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Peony Extract: Protects Against Memory Loss and Supports Liver Function!
One of the most amazing findings in the research into how peony has so many beneficial properties was the discovery that paeoniflorin, the unique phytochemical found in peony, has the ability to increase Heat Shock Protein production.15
Even more impressive, paeoniflorin not only increased Heat Shock Protein levels in unstressed cells, but also dramatically enhanced the cells ability to increase Heat Shock Protein production when faced with stress. Heat Shock Proteins are believed to play a major role in many diseases. The recent discovery that paeoniflorin can enhance one of our bodies most important protective mechanisms should broaden peony and paeoniflorin’s potential to be useful in a wide variety of diseases, and even the aging process itself.
Supports healthy brain function
Although peony has not yet been studied in human clinical trials, numerous recent animal studies indicate that it may be beneficial in the fight against dementia.
- Exerts a protective effect on animals with cerebral ischemia (stroke).161718
- Helps animals recover more quickly from stroke.19
- Stimulates the hippocampus—which is in the brain’s temporal lobe, and is responsible for storing new information—in memory-impaired rodents, to enhance learning and memory. This is significant because in humans Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect the hippocampus first, before other parts of the brain.20
- Ameliorates spatial cognitive impairment in animals given an amnesia-producing drug.212223
- Exerts a protective effect on brain neurons in animals during epileptic seizures.24
- Improves the ability to learn in animals with age-related learning deficits. The scientists concluded that peony has the therapeutic potential to treat senile dementia and aging-induced cognitive dysfunction.25
What makes peony special?
While other herbs have been found to improve memory in animals with age-related and chemically induced memory loss, peony has a special distinction among these herbs. In much of the research on herbal memory-enhancing products the herbal extract must be given by injection because oral intake is much less effective, or even ineffective. Also, these herbs are often given in unrealistically high doses that do not correspond to typical traditional human intakes. Peony, and its unique phytochemical paeoniflorin, is very different because it is orally effective in very small doses. In fact, paeoniflorin is effective at doses as low as the equivalent of an adult person consuming only 700 micrograms daily. This is LESS THAN one milligram a day. Amazingly, higher doses of paeoniflorin are even more effective over a wide range of intake and have no side effects or toxicity.
Peony has been proven to counteract chemically induced memory loss, which is where scientists use chemicals that are known to disrupt memory and then see if an herbal extract can prevent memory problems. This is a common animal research model for discovering potential memory-enhancing herbs. However, this does not always discover effective herbs that work in the real world of age-related memory loss, because many herbs active at preventing chemically-induced memory loss do not improve memory problems caused by normal aging. Peony is special because it is very effective at improving BOTH chemical and age-related memory losses in low doses. Not suprisingly, this has excited many scientists who now consider peony, and its unique phytochemical paeoniflorin, a potential major weapon in the fight against age-related memory problems. Unfortunately, as with most traditional herbs that have impressed scientists by their potential health benefits, but are not patentable, the day when doctors routinely use peony to treat memory problems may never come.
How safe is peony?
Peony is extremely safe when used according to the recommended dosage. It should not be used by pregnant or lactating women, or children. There are no known drug interactions with peony.
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese Medicines, like peony, have a promising role in the early treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. One of its chief benefits is that it has low toxicity compared with pharmaceutical drugs. Medical professionals agree that the sooner treatment is started the better the outcome. In order to prevent and/or delay memory loss, consider adding this safe and promising herb to your daily supplement regime.
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