OTC remedy for altitude sickness given by medicine man

[Roleigh Martin]

At backpacker.com, the Medicine Man column by Buck Tilton answers the question if there are any herbal remedies for altitude sickness. I found the answer interesting. Does anyone in BPL have experience with this remedy?

http://www.backpacker.com/community/ask_buck/45

Q.} We're going to Peru. What multivitamin/herbal remedy you suggest for overcoming altitude sickness?
Submitted by: S.S., Berkeley, CA
A.} Only ginkgo biloba has proven in tests to reduce the incidence and severity of Acute Mountain Sickness. Peter Hackett, MD, the guru of high mountain medicine, recommends 80 mg twice a day, but some others suggest 120 mg twice a day–morning and evening, starting 4-5 days before going high. Nothing else herbal or vitamin-wise has shown measurable results–but taking extra doses of vitamin C and the vitamin B is not contraindicated. And have fun. I love Peru.

[Mark Verber]

Ginkgo biloba initially did look promising… but I believe the latest research has shown it not to be effective. Whether it's effective or note… keep in mind that no one has ever claimed that it's a remedy… just that it might reduce the likelihood of altitude sickness… it's no help once you are sick.

There are several good references on the web about altitude sickness including

• http://microserf.lanl.gov/bpw/high_altitude_sickness.pdf
• http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/
• http://www.usariem.army.mil/download/highmountain.pdf

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Mark

Thank you for these references.

Cheers
Roger

[Tim Halberg]

I'll be reading those asap… I tend to get a bit of altitude sickness (I've had it to the point of halucinating and it wasn't fun…)

Every time I have to cruise over a pass at say 11,000+ I start feeling crummy.

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