Herbs to help people with dementia

As we all know dementia is currently incurable, but there’s lots we can do to keep ourselves healthy and improve memory and cognitive function. You may not know it but herbs that we come across every day can hold many health benefits:

Turmeric

This herb has anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for sore and stiff joints. It can also be used to help people with a common cold, chest infection and even with teeth whitening. It is also currently part of a new health fad where people are drinking turmeric shots or turmeric with warm milk.

Rosemary

In a recent study it was found that rosemary can help promote performance and memory and also has anti-inflammatory properties. This is a great one to use in cooking, just pick a few sprigs from the garden and add to your dish. You can even scent your house with it.

Sage

Sage has similar properties to rosemary and can help with memory and cognitive performance. Research found it inhibits an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which breaks down the chemical messenger acetylcholine. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s, is accompanied by low levels of acetylcholine.

We would advise that medication should not be replaced with herbal remedies and we would recommend checking with your doctor before introducing these into your diet in case of interactions with any medication you’re currently on. Remember to wash all herbs before using them.

If you would like to grow your own herbs, you can check out our blog for some top tips on how to do so.