After a person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or Alzheimer's dementia, he or she and their loved ones may feel desperate and frustrated by the advice of their doctor. Dietary supplements are an interesting option or are added to medications and can give hope to individuals and families. However, consider all the facts before trying one of these treatments and getting reliable information. Any drug or herb has benefits or risks, and in combination, interactions may be possible.
Integrative approach to medicine
Since herbs, vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids, etc. are being studied more and more for their potential benefit to patients, it would be advisable to consult with doctors in this area. If you want cosmetic surgery, you are not going to look for a doctor who has no training in this area. Therefore, you cannot rely on the advice of any physician who has not been trained with nutritional approaches, and may in fact be biased against non-drug related treatments. He / she may not be aware of modern scientific information, which has shown that herbs and nutrients are good for brain disorders.
The type of doctor you should be looking for is a doctor with integrative medicine. These doctors use a mixed approach to health care, combining conventional medicine with appropriate side and alternative medicines. This approach has proven to be safe and effective for a number of medical conditions. However, taking prescription herbal products without the advice of these experts can cause problems.
A study conducted in the Journal of the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in January-February 2005 showed that “the results show that integrative treatment has not only delayed [prolonged] cognitive decline within 24 months, but even improved cognition, especially memory and frontal lobe functions. ”
The American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias stated in March-April 2006: “Although some medications approved for ingestion and medicine are available for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, the results are often unsatisfactory and there is room for alternative medicine, particularly herbal medicine ".
What does the scientific medical literature on herbs say?
Let's look at the two most studied herbs with the best information available here, because there is a lot of concern about the efficacy and safety of herbal therapies.
Is Jingko Biloba an herb or a drug?
Recent studies have shown positive results with the help of a specially formed Ginkgo formula. The European Journal of Neurology in September 2006 reported in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study that Ginkgo was just as effective as donepezil.
In fact, Ginkgo biloba herb is sold and regulated as a medicine in Germany. This means that it should be considered as a medicine and used with caution in combination with medicines such as aspirin and other anticoagulant drugs, under the guidance of a doctor.
Is galantamine a medicine or a herb?
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) reported in December 2000 that galantamine slows down the decline in both cognizability and functional ability in Alzheimer's patients. It was a large study of 653 out of 86 clinics in patients with mild to moderate disease.
Interestingly, if herbs are just as ineffective as critics say, then why this herb has received FDA approval for sale as a prescription drug under the trademark Razadyne (formerly Reminyl). The irony is that galantamine with more than 50 years of use as a natural plant product, from a snowdrop plant, is recognized as a medicine, but is still available without a prescription.
In fact, the drug "Razadin" (galantamine) is a herb. The drug is exactly the same as herbal extract, except for the price, naturally, a pun.
Before you add any supplements to Alzheimer's disease or dementia treatment plans, consult your doctor about complex medicine to make sure it is safe, right for you and will not interfere with other medicines. There are other promising herbs that doctors will know about. Ask questions so that you have a realistic expectation of what supplements can achieve because there is no medicine, however you can enjoy a better quality of life.
