Mental health and focus play a very important role while efficiently taking on the everyday chores in any person’s daily life.
The primary actions behind keeping a perfect mental focus towards everyday tasks are maintaining a balanced lifestyle, like getting adequate sleep, getting regular exercise and maintaining the body weight within healthy limits, and having a healthy diet supplemented with natural herbs to boost mental health.
Natural herbs have been shown to boost the focus and cognitive function of the brain through several clinical studies. [1]
Using natural herbs to boost focus and memory helps eliminate any artificial supplements that can pose significant side effects. Ancient people have used natural herbs for centuries to boost energy and focus. Let us dive into a list of some herbs to boost mental focus.
1. Ginseng:
Ginseng, also scientifically known as Panax ginseng, has been widely used throughout Asia by ancient people for centuries.
Ginseng is an oval-shaped root herb having potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, along with energy and mental health-boosting benefits. The compounds contained in ginseng, which include ginsenosides and eleutherosides, have been shown to produce potent effects to enhance the performance and cognitive function of the brain.
The effects of ginseng on the mental alertness and energy levels of the brain have been widely studied. Research shows that ginsenosides and eleutherosides have a very pronounced effect on the cognitive function of the brain.
A clinical study was conducted to investigate the effects of ginseng on subjects suffering from mental fatigue. Due to the fatigue, these subjects were unable to focus on their everyday tasks properly. After administering Panax ginsengto these subjects, the subjects reported a considerable improvement in their memory and cognitive function.
The inability to focus on daily tasks, altered behavior, mood, and decreased cognitive performance are fatigue-associated problems. The compounds contained in ginseng serve to eliminate this fatigue, therefore helping the brain restore to its natural function. [2]
One of the significant factors behind the existence of chronic fatigue is oxidative stress. Chronic fatigue states take a big toll on the cognitive ability of humans. As ginseng contains potent antioxidants, it helps the body eliminate oxidative stress, thereby decreasing chronic fatigue. This helps to improve the mental alertness, focus, and cognitive abilities of the brain.
Using ginseng regularly within safe limits can help you lift your mood, increase everyday performance, and eliminate anxiety and fatigue that masks your full potential. Although ginseng is free of any hazardous side effects, some individuals may experience diarrhea or insomnia when not used properly.
2. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng is scientifically known as Withania somnifera.It is a small evergreen shrub with many potential medicinal properties. People have been using ashwagandha to boost their energy levels for a long time.
The medicinal properties of ashwagandha and its effects on the brain’s cognitive function to enhancing focus have been proved several times through scientific research.
Like ginseng, ashwagandha is shown to act as a potent adaptogen. This means that it helps the body cope with the external oxidative stresses that have a degenerative effect on the brain’s cognitive function due to the degeneration of the neurons. When the body is exposed to oxidative stress, it prompts free radicals in the body.
The free radicals thus degenerated are attributed to cause the degeneration of neurons in the central nervous system, which manifests in the form of decline in the cognitive function and focus towards daily activities.
Ashwagandha contains many potent compounds that act as anti-stress agents. These compounds include sitoindosides and acylsterylglucosides. These compounds have a very potent anti-stress activity. The effects of these compounds on the brain’s cognitive function can be seen clearly when used after head injury in children. These compounds also serve to enhance memory function and performance when used in elderly people. Overall, this herb can be considered a magical formula to promote a youthful and healthy state of mind, improving the focus on daily tasks.
Experts say that using a natural ashwagandha extract such as the Be Herbal Chill Pill can help improve the brain’s cognitive function. A study has also shown that taking 300 milligrams of natural ashwagandha regularly also improves memory function considerably.
3. Sage
Scientifically related to the plants in the mint family, sage (also known as Salvia) is a subject of extensive research with regards to the effects this plant has on brain health. as clear from its name, this plant is believed to be the ‘magic treatment’ for brain illnesses such as loss of memory and decline in the cognitive function.
Sage is known widely for its pungent scent. This scent is associated with various constituents in the plant. Different compounds found in the extract of this plant act as protective agents against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Neurodegenerative disorders are the major reason behind the decrease in cognitive ability in aged persons. The decline in the number of useable neurons in the central nervous system is associated with decreased memory formation and reconsolidation ability, lack of adequate judgment ability, and loss of focus on daily tasks.
The extracts obtained from Salviahave shown very potent properties that help in preventing dangerous neurotoxicity of the central nervous system. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a naturally released factor in the body, which is known to cause a considerable degeneration of the neurons in the central nervous system. Sage has been shown to slow down the release of this factor, which helps the body prevent neurodegeneration. This helps to conserve the cognitive ability as well as the memory formation and reconsolidation power. Both of these abilities help increase focus towards a particular task.
Sage also plays an important role in increasing mental alertness and focus by preventing the degradation of acetylcholine by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It is associated with transmitting nerve impulses from one neuron to the next in the central nervous system. The function of acetylcholine in the central nervous system significantly impacts the person’s mental alertness, behavior, and mood, and motivation towards a particular task. However, due to increased levels of acetylcholinesterase, acetylcholine may be degraded faster than in a normal situation. The decrease in the levels of acetylcholine is then associated with decreased mental alertness and motivation. Sage extracts contain many compounds (particularly flavonoids) which inhibit acetylcholinesterase, therefore increasing the levels of acetylcholine. The increase is associated with boosts in mental alertness and focus towards a particular task.
Sage also helps enhance brain health in elderly people. It contains a flavonoid known as ‘luteolin,’ which plays an important role in regulating neurotrophin levels in the central nervous system. Neurotrophins are specialized molecules that are associated with neuroprotective properties and help increase neuronal survival. Luteolin also stimulates nerve growth factors, which help heal the damaged parts of the central nervous system due to different external stresses.
4. Natural Mushrooms
You might know the culinary importance of mushrooms and how they are widely used in preparing delicacies. But what if we told you that these tiny umbrella-like fungi have many health benefits?
Many mushrooms, such asGanoderma lucidum, Cordyceps, Lentinus,etc., have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation in the central nervous system due to external stresses is the major reason behind the degradation of the neurons. This causes altered emotional behavior along with decreased mental alertness and focus. The anti-inflammatory properties of these mushrooms help curb the inflammation that has a degenerative effect on the central nervous system neurons. Healthier neurons mean a healthier nervous system. A healthy nervous system helps increase mental alertness and cognitive ability, which brings about greater motivation and focus towards a particular task.
Mainly, Ganodermais a mushroom that is associated with many medicinal benefits. Research has suggested that Ganodermahas potent anti-aging effects that prevent the age-related degeneration of the central nervous system. The extracts from this mushroom inhibit the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokines from microglia, thus preventing the damage to the neurons that secrete dopamine. [3]
In another study, it was observed that Ganodermaextracts had a positive effect on memory and learning behavior in rats. Before the experiment, the rats were treated with scopolamine. Scopolamine impairs cognitive function in rats. When the scopolamine-treated rats were administered Ganodermaextracts, it was noted that the rats expressed an increased cognitive ability along with significantly improved memory.
Having your daily diet supplemented with a natural mushroom extract immune booster such as the Immune Support Mushroom Complex from Beherbal not only helps prevent age-related disabilities of the nervous system but also helps increase mental alertness and motivation towards the daily tasks by retaining the health of the central nervous system in a youthful state.
5. Acai Berry Extracts
Acai berries are grape-like fruit having deep purple color. This fruit is obtained from palm trees and is native to the countries in South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The numerous health benefits of acai berries have led people to call it a ‘superfood.’ Acai berries have benefits that range from skin benefits to increased mental alertness and focus.
Acai berries have a very potent antioxidant action. The major antioxidant found in acai berry extract is anthocyanin, which prevents damage to various parts of the central nervous system due to oxidative stresses. Oxidative stress, as described before, is associated with the formation of dangerous free radicals. These free radicals cause a significant degeneration in different parts of the central nervous system. Acai berry extract contains antioxidant anthocyanin, which helps protect the damage to the central nervous system due to the free radicals. Enhanced health of the central nervous system promotes the propagation of nerve impulses efficiently, associated with an increased cognitive ability and mental alertness in humans.
Apart from acting as potent antioxidants, anthocyanins have been shown to directly increase the central nervous system’s response towards daily activities. This is brought about by an increase in the nervous system’s synaptic activity, which leads to improved memory formation and reconsolidation and increased mental alertness and focus. The acai berry natural extracts also enhance the blood flow to the nervous system, which get rids of mental fatigue, therefore enhancing the individual’s focus towards a particular task. [4]
Experts recommend that having a natural acai berry extract such as the Detox Complex from Beherbal helps to enhance the focus and gives an energy boost to the central nervous system, thereby helping you take on the daily tasks more efficiently.
6. Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant that people have used for a long time. Apart from being used as an efficient medicinal intervention for various diseases by ancient people, Bacopa has also been used widely as a herb that increases mental alertness, cognitive ability, and focus.
The ability of Bacopa extract to protect the nervous system from age-related and stress-related degeneration lies in bacosides, chemicals obtained from the Bacopa plant. According to research, bacosides can act as an efficient pharmacological intervention for various neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The degeneration of various parts of the nervous system caused by these diseases causes a significant decrease in the mental alertness and cognitive ability in persons suffering from such disorders. Bacosides were shown to have no adverse side effects while granting neuroprotective properties to the central nervous system at safe doses. Moreover, bacosides also prevent age-related damage to the nervous system, associated with decreased thinking power, cognitive ability, and mental alertness in old age.
The antioxidant properties found in bacopa extracts help protect the central nervous system against free radical damage. It is found that bacopa extracts bring about a significant decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the central nervous system, which protects it from damage related to inflammatory processes. This enhances the overall health of the neurons, thus resulting in increased cognitive ability. [5]
Be Herbal presents Cognitive Support Formula that is specially formulated with bacopa extracts. It has clinically studied herbs, amino acids, and vitamins for increased mental alertness and focus. Moreover, being formulated from natural sources, it has no adverse side effects.
