You know the type of day - no matter how many cups of coffee or energy bars, you just can't get your brain to wake up and be productive.
The problem is, too many cups of coffee might wake you up, but they're probably not going to allow you to sit still for very long. And, unless you're running lunchtime marathons, the energy bars are really just adding pounds to your body rather than energy to your head.
However, there are some supplemental options that support your brain for those mild mental slips and will help you focus naturally, while keeping your mind in a more productive, relaxed state.
At the Copa - Bacopa Monnieri, that is...
One of these natural wonders is Bacopa monnieri. This traditional Indian herb has a long history of use in the Ayurvedic practice, and supports focus and memory quite well.
In fact, in one study, bacopa was tested for its memory-boosting power versus a placebo. Participants between the ages of 40 and 65 were divided into 2 groups, one taking bacopa, the other, not.
This was a "blinded" study, so researchers testing both groups' memories didn't know who had taken what. They gauged the patients' ability before the study began, 3 months into the study, and once more six weeks later. You've probably guessed how this ends, but while both groups rated about the same for both, the group taking bacopa was better able to hold on to new information than the placebo group.1,2
Remember Ginkgo?
You've probably already heard about Ginkgo biloba--it's been making headlines for some time. It, too, has been tested for memory. Recent work indicates that when Ginkgo is bound to another soy-based component, called a phosphatidylserine, it appears to work better for supporting long-term memory and providing a sense of calm.
The fact that Ginkgo bound to a phosolipid, a soy "fat", seems to work better than Ginkgo on its own isn't really surprising. Many other nutrients show the same characteristics - it just seems to help them absorb better into our systems. CoQ10, for instance, appears to work much better when it has something a bit more solid to carry it into our bodies.3
Sweet Melissa, the Balm of Calm
Lemon Balm may have a calming and focusing effect. In one study, volunteers did best with a mid-range dose of Melissa officinalis extract of 600 mg. They reported not just more "calmness," but also fared much better on attention and memory tasks.4
Interestingly, the link between better memory recall and a feeling of calm tends to go counter to our belief that in order to have a better mental retrieval system, we need to speed everything. But, our bodies and minds are not computers. We operate on a very different software - one that requires steady nerves and peaceful state to be at its best.
References
- Lodha R, Bagga A. Traditional Indian systems of medicine. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2000;29:37-41.
- Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Smoker J. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Accessed June 25, 2007.
- Kennedy DO, Haskell CF, Mauri PL, Scholey AB. Acute cognitive effects of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract complexed with phosphatidylserine. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2007 Jun;22(4):199-210.
- D O Kennedy, G Wake, S Savelev, N T J Tildesley, E K Perry, K A Wesnes and A B Scholey. Modulation of Mood and Cognitive Performance Following Acute Administration of Single Doses of Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) with Human CNS Nicotinic and Muscarinic Receptor-Binding Properties. Neuropsychopharmacology; Accessed June 25, 2007.