Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating disorder that affects 50 million people worldwide and 6% of the elderly. Unlike vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s tends to progress rapidly from simple memory loss to a wide variety of symptoms. Not only do patients suffer, Alzheimer’s will also impact patients’ families and friends as normal recognition and communication decline.
Currently, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease are both difficult. No diagnostic test is definitive, and the treatment options available only target the symptoms. Due to the enormous monetary costs and emotional trauma, extensive efforts are being made to improve diagnosis and care. Recently, a novel diagnostic test has been developed, and new research, like the study from McGill University researchers published yesterday that links H pylori gut infections and Alzheimer’s, provides hope for tackling this terrible disease.
Benefits of Chinese Medical Treatment
Chinese medicine offers some clear advantages in the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients. First, unlike Western medical treatment that relies on a specific and accurate disease diagnosis, treatment in Chinese medicine is based on a pattern comprised of symptoms, tongue inspection, and pulse palpation. Regardless of Western disease diagnosis, as long as the patterns are correctly identified, Chinese medical treatment can be helpful in improving the patient’s quality of life. Studies of gingko biloba, an herb used in Chinese medicine for centuries, support this assertion, as gingko is the only substance which has been shown to benefit both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia sufferers alike.
One of the challenges of Alzheimer’s is the wide variety of causes and clinical symptoms. Alzheimer’s has been linked to everything from head trauma to diet, and it now seems likely that many cases are the result of multiple causes. Similarly, each Alzheimer patient faces a unique group of problems, depending on the individual case and the duration of the illness. One patient might alternate between sorrow and joy, while another could be more prone to anger and violent outbursts. Some patients may report pain, but others find themselves very weak. Alzheimer’s might make a patient mute, or the speech may come out garbled and unintelligible.
Given the various clinical scenarios, Alzheimer’s patients require a treatment appropriate for their unique situations. Chinese medicine, based on complex pattern groupings rather than a singular Western disease diagnosis, identifies more than half a dozen basic patterns in Alzheimer’s. Patients may present some combination of these patterns, and additional patterns may be differentiated by the skilled practitioner. Customized Chinese medical care which can address all of the systemic issues simultaneously offers Alzheimer’s patients a sophisticated and personalized care regimen which is unlike pharmaceutical treatment.
A Chinese Medical Care Plan
Options for effective Chinese medical care for Alzheimer’s patients include acupuncture, herbal teas, and diet and lifestyle counseling. Acupuncture is a safe, drug-free treatment, but it is only appropriate for patients who will permit insertion and lie still while the needles are retained. Generally, a caregiver needs to be present throughout the acupuncture treatment.
Herbal teas are another treatment choice and may be more suitable as the disease progresses. For some patients, drinking a tea may be easier than taking pills, so herbal decoctions may be preferable. In other cases, an over-the-counter formulation or an encapsulated custom blend can improve compliance for those who experience difficultly swallowing liquids.
Finally, as a system with many effective self-help methods to offer, Chinese medicine can evaluate each patient and give caregivers a program that includes targeted dietary advice, simple exercises, and acupressure and gentle massage techniques. While not every home care recommendation will be appropriate for all patients, these time-proven care methods can be effective and cost-free aids to help to control symptoms and improve life quality. If you are a caregiver for someone dealing with Alzheimer’s, we would love to work together with you to craft an individualized treatment plan.