Protecting the brain

Have you ever put your car keys down on the counter and come back to realize that they are not where you thought you left them? Have you ever gotten into your car and started down the road only to realize you forgot where it was you were going to go? I am sure we have all had our episodes of forgetfulness and absentmindedness. Most often these episodes are simply a result of having too much on our mind or being under stress of some sort. If you factor in the natural aging process to the equation, the situation seems to only get worse.
As much as we would like it to be otherwise, our physical time on this earth gradually runs out. Along the way, much like the various and sundry parts of a fine automobile or a precision instrument, our biological components also wear down. And just like our vehicle, we may begin to hesitate, sputter, shake and shimmy.
While we are living in our physical bodies, we try to keep ourselves healthy, strong, and of relatively sound mind. In the normal course of events, our bodies suffer various types and levels of damage. Environmental factors, diet, lifestyle, the aging process, and genetic predisposition all play a part. There may be physical traumas or many types of diseases that befall us in our lifetime. All these encounters take their toll. Eventually, major organs and systems are negatively impacted, and begin to fail. One of the victims of all this negativity is our brain and its associate, our mind.
Science tells us that in the process of respiration, there is oxidation, and the production of damaging, free-radical molecules. The only way for our bodies to not produce free-radicals, is not to respire at the cellular level. Unfortunately, you can only stop respiration when you expire. On top of our own personal free-radical production, our bodies also have to contend with external sources, such as pollution, certain types of medication, etc. These oxidative molecules directly damage brain cells and react with cholesterol, to form plaque, which then becomes deposited on the walls of blood vessels, thereby restricting blood flow. Some of this plaque can also develop in the tiny blood vessels of the brain, thereby reducing the availability of those vessels to properly oxygenate the brain. Sometimes the plaque may cause a short-circuitry in the brain, and result in faulty data processing in the command center, much like a bogged-down computer. To the computer, it is called the "blue screen of death;" to our brain it is "a senior moment" or worse.
What can we do? Well, this column is about herbs, so we will consider our botanical options. Remember the old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? If you are genetically predisposed for developing Alzheimer's, then you must take an active role in your own preventative measures. If you eat an unhealthy diet, do not exercise, drink excessive amounts of alcohol, use tobacco, or street drugs, you will inevitably and eventually pay the cerebral piper. On the other hand, if you do all the right things, then there is more you can do to help maintain it.
Alzheimer's disease is a merciless, catastrophic, degenerative condition that has peripheral victims. It is difficult enough for the person who has been diagnosed with AD, but it also takes a toll on the AD patient's loved ones, and on those who have to take care of them. The Alzheimer's Association predicts that by the year 2050, 14 million Americans could be afflicted. It is not yet known what causes AD, but there seems to be a common generic denominator. The brain tissue, particularly the tiny blood vessels, of AD victims develops deposits of a plaque called beta-amyloid, which reduces blood flow, and the availability and delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain.
The good news is that this plaque build-up can be reduced, reversed, and possibly even prevented. There are herbs that can be included into one's dietary supplement program to help intervene. One of those herbs is Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa), which has been shown to prevent the deposit of beta-amyloid plaques in rats' brains. An extract of this plant has been shown to be effective in not only preventing beta-amyloid plaque from forming, but also in breaking it up, in both test tube and animal models. Cerebra-Guard UT is a potent cat claw extract that can be taken every other day for prevention. Researchers also mixed the Cat Claw extract with the extract of rosemary and gotu kola, and found that the combination gave even better results in vitro. Gobernadora (Larrea tridentata), a desert-dwelling species, contains several brain-friendly compounds. One of them is NDGA, a powerful anti-oxidant that not only dissolves plaque, but also prevents it from forming in the first place. It also contains limolene, an anti-Alzheimer's compound, and argenine, an anti-encephalopathic chemical. It can also be taken daily or every other day in extract form. Another herbal supplement that can be of value in treating Alzheimer's, dementia, and memory loss is vinpocetine. Vinpocetine is a derivative of vincamine, which is extracted from the periwinkle plant, and is itself a vasodilator. Vinpocetine works by dilating the arteries of the brain, and by improving circulation. One should not attempt to use periwinkle in its natural form, as it is very powerful and quite toxic.
Cucurmin, which is an antioxidant extract of the spice turmeric, has also been shown to reduce inflammation and slash deposits of brain plaque in mice by 50 percent. Thymol, a plant compound that reduces plaque and found to prevent Alzheimer's, is found in a number of plants including celery, black/green tea, sour orange leaf, lemons, tangerines, ginkgo, beebalm, catnip, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme, damiana, blueberries, and corn. Carvacrol, another anti-plaque plant compound that can help prevent Alzheimer's, is found in dill, dong quai, black/green tea, caraway, licorice, hyssop, oregano, mint, beebalm, bergamot, catnip, basil, rosemary, savory, thyme, and corn silk. Additionally, the following plants also contain anti-Alzheimeran compounds: sunflower seeds, soybeans, flax seed, peas, wheat, garlic, peanuts, Brazil nuts, carrots, lentils, sesame seeds, yarrow, onions, cashews, dong quai, and uva ursi. The anti-Alzheimer's compound Bufotenine can be found in the leaf of river carrizo and mucuna beans. D-Carvone, another compound that fights Alzheimer's, is found in anise and Mexican marigold. Angelica, cinnamon, blessed thistle, fennel, licorice, star anise, lavender, pennyroyal, basil, boldo, rosemary, and thyme, all contain the anti-Alzheimer's compound Fenchone. Limolene, which also helps prevent Alzheimer's, is found in yarrow, giant hyssop, cashew, celery, horseradish, oats, chili peppers, caraway, chamomile, epazote, cinnamon, citrus fruits, cumin, lemongrass, echinacea, carrots, lemon eucalyptus, fennel, St. John's wort, gobernadora, bay leaf, mint, basil, oregano, chanca piedra, boldo, allspice, anise, guava, rosemary, rue, salvia, savory, tamarind, thyme, blueberries, valerian, vitex, corn silk, ginger, and grapes. Selagine, huperzine-A, and huperzine-B are all found in clubmoss, another herb useful in combating Alzheimer's. Serotonin, another anti-Alzheimeran chemical, is found in pineapple, English walnut, mucuna bean, bananas and plantains, avocadoes, dates, plums, and nettle.
The compounds Panacene and Panaxin are cerebrotonic in activity, and are found in Korean and American ginsengs. Among the many plants with anti-encephalopathic activity is okra, huizache, garlic, onion, chives, shallots, aloe vera, amaranth leaf, cashew, dill, pineapple, peanuts, tarragon, asparagus, oats, bok-choi, mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, collards, chili peppers, papaya, citrus, cucumber, squash, pumpkin, carrots, figs, fennel, strawberries, ginkgo, soybean, sunflower seed, hops, sweet potatoes, gobernadora, lentils, flax, macadamia nut, apple, mango, mucuna, banana, basil, watercress, evening primrose, American ginseng, poppy seed, beets, okra, rutabaga, cauliflower, collards, kale, bell pepper, amaranth greens (quelite), beans, dates, pine nuts, pistachios, peas, purslane, apricots, peach, almond, guava, pear, chayote, potato, eggplant, spinach, cacao, blueberry, wheat, grapes, corn, and ginger.
In addition to the many wonderful plant-based protectors, it is wise to take a balanced multi-vitamin supplement, along with a balanced B-complex, and anti-oxidant complex for maximum protection.
That will do it for this month. As always, consult with your physician before using any herbal remedy. For questions or comments on this column, I can be reached via e-mail at glorioso@netscorp.net. For more information on herbal medicine in South Texas, go to www.laredos.com and click on "The Medicine Man" column or "Medicine Man Archives" for a collection of previous articles.