Alzheimer's Natural Herbal Helper = Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is an herb with a long history of treating memory and cognitive dysfunction. In addition to its powerful antioxidant effects, it also increases blood flow to the brain, which facilitates the delivery of nutrients and oxygen and boosts overall brain function. Now, Italian researchers have shown that ginkgo works just as well as donepezil (Aricept), one of the most popular drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s-related dementia. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients with mild-to-moderate dementia were given daily doses of either 160 mg of ginkgo, 5 mg of donepezil, or a placebo. After 24 weeks, the researchers concluded that ginkgo was “clinically comparable” in efficacy to the drug.

So here we have the contenders, In one corner we have an herb, Ginkgo biloba that’s inexpensive ($14 for a month’s supply) and safe (its only potential side effect is slight blood-thinning properties, making it unsuitable for people taking blood thinners such as Coumadin). In the other corner we have a drug that’s expensive ($120 per month) and riddled with side effects (nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, runny nose). When an herbal supplement like Ginkgo can produce the same results as a drug, The choice is yours but for me it’s a no brainer. Look for Ginkgo biloba in our VitaCost vitamin link on the right side of the page, and go with the 160 mg dose used in the study.

[tags]Alzheimer's, Ginkgo biloba [/tags]