Main description:

This book provides a description of cognitive impairment in the elderly population through the lens of Thai Traditional Medicine as it is practiced in northern Thailand. It provides an overview of Thai Traditional Medicine and the memory loss presented in elderly dementia. Some medicinal plants used by traditional Thai healers to treat cognitive decline and memory issues in the elderly are reviewed.

Medicinal Plants of Northern Thailand for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly provides readers with the detailed description of the in vitro screening of ten plants and those results. The bioactivity of these single plants exemplifies the success of using an ethnobotanical filter to identify plants with cognitive enhancing activity.

Contents:

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Background

Introduction

History of Thai Traditional Medicine

The Record of Medical Ethnobotany in Thailand

Theoretical Context

Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Prevalence and Conventional Treatment of Dementia in Thailand

Natural and Cultural History of the Study Site

Thailand

Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom

Khon Muang

Conclusion

References

Chapter 2 - Fieldwork Methodology

Introduction

Selection of Traditional Folk Healers for Interviews

Types of Healers in Thai Traditional Medicine

Selection of Participating Healers

Description of the Interviewed Traditional Thai Healers

Methods for Data Gathering

Interview Protocol

Interview Questionnaire and Development

Plant Identification and Voucher Collection

Ethics of Ethnobotanical Research

The Protection of Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge

Protection of Biocultural Diversity in Thailand

Dissertation Project Ethics

Challenges of Fieldwork

Data Collection and Analysis

References

Chapter 3 - Thai Traditional Medicinal Theory and Cognitive Decline

Theory of Thai Traditional Medicine

Spirituality in Thai Traditional Medicine

Plant Use in Thai Traditional Medicine

Groups of plants used in Thai Traditional Medicine

Medicinal Plant Management and Plant Harvesting

Practices

References

Chapter 4 - The Medical Ethnobotany of Treating Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly of Northern Thailand

Introduction

Methodology

Results

Formulas Relating to Longevity or Strength in Old Age

Culturally Specific Diseases

Maha Sannibad

Lom Mar Reng Kroot

Discussion

Plant Frequency in All Formulas

Formula Additions: Honey

Conclusion

References

Chapter 5 - Screening for Plants in Herbal Formulas from Traditional Doctors of Northern Thailand to Treat Cognitive Impairment

Introduction

Interviews with Traditional Doctors

Plant Selection and Materials

Preparation of Extracts

In Vitro Experimental Protocol

DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay

Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)

Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method

Results

DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay

Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)

Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method

Discussion and Conclusion

References

Chapter 6 - Validation of Thai Traditional Medical Knowledge by Scientific Investigation

Multi-plant herbal formula testing

DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrozyl) Free-Radical Scavenging Assay

Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)

Total Phenolic Content (TPC) by the Folin-Ciocalteu Method

Conclusion

References

Chapter 7 - Conclusion

Introduction

Key Findings

Anthropological

Botanical

Pharmacological

Future Studies

Conclusion

References