Thank you for the replies. Hopefully, some more people will post their opinions as well.
My mother is also on Aricept but, unfortunately, after approx’ 10 months I think it’s beginning to wear off now. Ginkgo does seem to be mentioned in leaflets, etc., a lot but I hadn’t followed it up. “Bach Flower Rescue Remedy for shocks”…shocks???
I started on this enquiry prompted by a TV programme when it was suggested that, the herb, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) was good for helping AD – I’ve found this plant growing in the garden! Online, I found the website:
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/press/preleases/pr/pr_521.htm
I emailed the Newcastle Medicinal Plant Research Centre, University of Newcastle, but was told by Professor Elaine Perry: “Many thanks for your letter. Unfortunately we are still in the early stages of research and as further research is still underway I am at this moment in time unable to advise you on a specific treatment. Therefore, I believe the best option is for you to consult a Medical Herbalist for further advice.”
I then phoned The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH), in Exeter, but was told that they are not like the NHS and don’t keep records of the herbs that they use for specific ailments (?). Instead, I was advised to contact a herbalist based in Kent. After a long conversation with him, during which, he explained their ‘holistic’ approach to treating people on an individual basis with an amalgam of different herbs over a course of consultations [Example charges for consultations, from a leaflet: New patient (one hour) £35, Follow-up visit (50 mins £30]. He added, that he doesn’t use Melissa specifically for AD.
Since my last posting here, I had another look online, and found:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_835711.html
They say: “Work began in 1996 when Professor Elaine Perry, director of the university's medical plant centre, began looking for references to herbal cures dating back hundreds of years. Botanists grew 150 strains of different plants which were eventually narrowed down to the lemon balm plant…Researchers in Iran found that when an extract of lemon balm was given to sufferers of the disease they showed marked improvements…Dr Andrew Wake of Newcastle University led a team investigating the effectiveness of cures…He said for the leaves to have the desired effect they should be taken in a milky drink or stewed in alcohol (!!!).”
So, in other words, the same university department is giving conflicting opinions! This time, I’ll try Dr Wake, and see if he is prepared to provide more detail to his ‘recipe.’ If I get anywhere, and if Melissa seems to help, I’ll post back.
Despite all this, there may still be possibilities with a herbalist’s remedies but I’d like to get a round-up of what other people have to say first.