Can a Japanese Herbal Remedy Help People With Dementia?

A study published in Scientific Reports considers the effects of the Japanese herbal remedy of yokukansan and one of its main active ingredients in people with dementia, reports Chromatography Today . Yokukansan has been used to control night terrors, restlessness, and aggression in children for centuries. Earlier this year, the Japanese Society of Neurology recommended it for management of dementia symptoms. The researchers wanted to see if the active components of yokukansan crossed the blood brain barrier in in vivo animal trials. They employed liquid chromatography to observe the remedy's active ingredients crossed the barrier. Another study demonstrates that it is possible to deliver ingredients into the brain which might help in the treatment of dementia.