“Herbs have a long history
in treating human ailments, and memory loss and cognitive decline are no
exceptions. Generally, herbs are safer and better tolerated than conventional
medications. And some of them are also just as effective, or even more
effective, as conventional memory drugs. Here are 10 of the most important
herbs used to enhance memory.”
Herbs are nature’s drugs and they have been used
to treat diseases for as long as man came down with the first sickness.
Herbs are generally safe and well tolerated.
However, they still contain phytochemicals that modify biochemical processes in
the body. Therefore, they can also be toxic in high doses, cause side effects
in normal doses and unsafe to use with some drugs.
Traditional medicines of various cultures, but
especially Chinese and Indian traditional medicines, have always turned to
herbs to slow down cognitive decline and reverse memory loss.
Dementia especially in the elderly is pretty
common disorder for which there are traditional remedies.
With the current advancements in medicine and
biological sciences, it is now possible to determine which of these herbs are
truly effective for improving memory. By extracting the active principles in
these herbs, researchers are able to predict how these herbs work and in what
doses can be deemed appropriate.
Therefore, with our better understanding of
therapeutic benefits of herbs, here are 10 of the most effective nootropic
herbs for improving memory.
Ginseng refers to the different plants belong to
the genus, Panax. Although there are different
species of ginseng, true ginsengs such as Panax ginseng (Asian
ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American
ginseng) are more effective memory aids than false ginsengs such as Siberian
ginseng.
True ginsengs contain a group of compounds known
as ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are the phytochemicals responsible for the
nootropic effects of ginseng.
Ginsenosides are also known as panaxosides. They
are saponins and they belong to 2 broad classes: Rb1 and Rg1. Rg1 ginsenosides
are the most abundant panaxosides in ginseng. They are known to improve spatial
memory through the activation of neuronal activity in the hippocampus.
Rb1 ginsenosides are also useful for improving
memory. They have been demonstrate to reverse scopolamine-induced amnesia in
animals. They do this by increasing the release of acetylcholine and by
stimulating cholinergic activity in the hippocampus and cortex, the two popular
seats of memory in the brain.
Ginkgo is the name given to the herbal extract
obtained from the leaves of one of the oldest tree species alive, Ginkgo biloba.
Although, there are new studies that suggest
that ginkgo may not be effective for improving memories, there are actually a
lot of studies that say otherwise.
Ginkgo is known to prevent the formation of beta
amyloid proteins (which are known to cause Alzheimer’s disease). It is believed
to be especially good for preventing cognitive decline in the elderly. In one
study, a daily dose of 240 mg of the standardized extract of ginkgo was found
effective for improving memory and learning in patients suffering from
dementia.
Therefore, while ginkgo has the active
phytochemicals to help improve memory, it seems that it requires long-term
supplementation to work.
In addition, supplementation should be started
well before the first signs of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and
Alzheimer’s.
Gotu kola or Centella asiatica is
a common herb in Indian, Chinese and African traditional medicines.
Preliminary studies also show that gotu kola has
nootropic effects. It is known to slow down the signs of aging and to improve
concentration and attention span. The herb has also been used to successfully
treat neurodegenerative disorders and to enhance memory.
In one Thai study done in 2008, an extract of
gotu kola was able to improve mood and enhance working memory in a group of 28
elderly patients.
Green tea is prepared from the leaves of Camellia sinensis after allowing for only a slight
oxidation during processing.
Regular consumption of green tea has been
credited with a number of healthful benefits including improving immune
function, reducing the risks of heart diseases and certain cancers, lowering
LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol levels.
It is also effective in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, dental cavities, obesity and bone loss.
The polyphenols are especially important and of
these, the catechins produce the best benefits on memory. The most abundant
catechins in green tea is known as epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.
EGCG is the phytochemical responsible for most
of the positive effects of green tea on memory.
As an antioxidant, EGCG mops up free radicals
and reactive oxygen species produced from lipid peroxidation. In this way, it
protects the neurons and other brain cells from oxidative damage.
EGCG also stimulates neurogenesis. This means
that it increases the production of new brain cells.
Neurogenesis can easily lead to increased brain
capacity and improved cognitive functions. When neurogenesis occurs in
hippocampus (a number of studies have confirmed that this indeed been happens),
it can lead to significant improvement in memory and learning.
Lastly, the polyphenol extract of green tea is a
potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
Acetylcholinesterase is the enzyme responsible
for breaking down the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. By inhibiting this
enzyme, green tea increases the activity of acetylcholine in the brain. Since
acetylcholine and the entire cholinergic pathway are required in memory
stabilization and consolidation, this effect is another way green tea improves
memory.
Bacopa is more commonly known as Brahmi
especially in Ayurveda traditional medicine.
Bacopa contains natural antioxidants and it also
improves the activities of some of the antioxidant enzymes naturally produced
in the body. It also improves immune functioning by contributing to the
production of antibodies and immunoglobulins.
The effectiveness of bacopa on cognition and
memory is well studied. For example, its antioxidant protection has been shown
to extend to the hippocampus. In the brain, bacopa not only mops up reactive
oxygen species but it also breaks down beta amyloid proteins that causes
Alzheimer’s disease.
Bacopa’s antioxidant effect has been found
comparable to that of vitamin E.
Although bacopa improves cognitive functions
including memory in people with neurodegenerative disease, it does not have the
same effect on normal, healthy subjects. This is because the antioxidant
properties of bacopa is only useful where memory loss is caused by damage to
the nerves and brain cells.
Ashwagandha or Withania somnifera is
also known as Indian ginseng although it belongs in the Nightshade family.
In Ayurveda medicine, this herb is rejuvenating
tonic or a rasayana. As a tonic, it is used to combat stress, reduce anxiety
and improve cognition.
It is also used to treat tumors in traditional
medicine, a use that is now supported by clinical trials.
The root extract of this herb has shown promise
as a possible Alzheimer’s disease drug candidate. It was able to reduce plaque
load in mice by breaking down the beta amyloid proteins that form plaques in
the brain.
Other benefits of this root extract include
improving memory in both normal mice and those in which dementia was induced.
It is believed that the herb was able to promote neurogenesis to achieve this
feat.
Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) also
known as Aaron’s rod and King’s crown grows in cold regions of the world.
Perhaps the most active phytochemicals found in
rhodiola are the polyphenol antioxidants such as quercetin and
proanthocyanidins.
Besides it antioxidant cover, rhodiola may
provide even more specific benefits for improving memory because it also
increases acetylcholine levels in the brain.
Studies on rhodiola and memory are few but those
few ones are mostly positive. Some researchers have confirmed that rhodiola
extracts can enhance memory and improve cognitive functions especially in
people suffering from dementia and other age-related memory loss.
Huperzia serrata is
also known as Chinese club moss. The major medicinal phytochemical in this herb
is Huperzine A.
Just as importantly, huperzine A also breaks
down beta amyloid proteins. This prevents any nerve damage due to beta amyloid
plaque formation.
Thirdly, huperzine A is a NMDA receptor
antagonist. In this role, it protects the brain from nerve damage caused by
glutamate while also stimulating the release of nerve growth factor.
Because of its multifaceted benefits, huperzine
A is already a candidate drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease. It is already
in phase II clinical trials and its safety and efficacy have been confirmed by
multiple studies.
Human trials show that huperzine A improves
cognitive function including memory while protecting against neurodegeneration.
It does all these without causing any serious side effects.
Sage leaves, on the other hand, contains
flavones, flavonoid glycosides, niacin, tannic acid, oleic acid, fumaric acid
and other related compounds.
Although it is recommended for a rather long
list of ailments in traditional medicine, the indications for which scientific
evidences have been provided for include the antibiotic, antifungal,
antispasmodic, astringent, hypoglycemic and tonic properties of sage.
However, sage stands out as an effective herb in
the management of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Active ingredients in the leaf show antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory effects which are beneficial to neurons and other brain
cells. In addition, these medicinal compounds increase acetylcholine levels in
the brain while reducing the plaque-forming beta amyloids.
Other studies agree that sage leaf extracts or
essential oil can improve memory and mood.
Rosemary is used in traditional medicine to
treat hair loss, muscle and joint pain as well as to enhance memory.
A 2003 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscienceconcluded that
rosemary can enhance overall quality of memory as well as secondary memory
factors.
Although rosemary contains a number of
antioxidants such as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, its benefits to memory
also include increasing the level of acetylcholine.
Rosemary oil is perhaps the first case of
aromatherapy as memory enhancer investigated by a medical study. In a study
published in the journal, Therapeutic Advances in
Psychopharmacology, a group of researchers exposed 20 volunteers to
different levels of rosemary oil aroma.
These researchers discovered that the most
active chemical in rosemary oil, 1, 8-cineole was found in the blood samples of
the volunteers and that the measured level of this compound corresponded to
increased cognitive functions.
In this study, rosemary oil improved accuracy of
memory, speed of processing information and even mood. The researchers believed
that the surprising result with rosemary oil aroma can open a new vista of
research into using the aromatic properties of oil as therapeutic drugs.
1 comment:
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