January 9, 2007 – Some herbal remedies may be useful for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The therapeutic use of lemon balm, sage, ginkgo biloba as well as two preparations from the Chinese pharmacopoeia would reduce the symptoms of this disease.
Brazilian researchers came to this conclusion by analyzing the results of four clinical trials and a meta-analysis1. These plants would have succeeded in reducing the symptoms more particularly related to cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Lemon balm and Chinese preparation Yi Gan San would present, in addition, a sedative effect.
The mechanisms by which these products act on the brain are not clearly established. However, the authors cite studies offering some leads on this subject. Thus, the chemical composition of the essential oil of lemon balm could act on the activity of the cortex and, by the same fact, on the cognitive function. As to Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, it would increase, in the cortex, the acetylcholine content which allows the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons.
The researchers noted a few shortcomings in the studies reviewed. For example, few subjects participated in these studies, according to them. However, they consider that the therapeutic potential of these plants shows enough promise in the treatment of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease to justify larger studies on their effects.
Note that, in the context of these studies, the leaves of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and sage (Salvia officinalis) were used as a tincture. The preparation Yi Gan San was administered as a dry extract resulting from the assembly of seven plants including angelica root. Another Chinese preparation, Ba Wei Di Huang Wan, made up of eight plants including rehmannia, was consumed as a powder mixed with honey.
Marie france Coutu – PasseportSanté.net
1. Dos Santos-Neto LL, from Vilhena Toledo MA, et al. The Use of herbal Medecine in Alzheimer’s Disease-A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complementary and Alternat Med, 2006 Dec; 3 (4), 441-5.
