There are so many ways that botanical medicine can impact neurological function, and now that we’ve addressed this as a concept that is known to be based on the best knowledge., and best available research, we are better equipped to consider some of the plants and practical ways that we can optimise our own cognitive health, reduce the effects of brain ageing, whilst supporting some of the associated disease with effective plant medicine.
For many of us., regardless of longevity., our general pursuit in life (probably)…, is to achieve optimal health and happiness. Somewhere along this gradient we might personally rate the components that form these goals., the connection to our own personal values, such as spirituality, wealth, emotional stability, contentment, relationships, security, family, fulfilment… and so forth.
The truth is., that many of these components each reflect a high level of cognitive functioning… and it is more largely at the realm of our brain health., than we strangely., often tend to associate it to.
For our brain, when we talk of improving or supporting its optimal health, we are usually talking in terms of both the nourishment and ensuring that it has the supply and nutrients that it needs., and then also in protecting it from the inevitable effects of exposure to the environments, and brain ageing. In-short, we look to improving the brains’ resilience, and conserving it through the wear and tear and toils of daily life, that we certainly need it to be up to the job for.
Through providing this brain support, we can minimise and even delay the effects of ageing and degeneration.
We can also improve many of these skills., that we might notice become more of an effort when we’ve been neglecting our health or under times of stress., such as our movement, memory, ability to engage socially, decision making …all of these which we know play a vital part in fulfilling those components toward our happiest life.
Fortunately, brain food of course comes in many forms., and much of which we instinctively know to carry out., when it is dangerously deficient. It is no top secret that the best brain food we have to offer, comes in the forms of lifestyle, the balance of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and lots of that unxious restorative sleep stuff!!!
However, there are also times., perhaps when we’ve been burning the candle at both ends., or when we are in prolonged times of stress…, that we could… well., on behalf of your brain., let’s say a little bit of support just wouldn’t go amiss.
The antioxidants are perhaps amongst the most well-known dietary brain treats, protecting the brain from becoming unbalanced from everyday toxins from our diets, the environment, ageing and disease.
Of the antioxidants, many of the studies show that the plant groups of polyphenols such as flavonoids and anthocyanins found in colourful fruits and vegetables are the most frequent source.
The ability to selectively get lovely nutrients through to the brain such as the antioxidants whilst keeping the toxins out., is the job of a filter-type structure known as the blood-brain-barrier (BBB).
Studies show that many botanical agents, are able to pass through the blood-brain-barrier via various pathways, where they are then able to exert their super medicinal properties…, modulating neuronal activities and preventing neuronal damage. These plant-derived substances are then termed as being potentials as neuroprotective, antioxidant, or nootropic (cognitive enhancing)., strengthening and protecting the brain.
Much research continues into the best ways that we can utilise this knowledge of brain-therapeutic plants, and their role in both our modern interest in attaining good health and balance., and also for future drug-delivery for neurodegenerative diseases, including the dementias and Alzheimer’s.
Here are of some of the super brain botanicals of interest…, and some of their phyto-highlights from the research, of how they have become amongst the most promising leads, for cognitive phytomedicine…
1. Crocus sativus L. (Saffron)
Whilst there is much evidence in support of the positive effects of Saffron for brain health, studies are continuing to profile absolute safest ranges, in which this beautiful herb can be of best value to the cognitive conditions.
The promising lines, however, are looking good. As well as having high impact as antioxidant., and furthermore an ability to cross the blood brain barrier and contributing to strengthening the integrity of the BBB wall, it has been successful in improving rating scores for cognition parameters amongst patients with dementia where results were compared to conventional drug treatments. Other studies have also found evidence that improvements have not only compared to patients receiving no other treatment at all., but also findings have included evidence of subsequent changes in corresponding brain regions, as demonstrated from MRI Scan results.
2. Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha) Ashwagandha has been frequently associated with supporting function and stress response, earning a title of ‘the rejuvenator’ in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is long documented as cognitive and memory enhancer. Many studies have now provided good evidence that the herb may be able to fulfil this traditional title, as it’s shown to act on effecting production of stress hormone cortisol and acting as relaxing neurotransmitters such as GABA, effecting modulation. It is, of course infamously antioxidant and adaptogenic, neuroprotective, the studies include treatment of healthy individuals supplemented with Ashwagandha root and leaf extract found an improvement in psychomotor and cognitive performances after 2 weeks. Separate study’s have included improvement in sustained attention, processing speed, auditory-verbal working memory, a measure of reaction time, and a measure of social cognition after 6-8 weeks of root extract supplementation, and further trials concluded Ashwagandha was shown to reduce stress as well as improve cognitive performance in healthy adults, aged in their thirties.
3. Bacopa monnieri L. Wettst. (Brahmi).
B. Monnieri is also known in Ayurveda as the calming cognitive enhancer. In the western world, studies continue., in hope of finding enough support to gain this consistent understanding of the ways that this herb, can indeed be beneficial for brain health. And., obviously there’s a promising foundation to start from. A most distinguishing feature of this botanical certainly appears to blend its speciality effect as the beautiful calming anxiolytic support attributed to its association with supporting the production of calming neurotransmitter GABA, considered to promote some beneficial outcomes for the cognitive functions. As such, there is much evidence on various aspects of cognitive health that Brahmi appears to have shown this positive effect including decreased anxiety in measurement scores, and improvements in verbal learning, delayed word recall, cognitive performance, and memory acquisition respectively.
4. Gingko biloba L.
Gingko has long standing studies supporting its role as antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory, in particularly as beneficial value for cognitive health and neurodegenerative disease such as dementia. It is considered that extracts of G. Biloba may improve thea permeability of the BBB through activation of the gap junctions and adenosine receptor. This is thought to promote the medicinal effects of the G. biloba extract easily with the brain tissue. Research establishes that extract of G. Biloba has potential as promotion of cognitive health, a neuroprotective defence against neuron and mitochondrial dysfunction. Over the years G. Biloba has been associated with cerebral vascular impairment and concentration/memory problems, confusion, deficit of energy and initiative, improvement of cognitive performances as symptoms of Mild Cognitive Decline. There are also studies supporting the G. biloba effects for improving behavioural symptoms that can be a frequent impact to patients and their quality of life, in particularly with dementia, known as BPSD. Finally, G. Biloba has also shown some potential to improve cognitive performance as a controlled adjunct in combination with some of the conventional treatments that are favoured for dementia management and reducing disease progression, such as combined with AChEIs.
5. Centella asiatica L. Urb. (Gotu kola)
C. asiatica has been of high value in Ayurvedic and Indonesian traditions for hundreds of years as an elixir of longevity, and so too becoming., though more recently., now revered in western cultures respectively. The botanical contains triterpenoid saponins such as asiaticosides. It is thought to be largely due to asciatic acid, that cognitive and Central Nervous System (CNS) properties have become renowned as C. asiatica’s forte. Asiatic acid is shown to be of low toxicity whilst shown to easily be able to penetrate the blood-brain-barrier to produce its medicinal qualities that have shown some positive evidence as potent neuroprotective, cognitive-enhancing, and even some potential toward anti-convulsive. As such, C. asiatica has been studied extensively for applying this knowledge of its medicinal actions, for a potential role in improving the management of complex brain disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. C. asiatica has been shown to be supportive in combination therapy alongside other herbs typically associated with cognitive and memory promoting through their neuroprotective and nootropic activity such as Bacopa monnieri.
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