Memory loss used to be considered a sign of aging, an inevitable stage of human progression. However, according to the University of California at San Francisco, scientists are discovering that memory impairment can be pathological. In other words, it can stem from some type of damage to cells or cellular processing in the brain. With this discovery comes the intervention of pharmaceuticals in severe cases, and the increasing study of herbs to help prevent memory loss.
Gingko Biloba
Gingko is actually a tree, a surviving relic of the dinosaur age. These trees can live up to 1,000 years, according to "The New Healing Herbs," and are considered sacred in Asia. There, they are planted around Buddhist temples. Traditional Chinese Medicine has included Ginkgo biloba in texts since 3000 B.C., using it for asthma, a digestive aid, and even to prevent drunkenness. Ginkgo first came to American's collective attention in 1997 when the Journal of the American Medical Association released a study that showed ginkgo slowed mental deterioration in Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers, increasing their cognitive ability. Other studies performed on humans and animals are listed in "The New Healing Herbs," illustrating gingko's ability to improve memory function after six months of use.
According to "The New Healing Herbs," it may be gingko's potent antioxidants that help to prevent and reverse cell damage. Hence its memory enhancing powers. It also antagonizes something called platelet activation factor, or PAF. PAF is involved in blood clots, organ graft rejection and asthma attacks. People with clotting disorders or those who are taking anticoagulant medications should avoid using gingko.
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola, or Centella asiatica, has been used in Ayurvedic healing for improving memory. A study published in 2009 in the Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal showed that gotu kola improved dendritic growth in the memory areas of the brain.
Kava Kava for Memory-Restoring Sleep
According to "Alternative Home Remedies," taking kava kava to help sleep can also restore memory function. The herb allows your brain to produce more growth hormone, which is needed to improve and protect memory. Recommendations are to take 500mg of the herb before bed, making sure the supplement is standardized for 30 percent kavalactones.
Periwinkle
"Alternative Home Remedies" says the extracts of periwinkle seeds can enhance memory by increasing blood flow to the brain. The book outlines a study in which secretaries who took the herb improved their ability to remember word sequences.
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort has come a long way from its use in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was thought to protect against witches' spells. "The New Healing Herbs" says Christians burned the herb in bonfires on St. John's Day to purify the air. This herb has more recently been used for depression, due to its ability to enhance certain neurotransmitters in the brain. The book "Alternative Cures" also indicates it can be good for memory; the neurotransmitters it may affect, serotonin and norepinephrine, are important in memory functions.
References
- "The New Healing Herbs"; Castleman, M; 2001
- "Evidenced Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine"; Enhancement of Amygdaloid Neuronal Dendritic Arborization by Fresh Leaf Juice of Centella asiatica (Linn) During Growth Spurt Period in Rats; Mohandas Rao KG, Muddanna Rao S, and Gurumadhva Rao S; 2009
- "Alternative Cures"; Gottlieb, Bill; 2008
- University of California at San Francisco
- Journal of the American Medical Association"; A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of ginkgo biloba for dementia; Le Bars, PL, et al; 1997
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