Ashwagardha, ginseng, fullerene… "Immunity" and "brain" pills: which really works? A psychiatrist answers.

Today, many people are looking for an easy way to support their bodies: improve memory, relieve anxiety, stop getting sick, or simply become more adapted to life's difficulties. Manufacturers are happy to offer a solution in the form of adaptogens. As Vladimir Pikirenya explains, adaptogens are usually referred to as substances that should help the body adapt to stress and increase protective functions.

However, in practice, the situation looks quite different. According to the doctor, behind the громкие statements of manufacturers often lies a lack of evidence, outdated research, or outright quackery. He classifies most of these remedies as "dummy drugs" — medications that don't work.

Herbal immunostimulants

The first group of drugs criticized by the doctor were popular herbal remedies: eleutherococcus (often called Siberian ginseng), ginseng itself, and echinacea. These supplements are traditionally advertised as powerful immune boosters.

According to Pikirenya, despite a significant number of studies, their quality leaves much to be desired, and the results are unconvincing. The expert draws attention to the fact that many positive studies of ginseng and echinacea are generously sponsored by the Chinese government, as this is part of their traditional medicine and export.

According to the expert, large reviews that include only quality data show that there is no point in taking them. They do not improve immunity, the ability to cope with stress, or the likelihood of getting infectious diseases.

His advice is simple: if you like the taste, drink tea with these additives, but you should not count on a medicinal or preventive effect.

Fullerene

Among more modern synthetic remedies, the psychiatrist highlighted fullerene. This is a form of carbon (similar to diamond or graphite) that has a special crystal lattice similar to a soccer ball. Recently, it has been actively promoted as a dietary supplement for health improvement.

As the doctor notes, from a chemical point of view, fullerene really attracts and retains water well. Therefore, it can be useful in cosmetics, for example, in creams for moisturizing skin. But as a dietary supplement, the specialist notes, fullerene does not have a normal evidence base in humans: there are no clinical trials that would show any pronounced effect. Meanwhile, manufacturers often advertise them as a "miracle cure" for removing "toxins."

The doctor claims that the very concept of "toxins" does not apply to the human body. This is not steel production, and there is no category of "slagging" in medicine. Therefore, if you see the word "toxins" in the description of a drug, this is a reliable indicator that, most likely, you are dealing with marketing, and there is no evidence of effectiveness.

There are a certain number of studies on cell cultures, mice, and rats on fullerene, but not on humans. This means, the specialist concludes, that it is premature to talk about safety and efficacy for humans.

Drugs to improve brain function

Another large group of adaptogens are substances that offer to "improve brain function." The main rule here, according to Pikirenya, is very simple: if it is written that the drug is an adaptogen and it "improves brain function," then most often it is a drug without a real effect.

There are no "universal" pills that would "strengthen the brain." There are specific drugs for specific diseases — for example, for dementia in Alzheimer's disease. And these are specific drugs that are not sold without a prescription.

All other remedies that promise to increase the resistance of cells to oxygen deficiency, accelerate recovery after a stroke, or "nourish neurons" do not have convincing confirmation in evidence-based medicine.

Separately, Pikirenya focused on drugs with the beautiful name "lyophilisates" (such as cortexin, cerebrolysin, actovegin).

"What is hidden behind this? Filtered broth. It is literally broth from the brains of pigs, cows, or the blood of young calves. And these remedies are offered not even to drink, but to inject," the expert is indignant.

He warns that there is no evidence of their effectiveness. Moreover, it can be dangerous. In many countries, such drugs are prohibited due to the risk of prion diseases. This is a group of infectious diseases that damage the brain and are 100% fatal. According to the doctor, even the minimal risk of catching such a disease through an injection of "broth" is not worth taking a useless drug.

Павялічыць

Piracetam, ashwagandha, lion's mane

Another well-known remedy that is supposed to improve brain abilities is piracetam. According to the doctor, studies in the 80s and 90s did not show its effectiveness, so interest in the drug in the world disappeared, and it remained only in the CIS countries. Moreover, experience shows that in older people, it can even worsen the condition: increase anxiety and cause sleep disturbances.

As for fashionable novelties such as Indian ashwagandha or lion's mane mushroom, the situation is similar here. Ashwagandha studies are conducted mainly in India (where it is part of tradition), but there is no good evidence that it helps with anything, unfortunately.

The same thing happens with the lion's mane mushroom. There are several studies that have shown that it may contain some substances with a potentially beneficial effect, and possibly, in the future, these substances will become the basis for the synthesis of new molecules. But at the moment, it is impossible to say that the use of this mushroom improves anything.

How to actually help the brain?

Instead of looking for a magic pill, Vladimir Pikirenya advises training the brain. The intellect works like muscles: it needs to be loaded.

The doctor advises to do something that is unusual for our head. He advises a humanities student to remember school mathematics, and a technician to read philosophy.

And one of the best steps to maintain clarity of mind in adulthood, as the specialist assures, is to quit smoking. According to modern data, this immediately approximately halves the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Adaptogens against stress: what's wrong with them

A very large number of adaptogens are designed to supposedly help fight stress and anxiety. According to the psychiatrist, popular drugs such as afobazol and adaptol have only local fame: they are not used anywhere in the world except in our region. Normal studies that would confirm their effectiveness and, most importantly, safety simply do not exist.

People often turn to them to cope with difficult situations, but in the end they only waste time instead of getting really effective treatment from a specialist.

The expert also mentioned herbal sedatives (persen, novopassit). Their basis is ordinary herbs, for example, mint.

"If you like the taste of these plants, drink cheap tea with mint. It will be no worse in terms of combating stress than buying pills," Pikirenya advises.

Concluding the topic of "anti-stress adaptogens," Pikirenya mentions tenoten. The psychiatrist emphasizes that this is classical homeopathy. As is known, homeopathy does not contain an active substance, so it cannot work by definition, and all positive reviews are explained by the placebo effect.

• 8
• 1
• 2
• 1
• 1
• 1
• 0
• 1