Conscious Choice: Brain Boosters

November 1998 | Herbs for Health

Brain Boosters

by Meg McGowan

As rational creatures we prize our minds, our brains, as that which sets us apart from the rest of the natural world: apart and above. Although we now teach school children about cycles of nature and the delicate balance of an eco-system, we still cling to the hierarchical notion that elevates us, like Yertle the Turtle, to the top of the heap, as if we alone inhabit a world apart. It is the irony of our era that as our beloved science, bastion of the rational mind, reveals in ever more detail the intricacies of nature’s interconnectedness, we, like child-warriors, strut and sputter nonsense about our own dominance, run home, and shut the doors. The natural world, however, provides the leaves and roots, bark and seeds that not only nourish our body, feed our souls, but stimulate and sustain our minds. In moving away from nature are we losing our minds as well as our souls? It is important that we begin to comprehend at a deep level, how nature nurtures the intellect we value so dearly.

Scent has been used throughout the ages to create an atmosphere of concentration, in churches, monasteries and temples. A number of essential oils impart mental clarity or focus. They can be used to instantly rejuvenate a sluggish, tired mind, when enthusiasm wanes before a project is completed. In The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood suggests blending basil (Ocimum sanctum), cardamom (Eletteria cardomomum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) essential oils in equal parts and dispersing the blend in a diffuser to improve concentration. Sage (Saliva officinalis), lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), and coriander (Coriandrum sativum) essential oils aid and improve memory. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum syn. C. zeylanicum) essential oils heighten focus. Peppermint (Mentha x piperita), dill (Anethum graveolens syn. Peucedanum graveolens), and coffee (Coffea arabica) essential oils increase alertness and sharpen mental processes. Use these oils to scent your work area when mental fatigue sets in. Warm or hot, pungent and spicy, many of these aromas are of the kitchen—of dinner cooking and cookies baking. In the age of the microwave, we may need to re-weigh what we have gained and what we have lost. Perhaps a plate of spice cookies after school, served in a home redolent with preparations for the evening meal, creates an atmosphere uniquely conducive to homework and study.

Not all herbs produce instant results. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), undoubtedly the best-known herb for boosting brain power, has a cumulative effect. Research indicates that no amount of ginkgo taken as an individual dose has any immediate effect on cognitive abilities. Therapeutic doses, however, taken over time (a minimum of eight weeks) have proven to be highly effective, especially in subjects of advanced age. Even Alzheimer’s patients treated with gingko often show measurable improvement. The most celebrated aspect of ginkgo is its use as a circulatory stimulant and tonic, particularly for improving blood circulation to the brain. Proper cerebral circulation is imperative, as the brain requires one-fifth of the body’s oxygen in order to function properly.

"Studies also show that ginkgo is an antioxidant, which means that it slows the formation of compounds called free radicals, which are believed to be responsible for premature aging, cancer and other ills," Earl Mindell points out in his Herb Bible. Gingko’s benefits for the brain are two-fold then, helping to increase available oxygen and decrease the risk of imbalances posed by free radicals. Be sure to follow recommended guidelines when self-medicating with ginkgo; excessive doses can cause nausea, diarrhea or irritability.

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica), linden (Tilia spp.) and motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) are also believed to have a positive effect on thought processes. Like gingko, all three herbs improve blood circulation; motherwort specifically increases blood circulation to the brain. Each has a mild sedative effect as well, making these herbs especially well-suited for individuals whose thoughts become muddled under pressure. The combined effect of a calmer mind and increased circulation may be just what is needed when anxiety causes the mind to freeze. Although kava kava (Piper methysticum) does not affect the circulatory system, it too relieves anxiety, promoting a feeling of well being, while improving memory, vigilance and alertness.

Thanks to Shakespeare we all recall that rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) is for remembrance. Rosemary is another circulatory stimulant which improves the circulation of blood to the head. It can be used not only as a tonic, but for immediately improving focus, concentration and memory capabilities. In Greece, families have traditionally burned rosemary at exam time to facilitate and improve memory. Those who have a fireplace, can tap into history and ignite their intellect by tossing bundles of dried rosemary stems on the pyre. For those who don’t, a few drops of essential oil can be added to a candle before lighting, or warmed in a diffuser.

The Bard, I’m sure, was unaware that part of rosemary’s power can be attributed to its antioxidant components. According to botanical researcher James A. Duke, Ph.D., of Maryland, there are about twenty-four antioxidant chemicals found in rosemary, and their effect is remarkably similar to drugs currently being used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Duke recently studied common culinary herbs at his USDA laboratory, focusing on their antioxidant value. "Plants from the mint family [Labiatae]—oregano [Origanum vulgare], rosemary, self-heal [Prunella vulgaris], thyme [Thymus vulgaris], sage, peppermint, and spearmint [Mentha spicata] were the richest sources. Oregano topped the list, with the herb self-heal second." (Duke also found that weedier, less cultivated herbs have higher levels of antioxidants than their more pampered and restrained counterparts.)

The antioxidant properties of herbs provide long-range benefits to the brain. But how can we best accrue these benefits in our lives? The prescription is not as simple as a pill, though potentially it is much more rewarding. It seems that a life rich with herbs will provide abundant antioxidant returns. Grow your own wild herbs. Pick leaves fresh from the garden in the spring and summer. Throw them in salads, lemonade, iced tea and water. Harvest the leaves in fall, freeze them, and add them generously to soups, stews and sauces throughout the winter months. (Add fresh or frozen herbs during the last five minutes of cooking.) Be bold and untraditional in combining flavors.

Don’t limit yourself to consuming herbs in foods, beverages, or oral remedies. The skin is capable of absorbing many antioxidant compounds. Herbal baths, then, may offer more than temporary relaxation and a lingering scent. Incorporating essential oils into your regular skin care routine, could have advantages beyond the properties commonly associated with any single oil. Imagine your life a wreath entwined with leaves, and begin to live (in) it.

DISCLAIMER: Choosing a holistic approach to medicine means choosing personal responsibility for your health care. Herbs for Health offers a doorway through which to enter the realm of herbal healing, an invitation to further investigation on the part of the reader. It is in no way intended as a substitute for advice from a health care practitioner.

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