Strokes and Alzheimer`s disease are the most common causes of dementia. For most people dealing with these diseases, treatment options are quite limited. The good news is that there are various natural and alternative herbs available which have been shown to help lower the risk of dementia. Needless to say, it is important to combine them with a healthy lifestyle and eating a healthy, organic diet.What is Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
While only an estimate, about 5.4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer`s disease. While there isn’t any conventional cure for it, there is hope regarding the disease in terms of preventative medicine.
According to Dr. David Perlmutter, an integrative medicine neurologist and author of the New York Times’ bestseller, Grain Brain, Alzheimer’s is preventable with the help of a proper diet. He notes that “diets that are high in sugar and carbohydrates, and similarly diets that are low in fat, are devastating to the brain. When you have a diet that has carbohydrates in it, you are paving the way for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Preventative Herbs
Apart from improving overall diet and increasing gut flora in an attempt to help the brain, there are couple of herbs which also work to help prevent the onset of dementia and Alzheimer`s.
1. Turmeric
Turmeric is an ancient Indian herb which has been long used for its countless health benefits. It has been thoroughly studied over the years for its use in treating arthritis, liver diseases, colon and breast cancer, gastric ulcers, and cystic fibrosis. Its active ingredient called curcumin helps prevent dementia and reduce symptoms of current dementia sufferers. It has been scientifically shown that Alzheimer`s and dementia rarely affect elderly of India as opposed to elderly of America. It seems that turmeric might be the key to this statistics.
2. Ginkgo
Gingko extract is one of the best known herbal remedies for cognitive impairment and dementia. It has a long history of use in treating memory issues, blood disorders, and cerebral vascular insufficiency too. Gingko works by improving circulation by opening up blood vessels, which in turn makes it useful for eye and vein health.
3. Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry)
This herb has been long used in India`s Ayurbedic medicine. While it is often used for improved energy and stress reduction, recent studies show that it might be beneficial in fighting off the effects of dementia and Alzheimer`s as well.
According to researchers National Brain Research Center (NBRC), this herb has the ability to improve cognitive abilities and reverse memory in Alzheimer’s patients.
4. Ginseng
This Chinese herb has been long used in china to help prevent and treat the negative effects of aging. A few years ago, a study found that patients with mild to moderate dementia who were given ginseng extract showed notable memory improvement. Not long ago, a team of researchers at the Kyung Hee University discovered that black ginseng is beneficial for protecting against cognitive and neuronal impairment.
5. Chinese Club Moss
Ultimately, Chinese club moss has been used in preventative medicine due to its compound known as huperizine. In a recent study, a team of researchers gave patients huperizine for 8 weeks. More than half of them exhibited notable improvement in cognitive abilities and memory.
Sources: http://besthealthyguide.com
No comments:
Post a Comment