Sage Leaf is said to be a stimulant that strengthens the brain and promotes wisdom. Since antiquity, it has been reputed to slow down the ageing process and endow long life. It appears to be a memory strengthener, helping to restore failing memory in the elderly and improving concentration in all who use it. (Click here for more information on Sage)
Rhodiola Root is recommended for or anyone requiring more mental clarity or anyone who has memory problems. Because the herb is believed to improve blood circulation, this activity apparently increases the blood supply to the brain, enhancing both cognitive function and attention span. It is also thought to increase bioelectrical activity in the brain, which also improves memory and brain energy. Researchers have recommended Rhodiola Root for anyone suffering from depression, stress or anxiety. Used as an antidepressant, all subjects in clinical tests showed a positive therapeutic effect with its use. It is thought to work by making serotonin's precursors (tryptophan and 5-HTP) more available to the brain and by optimizing the amount of serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitter levels in the brain. (Click here for more information on Rhodiola Root)
Ginkgo Biloba improves blood and oxygen flow to the brain and has been most effective in treating senility, dementia, depression, anxiety, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and ADD (attention deficit disorder) in adults. Ginkgo's most exciting application may be in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by helping to speed the blood flow to the brain and aiding the brain to utilize glucose efficiently. Improved blood flow to the brain also helps to prevent strokes, cerebral arteriosclerosis and other diseases of peripheral circulation. Ginkgo Biloba is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the brain from neurotoxicity. It is said to prevent free-radical damage and age-related declines in brain function. It may also prevent free radical damage in the kidneys and liver. (Click here for more information on Ginkgo Biloba)
Hawthorne Leaf stimulates blood circulation to the brain, as well as the heart, and herbalists have long used it to treat age-related forms of memory problems. Scientific research has identified two ways in which the herb may work. It appears to lower cholesterol, and since there is less platelet aggregation from cholesterol (blood clotting) in the arteries, this action allows the blood to flow more freely and reach the brain's tissues. The herb's high vitamin C content helps to strengthen tiny capillaries in the brain, opening them and resulting in more nutrients and oxygen reaching the brain. (Click here for more information on Hawthorne Leaf)
Gotu Kola has a reputation for improving concentration and learning ability. It is a restorative tonic for mental decline in old age, because it protects the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the brain and stimulates circulation. It is considered a "brain food" that increases mental activity. Gotu Kola is sometimes known as the "memory herb" that revitalizes the brain cells and helps in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. It is also believed to prevent ageing. (Click here for more information on Gotu Kola)
Bacopa Monnieri is considered a fine "brain tonic" that has been used for centuries to improve mental and brain functions, enhance clear thinking, support learning, and memory. Traditional applications already suggest that it has a direct effect on increasing concentration, and modern laboratory tests claim that Bacopa provides antioxidant protection for the critical memory centers and helps to reduce the effects of stress on the brain. The bacosides (saponins) in Bacopa appear to play a protective role in the synaptic functions of the nerves of the hippocampus, the seat of memory. Nerve impulses are transmitted across the synapses (the gap between two neurons, over which impulses lead to learning), and their degeneration is believed to contribute to impaired memory and cognition. Use of Bacopa is thus thought to improve learning skills and impaired memory. (Click here for more information on Bacopa Monnieri)
Ashwagandha has been used to rejuvenate the body and counter the ravages of ageing. In recent studies, pharmacologists have suggested that it may improve cerebral function, including learning ability, memory retention, and senile dementia. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body adapt to emotional and physical stress and reinstate the metabolic balance in the body after stressful situations. It helps the body return to normal function and restores a sense of well-being. Used as a mild sedative, Ashwagandha has been especially helpful for those who suffer from insomnia, and because it balances serotonin levels in the brain, it has been shown to relieve pain, including headache. (Click here for more information on Ashwaghanda)
Evening Primrose possesses a high content of the rare gamma linolenic acid (GLA) that appears to produce a host of beneficial effects. GLA is an unsaturated fatty acid that assists in the production of prostaglandins, the hormones necessary for many important bodily functions. GLA helps the body produce energy and forms part of the structural fats that comprise the brain, muscle, bone marrow and cell membranes. GLA plays a crucial role in the health of the brain and nervous system, and Evening Primrose has been recommended as a supportive treatment for multiple sclerosis and other degenerative diseases. (Click here for more information on Evening Primrose)
Siberian Ginseng is considered an "adaptogen" in that it normalizes bodily functions during stressful or other situations that might alter those functions, helping the body to adapt and return to an overall sense of well-being. In Chinese Traditional Medicine, Siberian Ginseng has been used to treat insomnia, rheumatic diseases and heart ailments. The herb has been used to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, and restore cardiovascular health. Many claim that it aids in restoring memory, concentration and mental clarity, which may be impaired by poor blood supply to the brain. Siberian Ginseng has been known to ease depression by directly balancing serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, the brain chemicals that determine mood. (Click here for more information on Siberian Ginseng)
Rehmannia Root is considered a tonic for the blood and enhances circulation throughout the body, especially to the brain. As a blood energizer, the herb has been used to treat blood-related deficiencies, including anemia, dizziness, pallid face and light-headedness. Some of the constituents included in Rehmannia Root are beta-sitosterol, calcium, copper, glucose, glucosamine, histidine, mannitol, zinc, amino acids and vitamins A, B, C and D. (Click here for more information on Rehmannia Root)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids are said to be very important in brain development. When found in high concentrations in the brain, Essential Fatty Acids are thought to aid in the transmission of nerve impulses, and a deficiency can lead to an impaired ability to learn and recall information. Preliminary studies have demonstrated some promising results with the use of Omega-3 in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder, depression, aggression and other behavioral problems. Omega-3 deficiencies have also been associated with dyslexia, violence, learning disorders and hyperactivity. In addition, a controlled study in 1999, showed excellent results in treating bipolar disorder and in controlling mood stability. (Click here for more information on Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
Lemon Balm has been used for thousands of years as an effective calmative that is good for all kinds of nervous problems, including tension headaches, migraines, neuralgia, hysteria, nervous tension, stress, anxiety, excitability, heart palpations (resulting from anxiety) and agitation. Frequently called "the calming herb," it may be effective in treating Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, easing such symptoms as inability to listen, fidgeting, inability to sustain attention and shifting from one incomplete task to another. It also appears to relax muscle tension without daytime drowsiness. In the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Lemon Balm shows great promise, because of the herb's possible central nervous system acetylcholine receptor activity and antioxidant properties. It may even positively affect cognitive abilities, enhance memory and improve mental clarity. (Click here for more information on Lemon Balm)
Grapeseed improves blood circulation, which benefits both cardiac and cerebral function. It also improves peripheral circulation, resulting in less pain and swelling in arms and legs and fewer nighttime cramps. It is also said to relieve numbness and tingling. For good vascular health, Grapeseed is considered the best herbal supplement that will maintain the health of capillaries, through which the blood delivers nutrients to individual cells and carries away waste products. (Click here for more information on Grapeseed)
Cayenne is called a carrier or catalyst herb that increases the efficacy of almost every other herb or herbal combination. Cayenne speeds up the metabolism of fat and may reduce weight gain due to a high fat diet by increasing the liver enzymes accountable for fat metabolism and decreases fat deposits in the liver caused by high fat diet. Cayenne is an anti-inflammatory and may ease aspirin-induced upset stomach and damage due to alcohol. (Click here for more information on Cayenne)
Ginger Root is said to increase the absorption and efficacy of other herbs and drugs that are taken with it. Ginger is a warming herb that is thought to strengthen the function of the kidneys, bladder, uterus and liver (increasing bile production). It is also said to help increase blood circulation, including peripheral circulation (hands, feet, etc.). Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties are said to help arthritis, bursitis and sprains. Ginger Root inhibits the production of immune system components called cytokines, chemicals that create a long-term tendency toward inflammation and also stimulates blood circulation, offering pain relief, increased joint mobility, decreased swelling and morning stiffness. (Click here for more information on Ginger Root)
