FREE OR CHEAP BRAIN BOOSTERS

Free Or Cheap Brain Boosters

Here are a couple natural brain boosters you may find for free.

Ginkgo Biloba has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, and the trees are often planted in parks. Friends and I used to eat a few leaves when we wanted a brain boost. It is also inexpensive to buy the capsules or tea at any health food store.

Saint John's Wort is a common weed that may be growing in your yard. Its brain enhancement qualities are less documented, but studies do show its usefulness for treating long-term depression. Also, many people swear by its temporary mood-elevating effect, and our brains tend to function better when we are happy.

It's normally inexpensive if you buy it from a health food or nutritional supplement store. Some people collect it in the yard or woods (it grows as a weed in many places), and make tea of it. (Hypericum Perforatum is the botanical name.) I feel happier and more mentally alert for about two hours after drinking the tea. Anecdotal evidence, to be sure, but it seems safe enough to try (chop up a tablespoonful to make the tea).

Note: There are contraindications to taking St. John’s Wort for those on some prescribed medications, so check with your doctor.

Rosemary may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. Some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. I'm waiting to see research on this, but in the meantime, what can it hurt to try it? If you have rosemary in your spice rack, go give it a sniff.

BERRY:

We have known for a while that blueberries and strawberries have many beneficial things in them, including antioxidants that help protect brain cells. Now, recent research has shown that rats fed on these fruits have better coordination, better concentration, and better short-term memory. I'll let you know when and if new research shows similar effects in humans. In the meantime, don't forget that bilberries, a type of blueberry, have already been shown to improve eyesight in humans.

Note:

You can see this isn't a scientific journal, but a practical guide to brainpower. I'll often cite the latest studies, but I'll also discuss safe techniques and brain-boosters which have only experience and anecdotal evidence to recommend them. Bottom line: I don't want to leave anything out. Also, scientific research sometimes only happens because enough people have tried something and found that it works.