web featured image 9
in , , ,

Fargo-Moorhead Mind Health with Menley Denham of Health with Hyperbarics

Menley Denham, Clinic Director at Healing with Hyperbarics

menley denham
Photo by Geneva Nodland

Menley has been the Clinic Director at Healing with Hyperbarics for two years but has been surrounded by the world of hyperbaric care for many years. Her mother opened the first Healing with Hyperbarics Clinic in Chicago, and as soon as Menley could get started there, she did. Later, she moved to Fargo, obtained her Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Hyperbaric Technician certifications (which are required to work at this clinic), and began at the Fargo location. She does work in the chamber, but she also focuses on research.

Why is it important?
“Our entire world is in our brain, and our brain is also responsible for all of our body and all of our autonomic body responses—all the automatic things; our heart rate, our GI tract, all of those things that we [may not] take for granted, but don’t necessarily pay attention to because they just happen for us.”

Meaning…
“A lot of times what we see when that [brain] is injured, is how dysregulated all of that can be. You can have GI tract issues, a racing heart rate, etc.”

Things You Might Not Know

1. Acute concussions can actually be treated.

Healing with Hyperbarics, and specifically, one of Menley’s research topics surrounds treating concussions with hyperbaric care. Currently, most continue to treat concussions with a wait-and-see approach. “JAMA is the Journal of American Medical Association… They published a review of nearly 1000 patients with concussions. And after two weeks, they found that 76% of people still had an incomplete recovery. And after six months, it was 56%. More than 56% still had symptoms. So, this whole idea of ‘let’s wait and see,’ and [saying that] conditions get better in about 10 days [with] no stimulation—it’s not working for us, we’ve got to find something else… That just again reiterates the whole importance of the brain and how it really is something we need to prioritize and take good care of.”

2. Hyperbaric treatments are easy.

“You’re laying, you’re watching TV, you’re breathing. Compared to so many other things that we do in the medical world, it’s a really easy treatment.”

Something To Keep In ‘Mind’

Hyperbaric treatment has been used for concussion and long-term COVID care. “One of our sayings here is, ‘No new normal.’ Whether it’s a concussion, COVID or pain, there shouldn’t be a new normal that you just have to accept, we should try to figure out how to get you back to you in the quickest way possible.”

You don’t want to just ‘Let it be,’ You really want to take care of and prioritize your brain health. The biggest thing is reframing that prioritization.”

–Mendley Denham, Clinic Director at Healing with Hyperbarics

Hyperbaric care works to heal the brain. How it works: In a pressurized chamber, you breathe in 100% oxygen (the air you normally breathe is around 20% oxygen). The pressure increase & oxygenated air inside the chamber can speed up the healing of damaged tissue and decrease swelling and inflammation by 20-30%.

Hyperbaric Treatment, offered at Healing with Hyperbarics, can be used as a treatment for many different things regarding the body. Menley specializes in how hyperbaric treatment can restore and heal the brain, which in hand, can treat the rest of the body!

Who to Follow

Hyperbaric treatment has been used for concussion and long-term COVID care. “One of our sayings here is, ‘No new normal.’ Whether it’s a concussion, COVID or pain, there shouldn’t be a new normal that you just have to accept, we should try to figure out how to get you back to you in the quickest way possible.”

What you Can Do Locally

The RightEye test is used more for general wellness, something Menley recommends anyone to try at the clinic.

“We have used the RightEye to test kids in elementary schools, sports teams, employees as part of an employee wellness program and more! It is quick (around 5 minutes) and easy to take—and it gives great insight into the functional dynamic vision. This means that we can look at how the brain and eyes are communicating and whether there is inflammation in the brain or not!”

The BrainScope, also done at the clinic, helps diagnose a concussion in someone who suspects one.

Lagom Wellness Clinic – “Dr. Tonya Loken provides a holistic approach to wellness and her clinic offers many great services for overall health, with an emphasis on naturopathic care. As our body and mind are all connected, she takes symptoms from the body and connects them to hormonal imbalances, which could be happening in the brain. Her holistic approach is exactly what we need in healthcare!”

Written by Geneva Nodland

web featured image 8

Fargo-Moorhead Ear, Nose & Throat Health with Dr. Susan Mathison of Catalyst Medical Center and Clinical Spa

web featured image 10

Fargo-Moorhead Gut Health with Dr. John Bassett of Sanford Health