Boost Brain Function Naturally – Herbs to Improve Focus and Concentration
We’ve all been through it – you’re working on an important task, perhaps a school assignment or a work project, and a message pops up on your cell phone and you lose your focus in a snap.
The ever increasing exposure and accessibility have created a world full of distractions. With our phones constantly buzzing with WhatsApp messages and social media notifications, email alerts popping up on our computer screens, and advertisements diverting our attention, it’s really hard to focus on the task at hand. Add to the scenario the many stressors of modern-day life, poor diet, and you have a perfect recipe for disaster.
Simply put, modern-day lifestyle and diet can take a huge toll on our ability to concentrate.
While we cannot completely eliminate distractions from our lives, we can certainly improve our brain’s ability to focus and concentrate. Fuel your brain with the right nutrients and improve your focus and concentration by incorporating the following herbs into your routine:
1. Sage
Most of us only use sage once a year, on Thanksgiving. However, the herb is packed with brain boosting compounds, such as quercetin, camphor, apigenin, luteolin, and rosmarinic acid.
Research shows that sage not only helps improve alertness and attention but also positively impacts memory and mood.[1] The best part? The herb can also help you stay calm.
The herb works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase; the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is a key neurotransmitter and plays a vital role in several brain functions, including attention, motivation, and memory.[2]
Sage is also a powerful antioxidant and has shown brain protective properties.[3]
2. Green Tea
When it comes to beneficial brain chemicals, green tea packs a punch. It’s rich in antioxidants and a wide range of micronutrients. However, what makes green tea an excellent food for the brain is the combination of caffeine and L-theanine.
Caffeine has long been known as a CNS stimulant, whereas L-theanine helps relieve stress and anxiety and calm your nerves without making you feel drowsy.[4]When these powerful compounds work together, you feel more alert and attentive without getting stressed out. L-theanine also helps prevent the energy crash that generally follows caffeine consumption, making green tea an ideal choice to come out of the 3pm slump.
A review of 21 research studies also showed that green tea can also help improve learning and memory.[5]
3. Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea, also known as artice root and golden root, has been used by traditional medicine practitioners for centuries to reduce mental fatigueand improve alertness, learning, and memory.[6] It can also help reduce stress and is considered a great natural remedy for people experiencing burnout.
A research study conducted on physicians, working in night shift, found that Rhodiola reduced their mental fatigue and improved their work performance by 20% compared to the placebo, within two weeks.[7]
Nature is packed with brain-boosting plants. The ones that we have discussed above are particularly known to help improve alertness, and concentration. Add any of these herbs to your daily routine to improve your brain’s capability to stay focused.
References:
[1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16205785/
[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318325/
[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318325/
[4]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/
[5]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711317300867?via%3Dihub