Chinese Herbs for Memory
- Memory loss can leave you struggling to get through your day.sticky note salesman 2 image by Brett Mulcahy from Fotolia.com
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses a variety of herbs to improve memory. Some deterioration of memory is normal with aging, according to Jillian L. Capodice, LAc, in her article "Acupuncture, Aging and Memory," but other factors like strokes and Alzheimer's cause more significant loss. Herbal treatment may not be able to completely reverse memory loss, but it may slow the process and enable you to regain a portion of your memory. - Chai hu may help victims of stress-induced memory loss.Hu Poplar image by xinjia Cao from Fotolia.com
A study from the Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center in Seoul reports that Bupleurum, also known as Chai Hu or Hare's Ear Root, may be an effective treatment for stress-induced memory loss. Rats who received Chai Hu prior to inducing stress were able to escape the mazes quicker than rats that did not get the treatment. - Decades of ginko research verify that this herb can improve memory.ginkgo leaf image by Zlatko Ivancok from Fotolia.com
According to Michael Blumenthal with the American Botanical Council, there are more than 125 studies conducted on ginkgo during the past several decades and most of them conclude that ginkgo improves memory and mental clarity by increasing blood flow in the brain. Increased blood flow raises oxygen levels and inhibits brain cell destruction. The studies include patients with early-onset Alzheimer's, dementia and healthy seniors.
One specific study included in the 2002 edition of "Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental" reports that healthy seniors who were given ginkgo extract over a period of six weeks manifested memory improvement in several areas. - Spanish Sage improved memory in young volunteers.red salvia image by Michelle Reimers from Fotolia.com
Salvia, or Spanish Sage, is beneficial for improving memory and concentration and relieving mental exhaustion. According to a 2003 UK study conducted by the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at Northumbria University, young, healthy volunteers who received an extract of Salvia essential oil evidenced improvement in word recall.
According to Dr. Ray Sahelian in his article "Health Benefits of Sage Herb," 16th-century herbalist John Gerard reported that sage improved the nerves and memory. - Ku Ding Cha tea is made with dried leaves from the yerba mate.Dry yerba mate leaves with straw image by eAlisa from Fotolia.com
The Institute for Traditional Medicine reports that modern studies show that Yerba Mate, also known as Chinese wax tree or ilex, improves blood circulation and prevents the deterioration of brain function. The herb is traditionally taken in a tea called Ku Ding Cha. When mixed with ginkgo leaves, the tea is effective in improving both memory and circulation. - According to the Food Navigator website, the Chinese herb Gastrodine is effective in treating memory loss due to ischemic strokes. Researchers at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine compared Gastrodine with the French drug Duxila in patients who had suffered a stroke. A three-month study showed that both treatments were equally effective in improving language, calculation and memory orientation.
Gastrodine had fewer side effects and those who received the herb scored higher on the Blessed Behavioral Scale in the areas of behavior, personality and daily living activities. A little over 51 percent of study subjects who took Gastrodine showed overall improvement compared to the 52 percent who took Duxila.
