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Herbs for ALS

Jun 1, 2011 | By Karyn Maier
Herbs for ALS
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive deterioration of motor neurons in the spine and brain that regulate movement. In the early stage of the disease, voluntary movement becomes impaired, marked by difficulty moving the arms and legs, speaking clearly, swallowing or even breathing. Eventually, complete paralysis may occur. The specific cause of ALS is unknown and there is no cure, as of May 2011. However, certain herbs may help to enhance quality of life.

Chinese Herbs

According to Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, the goal of herbal therapy is to nourish the kidneys to strengthen the blood and improve circulation to atrophied muscles, especially those of the lower limbs. The traditional Chinese herbal formula recommended for this purpose is huqian wan, also known as hidden tiger pill. The remedy features tortoise shell and several botanicals, including peony, phellodendron, licorice and rehmannia, a plant more commonly known as Chinese foxglove. A similar herbal formula called yisui tang combines tortoise shell and deer antler gelatin with phellodendron, rehmannia, astragalus, licorice, peony, dipsacus and anemarrhena.

Ayurvedic Herbs

In traditional Indian medicine, Cyperus rotundus, a plant also known by the common name red nut sedge, is considered a central nervous system tonic. In the April 5, 2011, issue of "Brain Research Bulletin," a team of researchers from Sri Ramachandra University in India reported that compounds in this herb might provide neuroprotective effects, particularly agents referred to as oligomeric flavonoids. The experiment, which utilized stroke-induced rats, showed that the administration of oligomeric flavonoids obtained from C. rotundus appreciably reduced neurological deficits and anxious behaviors by decreasing the activity of glutamate. This is significant because glutamate, a common neurotransmitter in the brain that invokes excitability, contributes to the loss of motor neurons. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, riluzole, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for ALS, works by preventing the release of glutamate.

Kampo Herbs

Rikkunshito is a traditional Japanese kampo medicine given to stimulate the activity of a hormone found in the stomach called ghrelin as a remedy for gastrointestinal complaints, including poor appetite leading to age-induced anorexia. In the April 20, 2011, issue of "Experimental Neurology," Eunjin Lim and colleagues reported that ghrelin appears to exert neuroprotective effects by preventing glutamate-induced cell death through the deactivation of an enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Based on these observations, the study authors concluded that this herbal formula might be a viable treatment for ALS.

Considerations

Although many ALS patients use herbs and supplements, clinical evidence regarding efficacy is limited. In addition, since malnutrition is common in people with ALS, individualized nutritional therapy is essential. Consult your physician before self-treating your condition and consider herbal therapies inclusive to rather than exclusive of your comprehensive treatment plan.

References

Article reviewed by David Fisher Last updated on: Jun 1, 2011

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