Navigating Dementia Disorders

Aromatherapy for Dementia
Symptoms:

What is Aromatherpy?

The use of essential oils has a history going back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who entombed their Pharaohs with jars of essential oils for use in the afterlife. The Chinese and Indians were probably the first to recognize the healing properties of the oils, and many cultures since those ancient times have used essentials for cosmetic and healing purposes. Aromatherapy is now getting an increasing amount of attention in the scientific and medical communities as an alternative therapy for people who have Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. What they are finding is that certain essential oils have a positive effect on mood, behavior, and even on cognitive functioning and memory.

The term aromatherapy was first used by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist who discovered, purely by accident, that lavender oil had a healing effect on burns. Since then, many have studied the healing effects of different essential plant oils.

Aromatherapy is the use of volatile plant oils (essential oils) to improve psychological and physical health and prevent disease, and to affect mood. These oils are distilled from different parts of plants and contain the essence of the plant. Plants and herbs have a long and lustrous history in relation to our health. They have long been used for their healing properties, in herbal medicine, in our food, and as aromatherapy. Modern medicine has derived many of its most potent and important medicines from plants.

7 Essential Oils That Help Those Living with Dementia

Here are oils that have been shown to be effective in treating and controlling different symptoms of dementia:

1. Lavender

Lavender is thought to be calming and able to balance strong emotions. It has also been used to help with depression, anger and irritability, and can help in some cases of insomnia. Lavender can be directly inhaled, used a massage oil or sprayed on linens.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint is an energizer and can be used to stimulate the mind and calm nerves at the same time. Best used in the morning, peppermint oil can be inhaled directly, diffused in a room, used as a massage oil, sprayed in the air or even placed in a bath.

3. Rosemary

Similar to peppermint, Rosemary is an uplifting oil used to stimulate the mind and body. It may even improve cognitive performance and mood. Rosemary has also been known to ease constipation, symptoms of depression and also reinvigorate the appetite. Rosemary oil can be directly inhaled, diffused through a room or used as a spray.

4. Bergamot

Bergamot can be used to relive anxiety, agitation, mild depression and stress. This mood elevating and calming oil can also be used to relieve insomnia. To use bergamot oil, place a few drops in a bath, use as a massage oil, diffuse through a room or use a spray on clothing or linens.

5. Lemon

While lemon oil may be among the more expensive oils, it is also one of the most studied and more effective oils. It has been shown to help calm and relax people who are dealing with anxiety and insomnia, improve memory and ease indigestion. Lemon oil can be dropped into a bath, inhaled directly, diffused, sprayed or applied directly to the skin as a massage oil.

6. Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang oil can help ease depression while also promoting good sleep. This is a great oil not only for a person living with Alzheimer’s, but also for caregivers struggling with restlessness and lack of sleep. Ylang Ylang is often combined with lemon oil and can be placed in a bath, inhaled, diffused or sprayed.

7. Ginger

Ginger oil is helpful for anyone struggling with digestion issues. Commonly used to treat a loss of appetite and constipation, ginger can help promote good eating habits. Ginger oil can be applied directly to the skin as an abdominal massage, inhaled, diffused, sprayed or placed on a compress.

The Amazing Ozone Healing Miracles for
Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease,
Multiple Sclerosis, etc.

Let me introduce you to world-renowned ozone researcher Doctor Silvia Menendez. Dr. Menendez has done some incredible research on ozone therapy.

Under her direction in Havana, the Cuban Ozone Research Center has turned out stunning scientific articles on the incredible safety and effectiveness of ozone therapy on both animals AND humans, and the research runs the gamut of reversing vascular disease, dementia, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, wounds, leg ulcers, intestinal pathologies, joint diseases, and far, far more.

Essentially, ozone therapy improves oxygen delivery, utilization, kills pathogens, and modulates the immune system. There simply is not anything like it in medicine anywhere, and why, in the words of Prof. Bocci of Italy, another ozone pioneer, “Ozone is a non-specific therapy for a wide variety of specific diseases.” With the bottom line of all healing being oxygen delivery and utilization, ozone has no match anywhere or anyway.

Dr. Menendez says almost all cases of memory loss will respond to ozone! Here’s the surprising reason: These disorders have an EXCESS of nitric oxide (NO). Ozone therapy modulates (or balances) NO. That means when you’re deficient, ozone increases it, and when you have an excess, it reduces it.
Reduction of excess NO and inflammatory cytokines, and elevation of SOD help protect vulnerable brain synapses from damage. Dr. Menendez reported 70% of Alzheimer’s dementia patients improve with ozone compared to 80% with other dementias. What was astounding was that 93% of her Parkinson’s disease patients had reduced tremors!

Recent studies by Russian and French doctors have shown extremely dramatic results in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with ozone therapy. One reason is that it has been found that a cause of Alzheimer’s is aluminum toxicity in the brain, and ozonating of the blood has been shown to precipitate the aluminum. Also, of course, its abilities as a circulatory enhancer and cell rejuvenator come into play. In a similar vein, German doctors have also had success with Parkinson’s, MS and other nervous system disorders.

EFFECT OF OZONE THERAPY IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Abstract

On the basis of the oxidant properties of ozone, we postulate that controlled ozone administration is able to promote a slight and transient oxidative stress which in turn re-establishes the signalling pathways which have been lost in pathological conditions, preserving the cellular redox balance (increasing antioxidant endogenous system), mitochondrial function, as well as the regulation of transcription factors and the modulation of the immunological system. Ozone therapy can activate nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) via moderate oxidative stress, upregulating the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. Activation of Nrf2 results in protection against neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis (neurodegenerative process that sparks an inflammatory response in which axonal loss is the major cause of irreversible neurological disability), among others. Also, levels of nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase (MPO), intracellular calcium and pro-inflammatory cytokines, like tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1 and 6, were able to be modulated by ozone. Nitric oxide modulation, as well as the increase in A1 adenosine receptors (A1AR) achieved with this therapy has an important role in brain blood flux, in the formation of memory, in the release of neurotransmitters, in regulating synaptic and neuronal function and in the inflammatory processes.

The lack of side effects obtained with ozone therapy, as the improvement in the quality of life achieved by these patients, make this procedure an excellent therapeutic option.

A Brief History of Medicinal Cuisine

Authentic Chinese medicinal food dishes are prepared according to traditional recipes and techniques, based on ancient ideas about how the human body operates. They described the effect of each kind of meat, grain, herb, or vegetable on the human body, how the body operates, and gave suggestions about what to prepare to stay healthy or cure disease.
The earliest work on these various topics dates from the early Han Dynasty era (206 BC-220 AD) and is called the Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine). It contains the basic ideas of Chinese food therapy. The text gave recommendations on what to eat for different health conditions and different environmental conditions.
Ancient Chinese medical books list hundreds of plant, animal, and chemical ingredients and tell their specific effects on the human body. These books give ideas about the physical principals involved in human health, and they describe how herbs or special foods help, along with TCM techniques such as moxibustion and acupuncture.
Since that time, the basic ideas about food and health have changed little. See more on The History of Chinese Medicine.

General Principals of Chinese Medicinal Cuisine

1. Balance

Goji berries is a widely used ingredient in Chinese medicine cuisine
The basic idea is to balance the qi and the body fluids — the fundamentals of Chinese traditional medicine. It is thought that a healthy body or organ has a proper balance of these things. When they are out of balance, there is disease or sickness.
The environment or physical injury disrupts the balance. For example, cold weather causes a lack of qi or high yin in the body. So high yang foods are eaten. In hot weather when there is naturally too much yang, high yin foods are eaten. Recipes for each season are described below.

2. Adding Medicinal Herbs

Healing herbs or animal parts can be added to the diet to heal disease. Many of the same herbs are used by Western herbalists and herbalists in other parts of the world for the same conditions, so this strongly suggests that the herbs have real medicinal effects. See more on The Top 10 Most Common Herbs and Spices Used to Flavor Chinese Food.

3. Using Heats and Flavors

All foods are categorized by qi temperature, ranging from high yang to high yin, and one of the five food flavors (sour, sweet, bitter, hot and salty). A food item’s qi temperature and specific flavor influences the body in its own way.
It is thought that people should generally include all the flavors in every meal and balance the “heat”. Most Chinese people think that if too much of one type of food is consumed, it can cause an imbalance in the body.

4. Mealtime TCM Principles

The way you eat also matters. Eating slowly is believed to benefit your health.
The ancient texts described not only what to prepare for meals, but also how to eat meals. You might be surprised at these Chinese customs about eating meals that have been part of the culture for hundreds of years.

• Try to avoid overly processed food. Eat naturally.
• Eat seasonal vegetables and fruits.
• Always make sure the vegetables are cooked.
• Sit down to eat at a quiet place.
• Chew the food well.
• Eat slowly. (慢吃mànchī /man-chrr/ ‘eat slowly’ means “bon appetite!” in China)
• Pay attention to your eating, and get away from distractions. In TCM your mind plays a part in how well you digest food, so pay attention to the tastes of the food.
• Do not skip meals.
• After lunch, take a nap or rest for a while.

Spring Spotlight Recipe:

Asparagus and Vinegar Recipe
In the spring, things come alive and start growing. It is important for living things to have more than usual yang for growth.
It is thought that the liver and gallbladder are especially important at this time. It is important to eat the green seasonal vegetables that sprout out at these times since they supply the necessary yang and help to nourish the liver. “Green is the color of the liver and of spring” is a saying. And drink fresh sour juices, since these stimulate the qi.
It is also thought to be a time when the body does “spring cleaning” on itself by getting rid of stored fats and meat, so eating less meat and fat is considered to be better for health.
Here is a light and easy-to-make vegetarian dish and drink that is a good example of a medicinal springtime meal.
Instructions
Wash a bunch of asparagus and a carrot in clean water without detergent. Then chop up the vegetables and lightly steam them until the asparagus is slightly tender and bright green. Note that the vegetables cook quickly so don’t steam them long.
Prepare a dressing by simply adding about two parts of virgin olive oil to one part of plum vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Plum vinegar is preferred, because it is a springtime fruit. Then pour the dressing on the vegetables and enjoy the dish with some lemonade.
To make the lemonade, simply squeeze a fresh lemon and add the juice to clean water.

The Wonders of Coconut Oil!

Maintaining Brain Health to Prevent Dementia
e’re always reading the latest tips on prevention — eat right, reduce stress, get plenty of exercise and keep your brain engaged in challenging activities. As far as diet, coconut oil continues to receive a great deal of attention from advocates like Dr. Mary Newport.

In her 2011 book, “Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was a Cure? The Story of Ketones,” Dr. Newport fervently declares that her husband has shown clear improvement in his dementia with regular use of coconut oil. In some circles, the topic is rather controversial, but many of those with concerns about their cognitive future feel it’s worth a try.

Dr. Newport studied these affects in her husband who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 52 years old. When he began to decline dramatically, she decided there had to be something that would help with his symptoms, even when the only pharmaceuticals dedicated to helping Alzheimer’s patients were not exactly working for him.

She began giving him coconut oil and eventually MCT oil on a daily basis. Dr. Newport reported that in just 37 days, her husband had made incredible progress. After another three years of consuming the oils he was practically back to his old self!
How Coconut Oil Affects the Body and Mind
For best results, experts suggest organic, cold-pressed, non-hydrogenated, virgin coconut oil — and don’t let the word “oil” frighten you. Coconut oil is a heart-healthy oil that is free of cholesterol and trans-fats, and provides many benefits in addition to improving brain health, including:

• Improving the body’s use of insulin
• Improving cholesterol by increasing HDL (good cholesterol)
• Boosting thyroid function resulting in increased energy
• Acting as an antioxidant and natural antibiotic
• Improving overall health of skin and hair

So what are coconut oil and MCT oil? Coconut oil, in its purest form, is the edible oil from a coconut. MCT oil is extracted from Coconut oil. MCT stands for medium chain triglycerides, or medium chain fats. When studied, scientists found that taking MCT oil resulted in faster production of ketones but shorter length of affect. With pure coconut oil, it took longer for increased production of ketones to begin but the affects lasted for a longer duration of time. Because of this, Dr. Newport gave her husband both to get the quickest and longest lasting results.

A recent University of Oxford study suggested that although the effects of coconut oil may be temporary, Alzheimer’s and dementia patients have indeed seen short-term benefits resulting from its use. This research supports Dr. Newport’s theory that ketones, which are byproducts of the breakdown of fats in the body, play an important role in brain health. The idea is that by boosting ketones, found in coconut oil, we can improve cognitive function.

Adding Coconut Oil to Your Diet

If you decide to add this “super food” to your diet to promote brain health and prevent dementia, the internet is a great source for coconut oil recipes.

I personally love it stirred into my morning smoothies, but you can add it to your coffee, oatmeal… but there are many ways to use coconut oil in cooking and baking.

It is possible to get some of these medium chain fats from eating coconut and/or drinking coconut milk or water? Eating it – yes, which is great news considering all the ways it can be consumed. Drinking coconut water – no, unfortunately there is not coconut oil in coconut water. Drinking coconut milk – yes!