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Cognition and memory are two of the most vital processes carried out in the brain. To carry out your daily activities, to be able to learn and earn a livelihood you need to have a normal memory and cognitive function. But when you have trouble in processing of information, reduced attention span, reduced thinking and short term memory you are in for a major problem.
You may have trouble in concentrating, mental disorientation, difficulty with spatial orientation, difficulty in remembering things, problems with understanding, reduced judgment and reasoning, impaired organizational skill, impaired language skill, problems in performing two or more task simultaneously, changes in behavior, mood swings, socially inappropriate behavior etc.
Several factors such as age, mental stress, history of anxiety or depression, coping abilities etc decide the severity of the diseases and its outcome. There are some medicines for treating such problems, but these drugs are not always useful. However, you can help these drugs with something natural. There are herbs that have a strong influence on mental faculties. You can go for herbal remedies for memory and cognition problems.
8 Herbal Remedies For Memory And Cognitive Problems
Vinpocetine
This is a nutritional supplement made from the herb periwinkle. It has been found to be quite useful in improving memory and cognitive functions. In laboratory experiments this herbal product has shown that it can dilate blood vessels, enhance blood circulation in the brain and improve its oxygen utilization. It also makes red blood cells more elastic.
It is now proved that vinpocetine can increase the blood flow to the brain. Owing to this and the fact that red blood cells become more pliable the flow of oxygen to the brain increases by an appreciable amount. This increases the energy produced in the brain cells. You can take one tablet of vinpocetine three times a day. You will notice some positive changes within 10 days.
Sage
This is a herb of the mint family. It is said to act on the cortex of the brain. It can help you to cope with mental exhaustion and improve concentration. Sage is known as a memory enhancer.
It also protects the brain against some chemical processes which cause memory loss as experienced in people suffering from dementia or alzheimers. It protects acetylcholine, the brain messenger. This chemical is also necessary in production of new brain cells. You can take 300 mg of dried leaves of sage once a day.
Basil
Basil leaves are known to help in coping with mental fatigue, improve focus, enhance clarity of thought, and control emotions.
Two to three leaves of basil plant taken daily can be quite beneficial for memory and cognitive problems.
Rosemary
This herb supports the nervous system, the circulatory system in the brain, and helps in improvement of memory. The effect on memory is supposed to be due to the boost in blood flow to the brain.
This results in more oxygen being brought to the brain which almost immediately enhances memory. It is available as capsule and tea.
Ginseng
It has been seen that this Chinese herb has the ability to enhance mental faculties such as mental arithmetic.
It also enhances concentration and memory. Ginseng extract at 10 mg/kg of body mass for 10 days can enhance learning and memory to a great extent.
Gotu Kola
This herb has been used in India traditionally for thousands of years specifically to improve brain function. It improves blood circulation in the brain.
Improved blood circulation brings more oxygen to the brain which enhances the production of acetylocholine and helps in increasing memory.
Ginkgo Biloba
This may well be the best herb ever found for memory enhancement. In clinical studies this herb has even been seen to reduce the intensity of alzheimers and dementia. The working of this herb is similar to gotu kola. It increases the cerebral blood flow specifically in the areas of cerebellum. It enhances availability of oxygen in the whole of vascular system including the brain.
In other clinical studies it has been reported that this herb is found to enhance learning, thinking, memory and social behavior. It also alleviates depression. The extract of gingko biloba leaf is generally used for all these purposes. You can take 40 to 50 mg of this extract three times a day. If that does not have much effect increase the dosage to 100 -150 mg.
Grape Vine
When the brain cells are under attack from free radicals you need antioxidants to protect the tender cells. Grape vine is a herb whose seeds are high-grade antioxidants.
Apart from that these seeds can improve memory and regenerate brain cells which again improves learning and memory.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.