Alzheimer’s is a disease that still does not have any curative treatment. The worsening of the symptoms can be slowed down, but the condition is bound to deteriorate. All the fields of medicine have been working on finding a cure for it and ways to manage this disease do exist, including in Ayurveda.
Alzheimer’s is a consequence of dementia, which as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), “is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature – in which there is deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from normal aging. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgment. Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.”
The ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team discussed it with Dr. T. Sailaja, B.A.M.S MD (Ayurveda), Ayurcare, Bangalore and she says that Alzheimer’s is commonly an age-related disease and there are several herbs in Ayurveda, which are available for its management.
Herbs
Under Ayurveda, there are 4 major herbs, mentioned under the medhya rasayana. Medhya rasayana are a group of herbs, which improve the functioning of the brain by improving cognitive functions, memory, etc.
- Yashtimadhu
- Shankhpushpi
- Brahmi
- Guduchi
All these herbs have anti-oxidative and stress-relieving properties. They work in enhancing one’s memory and improving the retention power, i.e. the ability of an individual to hold and recall past and present experiences in their lives.
Ashwagandha
It is another powerful herb with various health benefits. The contents of ashwagandha prevent the formation of beta-amyloid proteins which form plaque in the brain, hindering its functions. It also calms down the Central Nervous System (CNS), reducing the stress levels in people.
Other herbs include
- Haritaki
- Jyotishmati
- Jatamansi, etc.