HERBS FOR MEMORY RETENTION

Today we’re going to talk about herbs, and some of them you may even find growing in your garden. A few of these earthy little babies harbor a gold mine of brain-boosting abilities and may just be the ticket to a better memory. Go grab your gardening gloves so we can start digging into our herbs for memory retention.

Huperzia (Chinese Club Moss)

Huperzia is a native of China and has been used in its entire mossy state for centuries for its vast medicinal purposes.Scientists have found a mega memory booster in this mossy herbs. This inhibitor kicks the brain into high gear with increased levels of the important neurotransmitters responsible for forming new memories, memory recall as well as cognitive functioning. There’s also the added bonus of receiving a bit of brain protection from huperzia as it is reported to stave of the memory stealing progress of Alzheimer’s.

TURMERIC

There’s good news for those of you who enjoy a nice curry dinner on occasion! The most prominent spice used, turmeric, which gives curry its warm, slightly peppery and bitter taste is actually really good for your memory. The cool thing about turmeric is that it really doesn’t take a whole lot to start improving memory, especially in those who are diabetic and cognitively impaired.In fact, studies have shown that a mere gram of the vibrantly colored spice will start you on the right path to a better working memory. Improving and preserving your working memory is crucial as it is the key to critical cognitive abilities such as planning, problem solving and reasoning.

ASHWAGANDHA

This hard to pronounce herb is a pro at aiding in the fighting against diseases, cancer, infertility, high blood pressure, anemia and depression. Ashwagandha is also useful in lowering cholesterol levels, stabilizing blood sugar, providing relief from inflammation and calming anxiety. It’s no wonder some in the medical community are calling Ashwagandha a wonder herb. The benefits of this “wonder herb” really start to get interesting when we look at the research done on Ashwagandha’s impact on memory and cognitive functioning.

Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis)

. Green tea is also beneficial when trying to lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure and is even noted to be helpful to those dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes and kidney stones.

Green tea is also being given a two very enthusiastic thumbs up from researchers who have conducted multiple studies on its positive effects on cognitive function. A 2014 study performed at the University of Basel found solid evidence of the awesome effects green tea has on the brain.The study reported that there is a “ beneficial effect of green tea on cognitive functioning, in particular, on working memory processing at the neural system level by suggesting changes in the short-term plasticity or parieto-frontal brain connections

Peppermint

Peppermint is good for much more than candy canes, my friends. In fact, peppermint is now considered to be on the list of natural substances used to help improve memory when it is applied topically, used for aroma therapy and even ingested in its natural, leafy form.The oil has noted qualities similar to caffeine in the sense that it is capable of waking your mind, increasing focus and aiding memory. A 2008 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information reported a pretty notable increase in both enhanced memory and alertness when subjects were exposed to peppermint aroma prior to cognitive testing.Perhaps it’s time to wake up and smell the peppermint rather than the coffee if it means you’re in for a better memory and improved alertness. It may not be so hard to kick the caffeine habit either since peppermint just so happens to aid in the process of ditching the coffee, thanks to its natural herbal super powers.

Asian Ginseng

Asian ginseng is one of three commonly used herbs in the ginseng family and is known for its memory boosting abilities. The use of Asian ginseng dates back well over 5,000 years and has earned its spot as a staple in many medicine cabinets across the world. The list of its uses is rather long, but it is definitely touted as the herb to take if you’re in need of a mental boost as it is reported to relax the nervous system, increase mental cognizance and stimulate the brain as an aid to memory.

Research has shown a positive increase in cognitive function when Asian ginseng is taken. This herb is credited with increasing concentration, memory and mental arithmetic. Another study found this form of ginseng to aid in abstract thought among subjects tested despite a lack of change in response time or their ability to concentrate.

ROSEMARY

Most of us are familiar with the awesome smell of rosemary when it’s used in the kitchen with our favorite meals, but the power of this herb doesn’t stop at its smell and taste by any means. It turns out that oil produced from the aromatic little sprigs is said to increase memory retention by up to 75% as well as decrease cortisol levels and lower anxiety in some people.Apparently, Ophelia was really onto something when she said, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet!Rosemary oil can be helpful when applied to the palms when you need to study, work on a concentration heavy project or really any task requiring you to tap into your memory skills. You can use a nifty oil diffuser to put your rosemary oil to use for aromatherapy if you’d rather not apply it directly to your skin. Breathing in its herbal goodness is said to be just as helpful to the memory.