Intravenous & Neuro-Regenerative Therapies
Intravenous (IV) therapies deliver fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a person's vein. They are commonly used to ensure fast and effective absorption into the bloodstream. Other helpful therapies include peptides and stem-cell derived exosomes which add another layer of regenerative healing to damaged brain tissue.
Nutrient IVs
1. Glutathione
Why it helps: Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant. After a brain injury, oxidative stress and inflammation skyrocket, damaging brain cells. IV glutathione neutralizes free radicals, detoxifies the brain, and protects neurons from further damage. It also supports mitochondrial function, which is essential for cellular energy and repair in the brain.
2. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
Why it helps: NAC is a precursor to glutathione and has direct antioxidant effects. It protects against excitotoxicity (excess glutamate that harms neurons), reduces oxidative stress, and has shown promise in clinical studies for treating traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion-related symptoms.
3. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Why it helps: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant supporting immune modulation and collagen synthesis. In the brain, it reduces oxidative damage and inflammation and protects against blood-brain barrier breakdown—a common issue after TBI.
4. Magnesium (especially Magnesium Threonate)
Why it helps: Magnesium is critical for calming overactive neurons and reducing excitotoxicity, which is common after trauma. Magnesium threonate, in particular, crosses the blood-brain barrier and may support cognitive recovery and reduce post-injury headaches, brain fog, and anxiety.
5. B-Vitamin Complex (B1, B6, B9, B12)
Why it helps: B vitamins are essential for neurotransmitter synthesis, nerve repair, and energy production in brain cells. After injury, demands for B vitamins increase, and deficiencies can slow down recovery. B12 and B9 (folate) are especially important for cognitive recovery and neurogenesis.
6. CoQ10 or Ubiquinol
Why it helps: CoQ10 supports mitochondrial health and energy production. Since brain injuries often impair mitochondrial function, IV CoQ10 can help restore energy to neurons and reduce cellular damage.
7. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
Why it helps: ALA is a powerful antioxidant that also regenerates other antioxidants like glutathione and vitamin C. It helps reduce brain inflammation and supports nerve cell repair after injury.
8. Myers’ Cocktail
What’s in it: Vitamin C, B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6), Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), Magnesium & Calcium
Why it helps:
The Myers’ Cocktail is a foundational IV nutrient blend that supports energy metabolism, immune function, and neurological recovery. The B vitamins help repair nerves and produce neurotransmitters, magnesium calms overexcited neurons, and vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant. For brain injury, this blend reduces fatigue, supports mental clarity, and helps repair cellular damage. It’s often used as a baseline IV and can be stacked with more targeted compounds.
Peptides
Peptides help the brain heal by encouraging the growth of new neurons and the formation of fresh connections between them. Many peptides boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key protein that supports the brain’s ability to adapt and recover after injury. They also reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which are common after brain trauma and can cause lasting damage. Some peptides protect brain cells from dying, while others help restore mood, memory, and motivation by balancing important brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Unlike many traditional drugs, peptides often work in harmony with the body’s own systems, offering targeted support with fewer side effects.
1. Cerebrolysin
What it is: Cerebrolysin is a peptide-based nootropic derived from pig brain proteins. It's a mixture of neuropeptides and amino acids.
How it works: It mimics the action of neurotrophic factors (proteins that support neuron growth and repair), promoting neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and reducing inflammation. It also reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis (cell death).
Why it helps with brain injuries: Cerebrolysin has been shown to improve outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders. It promotes regeneration of nerve tissue and improves cognitive function by helping damaged neurons recover and fostering neuroplasticity.
2. Semax
What it is: Semax is a synthetic peptide based on a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), modified to enhance neurotrophic activity without hormonal effects.
How it works: Semax increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and enhances antioxidant activity. It also modulates dopamine and serotonin systems, reduces inflammation, and supports cognitive function.
Why it helps with brain injuries: By boosting BDNF and reducing oxidative damage, Semax can accelerate recovery from ischemic stroke, cognitive decline, or trauma. It also helps reduce brain fog and enhance mental clarity during recovery.
3. Selank
What it is: Selank is another ACTH-derived peptide, similar to Semax, with additional anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and cognitive benefits.
How it works: It modulates the GABAergic system (involved in relaxation and stress response), enhances BDNF, and improves serotonin and dopamine balance.
Why it helps with brain injuries: Selank reduces stress-related inflammation and improves mental clarity, memory, and mood—key aspects of brain injury recovery. It is particularly useful when anxiety or emotional dysregulation is present post-injury.
4. BDNF Mimetics (like 7,8-DHF)
What it is: 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) is not a peptide itself, but it mimics the action of BDNF, a key brain growth factor.
How it works: It activates the TrkB receptor, stimulating pathways involved in neuronal survival, growth, and plasticity.
Why it helps with brain injuries: By mimicking BDNF, it supports recovery after injury by encouraging the brain to regenerate and form new neural connections.
5. Thymosin Beta-4 (TB-500)
What it is: TB-500 is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring peptide in the thymus gland, involved in tissue regeneration.
How it works: It promotes cell migration, reduces inflammation, and enhances tissue repair, including neurons and glial cells in the brain.
Why it helps with brain injuries: TB-500 supports recovery from neurotrauma by reducing secondary inflammation and improving tissue repair at the injury site.
8. N-Acetyl Semax Amidate (NAS)
What it is: A potent modified form of Semax with enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration.
How it works: It provides strong neuroprotection, antioxidant benefits, and modulation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
Why it helps with brain injuries: NAS can accelerate neural recovery, improve cognitive outcomes, and help protect neurons from injury-related stress and inflammation.
Exosomes
Exosomes are tiny extracellular vesicles (30–150 nanometers in size) naturally released by cells to communicate with other cells by carrying bioactive molecules like proteins, RNA, and microRNA. For brain injury, exosomes—especially those derived from stem cells—can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver regenerative signals directly to damaged brain tissue. These vesicles promote neurogenesis (growth of new neurons), reduce inflammation, inhibit cell death, and modulate immune responses. MSC-derived exosomes, for example, are rich in anti-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors that help repair the injured brain, enhance synaptic plasticity, and improve functional recovery. Neural stem cell-derived exosomes go a step further by providing signals specific to brain tissue regeneration. Because exosomes are cell-free and less immunogenic than stem cells themselves, they offer a safe, targeted, and non-invasive approach to healing traumatic brain injuries.
Patient Reviews
Healing was a struggle. My neck locked up and was immobile for days after. I was in a lot of pain. It felt like I had broken my neck again. Literally thought that is how stem cells work. They rebuilt, so this much pain meant they had a lot of work they were doing. A month later, I was still locked up, it was difficult, and I was in a ton of pain. Dr Cook put me on IVs of Vitamin C, B vitamins, Quercetin, etc., and this really helped. I did several days of this. (2019)
Then after another concussion in 2020:
I went to Dr Cook’s at Bio Reset Medical in pretty bad shape. He had a plan to try something different in my IV’s. We did exosomes, and it was a game-changer. They are super anti-inflammatory and took the swelling and concussion away immediately. Plus, it held for at least a week. Then, I went to Dr Donaldson at Longevity Medical Institute and did several IVs inluding Curcumin, Myers cocktail and Glutathione which are all really anti-inflammatory. I continued those IVs for the following few weeks, as well as NAD+ and extra Minerals, all of which significantly helped with my mental state and fatigue. In summary, if I ever get a head injury again, I’m going to go straight to an IV of exasomes and then follow up every week with regular IVs as necessary. This seems to be the most effective for my body and time on top of HBOT.
Shawn Dollar