Can Natural Health Approaches help Alzheimer’s Patients?

Studies show that complementary health approaches, when used in conjunction with prescribed or traditional interventions, prove to be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases. Alzheimer’s disease, as we all know, has no cure as of now, and it is for this reason that a lot of research has been conducted to see if it is beneficial to use complementary health approaches for Alzheimer’s.

Natural Health Remedies are effective in Alzheimer’s disease: A myth or fact?

All studies done in regard say YES! Natural health remedies, when used along with traditional interventions, can help a great deal in curbing an Alzheimer’s patient’s pain and discomfort.

Some of the complementary health treatments that have helped Alzheimer’s patients are:

• Acupuncture
• Herbal Remedies
• Exercise
• Massage

Two things that need to be kept in mind when using natural health approaches are:

• Use natural health approaches as a supplement – For a complementary health approach to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients, they need to be used in conjunction with the prescribed treatment. We repeat, natural health approaches are not be used as standalone treatments for Alzheimer’s. It is also better to consult with the patient’s doctor to identify which natural health therapies will be most effective for the patient.
• Use natural approaches under the guidance of a trained professional – Studies show that natural health therapies are most effective when implemented by a trained professional.

Complementary health treatments for Alzheimer’s

A brief description of how various complementary health approaches help Alzheimer’s patients is given below:

• Acupuncture

The Western world has started acknowledging that acupuncture is an immensely effective treatment for several health conditions such as chronic pain and migraines.

The results of a recent study about acupuncture for Alzheimer’s conducted at Wellesley College Centre for Research on Women in Wellesley and the University of Hong Kong have been promising. 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 1 with vascular dementia were treated with acupuncture twice a day for 3 months. The conclusion was that the treatment had a definite, positive effect on the patients and improved both their cognitive and mood functions.

At the University of Hong Kong, 8 Alzheimer’s patients were given acupuncture treatment for 30 days, and here too, the results were promising. At the end of the program, patients showed considerable improvement in not only cognitive functions and verbal communications, but also in gross and fine motor coordination.

• Herbal Supplements

Various herbal supplements have been studied to see their effectiveness in improving the condition of Alzheimer’s patients. One herbal treatment that has proven to be most beneficial is gingko biloba.

Gingko biloba enhances memory function and cognitive awareness – the two brain functions most affected in Alzheimer’s and dementia. In fact, some research reveals that patients with dementia may benefit from gingko biloba supplements. One thing you need to keep in mind is that like other herbal treatments, gingko biloba too may have some side effects, and thus should be used only under a doctor’s supervision.

• Exercise             

Exercise may prove to be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients, especially those routines which are specifically designed for such conditions and are done under the supervision of a skilled and trained professional. Exercise may help improve the mood, coordination, and behavior of Alzheimer’s patients.

• Massage

This natural therapy has proved to be beneficial for many health conditions and may also help in decreasing the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. As with other natural therapies, keep in mind that this too should be done under the supervision of an expert.

EL331015