The "rag-doll" effect was noted in Chinese texts predating Christianity- in the context of "falling from a carriage" it is said that "the drunkard escapes injury because his spirit is complete" which is an old fashioned way of saying the person rolls with the fall and doesn't tense up to resist it. Sorry I can't remember which ancient chinese author wrote this.
The effect being examined here is a different one- on the brains inflammatory response to injury- the right dose of ethanol inhibits this.
Alcohol intoxication is responsible for the vast majority of serious head injury, so drinking before an accident, even if it does reduce neural injury, is not on the whole protective- (you are about 12% less likely to die if you have a head injury while you have ethanol in your blood stream, but you are at least twice as likley to get a head injury in the first place if you are intoxicated).
Based on this research, it would appear that administering the ideal amount of ethanol in an emergency department setting may be able to reduce neural injury after a head injury. However drinking alcohol at home as a treatment for head injury is likely to result in a concussed person lapsing into unconsiousness and dying from intercranial bleeding. The best advice if you have a head injury is not to drink alcohol, and to get to a hospital.
The effect being examined here is a different one- on the brains inflammatory response to injury- the right dose of ethanol inhibits this.
Alcohol intoxication is responsible for the vast majority of serious head injury, so drinking before an accident, even if it does reduce neural injury, is not on the whole protective- (you are about 12% less likely to die if you have a head injury while you have ethanol in your blood stream, but you are at least twice as likley to get a head injury in the first place if you are intoxicated).
Based on this research, it would appear that administering the ideal amount of ethanol in an emergency department setting may be able to reduce neural injury after a head injury. However drinking alcohol at home as a treatment for head injury is likely to result in a concussed person lapsing into unconsiousness and dying from intercranial bleeding. The best advice if you have a head injury is not to drink alcohol, and to get to a hospital.
Dr Jane.