No More Fuzzy Thinking!

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine Bulletin

A lot of us suffer from the inability to focus from time to time. Maybe there’s just too much on our plate or maybe we’ve begun to notice that, as the years pass, we don’t seem to have the mental edge we used to. Whatever the cause, wouldn’t it be nice to boost our brainpower – and our memory for that matter?

Well, maybe we can. Over the past few weeks, I’ve come across some promising research on two natural therapies that can improve both cognitive function and memory.

Super huper

While U.S. researchers have spent years searching for a magic drug to improve memory, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine have relied for centuries on an alkaloid derived from a Chinese moss. Used to treat dementia and memory loss, huperzine A – or HupA for short – improves both cognitive function and memory. 

The reason – and one that mainstream medicine is finally catching on to – is that HupA has a highly selective affinity for acetylcholinesterase (an enzyme that breaks down the unused neurotransmitter acetylcholine), thus slowing acetylcholine's degeneration, and consequently, the decline of mental function. That’s led a number of scientists to wonder if HupA just might be the missing link for treating not only memory and cognition, but Alzheimer’s disease.

In one clinical trial, 60 patients (age 52 to 80) with impaired faculties were treated with 200 mcg. of HupA, either in capsule or tablet form, for 60 days. All of the patients were evaluated with a huge array of both psychological and physiological tests to determine their mental and physical health before and after treatment. Based on four of the most important psychological tests, all of the patients experienced a 43 to 70 percent improvement in both cognitive function and memory.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, the researchers also looked at whether or not HupA had any effect on the damaging effects of free radicals in the patients’ plasma and erythrocytes (red blood cells). Biochemical tests showed significant improvement, although not to the reference values for healthy people in the same age group. But the study authors speculated that the study period might not have been long enough and that long-term treatment with HupA might be required to optimize the results.

In another double-blind study, improvement was seen in patients with senile dementia and simple pre-senile memory disorder after taking just 30 to 50 mcg. of HupA twice a day. Other research has also found that HupA reduces neuronal cell death caused by exposure to toxins.

But those of us over the age of 50 or those suffering from dementia aren’t the only one who can benefit from HupA. This novel compound has also been shown to enhance memory in middle school students. A small controlled trial found that 100 mcg. of HupA two times a day for four weeks was effective in improving memory and learning performance. And, best of all, HupA appears to be safe. But what’s really exciting is that this natural memory booster works quickly and stays active for hours.

Let your mind blossom

Another quick-fix from Mother Nature is a natural antioxidant called vinpocetine - an extract from the seeds of the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine is a vasodilator, which means it increases circulation and helps deliver more oxygen to the cells. This natural substance has been used for decades as a prescription medication in Europe and Asia. Yet most people in the U.S. haven’t heard of vinpocetine because authorities claim it’s still "unproven."

But, even though the FDA hasn’t yet seen the light, there are scores of studies showing vinpocetine’s effectiveness. In one, researchers at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England, administered vinpocetine to patients suffering from mild to moderate dementia. Two hundred and three patients included in the placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trial received either 10 mg. of vinpocetine, 20 mg. of the herb or a placebo three times a day for 16 weeks. By the end of the study, significant cognitive improvements was seen in both of the groups taking the herb compared to those taking the placebo. And oddly enough, the patients taking 10 mg. performed slightly better than those on 20 mg.

In another double-blind clinical trial, vinpocetine was shown to offer significant improvement in elderly patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction. Forty-two patients received 10 mg. vinpocetine three times a day for 30 days, then 5 mg. three times a day for 60 days. Matching placebo tablets were given to another 40 patients during the 90-day trial period. At the end of the study, the patients on vinpocetine scored consistently better in all cognitive evaluations. And none of the participants reported any serious side effects.

Like HupA, vinpocetine appears to work incredibly quickly. In a three-day study, 12 healthy women were given either 10 mg., 20 mg. or 40 mg. of vinpocetine or a placebo three times a day for two days. On the third day – and just one hour following their morning dosage – the women completed a battery of memory tests. Memory was significantly improved following treatment with 40 mg. of vinpocetine when compared to either a lower dose or the placebo.

The reason the herb has such a pronounced effect on cognition and memory, say researchers at the University of New Mexico, is that vinpocetine increases blood circulation and metabolism in the brain. There’s also some evidence that vinpocetine can protect brain cells from the damage induced by excitotoxins like aspartame.

In all of the studies done to date, vinpoecetin appears to have an amazing track record for safety up to 60 mg. a day. But, since vinpoecetine does have blood thinning effects, if you're currently taking aspirin or any other blood-thinning supplement or drug or are being treated for a cardiac or vascular disorder, make sure you talk to your doctor before trying this herb.

One last thing . . .

While ginkgo is highly effective for long-term brain health, if you need to be sharp now, both HupA and vinpocetine may be just what you’re looking for. Unlike ginkgo biloba, which can take weeks to work, these two natural compounds seem to work quickly – within an hour – to improve mental function.

As I said, although few, if any, side effects have been documented for HupA or vinpocetine, you should check with your doctor before taking either supplement - especially if you suffer from a serious medical condition or are taking other medications. 

This just in . . .

The next time your arthritis flares up, try putting on some Mozart.

According to a new study in The Journal of Advanced Nursing, listening to classical music can actually decrease chronic osteoarthritis pain.  In the study, 66 community-dwelling seniors with osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group listened to 20 minutes of Mozart each morning for 14 days. The control group, on the other hand, simply sat quietly for the same amount of time. After each session, both groups reported how much pain they felt using the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Surprisingly, the participants in the music group reported significantly less pain, starting on the first day of the study. And the pain appeared to decrease even more as the study continued. The control group, however, reported no change in their pain.

Earlier research shows that listening to music can reduce the perception of pain and improve mood. Music has also been demonstrated to induce relaxation, decrease anxiety and distract from the experience of pain. These effects are often accompanied by a decrease in heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate. I’d say that beats Vioxx or Celebrex any day!

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Balestreri R, et al. “A double-blind placebo controlled evaluation of the safety and efficacy of vinpocetine in the treatment of patients with chronic vascular senile cerebral dysfunction.” Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 1987;35:425-430.

Beauchamp K. “Music decreases arthritis pain in the elderly.” Healthnotes Newswire. 15 Jan 2004.

Subhan Z; Hindmarch I. “Psychopharmacological effects of vinpocetine in normal healthy volunteers. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 1985;28(5):567-571.

Sun QQ, et al. “Huperizine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students.” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 1999;20:601–603.

Xu SS, et al. “Huperzine-A in capsules and tablets for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease.” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 1999;20:486-490.