qian ceng ta,   千層塔; she zu shi shan 蛇足石杉

It is a strong inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. It is more effective than Tacrine, galanthamine and physostigmine (Antilirium) ( 毒扁豆碱 ).  It has been approved in China for treatment of  Alzheimer's disease.

As of this writing,  the drugs being used in Alzheimer's disease are mainly Tacrine, Donepezil, galanthamine, and physostigmine (Antilirium). They are acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. They can increase the available acetycholine and can mitigate the symptoms memory loss but the side effects can include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and Tacrine is seriously toxic for the liver. Huperzine A does not have those side effects.

According to all the information available today, memory loss caused by over- active cholinesterase is not considered to be Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is actually caused by b-amyloid protein.

到下筆前，用來治療老年性痴獃症主要藥物為Tacrine， Donepezil，galanthamine 與 physostigmine (Antilirium)。 都是抑制乙醯膽鹼酵素的藥物。 它們的副作用包括﹕作嘔﹐嘔吐 ﹐ 懮慮。Tacrine 對肝臟很毒。蛇足石杉甲沒有那些副作用。在中國它已 經被批准用來治療老年性痴獃症。

Huperszine A is being sold in many health food stores in America.

Also see yin yang huo                按此看中文頁關於淫羊藿 (in Chinese.)

See Chinese writing 按此看中文關於蛇足石彬 (in Chinese)

See a study here.

See Alzheimer's disease

See kai xin san 開心散

Acetylcholinesterase:  any of the various enzymes in the blood and in certain tissues that catalyze the hydrolysis ( breaking down) of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Over breaking down of ACh can cause depression and dementia.

Tacrine: trade name in U.S.  is Cognex, also called tetrahydroaminoacridine or THA.

Donepezil: trade name is Aricept, developed by Eisai and partner Pfizer.

乙醯膽鹼酵素 : 是一種促進水化(消滅)乙 醯膽鹼之酵素。乙醯膽鹼是一種神經神經遞質。如果 神經神經遞質被消 滅太多,   會導致臟躁 ,  憂鬱,  健 忘或痴獃等症。

Myasthenia gravis:  it is cause by auto-immune dysfunction where the body produces antibodies that deactivate acetylcholine receptors on muscle cells. These receptors are situated at the end of the muscles. They receive the secretion (acetylcholine) of of the endings of the nerves and create reaction.  When the receptors are destroyed by the antibodies, the functions of the muscles becomes impaired.   The early affected parts of the body include eyelid muscles, eyeballs muscles (double visions), facial muscles, swallowing muscles and the most serious one is respiratory muscle and eventually resulting in paralysis and respiratory failure which is life threatening.

Organophosphates:  is being used as pesticides or in chemical "nerve gas" weapons. Examples of organophosphates include: insecticides (malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos), nerve gases (soman, sarin, tabun, VX), ophthalmic agents (echothiophate, isoflurophate), and antihelmintics (trichlorfon).  Organophosphates work by suppressing acetylcholinesterase permanently.

It can be absolved through the lungs, mucus (including the digestive tract) and skin.

Another common herb, Spanish sage has been reported that a study on young adults showed that it can improve memory.

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有機磷

重肌無力症 : 成因是由於人體免疫機能的失調，所產生的抗體會破壞神經肌肉末稍之接受器，這種接受器位於肌肉末端，它接受來自神經末梢分泌物 (乙醯 膽鹼)而產生收縮反應。　　一旦接受器遭受抗體的破壞，肌肉接受神 經末梢訊息而產生收縮的功能即受到影響。通常身體最早受到影響的肌肉包括眼皮肌肉（造成眼瞼下垂），眼球運動肌肉（造成複視現象），以及臉部表情 肌肉，吞嚥動作肌肉也會受到波及，嚴重者會因呼吸肌肉 無力而有生命危險之虞。(重肌無力 症質料來源﹕台 大神經部﹐ 胸腔外科陸希平醫師)