anyone know anything about this....Plant the focus of Alzheimer's study

[Guest guest]

Plant the focus of Alzheimer's study Sat Oct 21, 5:02 AM ET

 

 

 

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The University of North Carolina Hospitals are participating in the national

clinical trial on Chinese club moss, which is already being sold in stores with

nutritional supplements and is used in China as a treatment for cognitive

disorders.

The study, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, is one of a growing

number of federally funded research studies focused on natural and alternative

therapies. The centers of the

National Institutes of Health expect to spend $300.5 million in complementary

and alternative medicine research in the 2007 budget year.

Even with the recent financial commitment, research in that area is limited,

making it difficult for doctors to get information that is essential to

understanding the risks and benefits of certain treatments.

" That kind of data is completely missing today from most nutraceuticals, " said

Dr. Daniel Kaufer, a neurologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel

Hill who is one of the trial's investigators.

Patients in the trial receive either a placebo or dose of Huperzine A — an

alkaloid extracted from the plant — that is larger than what's currently

available in stores. After the placebo-controlled phase, all patients take doses

of Huperzine A for eight weeks and have the option to continue taking it if they

believe it's helping.

Investigators test patients' cognitive functions throughout the trial, Kaufer

said.

Marion Hinsdale, 83, decided with help from her daughter, Marjorie, to

participate in the trial to see if the treatment could help with her memory and

cognitive problems.

" Both my mother and I are interested in anything that would be considered

homeopathic, " said Marjorie Hinsdale, who lives with her mother in Chapel Hill.

" The fact that this is a Chinese herb was intriguing to both of us. "

While some studies involving natural therapies have been unsuccessful, trials

that prove certain therapies work have credibility with consumers and doctors.

" It gets their attention and provides evidence that botanical medicine is very

powerful, " said Christie Yerby, a Chapel Hill specialist in botanical medicine.

The Hinsdales aren't sure if Huperzine A helped Marion, who decided to keep

taking the supplement after completing the first part of the trial.

" We just wanted to contribute in what small way we can, " Marjorie Hinsdale

said.

 

Bob Linde, AP, RH

www.acuherbals.com

 

 

 

 

 

All-new Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

 

 

[Guest guest]

There is a registry of all federally funded clinical trials underway

or completed at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Here is the page from this

site for the study referenced below.

 

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00083590?order=1

 

or http://tinyurl.com/y3kuph

 

You can search on this site for other TCM studies (i.e. if you search

on acupuncture,69 studies will come up).

 

My best,

Cynthia

 

Chinese Medicine , " Bob Linde,AP,

Herbalist " <boblindeherbalist wrote:

>

> Plant the focus of Alzheimer's study Sat Oct 21, 5:02 AM ET

>

> The University of North Carolina Hospitals are participating in the

national clinical trial on Chinese club moss, which is already being

sold in stores with nutritional supplements and is used in China as a

treatment for cognitive disorders.

> The study, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging, is one

of a growing number of federally funded research studies focused on

natural and alternative therapies. The centers of the

> National Institutes of Health expect to spend $300.5 million in

complementary and alternative medicine research in the 2007 budget

year.

> Even with the recent financial commitment, research in that area

is limited, making it difficult for doctors to get information that

is essential to understanding the risks and benefits of certain

treatments.

> " That kind of data is completely missing today from most

nutraceuticals, " said Dr. Daniel Kaufer, a neurologist at the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who is one of the trial's

investigators.

> Patients in the trial receive either a placebo or dose of

Huperzine A — an alkaloid extracted from the plant — that is larger

than what's currently available in stores. After the placebo-

controlled phase, all patients take doses of Huperzine A for eight

weeks and have the option to continue taking it if they believe it's

helping.

> Investigators test patients' cognitive functions throughout the

trial, Kaufer said.

 

{snip}