Memory problems do not only concern the elderly. Indeed, younger people also sometimes experience attention or cognitive disorders and there are several plants in nature that can restore balance and improve intellectual performance. Used in most of the traditional medicines around the world, these plants all have great properties to boost memory! Discover in this article 5 plants to boost your memory.
Rosemary:
Known to aid digestion, rosemary also has some very interesting properties for improving cognitive abilities. A recent study by researcher Mark Moss, conducted at the University of Northumbria in England, demonstrated the effects of rosemary on memory in different ways. During this investigation, some participants came into contact with this plant, either by breathing in an essential oil or by drinking 250ml of rosemary water. The others did not consume it. All participants were then asked to complete a series of cognitive tests. The result seems clear: the group that took rosemary showed a 15% improvement in the hemoglobin level in their blood, which means that their blood stream contained more red blood cells and oxygenated the brain more efficiently. The conclusion of this study was equally encouraging: rosemary could improve our cognitive functions by up to 75%.
Sage:
In the West, sage is one of the best known medicinal plants, and has been since the Middle Ages. Mostly used to soothe female ailments, including painful periods and menopausal disorders, it is also very effective for boosting memory. This plant has a particular property which makes it an ideal ally to preserve memory and intellectual capacities: it blocks the action of cholinesterase, an enzyme which lowers the activity of a neurotransmitter essential to the normal functioning of memory, acetylcholine. Thanks to this natural action, sage protects the cognitive faculties, which is why it is also prescribed to people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or pathologies leading to mental decline.
Gingko biloba:
Gingko biloba is one of the most famous plants used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is particularly effective in stimulating blood circulation in the brain, which makes it ideal for curing many cognitive disorders. In practice, gingko leaves contain a high concentration of flavonoids, powerful antioxidants, perfect for preserving mental faculties by fighting oxidative stress. They also contain ginkgolides and bilobalides, which promote blood circulation. Thus, ginkgo helps oxygenate the brain and provide it with the nutrients it needs more quickly. Therefore, this remedy seems to be very suitable for boosting memory and improving concentration capacity by reducing brain fatigue. Known to boost intellectual performance, this plant is also a great natural tonic and is suitable for adults, children and adolescents.
Ginseng:
Ginseng also represents a plant recognized for its stimulating effects on the cognitive functions and the body in general. The WHO, World Health Organization, indicates that it is "clinically established" that this plant can "improve physical and mental capacities during fatigue, exhaustion, concentration problems and in convalescents". Famous for its fortifying virtues, ginseng also has very useful properties to improve intellectual performance. For example, a 2009 study by H. Niederhofer showed that three teenagers with hyperactivity had significantly reduced their concentration problems and immaturity when they consumed this plant. In addition to being a very effective stimulant, ginseng also has a neuroprotective effect and reduces intellectual fatigue.
Bacopa :
Bacopa has been used in traditional Indian medicine for over 3,000 years. The first written records of the time indicate that this plant is used to stimulate mental functions, to treat cognitive disorders and attention problems. Still in Ayurvedic medicine, bacopa is also used to soothe intellectual disorders in the broad sense, such as hyperactivity, depression or anxiety. This plant has been the subject of several studies in recent years, which all seem to point in the same direction: bacopa is very effective in combating attention and memory problems. A first study, conducted in 2010 in Australia, analyzed the evolution of the behavior of adults aged 55 to 98 years. During 12 weeks, a first group received 300mg of bacopa daily while the other group received a placebo. All subjects were then asked to perform memory tests and the individuals who regularly ingested bacopa performed better. The same kind of study showed that this plant also helped students to improve their memorization and concentration skills, as well as their visual and auditory perception and their cognitive abilities in general.
