Chinese herbs to heal Alzheimer's disease

Lycorus radiata (shisuan)

Lycorus radiata also known as shisuan is a Chinese herb that encloses different alkaloids such as lycoramine, lycoine and galanthamine and has been found to be effective in treating patients enduring Alzheimer’s disease. It has been found during researches that galanthamine and lycoramine are both changeable cholinesterase determents. Compared to galanthamine, lycoramine is a feeble alkaloid, but is equally potent as Nivalin. In fact, galanthamine can effortlessly cross over the barrier between the blood system and the brain and hence the alkaloid is capable of reducing the actions of the cerebral cortex or casing as well as the medulla oblongata. When galanthamine is taken in large measure, it depicts an activity opposed to cholinesterase in the thalamus or the central portion of the diencephalon by means of which sensory signals deliver messages to the cerebral cortex.

Macleaya cordata (boluohui)

Macleaya cordata or boluohui is another Chinese herb that also encloses a number of alkaloids comprising chelerythine, sanguinarine, allocryptopine and protopine and is said to be valuable in treating Alzheimer’s disease patients. Compared to procaine, chelerythine, sanguinarine, allocryptopine and protopine sulfates are more strong and effective as local anesthetic or sedatives. Among these alkaloids, sanguinarine slows down the action of cholinesterase. Usually, people use the herb to treat contagions caused by bacteria and trichomonas (a protozoan from the Trichomonas family). It is also effective in eliminating worms from the body. In effect, the alkaloids act by bringing about excitement in the maggots and then cause paralysis among them before eliminating them eventually.

Coptis chinenses (huanglian)

This Chinese herb encloses alkaloids, primarily berberine that possesses a special property to hold back cholinesterase. In addition to berberine, coptis chinenses or huanglian also contains worenine, coptisine, columbamine and palmatine. Depending on the dosage, the consequences of using berberine appear in two phases on acetylcholine in animals and their separate organs. For instance, berberine provokes acetylcholine to stimulate slow heart beat rate (bradycardia) as well as ST segment depression when applied on rabbits. It is important to note here that tetrahydroberberine that is derived from berberine leads to analgesia or numbness, calms down the nervous system and unwinds the muscles. And the effect of tetrahydroberberine is said to be three times more powerful or strong compared to the action of meprobamate.

Securinega suffruticosa (yiyiqiu)

The Chinese herb securinega suffruticosa or yiyiqiu too encloses numerous alkaloids and has been found to be useful in treating patients enduring Alzheimer’s disease. Although the herb contains a number of alkaloids, the primary alkaloid is securinine and its by-products. It may be mentioned here that securinine kindles the central nervous system (CNS) that upsets the slowing down action of meprobamate (a drug used to treat anxiety). Although securinine retards the actions of cholinesterase, it is considered to be much feeble compared to galantamine. The poisonous herb solanum nigrum encloses elements solanine, salasodine and associated alkaloids. In fact, when applied on mice, solanine significantly reduces the impulsive activities and extends the hibernation period stimulated by the use of pentobarbital. In fact, solanine possesses a potent action opposed to cholinesterare and this is said to be owing to the presence of aglycone solanidine.