Vinpocetine helps with more than improved memory

[Jeannine]

My vinpocetine arrived yesterday (bought it at Puritan). I took one capsule with dinner last night and then one today with lunch. I haven't noticed much other than a strange feeling in the upper part of my lungs and across my chest which woke me up last night. No shortness of breath of anything like that, but a "feeling" in my chest. I read that it takes 7-10 days to notice any improvements.

Here is an article I found that provides more information about vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a new addition to the class of ?smart drugs,? a class which have a specific effect on the chemical reactions that go on inside cells, to invigorate the brain and make it work normally. Vinpocetine, when taken regularly allows the brain to make better use of oxygen and energy.
The brain accounts for only 2% of total body weight, however it receives between 15% to 20% of the blood, in order to enable it to receive energy from the sugar glucose.

The brain only has small reserves of energy, and they can be expended within a minute, if they have to be used.

This means that proper brain function depends upon good blood flow, oxygen and glucose supply.

Vinpocetine?s Effects
Vinpocetine is able to intensively increase blood supply to the brain.
Vinpocetine improves the use of oxygen by the brain, and therefore its abilities to resist damage due to a lack of oxygen.

Vinpocetine has the following features;
(A) Is effective when taken orally.
(B) Selectively improves blood supply to the brain.
(C) Does not cause slowed heart rate or low blood pressure.
(D) Increases the use of oxygen by the brain.
(E) Increases the tolerance of the brain to a lack of oxygen.
(F) Increases vasodilatation due to a lack of oxygen.
(G) Enhances the use of glucose by brain cells.
(H) Increases ATP levels in the brain.
(I) Stops blood from becoming thick.
(J) Raises the amount of serotonin, which has an activating effect on the brain.
(K) Is non toxic, even when dosages are several times higher than those normally used.
(L) Is not harmful to the central nervous system.


Medical Trials
It has been proven by using a variety of methods, in a large number of medical studies and with thousands of people, that Vinpocetine improves blood circulation, oxygen uptake and glucose utilization by the brain.

The degree to which the chemical reactions of the brain are improved depends upon the level of oxygen in the brain. Vinpocetine has its first effect on damaged areas of the brain and has been proven to produce positive effects for at least 70% of its users.

The main areas in which Vinpocetine have been used are brain disorders, treatment of the signs of aging, defects of the eye, ear, nose and throat problems.

Healthy Individuals
A study of 12 healthy female volunteers who took Vinpocetine in dosages of 10mg, 20mg and 40mg daily was crossed referenced to a group on placebos.

On the third day of treatment a number of tests were undertaken, in order to determine the levels of memory. In all of the Vinpocetine treated group, memory was found to have been significantly improved especially so for those taking 40mg daily.

It was expected that even better results would be seen if
treatment was continued for longer periods.

Brain Disorders
Studies have reported that patients using Vinpocetine have shown improvement in 60% to 70% of cases after at least one month of therapy. Regular use of Vinpocetine can perform improvements in all of the following symptoms:

- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Poor co-ordination
- Tinnitus
- Unstable blood pressure
- Mild paralysis
- Speech disturbances
- Vertigo
- Poor concentration
- Bad memory
- Headaches
- Poor hearing
- Shoulder stiffness
- Neck stiffness
- Poor sleeping
- Anxiety
- Mood instability
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Irritability

In the healthy older person with no mental decline, Vinpocetine can give very good results.

Eyes and Ears
In the course of treating a group of over 800 patients for eye problems, a 71% improvement rate was obtained. The eye problems treated included macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Vinpocetine improves the blood flow to the retina of the eye, eye sight is often improved, studies showed that 88% of those taking Vinpocetine, noticed an improvement in their vision.

Vinpocetine has also been used to treat ear problems such as presbyacusis (hearing loss due to old age), and cochleovestibular neuritis (inflamed nerves in the ear). The beneficial effects of Vinpocetine are due to an increased blood supply to the inner ear, the nerve and to the cortex of the brain.

Conclusion
Vinpocetine is a truly unique product in having so many brain enhancing effects. None of the other brain enhancers available have so many multiple effects. It is Vinpocetine?s blood flow improvements and its abilities to improve oxygen supply to the brain, which enables the brain to make better use of its energy and nutritional supplies.

The brain protecting and activating effects of Vinpocetine explain how the drug protects and enhances memory and thought processes. Vinpocetine can be used to treat the signs of senile dementia or mental decay. It can be used to treat poor blood circulation in the brain and progressive strokes. Vinpocetine can treat some symptoms of menopause, eye problems, ear and hearing
difficulties and dizziness.

Dosages and Side Effects
The Japanese have carried out extensive studies into the best dosages for Vinpocetine. The study concluded that dosages of 15mg to 30mg per day was the ideal standard, taken as either 1 or 2 tablets (5mg each) three times daily.

The maintenance dosage for longer periods for healthy individuals is 1 or 2 tablets (5mg each) daily.

I have only presented five pharmaceuticals each of which has a definite role in enhancing brain health ? the key to healthy aging. These pharmaceuticals should be taken under the care of a physician. If you need a physician in your area knowledgeable in these medications, contact us at EM.com.


"There's no question that my tinnitus has subsided whilst using the vinpocetine, but it's more than that I do feel better." F.H.G., Texas.

Vinpocetine
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(2) Karpati E ?Arzeneim Forsch? drug Res 26 10 1908 1976
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(6) Albert B ?XI Int. Cong. Of Angiology? Prague July 6th 1978.
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(8) Vero T ?Possibilities of the treatment of some symptoms of menopause with caviton? RGD 213 381.
(9) Takeda Chemical Industries ?A comparison between TCV 3B and Lucidril? RGD 14 113.
(10) Nukata T ?Dose finding study on TCV 3B tablets (Vinpocetine) for the treatment of the various symptoms of cerebrovascular disorders? RGD 26909.
(11) Ohtomo E ?Evaluation of the usefulness of TCV 3B tablets in cerebrovascular disorders? RGD 2862.
(12) Cholnoky E ?Arzneim Forsch? Drug Res 26 10a 1938 1976.
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(14) Banga I ?Gyogyszereink? 30 170-176 1980
(15) South J ?Vinpocetine, the superior cerebral enhancer and protector? anti-Aging Bulletin, Volume 3 Issue 5, May 1998, International Anti-Aging Systems.

[barbara]

For those that may not be familiar with vinpocetine -


Purple periwinkles battle inflammatory diseases
May 3, 2010
A widely and safely used plant extract acts as a novel anti-inflammatory agent that may one day be used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, as well as other inflammatory conditions. There is an urgent need for new therapies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as COPD, otitis media (ear infection), and atherosclerosis (chronic inflammation in the walls of arteries), because the most effective and commonly used agents - steroids - often cause serious side effects, such as liver damage, which prevent long-term use.


In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center were the first to find that vinpocetine, a natural product derived from the periwinkle plant, acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent when tested in a mouse model of lung inflammation, as well as several other types of human cells. Results of the study show that vinpocetine greatly reduces inflammation, and, unlike steroids, does not cause severe side effects.
"What is extremely exciting and promising about these findings is vinpocetine's excellent safety profile," said Chen Yan, Ph.D., associate professor within the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Medical Center and a senior author of the study. "Previously, most drugs tested in this area have failed, not because of a lack of efficacy, but because of safety issues. We're very encouraged by these results and believe vinpocetine has great potential for the treatment of COPD and other inflammatory diseases."
Vinpocetine is a well-known natural product that was originally discovered nearly 30 years ago and is currently used as a dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of cognitive disorders, such as stroke and memory loss, in Europe, Japan and China. The therapy has no evidence of toxicity or noticeable side effects in human patients. Scientists at the University of Rochester hope to reposition this compound as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of COPD, and potentially other inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, otitis media, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis and psoriasis in the future.
While steroids successfully combat inflammation, patients often pay a high price when it comes to side effects. Steroids can cause liver damage, and can also suppress the immune system, increasing the likelihood of infections. With such a high risk profile, steroids are usually only used for a short period of time, which is problematic when treating chronic diseases.


"In managing chronic conditions such as COPD, it is crucial to have a therapy that can be used safely over the long term," said Jian-Dong Li, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a senior author of the study. "There is a great need for a drug like vinpocetine, because patients currently have no good options when it comes to long-term care."
Vinpocetine decreases inflammation by targeting the activity of a specific enzyme, known as IKK. IKK is responsible for regulating inflammation, and does so through the activation of a key protein, nuclear-factor kappaB (NF-κB). By directly inhibiting IKK, vinpocetine is able to switch off NF-κB, which normally produces pro-inflammatory molecules that cause inflammation. Halting the activity of NF-κB ultimately reduces inflammation.
"Inflammation is a hallmark of a wide range of human diseases, so there is great potential for vinpocetine to be used for several indications," said Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and co-author of the study. "Given vinpocetine's efficacy and solid safety profile, we believe there is great potential to bring this drug to market."
Repositioning a therapy - taking a known compound that has been used safely in humans and testing it for a new application - can be an effective way to bring new therapies to market more quickly than starting the discovery process from scratch.
Inflammatory diseases are a major cause of illness worldwide. For example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. In people with COPD, airflow is blocked due to chronic bronchitis or emphysema, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Most COPD is caused by long-term smoking, although genetics may play a role as well. Approximately 13.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with COPD each year, and in 2004 the annual cost of the disease was $37.2 billion.
Provided by University of Rochester Medical Center