Why learn about Cognitive Formulas?
There are millions of people suffering from ADD/ADHD, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, the after effects of stroke, chemotherapy, radiation, Parkinson’s disease, and head injuries. Many patients are unaware that herbs and nutritional supplements can help improve mental processing, resulting in better concentration, focus and memory recall.
What can I expect to observe?
Ability to remember conversations, appointments, and names is enhanced; less stubbornness and social withdrawal; better attention span and work performance; increased periods of clear thinking.
When can my patients begin noticing a difference?
In our experience, people with moderate symptoms show improved cognition usually after taking herbs and supplements for three months. For people who are looking to correct mild cognitive impairment, or for healthy people looking to improve study performance, usually the results are considerably quicker. For example, we have found that students can often improve their mental focus in a few days, or sometimes after the first dosage, whereas the Alzheimer’s patient we saw who thought our clinic was a restaurant took about fourteen weeks to observe cognitive improvement. It is important to note that clinicians and family members are usually able to evaluate response better than the patients.
How do you treat cognitive dysfunction?
I have a three-part program, which includes EPAQ krill oil, TCMs and select nutritional supplements. Although ideally the TCM formula should be selected by pattern differentiation, the most widely used tonics are Flavonex and CordySeng. Nutritional supplements that have demonstrated to produce improvements in cognitive functioning based on scientific research include Vinpurazine and Cogni-Spark.
How can I pick the best formula for a client?
We try to tailor the formulas we administer to the patient’s symptoms and constitution. Everyone receives EPAQ, which includes naturally occurring EPA, DHA, PS, and astaxanthin. Flavonex works as a kidney tonic, which improves circulation and cardiovascular health. CordySeng is a kidney and Qi tonic; Cogni-Spark, an extract from soy lecithin, can be used by all ages and can be mixed with water and juice if desired, and Vinpurazine is used for people fifty years of age or older. For older aged clients, we may select EPAQ, a formula based on their constitution, and either Cogni-Spark or Vinpurazine.
What are the differences between Flavonex, Cogni-Spark and Vinpurazine?Can they be combined?
Flavonex contains ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) and other circulatory herbs such as salvia (dan shen) and kidney tonics. Flavonex is typically used by middle aged and senior patients who are looking to improve their cardiovascular and cognitive health. Cogni-Spark, extracted for soy lecithin, can be used by all age groups, and can be swallowed or mixed with water or juice (it does not taste bad) and tens to work quickly. It is the main formula for those with autism, children with ADD and for post-stroke conditions. Vinpurazine, (a combination of two proven cognitive enhancers), is typically used for clients with mild cognitive impairment, symptoms of dementia or early stage Alzheimer’ disease. For clients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease, we would recommend Vinpurazine combined with Cogni-Spark and/or a constitutional formula.
Do you have any dispensing advice?
Dispense cognitive formulas in your office. Most of the time clients try to purchase these products on their own; they usually end up with the wrong product, or a “kitchen sink” cognitive formula that has some good ingredients, but unfortunately not enough of any one substance to effect a change. It is also important to monitor compliance and to have someone, in addition to the patient, monitor his or her progress. One of our clients, aged seventy, could not remember to take Vinpurazine. He denied it had any benefits; however, his wife noticed that Vinpurazine improved his mental focus considerable and made him happier. Teens, pre-teens, and many other populations/patients do not take teas, powders, or complex dosing regimens; therefore, to treat ADD and ADHD, we often use Cogni-Spark because it has a neutral taste and can be mixed with water or juice.