What Is MeRT?
MeRT treatment can bring balance to your brain by restoring those unused, weakened pathways. In doing so, you can restore your mental health. In fact, we have successfully used MeRT here at BrainStim Centers to treat a variety of conditions, and patients have reported miraculous results.
MeRT: How Optimizing your Brain can Improve your Mental Health
Your brain is astounding, containing approximately 100 billion neurons. And these neurons communicate via brain waves, or electrical oscillations, through pathways in the brain.
This concept of pathways is important. That’s because when your brain uses specific pathways more often, they become stronger. Conversely, when external or internal forces disrupt regular brain activity, these pathways can become under-used and weaker.
Examples of both external and external forces may include:
- Trauma to the head such as a concussion
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Emotional trauma or high amounts of chronic or acute stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Illness or disease such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease
- Developmental disorders such as autism, ADD, and ADHD
- Dementia
- Anxiety
- Sleeping disorders
Some people can still function in their day-to-day activities after experiencing one or more of these forces, while others have no quality of life whatsoever.
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The Components of MeRT
MeRT, or Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy, is customized for each patient. Specifically, this cutting-edge protocol uses the combined technologies of:
qEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram)
The qEEG is a non-invasive procedure that involves placing electrodes along your scalp to map your brainwaves. Once we have this information, we can use it for highly targeted rTMS treatments.
We will also have you so the Cambridge Brain Science Analysis.
The results from these will be reviewed and analyzed by Dr. Liker. With all of this information, we will schedule a consultation to discuss the findings and treatment options.
Begin MeRT, starting with an Assessment Period
If you and the doctor both determine that MeRT may be the right treatment, the next step is a short Assessment Period. This entails a short period of treatment, followed by a new EEG to see if you are responding to the treatment.
We assess this based on the new EEG results, as well as symptom improvements. If there is a positive response to treatment during the assessment period, you will have likely noticed some improvements. At that point, we can schedule the rest of the treatment.
Full Treatment with MeRT
MeRT is a form of rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation), a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic induction coils placed along your scalp to stimulate specific areas of the brain. MeRT is highly customized for each patient.
In essence, the results of the qEEG and EKG tell us what is functioning normally and show us areas of dysregulation. We then use this information to create a precision treatment protocol using rTMS.
MeRT is an entirely non-surgical, non-invasive, and drug-free treatment.
Why Our Treatments are Safe and yet so Effective?
Our Treatment protocols begin with thorough diagnostics and evaluation to isolate exact regions of the brain that are not functioning the way they should and treatment is highly individualized.
Drug- Free
Our Treatments do not require sedation or the use of any drugs or medications.
FDA Cleared
All of the equipment used in our treatment protocols are fully cleared through the FDA.
Non-Invasive
Our Protocols simply use magnetic pulses to retrain brain activity. They are non-invasive and pain-free.
MeRT: 4-Step Treatment
The basic protocols for treatment with MeRT are what makes MeRT so unique.
Analysis and treatment is highly customized to each individual. No two brains are the same, so why should treatment be any different?
Testing and Evaluation
At your first appointment, before starting any treatment, we will perform the qEEG and an EKG. These tests are both painless and straightforward, and we do them right in our office. Once we complete testing, our scientists and physicians will interpret and analyze the results to determine the exact function of the brain.
Analysis and Protocol
Once we have your test results, we carefully analyze them using a patented scientific approach. Then, based on this analysis, we develop a treatment plan customized to your specific condition and schedule your assessment period of treatment.
MeRT Treatment
Once your treatment protocols are in place, you will come to therapy five days a week, at two-week intervals. You simply sit in a comfortable chair while a highly trained neuro-technician puts a magnetic coil on your head. This magnetic device induces mild electrical signals in the targeted areas of your brain.
You will typically spend 30 minutes in the chair for each therapy session, and the stimulation occurs for six to eight seconds every minute. During those six to eight seconds, we require that you close your eyes.
Results are based on strict compliance with our treatment regimens and may vary based on each patient, and are not guaranteed.
Progress Evaluation
During your treatment period, we will monitor your progress throughout your daily treatments to confirm how you feel and track improvements. Additionally, after two weeks of treatment, we will perform another qEEG and EKG to review your progress and make any adjustments as needed.
If you respond positively to treatment during the assessment period, you will probably notice some improvements occurring. At that point, we will schedule additional MeRT treatment in two-week intervals.
It is important to note that most conditions require six to eight weeks of MeRT treatment for optimal success.
Common Benefits of MeRT Treatment Can Include:
- Improved Sleep
- Increased Relaxation
- Better Concentration and Focus
- Improved Memory and Mental Clarity
- Decreased Pain
- Better Mood
- Improved Ability to Cope with Stress
- Increased attention span
- More motivation
- Fewer cravings (such as drugs or alcohol)
- Improved emotional stability
- More clarity of thought
- Increased ability to adapt to change
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
* MeRT treatment is designed to help improve symptoms. Individual results may vary.
“EEGs (electrical pictures of the brain) can tell us when there are abnormalities in neural networks. …We can look at these signals and find areas that are abnormal, [then we] use this FDA cleared technology, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, to navigate to the area that’s not working properly and try to stimulate it and remind it that it wants to fire at a certain frequency and a certain rate.”
“Everyone has a unique frequency…”
“What we’ve learned is that everyone has a unique frequency or unique signature. All of us during our waking hours, we’re looking for something called an alpha frequency where our brain most comfortably operates in. It’s basically a cycle rate where we’re all somewhere between eight and 13 Hertz. And you might be, for example, an 11.4 Hertz brain. I might be an 8.9 Hertz brain. And somebody else may be a 10.3 Hertz brain. It’s just kind of where we’re born. But when we get these brain images, whether it’s through the physical trauma of a blast injury, the chemical trauma of years of drug use, or the emotional trauma of seeing a loved one pass away, we may find areas of the brain that are not cycling at the same rate as the rest of our cortex. …
– Dr. Erik Won, President of Wave Neuroscience, from his appearance on the Broken Brain podcast
Conditions Treated
With MeRT, Magnetic Resonance Therapy and Navigated TMS, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation we can improve a wide array of Neurological Conditions with gentle magnetic waves that help wake up the brain, improve connectivity and function.
Autism or ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder
By gently neuromodulating brain waves, brain communication can be more organized and in sync, allowing the child to be higher functioning, and in most cases, to have better communication and social skills.
PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Patients with PTSD have markers that can be clearly seen in EEG studies. These markers cause disruptions in the brain and strengthen healthy brainwave activity.
Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, and Concussions
A concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is more severe, or after repeated injuries, the symptoms can be debilitating. Treatment with TMS can be effective.
Anxiety
When you suffer from anxiety, usually show an imbalance in brainwave activity. With MeRT, we work to identify these imbalances and strengthen healthy brainwave activity in order to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Depression, Treatment-Resistant Depression
FDA-cleared for those who did not respond well to medications or do not tolerate them due to side effects, often referred to as clinical depression, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) or Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).
OCD, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The FDA has cleared Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for people with OCD habits who have been unsuccessful with other treatments.
Addiction
Long Term addiction problems can be helped by addressing underlying causes. We offer comprehensive care that includes medications to help you safely detox, counseling for long-term recovery, and innovative therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation to restore optimal brain functioning.
Chronic Pain
TMS can greatly help relieve chronic pain by modifying the neural circuits associated with pain signaling.
MeRT Treatment for Autism Featured on “The Doctors” TV Show
Many children with autism have experienced miraculous results in their overall function after going through MeRT treatment.* “The Doctors” interviewed neurologist, Spencer O. Miller, MD who has been using this treatment, and some moms of kids with Autism give their testimonials as well! Click here to watch this episode!
MeRT Treatment Protocol Featured on the “Broken Brain” Podcast
MeRT was featured on an episode of Mark Hyman, MD’s The Broken Brain podcast. During this episode, they discussed MeRT as an exciting new treatment for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and major depressive disorder.
If you or someone you know has experienced conditions such as PTSD or major depression, we highly recommend you watch this amazing podcast!
Interested but not sure?
Talk with our New Patient Coordinator
Our New Patient Coordinator is here for you, and we understand what you may be going through. To that end, we want to help, and it costs nothing to call us and talk about what is happening.
During your call, the New Patient Coordinator will listen to you and answer your questions. She will also explain our process and protocols, as well as costs, possible insurance benefits, and any other details you want to know.
There are no obligations and she will take all the time you need in order to determine whether you should take the next steps.
