How to Treat Health Problems Through Trepanation

Trepanation is the practice of drilling a hole into the skull for medical purposes. It is usually only used in the direst of medical circumstances, such as a blood clot in the brain, a partial collapse of the skull or a subdural or epidural hematoma. Trepanation relieves pressure from the brain, which can cause brain damage or death. However, it has also become a form of alternative medicine, used to treat several less severe conditions. Trepanation has been used since before recorded history to treat all sorts of afflictions, including seizures and mental illness.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access
• Licensed medical doctor

Treat Health Problems Through Trepanation

1. Learn the types of health problems that can be treated with trepanation. Some believe that trepanation can be used to treat migraines, stress, depression and chronic fatigue. Trepanation is most commonly used to treat subdural and epidural hematomas. A subdural hematoma, usually caused by tears in veins in the brain, occurs when blood manages to breach the protective outer layer (dura mater) of the brain, and collect in the middle layer, called the arachnoid. An epidural hematoma is a buildup of blood between the dura mater and the skull. In both these cases, trepanation is the only way to remove the hematoma.

2. Know the difference between necessary and elective trepanation. For the treatment of brain trauma, a doctor must get through the skull in order to treat the problems beneath it, or the patient will likely die. For the treatment of migraines, stress, depression and fatigue, it is believed that trepanation will help balance the flow of blood through the brain to improve overall physical and mental health.

3. Talk to a licensed medical doctor about trepanation and whether or not it might be a good option for you.

4. Learn more about the procedure of trepanation and read a list of signs and symptoms of the diseases that can be treated through trepanation by visiting the World Health Organization's page on cranial burr holes (see Resources below).

5. Decide, with the help of your doctor, whether to undergo trepanation. If you decide to go ahead with it, be sure it is performed by a licensed medical doctor at a state-accredited facility.

6. Follow your doctor's instructions in the days and weeks after the surgery to ensure timely recovery.

Tips & Warnings

• Like any surgical procedure, trepanation can be very expensive.
• Trepanation should only be performed by, and at the advice of, a licensed medical doctor. Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.
• With trepanation comes a high risk of infection, sepsis and severe brain damage, either as a result of a botched surgery, or simply because the brain is exposed. Contact a doctor immediately at the first sign of infection.

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