As everybody knows that Alzheimer's as of now do not have any cure. So many researchers took different approaches to reduce the pain and discomfort caused by Alzheimer's. As there is an increase in natural health remedies, many types of trials were conducted on Alzheimer's disease too.

Can Complementary Health Approaches Help Alzheimer's Patients?

All research answers this question with a resounding yes! Complementary health approaches are those which are used in conjunction with other medical and health interventions. They are not intended to be used on their own or as replacements to more prescribed or traditional interventions.

Herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage, and exercise are some of the health remedies. It is very important with Alzheimer's patients that their caretakers know everything about the treatment as some these natural treatments are not monitored as the regular treatments.

Apart from that it should also be mentioned that there was much research done regarding to health remedies and many more researches are following. The outcome of these researches are that the regular treatments are very effective when it is combined with these natural health remedies.

The available complementary health approaches are as follows

Supplements from herbal

There are a number of herbal supplements that have been studied in regards to Alzheimer's disease but none so much as gingko biloba because it has been claimed that this herbal supplement can aid with memory function and cognition.

Some research has shown that some patients with unspecified forms of dementia may, in fact, benefit from gingko biloba supplements. The herb is said to enhance memory function and cognitive awareness - sharpening the exact brain functions most affected by dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It is important to remember that, but as with any other herbal supplement, gingko biloba may have side effects and may also interact with prescription medications. It should only be used in conjunction with other therapies and a doctor's supervision.

Acupuncture

It is now mostly accepted by westerners too as a potential cure. It treats many problems like migraines and long term pain. Acupuncture is used for thousands of year by chinese as their traditional treatment.

A recent study at both the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women in Wellesley, Mass. and the University of Hong Kong, did report positive and promising results in small studies on the effect of acupuncture on Alzheimer's patients.

Ten people with Alzheimer's disease and one with vascular dementia were treated with acupuncture twice a week for three months during the Wellesley study. Measuring cognitive functioning and mood, the study demonstrated that the acupuncture positively affected the patients and improved both mood and cognitive function. The study at the University of Hong Kong treated eight patients Alzheimer's for 30 days each and demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive function, verbal communication, gross and fine motor coordination as well as a decrease in the overall severity of Alzheimer's symptoms.

Massage

But there was not a great deal of research that correlates massage and Alzheimer's. But limited research that have been done shows that massage can bring down the agitation and anxiety levels of affected persons. There was many researches going on in the field of massage. Massage is also considered as an alternative treatment for many general health problems.

Exercise

The benefits of exercise as a complement to any health approach has been repeated demonstrated to be beneficial. The same is true for Alzheimer's patients as long as a trained professional is advised and supervising the program and exercises. Light exercises, as well as those specifically designed for Alzheimer's patients, can be extremely beneficial in improving mood, coordination, and even behavior.

The complementary health interventions can be found here.

Many of the doctors who treat Alzheimer's know the importance of having many approaches to the treatment. Most of the doctors do recommend alternative treatments. The first best place to start is to consult with your physician. You family doctor will be able to guide you in the right direction.

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