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Chinese Herbal Treatment for Alzheimers and Dementia Recently, there has been an escalating interest in exploring novel pharmacological approaches in Alzheimer dementia and schizophrenia. The pharmacology of huperzine A, an alkaloid isolated from Huperzia serrata has been reviewed,. The dual action of huperzine in inhibiting cholinesterase activity and modulating the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid) makes the compound highly appealing as a target in pharmaceutical development as a cognitive enhancer agent. At last, it seems there is a natural treatment for senile dementia that is backed by science. Huperzine-A is a natural alkaloid extract of Huperzia serrata, a Chinese plant. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural treatment for senile dementia.
Huperzine was isolated for the first time in 1948 by Chinese scientists. The majority of clinical studies have been conducted in China where huperzine now has drug status and is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related memory disorders.
In the United States, researchers from the University of Georgetown announced a new clinical trial in June 2006. Involving 150 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, the objective is to test the efficacy of huperzine-A.
Just like certain drugs, huperzine-A inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase which breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for optimal cognitive function. The amount of acetylcholine available in the brain is therefore greater. Unlike drugs, huperzine-A does not create dependency and is therefore suitable for long-term use. It also has longer-lasting action, is absorbed faster, crosses the blood-brain barrier more quickly and has few or no side effects. Taking huperzine-A leads to significant improvements in memory, concentration and learning capacity. Research has also shown that huperzine-A substantially reduced abnormally high radical activity both in the brains of elderly animals as well as in the blood of Alzheimer’s patients. In monkeys, it reversed scopolamine-induced amnesia suggesting that it may benefit the cognitive problems of Alzheimer’s patients or those with other cognitive disorders.
Huperzine-A’s unique properties make it a potential treatment for a number of age-related cognitive deficits. Healthy individuals may choose to take a reduced dose for preventive purposes or to improve their cognitive performance. Safety IssuesPerhaps because it works so specifically, huperzine A appears to have few side effects. However, children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with high blood pressure or severe liver or kidney disease should not take huperzine A except on a doctor's recommendation. We also don't know for sure whether huperzine A interacts adversely with any drugs; however, it seems likely that huperzine might interact with drugs that function in a similar fashion (such as standard drugs for Alzheimer's Disease). Side Effects Huperzine A seems to be safe when used for a short time, such as less than one month. It can cause some side effects including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, blurred vision, slurred speech, restlessness, loss of appetite (anorexia), contraction and twitching of muscle fibers (fasciculations), cramping, increased saliva and urine, inability to control urination (incontinence), high blood pressure, and slowed heart rate (bradycardia).
Do not use huperzine A if: - You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- You have a heart condition.
- You have a seizure disorder called epilepsy.
- You have a blockage, or "obstruction," in your digestive tract.
- You have a stomach or intestinal ulcer.
- You have a lung condition such as asthma or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).
- You have a blockage of your urinary or reproductive systems.
- huperzine A should only be used under medical supervision
To obtain Huperzine-A visit HTP online at www.spirit-trader.com
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