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development of amyloid plaques, and degeneration of brain tissue. Alzheimer's usually occurs after the age of 60.
Modern medical treatment involves use of hydergine, dexedrine, and antidepressant drugs. In Europe there is widespread use of Ginkgo biloba leaf for this condition.
Symptoms of alzheimer's disease and most forms of dementia, such as loss of memory and irritability are understood by Chinese medicine to be associated with the Kidneys or the Heart.
In China, one of the most promising modern day herbal treatments for Alzheimer's disease involves an alkaloid extracted from the herb huperzia which inhibits the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, increasing neurotransmission in the body. Though one can't get enough Huperzine-A by simply consuming the whole herb, certain traditional Chinese herbs and herbal formulas may also significantly increase levels of acetylcholine. Coptis chinenses (huanglian) is one such herb.
Seeing a practitioner skilled in the use of Chinese herbs is most important. (find a practitioner here)
For those unable to find a practiotioner near them, the herbs zizyphus, biota, polygala, and acorus are traditionaly used to treat heart disorders involving memory. Kidney tonics should be added.
Good herbal medicines containing many heart noursihing herbs are
Jian Nao Wan (Healthy Brain Pills) and
Good Sleep & Worry Free Pills.
Tian Huang Bu Xin Wan and/or
The Use of Herbal Medicine in Alzheimer’s Disease—A Systematic
Review
Leopoldo Luiz dos Santos-Neto1, Maria Alice de Vilhena Toledo2, Patrı´cia Medeiros-Souza3
and Gustavo Almeida de Souza3
1General Internal Medical Center, University Hospital of Brasilia, University of Brasilia, 2General Internal Medical
Center, Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital of Brasilia, University of Brasilia and 3School of Pharmacy,
Department of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&blobtype=pdf&artid=1697739
The treatments of choice in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA-receptor
antagonists, although doubts remain about the therapeutic effectiveness of these drugs. Herbal medicine
products have been used in the treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
(BPSD) but with various responses. The objective of this article was to review evidences from controlled
studies in order to determine whether herbs can be useful in the treatment of cognitive disorders in the
elderly. Randomized controlled studies assessing AD in individuals older than 65 years were identified
through searches of MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library, dissertation Abstract (USA), ADEAR
(Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials Database), National Research Register, Current Controlled trials,
Centerwatch Trials Database and PsychINFO Journal Articles. The search combined the terms
Alzheimer disease, dementia, cognition disorders, Herbal, Phytotherapy. The crossover results were
evaluated by the Jadad’s measurement scale. The systematic review identified two herbs and herbal
formulations with therapeutic effects for the treatment of AD: Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis and
Yi-Gan San and BDW (Ba Wei Di Huang Wan). Ginkgo biloba was identified in a meta-analysis study.
All five herbs are useful for cognitive impairment of AD. M. officinalis and Yi-Gan San are also useful
in agitation, for they have sedative effects. These herbs and formulations have demonstrated good
therapeutic effectiveness but these results need to be compared with those of traditional drugs. Further
large multicenter studies should be conducted in order to test the cost-effectiveness of these herbs for
AD and the impact in the control of cognitive deterioration.
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