Treating Alzheimer's with Herbal Treatments

One of the most common forms of dementia found in the elderly is Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease affects individuals over the age of 65, occasionally at a younger age a person could exhibit signs of early onset Alzheimer's. The beginning stages of the disease are often written off as being stressed or the aging process. Although the disease affects individuals differently some of the prevalent symptoms are confusion, memory loss, mood swings, barriers in spoken communication, aggression and irritability.

There is presently no cure for Alzheimer's disease but there are prescriptions drugs and natural treatments to soothe the symptoms. Many patients try herbal supplements and vitamins before graduating to prescription medications such as,Aricept. There are some concerns when using dietary supplements since they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Since they are not required to report anything to the FDA, little is known about any adverse reactions, purity or effectiveness of the supplement.

The most common herbal supplements that are said to alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are, coral calcium, gingko biloba and Huperzine A. One of the highly touted "cures" for Alzheimer's disease is the herbal supplement known as coral calcium.Coral calcium is derived from the salt found in coral reefs; the calcium salts however also contain varying minerals due to the lifestyle led of the inhabitant of the shell prior to becoming coral. The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission have both filed cases against the makers of this supplement on the grounds it has no health benefits. Physicians advise if you need calcium supplements to take a purified form of the substance and not coral calcium.

Huperzine A has been one of the most promising herbal supplements in the fight against Alzheimer's. Huperzine An is marketed as a memory aid in the United States but has been shown in clinical trials in China to minimize the memory related symptoms of Alzheimer's. Huperzine An affects the brain similarly to Aricept and in clinical trials in China has been shown to have less side effects. Huperzine An also has side effects such as rash, upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea.

Gingko biloba is a well known herbal supplement. This supplement is used for it's memory and concentration enhancement.The positive effects of Gingko extracts are protecting the cell from free radical damage and increasing blood flow to organs and tissues in the body. There are currently conflicting clinical trials when it comes to Gingko biloba, some say it has no effect on Alzheimer's while some say it helps delay the disease.

Before undertaking any course of herbal supplements you should consult your physician.

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Alternative Treatments

Gingko does not treat Alzheimer's