regularly For people in rural areas without local functional neurology support Provides foundation-level support to get you to the next step Contact: [email protected]