Guest guest Posted February 25, 2001 Report Share Posted February 25, 2001 > Is Vinpocetine the Answer to Brain > Fog, Cognitive and Memory > Problems? > > > Popular European Supplement, Now Available in > U.S., Helps Boost Oxygen in Brain and Brain > Metabolism > > by J. Shomon > > It might be, says Bernd > Wollschlaeger, MD, a > Florida-based board-certified > family physician who > specializes in the application > of herbal remedies and > nutritional supplements. Dr. > Wollschlaeger is also the > associate editor of the > Journal of the American > Nutraceutical Association > (JANA). > > Vinpocetine (pronounced > vin-poe-ce-teen), is a > nutritional supplement > derived from the periwinkle > plant. It has just recently > become available in the U.S. > through food, drug and mass > market retailers as a > nutritional supplement. The > supplement is already very > much in use in Europe, where physicians believe it is > far more effective than other supplements -- such as > ginkgo biloba -- used for memory and brain function. > Vinpocetine actually contains many of the same > cerebral-enhancing effects as ginkgo biloba, but has > been shown to be more effective in much shorter > time. > > Vinpocetine has been extensively studied in Europe. > These clinical studies have found it to provide > several advantages for the human brain, including > memory enhancement, increased cognitive > performance, improved cerebral circulation and higher > mental acuity and awareness. > > In his book, Mind Boosters: A Guide to Natural > Supplements that Enhance Your Mind, Memory, and > Mood, Ray Sahelian, M.D. has written, " Experiments > with vinpocetine indicate that it can dilate blood > vessels, enhance circulation in the brain, improve > oxygen utilization, make red blood cells more pliable, > and inhibit aggregation of platelets. " > > According to Dr. Wollschlaeger, " all of the studies > focus on improvement of cognitive function. Several > peer- reviewed, double-blind studies looked at > cognitive performance of normal subjects, seeing > how vinpocetine would improve their cognitive > performance. The researchers found a significant > improvement with vinpocetine. Until vinpocetine, we > physicians have had nothing to prevent cognitive > decline. We only have drugs to treat after the fact. " > > No studies have been to date been performed > specifically using vinpocetine with thyroid patients -- > who frequently complain of memory problems, > difficulty concentrating, and that particular > fuzzy-thinking described as " brain fog. " However, it's > thought that the reduced metabolism of > hypothyroidism may reduce blood flow to the brain, > or slow down brain metabolism slightly, which may > account for the cognitive and memory-related > symptoms. Vinpocetine has been proven to increases > brain blood flow and brain cell metabolism, so, by > providing more oxygen to the brain, brain-cell energy > increases and it is in that capacity that the > supplement may be a help for some people with > hypothyroidism. > > " According to clinical data, consumers will see > improvement in memory functions as well as > enhancement of learning and recall and overall > alertness, " says Dr. Wollschlaeger. > > Are there any side effects or interactions for > Vinpocetine? According to Dr. Wollschlaeger, " a > critical review of the literature has reported no > adverse effects. Vinpocetine appears to be safe, > without any adverse affects. The only reported side > effect, in a very small number of cases, was a > slightly upset stomach, which is almost always a side > effect for some people taking herbs. We have not > seen any adverse effects or drug-herb interactions, > and it seems safe to take with other drugs, including > diabetes drugs, and blood thinners like Coumadin. > > How much Vinpocetine would typically be a good > dosage to help with brain fog and memory problems? > The standard recommended dose is 1 tablet, 3 x a > day (which is 15 mg a day total, taken as 3 5-mg > tablets per day.) But, according to Dr. Wollschlaeger, > some researchers have doubled the dose, but the > extra dose did not make any difference in terms of > results, or side effects. > > If you started taking vinpocetine, how soon should > you see results? " In seven to ten days, " according to > Dr. Wollschlaeger. " We don't have to wait 4 or 6 or 8 > weeks, like with gingko, to see results. " > > Some researchers also have found that vinpocetine > has additional benefits, such as : > > protecting the retina against the hepatitis B > virus > helping alcoholics recover from ethanol-induced > toxicity. > dealing with space motion sickness > > Dr. Wollschlaeger on Hypothyroidism > > > In his practice, Dr. Wollschlaeger treats many > patients with > thyroid problems. Separate from the issue of brain > fog and > cognitive problems, Dr. Wollschlaeger believes that > they key to > dealing with thyroid problems at their source is the > extent to > which food allergies play a role in thyroid problems. > > Says Dr. Wollschlaeger, " I always encourage my > patients to test > for food allergies. Also, if patients are on > synthetic thyroid drugs > like Synthroid, I seriously consider using Armour or > other > non-synthetic preparations, because they may work > better. " > > > > Dr. Wollschlaeger is a private practice family > physician in North Miami Beach. His office can be > reached at: 305-940-8717. You can also visit his > website at www.complemed.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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