Boost your brain power: herbs to improve your memory and mental acuity - The Herbalist

Vegetarian Times, March, 1996 by Kathi Keville

The same effects were found when the subjects took Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus sentiocosus), which is from the same family of plants as Panax ginseng and shares many of the same attributes. In other studies on Siberian ginseng, Russian researchers gave the herb to people who were senile or had mental disorders from atherosclerosis. After a period of time ranging from one to three months, most of the subjects' memories had improved; most also felt stronger and more self-confident about functioning in day-to-day life.

When I first started using medicinal herbs in 1970, I wondered why gotu kola (Centella asiatica) was one of the few Oriental herbs widely available in the United States. (Gotu kola is not to be confused with the cola nut [Cola acuminata], which is found in some brain-herb preparations but unfortunately contains caffeine.) I traced its introduction to the Western world back to 1933, when a story in India's Ceylon Daily News was picked up by The New York Times. The attention-grabbing article called gotu kola "the Secret of Perpetual Youth" and said that the herb energized and preserved the brain cells of anyone who took it.

I and many other herbalists have found gotu kola to be extremely effective, despite the fact that relatively few scientific studies have been conducted to confirm its benefits. One clinical study did find that the scores on standardized intelligence tests and even the behavioral patterns of mentally challenged children improved (Medicinal Plants of India, vol. 1: 217-219). One of the best things about gotu kola is that although it is known as a brain stimulant, pharmacological research shows that it contains at least two sedative compounds; in fact, east Indians use it to quiet the mind for yoga and meditation. Thus, gotu kola gives you the best of both worlds: You feel calm and relaxed, yet mentally alert.

SNIFF YOUR WAY TO BRAIN POWER

MODERN JAPANESE RESEARCH shows that a number of aromas are indeed brain stimulants, and as a result, several large corporations in Tokyo now employ aromatherapy, or the therapeutic use of scent from essential plant oils. Throughout the day, various fragrances are released by a computer-controlled air system. A typical scent for the morning is lemon, to wake up workers. After lunch, the invigorating scent of cypress is used to promote constructive work. Peppermint improves work efficiency and dispels drowsiness in offices and conference rooms; it's often accompanied by lavender, which helps create a positive mood. Workers can also visit Tokyo's Health Club Harry's for a 30-minute stress-releasing morning workout in a room scented with rosemary and lemon to improve their concentration for the rest of the day.

Research in this country has found similar effects. For example, research done at the University of Cincinnati by psychology professor William N. Dember, Ph.D., found that workers in rooms scented with peppermint had more correct answers when identifying complicated patterns on a computer, and their performance didn't decline as rapidly as workers in unscented rooms (Journal of Cosmetic Chemistry, 1991, vol. 42: 199-210). In a similar study, researchers found that the fragrances of lemon, pepper and cinnamon all cut computer errors by more than half.