Many people are exhausted and looking for ways to feel more energized and alert due to modern-day stressors and demanding schedules.
While the essential variables for feeling your best include getting enough sleep, eating a nutrient-dense diet, maintaining healthy body weight, and exercising self-care, various supplements, especially herbal ones, have been proven to increase your energy and cognitive health.
Some herbs can interact with widely prescribed medications and may produce other side effects, so consult with your healthcare professional before using any of the herbs listed below.
Here are some herbs that increase your concentration.
Kratom as a Herb
Kratom, a traditional Southeast Asian herb, has emerged as a very efficient opiate substitute. This plant extract is often used to relieve pain and has pleasurable properties. A recent study supports the idea that Kratom might improve a person's mood and induce euphoria. There are numerous kratom types available on the market, each with its unique set of benefits. But where to buy kratom? Well, at present you can get the same online.
Ashwagandha
According to a review study in 2010, another Ayurvedic herb, ashwagandha, has been proven to reduce the production of beta-amyloid plaques in preliminary studies. Furthermore, preliminary research suggests that ashwagandha may assist the brain by lowering oxidative stress (a condition that may contribute to the formation and progression of Alzheimer's disease).
Ginseng
Ginseng is a well-known herbal supplement for its energy-boosting qualities. It has also been demonstrated to boost brain activity, making it a popular herb for enhancing athletic and mental performance. Panax ginseng has received the most attention in human trials.
Ginseng contains chemicals such as ginsenosides, eleutherosides, and ciwujianosides, which are thought to be responsible for ginseng's performance and energy-boosting properties.
Ginseng supplementation has been demonstrated in several human trials to improve physical performance in inactive and active adults, provide anti-fatigue qualities, and increase mental alertness.
Guarana
Because of its stimulating effects, guarana is often utilized as an ingredient in energy beverages and supplements. It includes a variety of compounds, including caffeine, saponins, and tannins, which are thought to boost energy and cognitive function.
While human studies have yielded conflicting findings, other research has found that supplementing with guarana extract alone or in combination with other nutrients in doses ranging from 37.5–300 mg may help improve attention, alertness, and memory ability.
A short research of ten pentathlon players discovered that taking 300 mg of guarana may help reduce perceived exertion and improve athletic and cognitive performance. Although guarana is generally regarded as harmless, taking it in excessive doses might cause adverse effects such as elevated heart rate and anxiety.
Peppermint
Simply breathing the delightful aroma of peppermint essential oil, a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica), may enhance energy, mood, and athletic performance, and alertness. Several studies have found that inhaling peppermint essential oil improves alertness, memory, and energy.
In one study, 144 persons were exposed to the perfume of peppermint essential oil, which increased alertness and memory. Peppermint essential oil has a low risk of toxicity. However, you should never ingest any essential oil unless you have discussed it with your healthcare physician, as too much peppermint essential oil can be hazardous.
Maca
Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian plant prized for its energy-boosting properties. Human research indicates that using it as a supplement may help boost energy levels, reduce anxiety, and improve athletic performance.
In a 12-week study of 50 males with erectile dysfunction, treatment with 2,400 mg of dried maca extract dramatically improved physical and social performance compared to a placebo. In human research, maca has also been found to boost athletic performance and positively influence mood and energy levels.
Sage
According to research, sage (Salvia) may have significant cognitive-enhancing effects in adults. It contains many powerful plant chemicals, like luteolin, rosmarinic acid, camphor, quercetin, and apigenin, which give its therapeutic effects. When taken as a supplement, sage has been shown to improve mood, alertness, attention, memory, and word recall in healthy young and old adults.
A research of 36 healthy adults, for example, discovered that treatment with 50 microliters (uL) of sage essential oil improved memory and attention tasks. Over four hours, it also lowered mental fatigue and increased concentration. Surprisingly, sage is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE). This enzyme degrades acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for brain functions like memory, attention, and motivation. AChE inhibitors improve cognitive function by increasing the availability of acetylcholine in the brain.
Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri is a plant native to South Asia that grows in moist, marshy environments. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat several diseases such as anxiety, sleeplessness, and memory problems.
The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri are attributed to its high concentration of triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides, which have neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties. According to research, the plant may aid improve brain function and attentiveness. A meta-analysis of 9 researchers, including 518 people, discovered that taking roughly 300 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract daily increased brain function, particularly the speed of information processing and reaction time.
Gotu Kola
Gotu kola has long been used to increase mental clarity in alternative medicine systems such as Ayurveda and TCM. Animal studies suggest that this herb may also benefit the brain by combating oxidative stress.
Tests on rats, for example, in a preliminary study published in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology in 2003, revealed that Gotu kola might decrease Alzheimer's-associated oxidative stress and improve cognitive function.
Conclusion
Leading a healthy lifestyle, including balanced food, lots of sleep, and stress-reduction measures such as engaging in pleasant physical activity, is the best approach to ensure that you stay energized and focused.
Furthermore, certain herbal supplements, such as those described above, may have the ability to improve your energy and cognitive function. If you want to incorporate one or more herbs on this list into your diet, talk to your doctor first, as many herbs can cause harmful effects if not taken properly and interact with popular drugs.