After 16 people took the Chinese herbal preparation ba wei
di huang wan (BDW) (YanVive TM is our trademark for this
herbal remedy - ActiveHerb notes)
for 8 weeks, they showed a boost in mental
functioning, and had less trouble doing their day-to-day
activities. In contrast, people who took an inactive (placebo)
pill experienced no improvements over the same time period.
"These results argue the benefits of BDW in the treatment
of dementia," the authors, led by Dr. Koh Iwasaki of Tohoku
University School of Medicine in Miyagi, Japan, write.
The National Institute of Aging recommends that elderly
people use caution when taking herbal treatments, since many
can interfere with other medicines.
According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
report, BDW has been used for centuries by older adults
throughout China, Japan and Korea. Evidence also suggests the
herbal treatment may ease fatigue, cold sensation, and muscle
weakness.
To investigate whether BDW helps improve the mental
abilities of people with dementia, Iwasaki and colleagues asked
33 patients with mild to severe forms of the condition to try
either the treatment or a placebo for 8 weeks. None of the
patients, who were an average of 84 years old, were told which
they were taking.
Participants had dementia for an average of 5 years. By the
end of the study period, the authors noted that people who were
given BDW showed a significant improvement in their mental
functioning, and in their ability to complete day-to-day
activities.
Even participants who showed minor improvements in mental
functioning "became quick in their action and response to
caregivers," the authors write. "Nurses and families felt that
the patients looked cheerful."
People taking the placebo showed no significant improvement
in either daily activities or mental functioning, the authors
note.
None of the patients taking BDW experienced any side
effects.
The reasons why BDW may improve dementia remain unclear,
Iwasaki and his colleagues write. Some research suggests the
treatment may boost the activity of important proteins in the
brain, increase the amount of brain substances associated with
learning and memory, or improve blood flow to the brain.
"A traditional Chinese medicine is not simply a purified
substance but contains many ingredients, and the interaction of
these ingredients is important," the authors write. "Eight
herbs in BDW were carefully devised to interlock according to
the traditional rules."
SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,
September 2004.
