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Has anyone tried this one? It is a herbal remedy used in China and Japan to treat dementia. It reduced drug-induced hallucination-like behaviors in isolated mice and it might even downregulate 5-HT2A in the prefrontal cortex. However it can cause severe hypokalemia in some cases so be careful.

 

Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, decreases head-twitch behaviors and serotonin 2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex of isolation-stressed mice - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25732836?dopt=Abstract

 

A case of severe hypokalemia caused by a Chinese herbal remedy (Yokukansan) in an 81-year-old woman with dementia - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22323035

 

Yokukansan in the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23359469

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Thanks for posting it Brake.
 

Can anybody here view full text of the studies? This study looks interesting.. Let me quote it.
 

Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, decreases head-twitch behaviors and serotonin 2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex of isolation-stressed mice:

"ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine, has recently been used to treat the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including aggressiveness, excitability, and hallucination. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effects of yokukansan on BPSD using animals exhibiting hallucination-like behaviors. For this purpose, we initially examined whether chronic isolation stress increases the frequency of hallucination in response to a psychedelic drug. Using this animal model, we next examined the effects of yokukansan on drug-induced hallucination-like behaviors. Finally, we examined the density and mRNA levels of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Male mice were subjected to isolation stress for six weeks. Yokukansan was incorporated into food pellets, and administered to the mice for six weeks. In some experiments, yokukansan and each of seven constituent herbs were administered orally to the mice for the last two weeks during the six-week period of isolation stress. A 5-HT2A receptor agonist, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, 2.5mg/kg), was injected into the mice, and head-twitch behaviors were quantified. The binding sites of 5-HT2A receptors on the plasma membrane of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were assessed by a receptor-binding assay using tritium-labeled ketanserin, and the density and affinity were calculated from a Scatchard plot. The level of mRNAs was measured by PCR analyses.

RESULTS:

Isolation stress enhanced the frequency of the DOI-induced head-twitch response, and yokukansan treatment by feeding significantly reduced this enhancement. Isolation stress significantly increased the 5-HT2A receptor density in the PFC, and yokukansan treatment by feeding as well as administration significantly down-regulated this increase. Isolation stress and yokukansan did not affect the affinity. Among seven constituent herbs, Bupleurum Root, Uncaria Hook, Japanese Angelica Root, and Glycyrrhiza down-regulated the increase, but statistically not significant, in which their efficacies were over 50% relative to yokukansan. Neither isolation stress nor yokukansan affected mRNA levels of 5-HT2A receptors.

CONCLUSION:

Yokukansan attenuated drug-induced hallucination-like behaviors in isolated mice, which is suggested to be mediated by 5-HT2A receptor down-regulation in the PFC. This mechanism may underlie the ameliorative effects of yokukansan on hallucination."

 

My question is .. could that be anyhow relevant to HPPD? The common theory is that HPPD is caused by downregulation of the receptors, but could it be the case that they become upregulated?

 

another study that Brake passed on to me says something that supports the above thesis

 

Flashbacks and HPPD: A Clinical-oriented Concise Review (2014) http://doctorsonly.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/13_Flashbacks-and-HPPD.pdf

"...There are controversial reports regarding SSRIs like Sertraline which has been reported to worsen (41) as well as improve (18) visual disturbances. Alleviation after long-term administration of SSRIs was attributed to the down regulation of 5-HT2 receptors, adding further evidence to support the serotonergic mechanisms underlying this syndrome (18)...."
.

ref 18: Young CR. Sertraline treatment of hallucinogen persisting perception http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9062378?dopt=Abstract (why is there no abstract though?)
ref 41: LSD flashback syndrome exacerbated by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants in adolescents. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7965440 (no info about duration of the treatment .. )
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