From:             "Henry Grabowski" 
To:               "Susan Grabowski" 
Subject:          http://www.drmcdougall.com/jan_feb98.html
Date sent:        Fri, 4 Sep 1998 07:07:52 -0400

McDougall Newsletter  Jan/Feb 1998

HERBS IMPROVE THINKING


A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an
extract of gingko biloba for dementia by Pierre Bars in the
October 22/29 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association found ginkgo biloba "...was safe and appears capable
of stabilizing, and in a substantial number of cases, improving
the cognitive performance and social functioning of demented
patients for 6 months to 1 year." (JAMA 278:1327) The effects of
gingko biloba on the patient's behavior were of sufficient
magnitude to be recognized by the caregivers.  Both men and women
45 years and older with a diagnosis of dementia were give either
the gingko biloba or a placebo.  These 202 people were followed
for one year and evaluated with a variety of mental performance
tests.  The tests given to evaluate mental function showed the
group on gingko maintained its baseline status or improved
slightly, while those in the placebo group showed worsening of
their cognitive and social function over time.  The investigators
felt the main function of this herb was to act as a free radical
scavenger through its antioxidant properties. 

COMMENT: Dementia is common, affecting 4 million people in the
United States and is a major cause of long-term disability in
old-age.  It affects 2 percent of the population between ages 65
to 70 and 20 percent of people over the age of 80.  Most diseases
causing dementia are due to loss of functioning brain tissue. 
The symptoms depend upon which part of the brain is most
affected.  Loss of cognitive functions such as language,
perception and calculation would occur with loss of the cortical
function (areas near the surface of the brain), whereas
subcortical loss causes flattening of affect and disturbances of
mood and motivation.  Memory is impaired in both types. 
Alzheimer's disease and vascular disease are the cause of most
cases of dementia.  Modern medicine has little more to offer than
comforting words of sympathy for the patient and family. 

Gingko biloba is extracted from the leaves of cultivated
maidenhair trees.  It is mentioned in traditional Chinese
medicine and was used by the Chinese to treat asthma and
bronchitis.   Much of the research on gingko biloba showing
improvement in mental function in the young and elderly was
initially published in the mid-1980s in Germany and France. 
Gingko is licensed in Germany to treat cerebral dysfunction,
with, for example, memory loss, dizziness, ringing in the ears,
hearing loss, headaches, emotional instability with anxiety, and
for intermittent claudication.   All trials but one showed
positive effects of gingko compared to placebo for cerebral
insufficiency (Lancet 340:1136, 1992).  Benefits appear 6 weeks
to 3 months after initiating of therapy. 

Insufficient supply of blood to the legs caused by
atherosclerosis results in pain with walking (intermittent
claudication).  In one trial walking distance increased from 112
to 222 meters after 6 months of therapy (compared to 145 to 176
meters with placebo).  In most trials the dose is 120-160 mg per
day in 3 divided doses.  Treatment must be for 4-6 weeks before
any positive effects can be expected.  There are no serious
side-effects.  In rare cases there has been reported mild stomach
upset, headache, and allergic skin reactions. 

The exact mechanisms involved in improving mental function with
gingko are unknown, however, gingko extracts contain multiple
compounds which provide a variety of effects, such as decreasing
inflammation, protection of the cell membranes, and improvement
in the rate of transmission of information between nerve cells.  
Since dementia is often due to decreased blood supply to the
brain many investigators have believed the improvements seen are
due to improved blood and oxygen supply to the brain tissues.  In
addition to improvements in judged by mental function tests,
abnormal EEG (electroencephalogram) tracing have improved, with
the EEG returning to normal in some cases. 

Considering the consistent evidence that says it works and the
fact that there are virtually no side effects, and the costs are
reasonable, this self-administered herbal medication should be
tried by anyone with problems due to low blood supply to the
brain (cerebral insufficiency) and leg (intermittent
claudication).     


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Check the accuracy of this information with your doctor before
applying information in this newsletter to your health care.
Don't change your diet or medication without your doctor's
advice. Thank you! John McDougall, M.D. 


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