Insomnia/Fatigue
By: Dr. Michael L. Johnson
Insomnia and fatigue are two sides of the same coin:
if a person is unable to sleep at night, they are usually fatigued
during the day. However, some people get eight to 12 hours of sleep
a night and still have fatigue.
The top part of the brain stem is called the mesencephalon, and it
determines our sleeping/waking patterns. The specific term is the
"mesencephalic reticular activating system" which is a three-dollar
phrase for top of the brain stem. If the mesencephalon is firing,
you will be awake. If the mesencephalon decreases frequency of
firing, you will be tired and unable to stay awake. Patients who
experience insomnia probably have a mesencephalon that is
over-firing. Patients with fatigue who seem to get enough sleep may
have a decreased frequency of firing of the mesencephalon.
A thorough neurological examination should be performed in order to
determine the exact state of the nervous system.
As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I utilize treatment
modalities that increase or decrease frequency of firing on the
mid-brain. For example, visual stimulation with red or green light
from the left side crosses through the mid-brain and increases the
frequency of firing in the right cerebral cortex (right brain). The
effects of visual stimulation are monitored by blood pressure and
pulse. Increased frequency of firing (impulses) of the cortex
(brain) should lower the blood pressure and pulse via
ponto-medullary (lower brain stem) stimulation. Increased cortical
(brain) stimulation also fires to the cerebellum (back part of the
brain) via feedback mechanisms. The cerebellum controls involuntary
muscles of the spinal cord. Auditory stimulation (sound) in the
left ear increases frequency of firing (impulses) in the temporal
lobe of the brain. Auditory stimulation is monitored by blood
pressure and pulse. Treatments may include unilateral (one-sided)
exercises and unilateral (one-sided) adjustments or manipulations.
Extremities (arms and legs), lumbar spine (low back), and cervical
spine (neck) may be manipulated on one side only to fire muscle
spindle cells (muscle receptors) and joint mechanoreceptors (joint
receptors) into the same cerebellum (back part of the brain) and
opposite cerebral cortex (brain). The thoracic (mid-back) spine may
be globally manipulated to fire the dorsal columns (back part of
the spinal cord).
Dr. Michael L. Johnson,
Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic
Neurologist, one of only 700 in the country, with over twenty years
of experience in private practice. He has completed over 850 hours
of neurological studies and 3800 hours of postgraduate education.
His book "What Do You Do When the Medications Don"t Work? - A
Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia,
and Other Chronic Conditions" outlines his groundbreaking work in
the treatment of chronic pain and is a national best-seller. It is
available wherever books are sold.
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