Index
- Alternative Medicine in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's Disease: Definition and Main Symptoms
- Treatment of Alzheimer's, the effects of alternative medicine
- Art therapy
- Phytotherapy
- Aromatherapy
- The Montessori technique
- Animal mediation
Alternative Medicine in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Among the most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease is, unfortunately, incurable. However, it is entirely possible to manage it and alleviate its symptoms. This pathology takes several years to develop until it causes a complete loss of autonomy for the patient. Besides drug treatments, alternative medicine can also be of great help in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Find out more about the effects of several types of alternative medicine on this disease in the next few paragraphs.
Alzheimer's Disease: Definition and Main Symptoms
Because Alzheimer's disease is neurodegenerative, it means that it causes progressive alteration of neurons and even death. This destruction of neurons has several consequences on the state of health of the person concerned, particularly in relation to his or her cognitive abilities. This pathology mainly affects the elderly and is manifested by the following few symptoms over the years :
- Memory loss: this is one of the most common signs of Alzheimer's disease. The patient tends to forget some of the information he or she has just They also tend to forget important events and dates.
- Difficulty performing certain familiar gestures and tasks: the person with this condition has some difficulty performing familiar tasks. This is the case, for example, when he has to drive to a certain place he is used to going.
- Confusion about time and space: as the pathology progresses, the patient gradually loses the notion of time and space. He or she may not know how he or she got to such a place.
- Problems with written or oral expression: People with Alzheimer's disease also have difficulty holding a conversation and expressing themselves correctly. Both written and spoken. It is also quite common for them not to find the right words for their ideas or to name certain everyday objects.
- Mood changes: Finally, one of the very characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is mood disorder. Specifically, the patient becomes more anxious, fearful, suspicious and sometimes depressed. The many confusions they face can easily overwhelm them.
Treatment of Alzheimer's, the effects of alternative medicine
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are solutions to alleviate its symptoms. Generally, Alzheimer's treatments aim to relieve the patient's anxieties and channel his or her agitation. And in addition to taking medication, alternative medicine can also be helpful in dealing with the symptoms of the disease. In addition to soothing the patient, non-medicinal care also helps to improve the quality of life of those close to him or her.
Art therapy
The aim here is to allow the patient to express himself through artistic activities such as drawing, music or pottery. For example, there is music therapy, which consists of positively influencing the behaviour of patients through song. In addition, this technique helps them to work on their breathing and memories.
Phytotherapy
Apart from art, the use of plants can also help the Alzheimer's patient to live better with the disease and to relieve its symptoms. Indeed, phytotherapy would have positive effects on cognitive abilities. For example, blueberries help preserve brain capacity. It helps to improve speech and maintain memory.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to treat or relieve a health problem. As a complement to drug treatments, this therapy is effective in slowing the development of Alzheimer's disease. Also, essential oils are reputed to reduce the stress and anxiety felt by patients. They are also very useful to improve the quality of the patient's sleep. In some cases, they can also relieve pain. In any case, you should always consult your doctor before choosing aromatherapy. Indeed, there are many kinds of essential oils, each with different health effects.
- Against concentration disorders and anxiety
- Against depression and sleep disorders: essential oils of lemon verbena, lemon verbena or lemongrass are recommended
The Montessori technique
It is a technique inspired by the accompaniment of children in difficulty during their development. When applied to the elderly, the aim of this technique is to help them avoid failure. This avoids his frustration. The proposed activity must therefore be adapted to the patient's abilities. If for example he is a pastry chef, you can ask him to do some simple gestures such as mixing the ingredients for example.
Animal mediation
The purpose of this therapy is to help the patient regain his calm. Touching and caressing an animal usually has a calming effect. This is especially true in patients who have had pets. Animal mediation allows the person with Alzheimer's disease to relax. Dogs and rabbits are most commonly used in this type of therapy.
