6 Brain Boosting Herbs To Improve Your Productivity
Maria Hill is the owner of Sensitive Evolution, an online platform dedicated to improving the lives of highly sensitive people. Read full profile
Do you sometimes feel that your brain’s capacity is not up your daily demands?
Do you sometimes become forgetful because your brain is overtaxed?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are like the rest of us, struggling to be productive in an extremely fast paced and complex world.
The good news is that there are ways to protect your brain from excessive demands so that you can function at your best.
How To Help An Overtaxed Brain
Lifestyle choices make a big difference in your mental resilience. Poor food and unhealthy daily practices are an unnecessary burden to your body including your brain – like trying to jog with 50 pound weights.
However, we all know that our circumstances are less than ideal and that we cannot always make ideal choices
Medicinal herbs can overcome excessive amounts of stress and lifestyle challenges to help you function at your best. Here is a list of herbs for the brain that will help you get rid of those 50 pound weights.
6 Top Brain Herbs
- Brahmi is the top herb for rejuvenating the brain and nervous system. It helps the left and right sides of the brain to work together. Brahmi improves all aspects of mental functioning including the ability to learn new information, to retain what we learn and our ability to remember.Brahmi packs a double whammy of benefits because it supports our intelligence while reducing the effects of stress on the brain. It offers 4 primary benefits:
- improved capacity for attention and focus,
- improved ability to withstand emotional stress
- reduction in nervousness and anxiety
- improved immune system function.Brahmi also helps with insomnia, helps prevent senility, and heals adrenal grands debilitated by stress which can lead to adrenal burnout. Although brahmi is sometimes called gotu kola in English, gotu kola is actually a different herb.
- Gotu kola is another herb that has high impact on brain functioning. Known as mandukaparni in sanskrit, it also balances the brain and helps all aspects of brain functioning, but is best known for its ability to improve blood circulation and memory.
- Ashwaghandha is another top herb for the brain. It reduces the effects of overwork and is one of the best for promoting mental clarity and cognitive functioning. It boosts the brain’s memory and is very helpful in supporting the immune system.Ashwaghandha does wonders for nervous exhaustion and protects the brain against brain cell deterioration. It is an important protective herb.
- Vacha which means “speech” is an important herb for the brain. It promotes better concentration, clarity and speech. It has a stimulating effect which means that it treats depression and mental sluggishness. Vac-ha promotes mental clarity and a strong memory at the same time it detoxifies brain tissues.
- Tagara known as Indian valerian helps emotional and nervous conditions.
- Tulsi oxygenates the brain and improves circulation which improves feelings of well-being and mental cognition.
Essential Oils For The Brain
Essential oils are an excellent way to treat mental fatigue and to boost your mental capacity. Here are three that can be a useful supplement to herbal remedies for times when you need to stimulate your brain.
- Rosemary is a bright and sharp essence that improves clarity in the mind and emotions.
- Peppermint is stimulating It enlivens the mind and is one of the best oils to boost energy, creativity and learning.
- Basil improves mental fatigue and focus.
Natural Brain Boosters
Several supplements are available that claim to boost your brain power. Do they work? By Martin Downs, MPH From the Web-MD Archives
Just as athletes take supplements to enhance their physical performance, some people hope to sharpen their wits with so-called “brain boosters.”
Of course, no pill can make you a genius if you aren’t one, Flowers for Algernon style. So what exactly are brain boosters?
“It could mean several things. It could mean herbs or nutrients that enhance clarity of thinking, alertness, focus, concentration, memory, and even mood,” says Ray Sahelian, MD, author of Mind Boosters and a family practitioner in Marina Del Ray, Calif.
“Most commonly, people will notice that they are more focused and alert, that they are more motivated, that they are processing information faster,” he says.
Rosemary
Rosemary is much more than just a staple in Mediterranean dishes. Add some to your favorite recipes, or smell the essential oil, as in aromatherapy. Either way, this herb is believed to positively affect mental proficiency and improve memory retention.
Ashwagandha
This adaptogenic herb is especially helpful when you’re feeling overworked and overwhelmed. Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is believed to help treat brain fog, increase focus, and even balance moods.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea has a wide and varied history of uses, but it is believed to be especially helpful in improving mind and body performance during times of stress or when feeling burned out. It can also be helpful with limiting mental fatigue, and modulating moods. When combined with other adaptogenic herbs—particularly electrocute and schisandra—it is exceptionally effective.
Ginseng
This adaptogenic herb is known to help your mind and body cope with stress and to boost all around mental function. Ginseng may even offer protection to your brain cells against toxins related to mental decline.
Ginkgo Biloba
This herb has been used for thousands of years to improve cognitive function. It actually helps regenerate brain cells, and many studies have found it can improve memory, increase concentration, and counteract stress and anxiety. Note: check with your doctor before taking this, as it may react with other medications, especially blood thinners.
Gotu Kola
This prized herb has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. It differs slightly from other cognitive herbs, as it offers a more balanced, non-stimulating effect. This makes it perfect for focusing at night. Gotu kola helps all aspects of brain functioning, but is particularly well known for its ability to improve blood circulation and memory.
Brahmi
Last, but definitely not least, brahmi is one of the best herbs for a healthy mind. It helps the left and right sides of the brain work harmoniously and improves all aspects of mental function. Its benefits range from improving attention and focus to reducing emotional stress, nervousness, and anxiety. This adaptogenic herb also helps with insomnia, learning and retaining new information, and preventing senility.
These herbal solutions probably won’t turn you into Albert Einstein, but they will contribute to a well rounded mind, body, and spirit. A healthy mind is a happy mind that makes good decisions and keeps up with the fast-paced, complex world around us. Feed your mind, and the rest will follow.
Brain performance is essential to every human being.
Excellent brain performance is associated with fast memory recall, high information processing speed and increased productivity in activities that require high cognitive thinking.
But, cognition may decline due to increasing age, brain injury, metabolic imbalances, thyroid hormone imbalance, mental fatigue, and deficiency in some vitamins and nutrients.
In such situations, having a remedy for restoring and improving your brain performance is essential.
Recently, nootropics have become a trendy topic.
They boost mental performance, including memory, focus, learning, mood, sleep and concentration.
Besides, they also prevent age-related mental decline.
Herbs are some of the known nootropics that boost brain performance.
They are generally acknowledged to improve memory, attention and other cognitive functions due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
Below are the eight best brain-boosting herbs for increasing your brain performance!
Best Brain Boosting Herbs
Rosemary
Rosemary is an indigenous herb known for its extensive benefits in the health sector.
The herb has proven to have excellent properties with regards to promoting digestion, liver detoxification, and other benefits to the human body.
When it comes to the brain, Rosemary plays a vital role in improving moods and memory capacity.
It contains phenolic acids, cine-ole, flavorless and terseness, which make it an excellent antioxidant.
A 2012 study 1 done on 20 people who performed visual information processing tasks in a cubicle diffused with rosemary aroma showed improved brain performance.
However, rosemary has some precautions too.
People who have epilepsy should avoid it as it contains camphor that can cause seizures.
Rosemary can be obtained in purchased capsules, tea and tincture.
If you are using the leaves, 1 tsp should be used in one cup of boiled water.
Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola is one of the most ancient herbs that originate from Indonesia and China.
This herb is known to treat inflammation and improve blood circulation among others.
It improves cognitive function, boosts memory and reduces anxiety and stress.
The recommended dosage of Gotu kola should be around 300 mg for 21 days; this prevents the risk of side effects.
Excessive consumption may lead to side effects like nausea, stomach ache and drowsiness.
Indian Ginseng
The Indian Ginseng popularly known as Ashwagandha or winter cherry is one of the most used herbs across the globe.
It has been used for over 3000 years to reduce stress levels, boost testosterone, increase energy levels, reduce inflammation, lower cortisol levels, reduce cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels.
Indian Ginseng has antioxidant properties that shield brain cells from free radical damage.
Besides, it regulates chemical signalling in the nervous system promoting memory, attention and reaction time.
It has no side effects if taken in the correct dosage.
Excessive consumption may lead to side effects like nausea and diarrhoea.
Brahmi
Brahmi is popularly known as Bacopa monnieri commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.
It plays a massive role in maintaining a healthy body system including lowering blood pressure, reducing stress levels, reducing ADHD symptoms and improving cognitive function.
Studies show that Brahmi increases visual information processing speed, memory, learning ability and increasing dendritic length.
Besides, it is rich in antioxidants such as bacosides which reduces the activity of free radicals and protects brain cells.
If taken in excess, patients may suffer from increased thyroid hormones, muscular fatigue and slow heart rate.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is an indigenous herb that helps indigestion, anxiety, infections and treatment of thyroid tissues.
It is a significant brain-boosting herb that stimulates neurotransmitters which support mood and memory.
Moreover, lemon balm contains rosmarinic acid that improves blood flow in the brain and protects brain cell from oxidative stress.
It also triggers the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces stress and anxiety levels.
Lemon balm should be administered in 300 mg dosage twice a day for 15 days.
People with Alzheimer are advised to use 60 drops per day of the extract for four months.
Lemon balm may have side effects such as diabetes and thyroid problems if used in excessive consumption.
Holy basil
Holy Basil is a sacred herb.
It originated from India, and it is mostly found in Indian shrines.
This herb is known to work best in lowering blood sugar levels and reducing inflammation.
Holy basil enhances cognition by reducing anxiety and stress.
It also improves memory and other mental function such as learning ability.
Individuals with chronic stress are advised to use Holy basil daily after meals.
Green tea
Green tea is a natural herb that has been consumed for thousands of years.
It is extracted from the camellia Sinensis plant.
This brain-boosting herb works best in improving cognition, mood and brain function.
Research shows that green tea increases blood flow in the brain region involved in reasoning, long-term memory and information processing speed.
Green tea is administered as a beverage.
However, Green tea leaves should not be added to boiling water.
Sage
Sage is an ancient herb in European and Greek medicine to treat circulation problems, lung infections, intestinal problems and tonsillitis.
Now, experts say that sage can improve memory and brain function.
Australian scientists found that sage portrays various cognitive benefits, including:
- It inhibits the release of cholinesterase.
- It contains both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that shield brain cells from free radical damage.
- It maintains high levels of neurotrophic factor, which protects brain cells.
Additionally, health experts show that consumption of sage in small or large amounts may help in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Sage should be administered at 333 mg per day if you plan to boost your memory.
Sage may cause side effects if taken in high doses.
Also, people with diabetes and pregnant women are advised not to take sage in high amounts.
Conclusion
Herbs have been anciently used to improve general health, including cognitive wellness.
Today, some of these herbs are being used to boost brain performance and reduce mental fatigue.
There is continued research to support their mechanisms in promoting mood, improving memory, protecting brain cells, increasing brain energy and heightening attention.