Natural Remedies for Memory Loss/Alzheimer's/Dementia

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I hope this is useful to you...and that you send me your additions!  If something ends up working for you (or not!), so that I can pass the word on to others via this page.  :)

Disclaimer: What I'm sharing with you here are my notes for myself, just to trigger my own memory and knowledge.  As these are just my notes to myself, you may want to use this list as a starting place to do more research on your own (check the herbal glossary on the previous page, the web, etc) on any particular plant/herb/etc. before taking it.  If you have any special medical conditions, or are taking any medications, you'll probably want to check with a doctor beforehand.  In short, use my notes here as a starting place, and at your own risk, rather than as a particular recommendation!  :-)

*** Of course, being the special and completely unique person that you are, you might need to play around a bit with these to see what your body responds to best.  As with any new anything you put into your body, it's best to take the minimal dosage once first and pay vigilent attention to your body for a day or so, to make sure that you don't have any abnormal negative reactions (such as an allergic one) to it.  :-)

In addition to what you find below, you can also click here for => a page on memory loss/dementia from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies, by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.  As you'll see, what's great about this book is that it includes remedies from many different disciplines.  You can buy it online here.

Note: These remedies are roughly prioritized by efficacy, with the exception of the Piracetam analoges, which are listed last since they're (somewhat) non-natural. (It's a pharmaceutical product, but my understanding is that it's a substance that occurs naturally in the brain but gets depleted with age [thus, the extremely low toxicidy].)

FOR MEMORY LOSS/ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

Lifestyle: I've read that aluminum (such as that in beverage cans and anti-perspirants) has been linked to Alzheimer's.  You can avoid buying/drinking from cans, and use "Crystal Stick Body Deodorant," "Laff's Natural Crystal Deodorant Stick," or similar, which are 100% natural mineral salts and contain no aluminum chlorohydrate (available at health food stores like Whole Foods, etc).  Also, from personal experience, I can say that if you're not getting enough sleep, your memory will suffer.  After I noticed this, I checked into it and learned that the brain's neurotransmitters are replenished and a lot of memory formation happens while we sleep.  Stress also seems to interfere with the natrual memory formation process (high levels of cortisol, adrenalin, etc. in the brain).  Ie, if stress/sleep/lifestyle is the true cause of your memory problems, it's probably best to work with the cause first (or at least in conjunction with whatever remedies you find here--just my $.02.  :-)

  • Memory exercises, FAQ, more info...
  • Horesebalm (add several dropperfuls of horesebalm tincture to your favorite herbal shampoo)
  • Rosemary (contains a couple dozen antioxidants--ie, compounds that mop up free radicals; rosemary shampoo, tea, rosemary in bathwater; you can buy herbal shampoo that contains rosemary, or make your own by adding rosemary tincture to your favorite herbal shampoo)
  • Brazil nut
  • Dandelion (flowers are best, and very nutritious anyway)
  • Fava beans
  • Fenugreek
  • Ginko biloba (60-240mg of standardized extract a day; reduce dosage in case of diarrhea, irritability or restlessness)
  • Procera AVH — Haven't tried this, but the limited research I did makes it look like a scam to me (including their so-called "money-back guarantee")
    Pls if you try it, but don't take with high doeses of Vitamin E, aspirin, or Ginko and, as always, consult a healthcare professional prior to use if you have or suspect a medical condition, are taking prescription or OTC drugs, including “blood thinners”, e.g., warfarin (Coumadin), Plavix, Heparin, et al. This may also include other non-prescription products, including Vitamin E, ginkgo, aspirin and ibuprofen. Also consult with a healthcare professional if you’re taking MAO inhibitors or anti-psychotics, or have hypotension (low blood pressure), epilepsy or bi-polar disorder.
  • Sage
  • Stinging nettle
  • Willow (the herbal source of aspirin; if you're allergic to aspirin, be careful with willow)
  • Gotu kola
  • Omega-3: My research says that it's best to get this from algae, second best from krill oil. But, I haven't researched an algae source/dosage, so please if you do!
    "A high intake of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA can help protect the brain from memory loss and cell damage caused by Alzheimer's disease.  Omega-3 is high in two fatty acids crucial to human health, DHA and EPA. These two fatty acids are pivotal in preventing heart disease, cancer, and many other diseases. The human brain is also highly dependent on DHA - low DHA levels have been linked to depression, schizophrenia, memory loss, and a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's.  Mercury levels in almost all fish have now hit dangerously high levels around the world, and the risks of mercury now heavily outweigh fishes' omega-3 benefits.  The best way to get omega-3 benefits is to take fish, krill or cod liver oil. This is a clean, safe and pure alternative to fresh fish."  More...
    Note: It's my understanding that fish-oil omega-3 supplements are not as environmentally renewable, effective, nor high-quality as the krill oil Mercola recommends, but that algae is even better.
    Caution: If you are taking anticoagulant drugs, use omega-3 supplements only under the supervision of your physician. Blood tests that measure clotting time can be used to ensure these nutrients are not reducing the clotting factors in your blood to abnormal levels.  Do not take with fiber supplements.
  • AROMATHERAPY: oils of rosemary, balm, fennel and sage
  • To really boost your brain health, don’t forget to incorporate these essential lifestyle changes:

    * Start an exercise program
    * Challenge your mind
    * Avoid most fish and flu vaccinations, and remove mercury from your body
    * Avoid aluminum, such as antiperspirants and cookware
    * Correct abnormal zinc and copper levels

    * Eat plenty of vegetables according to your nutritional type
    * Eat a good amount of omega-3 [ especially if you don't take it as a supplement -- ie, from algae (preferred) or krill oil (ie, not fish oil) ]

    Sources:


    PHARMACEUTICAL:
    Ok, this is an exception from the all natural remedies listed here.  It's the only non-natural anything that I take, but the research is so sound, the toxicidy is less than that of salt, it was recommended to me by someone I trust who's memory astounds me, and I've had great results using it myself: Piracetam. (more info here and here and via any web search).  Piracetam (water soluble) can be used in conjunction with the more powerful Aniracetam (a fat soluble analog of Piracetam), and/or the even more powerful Oxiracetam and Pramiracetam.  Something I haven't tried, but might if I suspected Alzheimers, is Memantine.

    Dosage/Purchase Suggestions -- UPDATED 7/27/12!

    I currently take 1 of the Choline CDP and one of each of the 'cetams with breakfast and dinner (best to take Pramiracetam with food, since it is fat soluble) — ie, 500mg/day of Choline CDP, 600mg/day Pramiracetam, 1500g/day Oxiracetam. Better is 1000mg/day of Choline CDP, tho that gets a bit pricey (was doing this before with a cheaper brand from Nutrition Bay until I received the bottles and learned they had Magnesium Stearate).

    Pramiracetam (fat soluble):
    300mg x 2/day = 60 per month = $54 (60 cap 300mg) = $1.80/day
    Brands w/o Silicon Dioxide or Magnesium Stearate: Synaptic Solutions (eBay)
    fyi: Synaptic Solns sometimes is out of stock, yet reports they're not on ebay, resulting in your order being canceled/refunded. Big hassle: Please if you find another vendor without Silicon Dioxide and Magnesium Stearate!
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230670374437&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123

    Oxiracetam: (water soluble):
    750mg x 2/day = 60/mo = $56 (2x30 cap 750mg) = $1.87/day
    Brands w/o Silicon Dioxide or Magnesium Stearate: Synaptic Solutions (eBay)
    fyi: Synaptic Solns sometimes is out of stock, yet reports they're not on ebay, resulting in your order being canceled/refunded. Big hassle: Please if you find another vendor without Silicon Dioxide and Magnesium Stearate!
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330621329698&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123

    Choline CDP Capsules withOUT Silicon Dioxide or Magnesium Stearate:
    Good: 250mg x 2/day = 60/mo: 3x$36+$5ship for 60, 250mg caps = $1.26/day
    Better: 250mg x 4/day = 120/mo: 6x$36+$5ship for 60, 250mg capsules = $2.52/day
    Vitamin Research Products CDP Choline (Brain Support), 60 x 250mg:
    http://www.amazon.com/Choline-Capsules-Vitamin-Research-Products/dp/B001HLBFQO/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1333101725&sr=8-10


    * Years ago, I started with just Piramacetam. Here's how I used Piracetam for the first year (purchased from International Antiaging Systems):

    START: 3 800mg tablets, 2X per day, with meal, for 1st month (4800mg per day)

    CONTINUE: 2 800mg tablets, 2X per day, with meal, after 1st month (3200mg per day)

    In general, you're supposed to be able to safely take up to 2400-3200mg, 2-3 times per day (4800-9600mg per day), with a meal...although, according to the folks at Unique Nutrition, some studies have given people up to 45g (45,000mg) per day with no negative effects.

    * Here's how I transitioned after a positive experience with Piracetam, to add in Oxiracetam (NutraceuticsRx brand purchased from American Nutrition):
       I switched vendors because of what I learned about the potential dangers of products containing the Magnesium Stearate/Stearic Acid, Silica/Silicon Dioxide, or Titanium Dioxide...which allegedly not only negatively impact the immune system, but also build up in your system, causing a biofilm barrier in the small intestine. As you can read about easily from many sources if you research it (just one of many examples, here), these unnecessary chemicals are said to cause autoimmune disorders, suppress natural killer cells, and inhibit nutrient absorption from the foods you eat...as they build up more and more blockage in your intestines the more you ingest them.  While I'm not an expert on this and can't say for certain if these claims are true or not, what I do know is that these substances are neither organic/natural, nor the active ingredient I'm after...rather, they're added for convenience to the manufacturer and reasons like that.
    (Magnesium Stearate/Stearic Acid, for example, is meant to be similar to chalk. It is added in the manufacturing process as a lubricant...ie, to reduce products from sticking to the machinery and improve yields. Now imagine ingesting a bit of chalk each time you take a supplement that uses this filler...and the chalk building up in your intestines...and, over time, creating a barrier inside you that blocks more and more of your natural ability to absorb nutrients.)

    (NOTE: PLEASE do NOT do business with Relentless Improvement!! Their products contain non-essential and potentially harmful fillers like magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide. When I respectfully requested that they request their suppliers to stop using these unnecessary and potentially damaging chemicals, and included clinical documentation to support what I was saying, the owner sent me a very nasty note and said he didn't want my business, and even canceled my order for other products!! RELENTLESS IMPROVEMENT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND IS AN UNSCRUPULOUS RETAILER.)

    I was planning to raise my Piracetam dose along with the vendor switch.  Upon further research, however, I decided to switch over to the Oxiracetam exclusively instead.

    DOSAGE:  2 800mg capsules of Oxiracetam, and 1 120mg capsule of Ginko per day.

    PREVIOUS DOSAGE:  3 800mg capsules of Piracetam, 1 750mg capsule of Aniracetam, and 1 800mg capsule of Oxiracetam daily.  I take 1 of the Piracetam, the 1 Aniracetam, 1 Oxiracetam and 1 60mg capsule of Ginko with breakfast, then the other 3 Piracetam and another 60mg of Ginko with lunch or dinner.  (Note: I also slowly built up the amount of Ginko I was taking.  I started with just 60mg/day.)

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