For Dr. Steve Haltiwanger, implementing integrative treatments began when he was fresh out of medical school and completely by accident.
While completing a residency in neurology, Dr. Haltiwanger encountered a patient who had been paralyzed for seven years. A private patient of the Neurology Department Chairman, the man had been receiving exceptional care and various medications but was not improving. After careful examination of the patient’s lab work, which appeared normal, and viewing his red cells under a microscope, Dr. Haltiwanger made the decision to administer B12 shots.
“After I gave the man the first shot I came back to see him the next day on my rounds and he asked me what I had given him the day before,” said Haltiwanger. “I told him it was B12 and he said it was the first thing that anyone had given him that made him feel better. So, I studied B12 to make sure I wasn’t going to harm him and then began giving him daily B12 shots.”
After continuing to administer B12 at a daily dose for three weeks, Dr. Haltiwanger dropped the dose to every other day for another three weeks and at the end of that time frame the patient regained the use of his legs and walked out of the hospital on his own. This incident altered Dr. Haltiwanger’s thinking and set him on a course of embracing an integrative approach to medicine and led him to research alternative treatment options. His stories of seeing patients find healing, through use of vitamins, minerals and proper nutrition, are encouraging and endless.
After many years in practice, Dr. Haltiwanger made the decision to spend his time in research and now he serves as the Health and Science Director of LifeWave Inc. where he coordinates research projects at universities and colleges and establishes research protocols. He also formulates nutritional compounds to support cellular energy production and cell repair.
At the upcoming Practitioner’s Brain Regeneration Conference, Dr. Haltiwanger will be presenting his findings on transcranial direct current stimulation, a safe noninvasive form of electrical therapy where saline electrodes are placed in specific locations on the head to achieve biological effects. Thousands of studies have been completed over the last 30 years demonstrating the therapeutic potential in patients with Parkinson's disease, stroke, tinnitus, aphasia, insomnia, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s and depression. Healthy people have also shown results in improving memory, attention, mathematical ability, physical performance, fine motor control, and accelerated learning, The USAF has found that pilot training could be done in half the time indicating a two-times increase in learning. Focus, attention, concentration, and learning seems to be the first and immediate target of most people like students, business employees, actors and even athletes who are interested in self-improvement.
Dr. Haltiwanger will focus on three main objectives in his presentation:
- Discuss the physiological mechanisms involved in TDCS
- Show the research regarding different conditions that respond to TDCS
- Teach how nutritional therapy can improve myelination of the brain to enhance TDCS effects
“I believe that physicians can leave my presentation understanding the important role of TDCS and how it can be used to improve brain and neurological function,” said Haltiwanger. “I also hope they will leave understanding that combining TDCS with a proper nutritional program can be even more powerful.”
Dr. Haltiwanger received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1980. He completed a Psychiatry and Neurology residency in 1984 and in 1985 he was board certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Haltiwanger’s past research includes combining electromagnetic, acoustic and phototherapy treatments with nutritional supplementation. He has also done research on the effects of PEMF on neurological diseases (multiple sclerosis and diabetic neuropathy). He currently is a member of the scientific counsel of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists and has spent 31 years, presenting at many national and international conferences in 15 countries.
To learn more about how you can hear Dr. Haltiwanger along with other leading integrative practitioners at the upcoming Practitioner’s Brain Regeneration Conference click here.