Vitamin E Fights Alzheimer’s Disease?

Will Vitamin E help fight Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is known to steal your life from you, slowly but surely. All your memories, starting from the most recent ones your brain has registered, such as your recent trip to the beach or that kiss you shared with your partner, will be erased permanently. Is it true that Vitamin E helps stop this from happening?

Let’s look behind the curtain and discover what Alzheimer’s disease really is, and what the role of Vitamin E is in the management of Alzheimer’s.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

A lot of people think that they know what Alzheimer’s disease is. They think it is forgetfulness, and that old people are bound to have it. But most of these assumptions are wrong and you’re better off knowing what Alzheimer’s disease really is.

• Alzheimer’s disease is, put simply, a degenerative disease of forgetfulness. Your memories are wiped from your mind, starting from the most recent ones, going back to the memories you’ve had when you were a child as it progresses.
• Not all cases of forgetfulness are due to Alzheimer’s disease. Just because you keep forgetting where you put your keys does not mean you have Alzheimer’s. The characteristic memory loss of Alzheimer’s is usually described as odd, such as forgetting that you placed your keys inside the freezer. In other words, if you simply forgot that your keys are still in yesterday’s pants, then you probably don’t have Alzheimer’s.
• Alzheimer’s disease is not normal in the elderly. No, Alzheimer’s is not a normal phenomenon. Senile forgetfulness, one that normally occurs with aging, is different from Alzheimer’s. In Alzheimer’s disease, there are certain pathologic changes in the brain that do not occur in the kind of forgetfulness associated with senility.
• Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It continues until it reaches its completion. It starts gradually, but once it starts, it cannot be stopped. However, you can delay its progression.

Does Vitamin E delay Alzheimer’s disease progression?

A 2009 study revealed the potential role of Vitamin E in delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Here are the published research findings.

• High dose Vitamin E slows down memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. This is true when Vitamin E is combined with drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors.
• Vitamin E has a proven benefit in Alzheimer’s disease, but only when taken long term. Vitamin E’s role is seen to increase over time, as the participants experienced less memory loss with time over a span of five years. However, taking it in a year or less may have no benefit.
• Vitamin E is effective in delaying Alzheimer’s disease, but its long-term safety is uncertain. After all, the study did not take into consideration the side effects and adverse effects after long term, high dose use. One study showed that high dose Vitamin E, especially when above 400 IU per day, may lead to increased risk for death.

Before taking Vitamin E for Alzheimer’s disease, make sure to ask your physician as it comes with both risks and benefits. And if you don’t have Alzheimer’s disease, protect yourself by reading more and finishing school as a study showed that a higher degree of education is associated with a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Speaking of vitamins, you might want to read about how Vitamin C can help prevent eyestrain.

Sources:
Kathleen Louden, “AGS 2009: High-Dose Vitamin E Slows Functional Decline in Alzheimer's Disease”, Medscape Medical News
Caroline Cassels, “High Education Level May Reduce Memory Impairment, Delay Onset of Alzheimer's Symptoms”, Medscape Medical News
Schürks, M, et al, “Effects of Vitamin E on Stroke Subtypes: Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials”, Medscape Medical News

Sean Gutierrez wrote this article on the effects of Vitamin E on Alzheimer’s disease. He is the founder of Natural Pain Remedies and is a non-practicing doctor who owns a private business and has a lot of spare time. He loves scouring the internet for relevant health articles that highlight recent trends on alternative and complementary medicine. He welcomes newbie health bloggers and medical writers to his health blog. Feel free to contribute health articles to this blog.

Western Integrated Medicine

Western Integrated Medicine (WIM) has been receiving a lot of attention lately. It is actually the combination of both complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional Western medicine. This is no surprise, given how more and more people are using herbs, natural pain remedies, and other alternative options, especially for medical conditions that cannot be treated completely by modern medicine.

But what exactly is Western Integrated Medicine, and what does this mean for alternative therapies now being used by millions of people worldwide? If you’ve been using remedies from herbalists and other therapists who do not have a doctor’s degree, then it’s time you learned about what WIM is all about.

Western Integrated Medicine Updates

Eastern medicine, alternative medicine, and complementary medicine have received a lot of criticism from doctors and other health professionals. However, studies have shown that some of the alternative therapies available actually work. Below are some of the updates on Western Integrated Medicine.

• Alternative therapies are now recommended, as long as there is evidence to support their use. It is the belief of WIM practitioners that although complementary and alternative medicine holds promising treatments, the scientific approach of western medicine should be applied accordingly. In other words, reason, logic, and evidence have to exist before a specific alternative treatment should be used. That’s just about fair, right?
• The National Institutes of Health established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to further support research on alternative therapies. If you prefer natural pain remedies instead of pills and over-the-counter drugs, then this is good news for you.
• Medical schools have started to incorporate Complementary Medicine and Alternative Medicine into their curriculum. Yes, even medical schools have started to notice the value of natural pain remedies and other alternative treatment.
• Western Integrated Medicine is the best of both worlds. Western medicine alone seems too snobbish, while alternative medicine relies heavily on hearsay instead of solid evidence. WIM, however, is the integration of both. This shall lead to a shift in belief and practice worldwide. After all, neither party is perfect, which is why both Western and alternative medicine have critics and haters.

In other words, Western Integrated Medicine is a team effort. Both sides cooperate to come up with a solution. If you are a fan of western medicine, you should also be open to alternative therapies and should watch out for research on these. If you prefer natural or alternative medicine, then you should seek out evidence to prove that they indeed work. And with western integrated medicine, you get to have your cake and eat it, too. This is especially true for headache treatment, such as shown HERE.

If you have come across alternative therapies or natural pain remedies that work for you, share them with us and we shall do the research! Let us find out if it really works for most people – that’s what Western Integrated Medicine is all about, after all. Leave us a comment and we will write about your preferred natural pain remedy!

Alma Jones wrote this article on Western Integrated Medicine. She is an advocate of holistic approaches to cure and prevention, relying on hard facts for the articles that she writes. A graduate of medicine, she has seen the value of Western Medicine research and Eastern Medicine treatment.

Gum Disease: Natural Oral Health

From a smile, the teeth and gums are the first indication of the general health of an individual. The gums in particular are the most important component of the mouth with which to maintain good overall health. Through the centuries, humans have recognized the importance of healthy gums and have discovered natural remedies with which to successfully battle gum disease and sustain oral wellbeing.

Periodontal disease is a severe form of infection to the gum which untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease, but still causes reddening and bleeding of the gums and can become the more severe form of periodontal disease. Conventional treatment of gum disease consists of scaling and root planning which requires the removal of plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and cleaning of the teeth root surfaces.

 

Herbal Remedies for Gum Disease

Fortunately, there are more natural and effective approaches in treating gum disease. Aside from regular brushing and flossing as habitual gum maintenance, there are many herbal approaches that can be applied and used as alternative and complementary methods.

• Calendula Tincture- This is a very effective herb in treating bleeding and receding gums. A few drops on the toothpaste then brushing and massaging the gums gently, will help revitalize and heal the gum tissues.
• Golden Seal- This herb has a natural anti-bacterial quality that is particularly effective with periodontal disease. It also helps with mouth sores and inflammation.
• Aloe Vera- Is most effective in the gel form when applying it to the gums. Aloe Vera has a soothing quality for sore gums.
• Clove Oil- Works as an anesthetic when rubbed on tender and sore gums.
• Hawthorn Berry- If used over a period of time has a tightening effect on the gums.
• Tea Tree- Also contains natural anti-bacterial properties. It is suggested to use commercial tea tree toothpaste as tea tree oil itself does not reduce plaque build-up.
• Cranberry- Amazingly, cranberry contains properties that prevent bacteria from attaching to the teeth. A recommended amount is 4 ounces of sugar-free cranberry juice as found in health food stores.
• Coenzyme Q10- coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that is found throughout the cells of the body and can be taken in supplement form. Some researchers have claimed that coenzyme Q10 is essential in healing gum tissue.

  A mouthwash of myrrh, Echinacea and chamomile, have proven to effectively treat gum disease. Using herbal dental floss gently is a great way of lightly infusing the herbs into the gums. But it is to be noted that these natural remedies are not proven by science, so if the problem persists go to a dentist. And if you know of any natural oral health solutions, do share them through a comment!



Allison Brooks went to the University of Mississippi and earned her degree in Biomedical Anthropology. Now, she is currently studying to finish an ethnography on the effects of biomedicalization on Bolivian cultures. That is why she is a fan of alternative therapies and traditional medicine and would like to spread the word about their effectiveness.

Does Lipigesic Work For Migraines?

Lipigesic-M, a product with feverfew, is being marketed as an alternative medicine for migraines. This was also the same product used for the study by Cady et al, a study which has been dissected and analysed in this post. But does Lipigesic-M work for migraines?

Before we analyse if Lipigesic M is effective for migraine therapy, let us review what has been said about this drug preparation.

 

Lipigesic-M

This drug is manufactured by PuraMed Bioscience and was used as the drug for the feverfew and ginger study by Cady et al. The following information has been provided by that study and the website of the manufacturer.

• Most studies involving feverfew claim that it is not effective in treating migraines, but that’s because the concentration of feverfew is low in these products. The concentration of the active ingredient varies greatly among different products, which partly explains why these studies have failed to show the effectiveness of feverfew in migraine treatment.
• Lipigesic-M is problematic because its formulation needs further improvement; however, the manufacturer claims that feverfew in itself is actually quite effective in relieving migraines and providing natural pain relief. PuraMed Bioscience claimed that perhaps they need to change how the drug is delivered systemically to improve the anti-inflammatory action of the drug and also its anti-platelet action.

Perhaps Lipigesic-M has a long way to go before it can be declared effective for migraine therapy. Are you suffering from migraines? Have you found a drug or natural pain remedies that work? Many people suffering from migraines will sure want to know about what you have to share, so leave a comment and let us know what has provided you natural pain relief from migraines.

Sources:
Cady R, Goldstein J, Nett R, Mitchell R, Beach ME, Browning R. A DBL-blind controlled pilot study of sublingual feverfew and ginger in the treatment of migraine. Headache. 2011;51:1078–1086.