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Reviews
The New Mind Set
Natural Alternatives for Treating Memory Loss
and Migraines in Customers of All Ages
By Rich Handley
September 2003
Memory and concentration issues are a growing concern for many Americans. Memory
function, alertness, learning, and concentration are vital, yet so many suffer
deficiencies in these areas. On top of that, migraine headaches continue to affect
a wide portion of the population. What can be done about these conditions from
a natural health standpoint?
What markets are there for such alternatives, what products are available, and
what side effects and contraindications affect customers across different age
groups?
FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION
Robert M. Krakoff is the President of MindFX Science LLC (based in Ajijic, Jalisco,
Mexico), a firm whose natural vitamins and herb products address problems involving
concentration and focus for competitive athletes, college students, and professionals
under stress, without the use of harsh stimulants. "Everyone," he says, "is
subjected to stress of everyday living.
Everyone is exposed to toxins and pollution." MindFX markets three products
to help deal with such stress: Maxx Impulse, NeuroCharge, and Aftermath. Maxx
Impulse is an energy enhancer containing guarana, green orange, and cacao fruit
extract, Krakoff says. It uses adaptogenic herbs and is designed to provide sustained
energy and concentration without high doses of caffeine or ephedra-like ingredients. "There
is no rush," he adds, "no jolt, or nervousness." NeuroCharge,
a multi-stage brain support complex, consists of ginkgo biloba, huperzine, and
vinpocetine, all thought effective for hand-eye coordination and detail-oriented
work. Aftermath, meanwhile, is intended to improve recuperation and relaxation,
with a formula based on vitamins B complex and C. Non-athletes, he adds, have
also reported its benefit in overcoming sleep disorders.
Dr. Patsi Krakoff, vice president of MindFX Science, says her company is setting
up a double-blind, placebo-controlled study through a major university graduate
department to test and measure the effectiveness of Maxx Impulse and NeuroCharge. "As
these two products are designed to get results for competitive sports people," she
predicts, "we are convinced studies will be able to measure, with a high
degree of validity, their actual effectiveness under laboratory conditions."
Patsi Krakoff also insists there are no side effects for any natural ingredients
MindFX uses. "We do caution people who have a high sensitivity to caffeine
or caffeine-related stimulants and others who may have heart conditions of a
highly sensitive nature to consult with a physician before taking any products.
Because our actual stimulant effect may be comparable to a half-cup of coffee,
adverse side effects would be extremely rare and unusual."
On the other hand, pharmaceuticals used for attention and concentration can be "harsh
on the system," even addictive, she points out. Still, some dangerous stimulants
such as Ritalin and Adderall, used indiscriminately by college students, have
found their way into the street drug market.
Parris M. Kidd, Ph.D., from Science & Ingredients Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.,
recommends phosphatidylserine (PS) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) for memory
and concentration loss, respectively. In 12 double-blind experiments, says Dr.
Kidd, PS has been shown effective for memory support and even partial restoration
of memory in people over age 50. In fact, a November 2002 column entitled "Can
a Pill Boost Your Memory?" in the Wall Street Journal deemed PS the most
effective ingredient for memory improvement.
"Double-blind trials," Kidd adds, "prove GPC's usefulness for
concentration and alertness in young, healthy subjects, as well as those of advanced
age." GPC has been touted for its benefit to mental performance in those
with circulatory problems, and for helping stroke and brain damage victims recover
their memories. "The consistent safety of these substances," claims
Kidd, "is likely related to their being orthomolecules - molecules occurring
naturally in our cells (and sometimes manufactured by them), therefore orthodox
to the body."
PS has been administered to children as part of an integrative program for managing
attention and behavioral problems, while GPC is abundant in breast milk and a
source of the essential nutrient choline. Both PS and GPC are compatible with
pharmaceutical drugs, and both contribute to the reservoirs of phospholipids
essential to tissue growth, expansion, and repair.
According to Kidd, many studies back up PS's ability to improve memory function,
learning, concentration, and alertness. The most telling, he feels, have been
two double-blind trials by Dr. Thomas Crook and collaborators, and a large double-blind
trial by a group in Italy led by a Dr. Cenacchi. Crook, a memory researcher,
found that PS might "turn back the clock on aging" in subjects with
severe memory decline, but not yet advanced to dementia. The Cenacchi trial,
meanwhile, established that PS did benefit memory, and that it was "extremely
well-tolerated" and "did not interfere with a variety of drugs most
commonly used by the elderly."
As for GPC, Kidd says, many studies have shown its use involving problems with
alertness, concentration, learning, and memory. "Its benefits were assessed
in a recent review by Dr. Lucilla Parnetti in Mechanisms of Aging and Development,
Volume 122. Notably, GPC can improve alertness and concentration even in young
healthy subjects."
Another orthomolecule, citicoline, may also be useful in countering memory loss.
A precursor to phosphatidylcholine, citicoline is broken down into uridine and
choline when absorbed by the body. It then reforms in the brain and is used as
raw material for phosphatidylcholine synthesis. This substance is used in treating,
among other conditions, disorders of a cerebrovascular nature. It has been used
in many European countries and Japan for cognitive impairment and brain metabolism
activations, and several studies have cited positive results in improving memory
and performance.
AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS
"It seems," asserts Cheryl Myers, director of product development at
Green Bay, Wis.-based Enzymatic Therapy, "that memory decline and problems
with mental focus are a normal part of aging." Alzheimer's disease, for
example, is an irreversible, progressive disorder that slowly kills nerve cells
in areas of the brain where memory, learning, thought, and language take place.
While this illness is far from curable, she adds, it may be prevented. "Recently,
impressive and extensive research has shown that Alzheimer's disease has some
important nutritional links. In fact, high intake of folic acid, one of the B
vitamins, has been shown to actually reduce the risk of developing the disease.
Folic acid is a vital nutrient for support of healthy brain and spinal cord function,
and scientists have recognized that individuals with low folic acid levels can
exhibit several serious health problems."
One of the most researched herbs, Ginkgo biloba, has been studied in individuals
who have age-related memory loss, and in those with Alzheimer's disease and similar
dementias. According to Myers, ginkgo may improve many brain functions, speeding
up memory recall, protecting brain cells from chemical changes and free radical
damage, improving blood flow to the brain, and helping nerve cells communicate
with each other.
It should be noted that the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded
in a recent study that ginkgo provides "no measurable benefit in memory
or related cognitive function." Immediately following this published report,
the National Nutritional Foods Association, American Botanical Council, Council
for Responsible Nutrition, and American Herbal Products Association issued statements
that urged people to consider the fact that ginkgo has been shown in the past
to be effective for both healthy and cognitively impaired patients in more than
120 clinical studies.
Also, those taking ginkgo and blood-thinning medications together should consult
a healthcare practitioner, as both the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal
Medicines and The Complete German Commission E Monographs have indicated the
use of ginkgo may interact with such medications. Myers points out that other
than blood-thinning and occasional gastric upset, few adverse effects are attributed
to products offered by her company, which include Remember!, Concentrate, and
Rhodiola Energy formulas.
The herb Bacopa monnieri, grown in India, also supports memory and focus. "In
a recent study," Myers recalls, "bacopa was compared to a placebo in
its effect on memory. The group taking the bacopa extract was able to remember
new information much better than the group taking the placebo." Bacopa contains
saponins, hersponin, and bacosides, which can help relieve anxiety, restlessness,
and stress-induced forgetfulness. Herbs with similar uses include ashwaganda
(a stress and fatigue protectant) and gotu kola (which promotes collagen production,
increasing mental alertness by supporting brain capillaries).
Himalaya USA of Houston, Texas, produces a line of supplements called MindCare
that blends these herbs to improve memory and cognitive function, while Nature's
Life of Garden Grove, Calif., uses them in its Mental Vitality supplement, along
with acetyl-L-carnitine, phosphatidylserine, dimethlyaminoethanol (DMAE), vitamins
B6 and B12, Ginkgo biloba, American ginseng root, and milk vetch.
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been reported to work "especially well" with
other antioxidants. "Researchers have discovered unmistakable free radical
damage in Alzheimer's," says Myers. "Accordingly, ALA's effect in memory
and focus has been studied extensively. Researchers have learned that ALA not
only prevents free radical damage, but also supports the health of protective
chemicals in the brain. Like ALA, vitamins B6 and B12 support healthy homocysteine
levels."
Of course, natural products are not the only way to address age-related memory
loss. In a June 2003 report on CNN.com, a study was said to show evidence that
stimulating the mind can ward off Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, much
like how physical exercise keeps the body fit. In the study, conducted at New
York City's Albert Einstein College of Medicine, researchers sought to establish
that keeping mentally active can help guard against dementia.
MENOPAUSE AND OTHER CONDITIONS IN WOMEN
Myers says Enzymatic Therapy is concerned with healthy memory and concentration,
and how these mental functions change as people age, particularly in women. For
young adults, Myers says, memory and concentration problems are "quite unique." One
alternative Enzymatic Therapy offers is Doctor's Choice for Women, a multivitamin
that provides vitamins, minerals, and nutrients designed to help younger customers
concentrate and stay focused. Memory and focus issues in women are often nutritional,
Myers says, and that continues on into adulthood.
"As a woman enters perimenopause," she adds, "generally between
the years of 45 and 50, she may experience extremely frustrating episodes of
forgetfulness and poor concentration. That's because her ovaries are slowly secreting
less and less of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone."
For some middle-aged women, the first symptoms of perimenopause are these lapses
in memory and focus, so-called "fuzzy thinking" that can be addressed
nutritionally. To that end, Myers says, Enzymatic's AM/PM Menopause Formula is
a two-tiered supplement containing green tea, panax ginseng, and black cohosh.
The latter helps reduce hot flashes, while the green tea and ginseng support
alertness and energy. The PM tablet, meanwhile, contains valerian, hops, L-theanine,
and additional black cohosh.
Green tea is also among the ingredients in Jarrow Formulas' Neuro Defense, a
supplement intended to help protect brain and cardiovascular metabolism. Other
ingredients include apigenin, silymarin, niacinamide, grapeseed OPC, and phosphatidylcholine.
The first two inhibit Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade enzymes,
which are activated by oxygen deficiency; the B vitamin niacinamide protects
brain cell DNA by countering NAD enzyme depletion; and green tea and grapeseed
provide antioxidant protection for neurons.
For menstrual-related memory problems, Kidd recommends two long-chain omega-3
fatty acid anti-inflammatories, EPA and DHA. "Since inflammation has now
been indicted in Alzheimer's, as well as ADHD, autism, multiple sclerosis, and
Parkinson's, their role becomes more centerstage." One anti-inflammatory
nutraceutical product, Neptune Krill Oil (created in Laval, Canada, by Neptune
Technologies & Bioresources) contains EPA and DHA in activated form, along
with phospholipids and potent antioxidants. Both fatty acids reportedly support
a healthy cardiovascular system and stabilize emotional symptoms related to psychological
conditions and stress. According to Kidd, a double-blind clinical trial indicated
its benefits regarding "the emotional and physical discomforts associated
with the menstrual cycle" (Sampalis and others, Alternative Medicine Review,
Volume 8, p. 171, 2003).
BETTER LEFT FORGOTTEN?
Very few drugs have been approved in the United States for use against memory
loss or its most severe expression, dementia. Dr. Kidd reports that tacrine was
the first drug approved for Alzheimer's dementia, while donezepil was the second.
Both had more than their share of problems, however, making many wonder if the
treatment was no better than the illness.
Tacrine was shown to cause serious liver injury in many patients, and was judged
ineffectual by the Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics in 1993, Volume 35.
Though non-toxic to the liver, donezepil can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
insomnia, fatigue, muscle cramps, and loss of appetite. In fact, in 1997 the
Medical Letter, Volume 39, discounted this drug's effectiveness as well. Both
tacrine and donezepil, says Kidd, are cholinesterase inhibitors; a more recently
emergent and better-tolerated cholinesterase inhibitor is rivastigmine. Its adverse
effects profile is similar to the others but reportedly somewhat milder.
One older Alzheimer's drug, ergoloid mesylates, may even worsen the disease,
yet it has been on the market for more than 30 years. In 1991, the Journal of
the American Medical Association deemed it of no value for Alzheimer's, while
a 1990 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded the drug
might even accelerate the disease's progression. The latter's authors surmised
that the drug may be directly toxic to the brain. Not surprisingly, Sidney M.
Wolfe, M.D., and the watchdog Public Citizen's Health Research Group have classified
all three of these drugs in the category "Do Not Use," according to
Worst Pills, Best Pills (Pocket Books, 1999).
Of course, even natural alternatives can cause serious side effects. Kidd points
out that ginkgo can cause bleeding in the brain, while vinpocetine is prepared
from periwinkle, a plant not normally consumed by humans. Huperzine is prepared
from the Chinese clubmoss and has a relatively narrow margin when it comes to
safe dosages, and galantamine can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness;
it also cannot be used by those with severe liver impairment.
To that end, retailers must keep customers educated on which natural health products
to take for their own individual conditions, as well as any side effects and
contraindications they should know about. In addition to the traditional promotional
literature often supplied to stores, some manufacturers are taking a proactive
role in helping retailers make this happen. Mark Lubin, president and chief scientist
of Miami, Fla.-based Râ-Zen Relief, says his company supports in-store
training for larger retail locations and is producing a CD-ROM for stores that
will contain product highlights, science, and mechanisms.
Peter Rohde states that Science & Ingredients has taken similar actions. "The
introduction of new products needs educational marketing by the raw material
supplier. This means raw material suppliers have to take charge to assist the
industry by creating the product, training their sales force, helping them develop
their promotional material, and even producing printed material directly for
the retailers. Initially, they are responsible for creating the market." One
resource he recommends is HPB's own Retail Sales Instructor series.
MindFX's Robert Krakoff agrees. "We have offered retailers literature, train-the-trainer
sessions, demonstrators, and speakers for large stores and store openings, as
well as collateral materials. We are active in industry trade shows and offer
ourselves as speakers to industry seminars."
CONCENTRATING ON THE FUTURE
Looking ahead to future markets and potential cross-marketing opportunities,
Rohde predicts phospholipid product sales will increase, with cognition and memory
products offering great opportunities due to the population's rapidly changing
age structure.
One driving element in phospholipid sales, Rohde believes, will be the development
of products based on new resources. Currently, phospholipids from marine sources
are hitting the market rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Another approach will come
from functionalizing phospholipids via enzyme technology. "This long-known
technology, used [by] the food industry over decades, will create new products
with newly defined properties and applications, backed up by clinical trials."
Robert Krakoff at MindFX agrees there is a growing market for brain enhancement
supplements as the population ages. "Adults and children [alike] are more
educated than ever before, and are now realizing that having a healthy brain
will mean more energy [and] more ability to focus at both work and play." Taking
care of the brain is a first step, he says, in providing energy to exercise,
eat right, and be able to enjoy both physical and emotional health.
Râ-Zen's Lubin offers his insight: "In the next several years, the
natural products market will grow tremendously because of several factors. An
aging baby boomer population of middle-to-upper income, well-educated consumers
will dramatically increase the number of people making more proactive decisions
about their own healthcare."
He maintains that pharmaceutical companies should not have such a stranglehold
on the medical community. "There's way too much of a 'kickback' nature that
clouds doctors' clear thinking."
Rubin also believes that Western doctors should "get their heads unplugged
from their butts" about how other people around the world have used natural
medicine successfully for centuries in a sophisticated and established fashion.
For many who oppose the Natural Products Industry, that is certainly a statement
worth remembering.
Rich Handley is the managing editor of Advanced
Imaging and VDV World magazines and also freelances for several
other publications.
Natural Migraine Relief
Pharmaceutical choices for treating migraine headaches fall into three major
categories: prophylactic, abortive, and analgesic, says Mark Lubin, president
and chief scientist of Miami, Fla.-based Râ-Zen Relief. Prophylactic drugs
are taken every day and designed to prevent the onset of migraines by interrupting
the physiology of their formation. Examples include amitriptyline, propanolol,
and verapamil. Side effects include dry mouth and eyes, arrhythmias, hypotension,
bradycardia, impotence, and others.
Abortive drugs are taken for an established headache - that is, one already in
progress. Some examples cited by Lubin include ergotamine, dihydroergotamine,
sumatriptan, zolmitriptan, and naratriptan, which can cause such possible side
effects as nausea, vomiting, angina, hypotension, dizziness, fatigue, and others.
Analgesic drugs are used to alleviate pain symptoms "in the short term,
until the headache can be corrected by a drug falling into one of the other two
classes." The choices here, he says, are usually aspirin, acetaminophen,
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin and naproxen, or opoid
drugs such as (but not limited to) oxycodone, codeine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine,
and meperidine. Side effects of these systemic opiates include overall sedation,
constipation, hepatic toxicity, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea,
and diarrhea.
So, what can a person experiencing a migraine headache take without having to
resort to questionable drugs? "To the best of my knowledge," Lubin
says, "all natural remedies except for Migra-Zen Relief PLUS [a product
marketed by his company] use either the herb feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium,
or extracts thereof." Migra-Zen Relief PLUS, meanwhile, uses juniper berry,
goldenrod flower, dandelion leaf, meadowsweet plant, and willow bark infused
into golden raisins. Rubin adds that each of these herbs has been in common use
in at least one of the four major herbal medicine traditions (Chinese, Indian,
European - including Egyptian and Middle Eastern - and Native American) for more
than 3,500 years, with reports of their effectiveness in treating migraine discomfort
abound in many herbal texts written over that period of time.
Dr. Patsi Krakoff says that while her firm does not actively target consumers
with medical conditions prone to headaches, "users have been known to get
rid of headaches by using Maxx Impulse." MindFX is looking into finding
out why this 'side-effect' occurs, she explains. "Some of our product ingredients
have been tested on aging subjects [as well as] those with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
with good results; however, data from that study is incomplete. Our ingredients
have natural vasodilator effects on the brain, increasing blood flow and oxygen
to the neurons."
Cheryl Myers claims that published clinical trials of a patented form of standardized
butterbur extract have illustrated the ingredient's efficacy in migraine prevention.
In one study published in the April 2003 issue of the Townsend Letter, more than
80 percent of the participants (13 of 16) experienced a clear and substantial
benefit in migraine relief, while the mean number of migraine hours experienced
also declined a substantial 54 percent. What's more, 75 percent of the participants
rated their migraine symptoms as "better" or "clearly improved." The
second phase of this study, involving a much larger group of patients in a multi-center
trial, is currently underway.
It should be noted that butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), chemical
compounds that naturally occur in many plant species. Unfortunately, ingestion
of plants with PA content can result in significant health problems. Myers reports
that a special butterbur extract - the same used in the clinical studies discussed
above - is produced through a patented process that removes the pyrrolizidine
alkaloids. Its safety was evaluated in a recent article in Headache: the Journal
of Head and Face Pain, which showed that the only significant side effect reported
was eructation (burping). "PA-free butterbur extract," says Myers, "has
also shown excellent safety and tolerability in children as young as six years
old." In addition, "the reviewers calculated that the overall frequency
of adverse reactions is only 0.022 percent."
Reposted with permission from Health
Products Business magazine
Here's what some of the top editors are saying about MindFX
products:
"I took Maxx Impulse ($29), Neurocharge ($29) and Aftermath ($19) for a
few
weeks. I can't say I've developed abs of steel – or even thumbs of iron –
but all my major organs seem to be functioning. And having a couple extra
vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements in my daily diet can't hurt."
Read
the full article
"I was getting consistently low scores in Sega's new 3-D shooter Panzer
Dragoon Orta. There are so many enemies flying around, it's hard to
prioritize targets and then hit every last one. Neurocharge seemed to make
it easier to quickly and accurately multitask."
Read
the full article
PC Gamer piece was great. They did a head-to-head mini-LAN battle with two of
their in-house game/console testers - one taking Maxx Impulse and the other taking
a placebo - Certs breathmints! The tester on Maxx Impulse scored a significantly
higher amount of frags and had an increased level of energy while the other tester
lost big and came out with a sore thumb. We surmise that the loser at least had
better smelling breath.
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