(Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our patients.)
Kristofer, 26, came to the Amen Clinics because he was experiencing a number of problems. In talking with him, we learned that he had become addicted to inhalants. Kristofer’s SPECT scan showed that his addiction to inhalants had seriously harmed his brain.
After looking at more than 55,000 brain scans, I have found that inhaling organic solvents is the worst drug of abuse for brain function. You will understand why when you look at Kristofer’s SPECT scan.
Other researchers have come to the same conclusion. A 1998 study from Korean researchers in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine used SPECT imaging to scan the brain of a 17-year-old man who was addicted to inhaling toluene. Toluene is a chemical solvent commonly used in paint thinners, glue, lacquers, disinfectants, and other household products.
The 17-year-old, who had been inhaling toluene for eight months, was admitted to the hospital with hallucinations. He underwent a number of brain scans, including MRI and SPECT. It is interesting to note that on the MRI study, his brain looked normal and showed no signs of trouble. The SPECT scans, however, showed decreased blood flow in several areas, which explained his symptoms. The researchers concluded that SPECT imaging could be beneficial in detecting central nervous system injuries when other brain tests appeared normal.
Kristofer—inhalant addiction
Inhalants are terrible for your brain. Stay away from them and make sure you have great ventilation whenever you are painting or using chemicals.
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At Florida Detox and Wellness Institute, we have referred hundreds of addicted patients to the Amen Clinic over the last seven years and I must agree with Dr. Amen that the most disturbing scans are seen in patients with Toluene toxicity.
We frequently treat patients who are actually addicted to Xanax, Oxycontin or alcohol because they self-medicate, to quiesce the electrical “short circuiting” and excito-toxicity that develops in a Toluene toxic brain.
As Dr. Amen states in this article, Toluene commonly found in solvents is a potent brain toxin. It is particularly toxic to the myelin sheath, a fatty covering that functions as the “rubber on the wire” for brain neurons.
When the “fatty” myelin sheath is destroyed by Toluene or other neuro-toxins, the electrical “short circuiting” causes elevated levels of excitatory brain chemicals, those that “turn up” electrical voltage in the brain.
We have measured brain neurotransmitters in thousands of addicted patients. Our extensive testing on Toluene toxic patients who suffer addiction [usually auto body shop employees] has repeatedly demonstrated excessive levels of several excitatory brain chemicals, specifically, Glutamate, Histamine and phenylethylamine, PEA. Elevation of these neurotransmitters causes severe anxiety, insomnia and sometimes rage and paranoia.
We have designed a power packed, intravenous protocol that accelerates removal of Toluene and other toxins from the brain, enhances their transportation to the liver and ultimately, into the stool where in most patients, they are readily eliminated.
Unfortunately, 24 percent of Americans, have the HLA/DR4 gene, their elimination of neuro-toxins from the liver and bile into the stool is 468 percent less efficient than neuro-toxin removal in “normal” patients.
HLA/DR4 patients develop more severe brain toxicity and will demonstrate “uglier” Spect scans than other patients with the same toxic exposure. They are much more likely to become addicted to alcohol or drugs that decrease electrical current in the brain.
Labcorp has a Toluene metabolite profile, a urine test, #723221 that is available for patients who think they may have a “Toluene toxic” brain.
For more on neuro-toxicity and it’s frequent causation of addiction, visit my website, http://www.floridadetox.com
I just wanted to share this video of a sleep talker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WztLoZZkTc0
he talks about penguins in his sleep.
Since it’s a brain/penguin issue, I thought you’d be interested.
Having additional means of diagnosing, such as the help of this spect scans can surely help physicians in pinpoint diagnosis, thus helping patients accurately.
Thanks for the good work and broadening our perspectives.
Dr. Amen,
Your generosity with SPECT Scan Images is to be admired.
One can only imagine the massive number of people you’ve directly and indirectly helped over the years.
Thank you for educating so many, Doctors and patients and the general public, myself included.
I am a great fan of yours, but I do not have the background to carry great value in my assessments of your work, however, it’s interesting to hear those that do. Highly educated Doctors and scientist in your field such as, Dr. Parker (Virginia), speak with admiration of you and they recognize the value of your work.
I cannot even imagine with today’s knowledge that there could even remotely be a critic of your work, except to think that they are either uninformed or jealous.
Please continue your great calling.
I am looking forward to the day when SPECT scans or fMRIs will be affordable and done as regularly as Xray’s are for bones. It’s possible the general public needs them more today than ever before in the history of mankind.
I wish someone would start a SPECT scan charity for the homeless, street people. Many of them really need the help that the scans could possibly give them but will never have the ability to access it.
Again, many, many thanks.