Tuesday 26 February 2008

Herbal Remedies For Your Brain

The factors that influence your brain health are so large that it becomes difficult at times to understand them in a proper perspective. From anxiety to vascular diseases to a brain tumor - all can have a detrimental affect upon how your brain functions. At the same time, the brain uses a lot of energy and oxygen in order to perform its functions properly. Deficiency of even one single nutrient can have an adverse affect on brain functioning.

One of the first signs of brain dysfunction is confusion or loss of mental focus, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), giddiness, impaired vision or depression.

While deciding your diet, your focus should not be to only keep yourself physically fit. The food that you intake has a direct impact upon your brain health. This is mainly because your diet determines whether your brain gets the nutrients that it needs for proper functioning. However, in today’s hectic environment it is not always possible to have a strict control over what one eats. Herbs and supplements that promote mental focus can in a way provide the necessary support.

Ancient Chinese medicine and Ayurveda are completely based on herbs and natural substances. Their efficacy has been proved over time and needs no mention. Many conventional drugs, too, are based on herbs but their application in medicine and treatment of brain disorders has not been explored with the seriousness that they deserve.

Certain herbs like Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, Aswagandha and Hawthorn have known to have cognitive enhancing properties. They are known to improve concentration as well. Ginkgo Biloba has been used for preventing dementia and Ginseng is also known to work as an antioxidant. Many herbalists suggest a combination of Ginkgo Biloba and Ginseng to aid and increase concentration and increase memory. Valeriana officinalis extract is a standard prescription in many countries for improving concentration.

Vitamins are organic substances that are essential for metabolism. Although they are required in small quantities, we should not assume that diet alone is supplying adequate amounts of these vitamins. Other factors also affect the total amount of vitamin available to the body. Alcohol is known to cause thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is commonly known as vitamin B1 and is responsible for appetite and growth. Its deficiency can lead to avitaminosis and loss of appetite that may severely affect the supply of nutrients to the brain. Vitamin C, on the other hand is an effective antioxidant that prevents brain damage from oxidation.

It is simply a matter of ensuring the consumption of a wholesome diet that provides the necessary ‘food’ for your brain.



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