Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury is a closed head injury caused by a direct blow to the head. The injury is typically caused by car accidents, sports and falls. The other component of concussion is what happens inside the skull. There is a rapid deceleration of the brain as it strikes the inner surface of the cranium. Sometimes there is brief loss of consciousness and some amnesia of the event. At the emergency room a CT or MRI of the brain is performed which is usually normal. Major symptoms include headache, nausea, mental fogginess, unsteadiness, irritability and sleep disturbances. For many, these symptoms resolve slowly over days or weeks but for some people, the symptoms can lasts many months. Little is known about what happens to the injured brain on a cellular level so treatment options are limited.   The conventional treatment is usually Tylenol or Advil for pain and physical and mental rest.  School work and computer use is restricted at first and then gradually increased to tolerance. Some physicians try the off-label use of various anti-depressants but there is really no basis for such treatment beyond some possible effects on mood.   Homeopathy and osteopathy have much to offer to the patient with concussion syndrome. There are dozens of homeopathic medicines for head trauma that have been used successfully for over 200 years. Treatment selection is based on a careful and detailed analysis of the patient’s symptoms.   Cranial osteopathy is exceptionally useful in cases of concussion. The cranial injury pattern can be diagnosed and treated by a cranial osteopath. In addition, patterns of injury in the neck, back, sacrum and pelvis which contribute to the overall syndrome can also be addressed. This combination of therapies usually leads to a faster resolution of chronic concussion symptoms. I frequently refer concussion patients to a behavioral optometrist for an evaluation and possible treatment with eye exercises and colored light therapy (Syntonics).