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Senile Dementia & Alzheimer's Disease
Senile Dementia includes a range of disorders associated with deterioration of the Brain function. It may include personality changes, amnesia, impaired reasoning etc. Its cause is generally age-related deterioration of the Brain, but these symptoms may occur as a result of earlier brain trauma or mini-strokes.
In Traditional Medicine, it falls under several categories. First, it is usually associated with Deficiency. Medicines that strengthen the Head and Nerves can be used with benefit. From the TCM point of View, deficiency in old age is associated with Yin and/or Yang deficiency, and so Tonics of that nature may be beneficial too.
According to some Unani sources, Dementia can be categorised as Cold and Moist (Phlegm) or Cold and Dry (Melancholy).
Obstruction of Brain activity may occur from Phlegm or Damp, in which case medicines like Calamus, Indian Spikenard, Polygala Yuan Zhi or Phlegm–clearing medicines like Pinellia Ban Xia, Arisaema Tian Nan Xing and Agaric.
In Melancholic dispositions, medicines that clear Melancholy should be used. This includes Dodder, Fumitory, Agaric, Senna, with prepared Black Hellebore being applicable in experienced hands.
Medicines that nourish and strengthen the Brain and Nerves are most important. This includes seeds and nuts, especially Sesame or Cannabis seeds, and Walnuts, 5 per day taken on a long-term basis. Tonic medicines include Withania, Ginseng, Astragalus, Chebula, Centella, Chebula, Lycium Gou Qi Zi etc.
Medicines that enhances Blood flow to the brain include Frankincense, Turmeric, Saffron and Ginkgo leaf.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Modern medicine has studied some of the neurochemical brain changes that occur with degenerative brain diseases like Parksinon's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been implicated in various brain and central nervous system diseases. Medicines that modulate BDNF can have significant benefit in chronic brain disease. Various herbal medicines were studied and the following were found to have positive effects:
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Bacopa monnieri
Eleutherococcus Gingko Salvia Dan Shen |
Withania
Ginseng Rhodiola |
Saffron
St. John's wort Perilla |
Coffee Caffea arabica
Green Tea Grape, Grape seed Olive oil |
Herbs proven beneficial in Alzhemier's:
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Ginseng
Centella |
Emblic Myroabalan
Schisandra |
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Western Tradition
Simples:
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Chinese Classification
Simples:
Heart and Spleen Deficiency
Gui Pi Tang Yang Xin Tang Excess Heart or Liver Fire Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin Huang Lian Xie Xin Tang Phlegm Obstruction / Wind-Phlegm Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang –can add Calamus (Shi Chang Pu) and Curcuma Yu Jin Er Chen Tang (add Calamus) Blood Stasis Tong Qiao Huo Xue Tang Tao Hong Si Wu Tang Yin/ Essence Deficiency Qi Ju Di Huang Tang Zuo Gui Wan Sheng Mai San Yang Deficiency Gui Fu Li Zhong Wan Shen Qi Wan |
Other Formulas:
1. Vascular Dementia: Ginseng, Ginkgo, Saffron (this has been studied)
2. Centella, Costus, Calamus, Convolvulus Shankhpushpi in Aged Ghee
3. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ginseng (Ren Shen), Notoginseng San Qi and Lycium Gou Qi Zi
This combination was found prevent learning and memory disorders in Mice. (Read the research here)
4. Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Polygala Yuan Zhi (Kai Xin San)
5. Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Polygala Yuan Zhi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Curcuma Yu Jin and Gadenia Zhi Zi (Jia Wei Kai Xin San) (This has been studied)
6. Senile Dementia, Polygala Yuan Zhi with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Ginseng, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Licorice (as in Qi Fu Yin)
2. Centella, Costus, Calamus, Convolvulus Shankhpushpi in Aged Ghee
3. Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ginseng (Ren Shen), Notoginseng San Qi and Lycium Gou Qi Zi
This combination was found prevent learning and memory disorders in Mice. (Read the research here)
4. Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Polygala Yuan Zhi (Kai Xin San)
5. Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling, Calamus (Shi Chang Pu), Polygala Yuan Zhi, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Curcuma Yu Jin and Gadenia Zhi Zi (Jia Wei Kai Xin San) (This has been studied)
6. Senile Dementia, Polygala Yuan Zhi with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Ginseng, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Licorice (as in Qi Fu Yin)
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7. Decoction for Nourishing the Kidney, Eliminating Blood Stasis and Dispelling Phlegm:
Cornus Shan Zhu Yu Cuscuta Tu Si Zi Fructus Alpinia Yi Zhi Ren Curcuma Yu Jin Arisaema cum Bile Dan Nan Xing Polygala Yuan Zhi Calamus Shi chang pu Placenta (Zi He Che) Leech (Shui Zhi), Hawthorn fruit (Shan Zha). In a trial, 48 cases were treated, 21 had remarkable effect, 23 good effect, 4 had no effect. Effective rate was 91%. |
8. Decoction for Nourishing Kidney and Brain:
Polygonum He Shou Wu Cornus Shan Zhu Yu Dioscorea Shan Yao Lycium Gou Qi Zi Cuscuta Tu Si Zi Paeonia Chi Shao Salvia Dan Shen Curcuma Yu Jin This was studied and 20 cases were treated, Of those treated, 13 had marked effect giving a total effective rate of 95%. |
Research:
1. Ayurvedic Medicine for the Treatment of Dementia: Mechanistic Aspects.
2. Medicinal Herbs in Iranian Traditional Medicine for Learning and Memory.
3. Repeated administration of Sailuotong, a fixed combination of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, and Crocus sativus extracts for vascular dementia, alters CYP450 activities in rats
4. PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF IRIS GERMANICA L. IN Β-AMYLOID-INDUCED ANIMAL MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
5. Aqueous extract of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) improves the spatial performance of a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.
6. Ameliorative effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats: A behavioral and molecular study
7. The Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin in Alzheimer's Disease.
8. A herbal medicine for Alzheimer's disease and its active constituents promote neural progenitor proliferation.
9. Memory-improving activity of Melissa officinalis extract in naïve and scopolamine-treated rats.
10. Paeoniflorin attenuates Aβ25-35-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.
11. Tanshinone IIA reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting iNOS, MMP‑2 and NF‑κBp65 transcription and translation in the temporal lobes of rat models of Alzheimer's disease.
12. Centella asiatica Extract Improves Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Investigation of a Possible Mechanism of Action.
13. Silymarin attenuated the amyloid β plaque burden and improved behavioral abnormalities in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.
14. Ginkgo biloba extract in Alzheimer's disease: from action mechanisms to medical practice.
15, A traditional medicinal herb Paeonia suffruticosa and its active constituent 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose have potent anti-aggregation effects on Alzheimer's amyloid beta proteins in vitro and in vivo.
16. Botanicals and phytochemicals active on cognitive decline: The clinical evidence.
2. Medicinal Herbs in Iranian Traditional Medicine for Learning and Memory.
3. Repeated administration of Sailuotong, a fixed combination of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, and Crocus sativus extracts for vascular dementia, alters CYP450 activities in rats
4. PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF IRIS GERMANICA L. IN Β-AMYLOID-INDUCED ANIMAL MODEL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
5. Aqueous extract of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) improves the spatial performance of a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.
6. Ameliorative effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. hydroalcoholic extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats: A behavioral and molecular study
7. The Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin in Alzheimer's Disease.
8. A herbal medicine for Alzheimer's disease and its active constituents promote neural progenitor proliferation.
9. Memory-improving activity of Melissa officinalis extract in naïve and scopolamine-treated rats.
10. Paeoniflorin attenuates Aβ25-35-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells by preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.
11. Tanshinone IIA reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease by inhibiting iNOS, MMP‑2 and NF‑κBp65 transcription and translation in the temporal lobes of rat models of Alzheimer's disease.
12. Centella asiatica Extract Improves Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Investigation of a Possible Mechanism of Action.
13. Silymarin attenuated the amyloid β plaque burden and improved behavioral abnormalities in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model.
14. Ginkgo biloba extract in Alzheimer's disease: from action mechanisms to medical practice.
15, A traditional medicinal herb Paeonia suffruticosa and its active constituent 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose have potent anti-aggregation effects on Alzheimer's amyloid beta proteins in vitro and in vivo.
16. Botanicals and phytochemicals active on cognitive decline: The clinical evidence.