The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (11 page)
Read The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies Online
Authors: Martha Schindler Connors
Dementia is not a disease,
per se,
but instead is a group of symptoms—including loss of memory, reasoning, planning, and social abilities—caused by degeneration of the tissues in the brain. It is diagnosed when a person shows impairment in two or more brain functions severe enough to interfere with daily functioning; it’s not associated with a loss of alteration or consciousness (meaning it’s not a type of amnesia) and it has not been present since birth (it’s not a congenital condition).
Although most people with dementia are elderly, dementia is not an inevitable part of aging. It’s caused by a group of brain diseases, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Mild cognitive impairment is a type of dementia that lies somewhere between the changes of normal aging and the serious deficits of Alzheimer’s. While it’s not a definite predictor of Alzheimer’s, people with MCI are three to four times more likely to develop AD than people without it. Experts at the Mayo Clinic estimate that 12 percent of people over the age of seventy have MCI.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia in older people, affects about 5 million Americans—roughly 5 percent of people between sixty-five to seventy-four and nearly half of those over the age of eighty-five.
There is no cure for dementia. Treatments—both conventional and herbal—focus on improving the patient’s quality of life and delaying, as much as possible, the disease’s progression.
AD drugs include galantamine (Razadyne) and donepezil (Aricept), which boost the levels of an enzyme called
choline acetyltransferase
that’s in short supply in people with Alzheimer’s. These drugs can produce side effects like diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, muscle cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
Several herbs have a long history of use as brain aids, and several have shown promise against age-related cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, and can be taken in conjunction with conventional AD remedies.
| • Garlic (Allium sativum) | Aged extracts of garlic have been proven in numerous studies to reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels, which can contribute to the development of dementia. |
| • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) | The best known of the cognition-boosting botanicals, ginkgo has proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions and has been shown to fight normal age-related cognitive decline as well as cerebral insufficiency (impaired blood flow to the brain) and several types of clinical dementia. Ginkgo has been shown to improve memory and attention in healthy young people, too. |
| • Grape (Vitis vinifera) | Several studies have found that drinking red wine is associated with lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Other research has shown that extracts of grape seeds and skin can reduce age-related dementia and cognitive loss. |
| • Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) | Extracts of this herb, long revered for its ability to calm anxiety, have been shown to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. |
| • Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) | Research shows that this South African “tea” can offset the damage to the central nervous system caused by aging. |
| • Sage (Salvia officinalis, S. lavandulaefolia) | Sage extracts have been shown to improve cognitive function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Sage can also improve memory in younger people. |
| • Turmeric (Curcuma longa) | This aromatic South Asian spice contains a chemical called curcumin, which has been shown to inhibit the oxidation and other processes that are behind AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. |
Caring for Kids
Having children today almost always means having a medicine cabinet that’s jammed with bottles of brightly colored syrups and tablets, all promising to obliterate a child’s sniffles or tummy ache before bedtime. But most common childhood illnesses are mild—you’ve got to control the symptoms and help your child feel better, not eradicate a million life-threatening microbes—so many drug treatments are overkill. Herbs work to gently ease your child’s discomfort and help his body heal itself.
Most childhood illnesses—diaper rash, ear and upper respiratory infections—are fairly mild, requiring more symptom management than serious medical intervention. Most often, you’ll want to keep your child comfortable and, when necessary, bolster his natural immunity to get him back on the playground as soon as possible.
Because it’s focused so heavily on prevention and the fostering of overall good health, herbal medicine is uniquely suited to treat most of the common ills of childhood. Compare that to conventional medicine, which focuses on the elimination of specific symptoms or pathogens, and you’ll see that, in many cases, conventional medicine overmedicates children and may actually encourage future health problems.
Consider atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic skin condition common in babies and children. Conventional medicine uses steroidal or immune-modulating medications, which work well in the short term but might turn a childhood case of itchy skin into a lifelong problem.
Of course, there are times when the powerful drugs of Western medicine are required. But there are also plenty of times that call for the gentler healing of herbs.
Modern pharmaceuticals are extremely effective at relieving many childhood illnesses, but most prescription and over-the-counter drugs produce unwanted side effects and may even make your child sicker. For example, decongestants can actually create recurring (or “rebound”) congestion, while antibiotics have been linked to the development of drug-resistant superbugs.
Children are not small adults, and their needs can be quite different from grownups'. Children have more skin (surface area) per pound than adults do, meaning remedies applied topically can have a stronger effect. Kids’ bodies also have a different internal composition (the ratio of fat to water), and the organs that metabolize drugs, including the liver, don’t function the same way. Young children also have a less well-developed blood-brain barrier, meaning more drugs or other agents can reach the central nervous system with potentially toxic results. Here are a few steps to take before using any herbal remedies on your child:
• Talk to your pediatrician.
Be sure to discuss any therapies—including herbs—you’re considering. If your child has specific concerns, be sure you’ve got a confirmed diagnosis before proceeding with herbal remedies.
• Get professional help.
If you’re treating a serious condition, consider working with a trained herbalist or natural medicine practitioner (see
Chapter 18
).
• Don’t guess on the dosage.
As with adults, you should keep in mind this rule: More isn’t always better. For advice on dosages, see
Chapter 18
.
Herbal remedies can be very effective in children, but some have a strong or unpleasant flavor that kids won’t like (especially kids who are used to taking artificially flavored cough syrups and other “children’s” medicines). Try mixing an unpalatable remedy with some honey or applesauce to mask the taste.
Although the majority of herbal preparations are well tolerated by children, you should understand the actions and potential side effects of any herb you’re giving to your child. Here are some rules to remember when treating children with herbs:
• Don’t give medicine of any kind
—including herbal—to a baby younger than six months (speak with your pediatrician before treating an infant’s health issues at home).
• When using herbal treatments on your child,
be sure to allow a few weeks before you decide that a remedy is or isn’t working. If your child has a bad reaction to anything, discontinue using it. Speak with your pediatrician if the reaction is serious.
• Watch your child for any indication
—good or bad—that the herb is having an effect. If your child shows signs of sensitivity, such as headache, rash, or upset stomach, stop using it.
• Treat herbs as you would any medications:
Keep them out of reach of your children (and pets), and store in a cool, dry place unless otherwise instructed.
• Don’t treat a high fever
(over 101° Fahrenheit in infants, 102°F in toddlers, or 103°F in older children) at home. Likewise, if your child has a stiff neck or headache along with a fever, or if she develops an ear infection that doesn’t clear up within twenty-four hours, get immediate medical attention.
Avoid giving your child any herb that’s a stimulant, such as guarana
(Paullinia cupana).
You should also avoid herbs with laxative properties, like cascara sagrada
(Frangula purshiana)
and senna
(Cassia officinalis, Senna alexandrina),
and herbs with hormonal effects, such as black cohosh
(Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa)
or red clover
(Trifolium pratense).
Babies arrive with a unique set of health issues, many of which they’ll grow out of by their first birthday. But in that first year, you’ll probably have to deal with several issues, from teething to tummy troubles.
Teething is the process by which a baby gets her first set of teeth—they grow out of the gums on her upper and lower jaws, breaking through the skin on the way (and causing the gums to redden and swell and the baby to drool and chew on anything she can get into her mouth). Teething should never be accompanied by a fever; see your doctor if your baby is running a fever.
Some pediatricians recommend topical analgesics like benzocaine or oral pain relievers like acetaminophen; aspirin should never be given to children younger than eighteen because it increases the risk of getting Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. Herbal options for teething include:
| • Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) | An infusion of chamomile works as a safe, gentle pain reliever and a very mild sedative—perfect for soothing fussy babies. It can also help heal inflamed tissues. |
| • Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) | Slippery elm has demulcent properties, meaning it can be soothing to sore gums when applied topically. |
All babies cry, but colicky babies cry more—and with more gusto. Colic is unexplained, persistent crying in healthy babies and affects as many as 25 percent of children. It’s defined as crying that goes on for more than three hours a day, at least three days a week, and persists for more than three weeks. A baby with colic typically clenches his fists, curls his legs, or otherwise acts as if he’s in pain, screaming and often turning bright red in the process. Colicky babies can also have a distended belly that feels hard to the touch.
In most cases, colic clears up by the time the baby is six months old. If your baby is still colicky after that—or if he shows symptoms of illness, such as vomiting, fever, or diarrhea—see your pediatrician.
Some conventional medical practitioners recommend simethicone (Mylicon), an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever and antigas medicine, which can cause diarrhea. Here are some herbal alternatives for colic:
| • Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) | Chamomile can relieve intestinal spasms and reduce inflammation in gastrointestinal tissues. In one study, infants given a multiherb tea containing chamomile showed significantly improved colic symptoms. |
| • Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) | Fennel seed oil is a traditional colic remedy. Modern research has shown that it can eliminate colic symptoms without side effects. |
| • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | Lavender essential oil is known to relax both body and mind—and a bath or massage that incorporates it can help a colicky baby get some sleep. |
Babies and toddlers can develop a few unique skin problems that require special, extra-gentle care.
The bane of many a baby’s bottom, diaper rash is most often caused by contact with soiled diapers (or a reaction to baby wipes or laundry detergent). It’s a very common condition that can leave a baby’s skin red, scaly, and very tender.
Talc, the key ingredient in baby powder, has been a classic in American nurseries for generations. But talcum powder has been linked to respiratory problems and even cancer. Safer stand-ins: dried and powdered formulations of the herbs arrowroot
(Maranta arundinacea)
or rice
(Oryza sativa),
or the dried, starchy component of corn (Zea mays).
A case of diaper rash that lasts for more than three days and includes areas of raised red bumps and a series of small red patches extending out beyond the main rash could be the sign of an infection with
Candida albicans,
a yeast-like fungus.
Babies are prone to a few types of
dermatitis
(skin inflammation). Infantile seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap, is a nonallergic condition that produces thick, scaly patches on a baby’s scalp. (In adults, it’s called dandruff.) It’s triggered by hormones passed from the mother, which cause the baby’s scalp to produce too much sebum (oil), and usually clears on its own.
Atopic dermatitis, or infant eczema, appears at six to twelve weeks as a rash or patch of small pimples on the cheeks or chest and sometimes the elbows and knees.