Image by La Belle Lumière (flickr/lepimento) under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Having treated both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke using Chinese medicine, I was intrigued by a recent Forbes article on healthcare innovation. Though it wasn’t apparent from the headline, the article transcribed a discussion on a recent supplement used for neuroregeneration and neuroprotection. The supplement has mostly been studied for its effects in stroke rehabilitation, but it also bodes well for both TBI and Alzheimer’s patients.

The intriguing part is that this supplement, NeuroAiD, is developed from herbs commonly used in Chinese medicine. It is not only intriguing but also hints a little at intrigue [bonus trivia—a word where its verb and noun have vastly different meanings: intrigue, v., is to arouse interest; intrigue, n., is a deceitful stratagem].

Now I don’t aim to be melodramatic with talk of intrigue (n.), but I’ll explain shortly.

There are two versions of NeuroAiD, which is available in Asia and Europe. NeuroAiD I contains (9) Chinese herbs and (5) Chinese non-herbals (i.e. animal-product medicinals); NeuroAiD II contains the same Chinese herbs, but excludes the animal products.

So far, not much intrigue (n.). The exclusion of animal products makes sense. Here they are: leech, beetle/cockroach, ox gallstones, scorpion, antelope horn. These are excluded for European consumers, presumably based on the ew-factor (leech, beetle/cockroach, scorpion) and animal rights (ox gallstones, antelope horn). NeuroAiD II is also vegan-friendly.

Here are the (9) Chinese herbs: astragalus, salvia, red peony root, chuanxiong, Chinese angelica, safflower, peach kernel, polygala, acrous rhizome.

NeuroAiD is not available in the U.S. because it is not approved by the FDA. However, all of the herbs are very commonly used safely in United Stateside Chinese medicine practice. The animal products will be hard to find, but I’d bet they can be found in a few Asian apothecaries. [continue reading…]