A Chinese herbal medicine that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since 100 AD for the treatment of dizziness, headache, and stroke, has been found to help stroke patients suffering from dementia in clinical trials. Gastrodine compound granule, which is made from seven plants, was found to significantly increase mental function in a three-month-long study of 120 stroke patients. The patients involved in the study were all suffering from mild-to-moderate vascular dementia - a type of dementia caused by cardiovascular disease or small strokes in the brain. Seventy percent of the participants were given gastrodine, while the remaining thirty percent were given Duxila, a conventional drug regularly used to treat stroke in China. Results showed that the improvement seen in  patients given gastrodine was similar to that seen in those given the conventional drug. However, those given the herbal medicine reported fewer side effects. Jinzhou Tian of the Institute of Geriatrics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said: "Chemical drugs, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, are effective in the treatment of cognitive and memory function in dementia, but these drugs are expensive and have side effects. This study might result in doctors considering the use of herbal medications, such as gastrodine compound granules."

SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 11th June 2003.