Ashwagandha is actually an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens enable our body to protect itself against stress. If you are facing chronic stress issues, then ashwagandha supplements can help you manage your stress and recover from it faster. It lowers cortisol levels and helps fight depression and anxiety symptoms.

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most popular plants in Ayurvedic medicine. It is also known as the winter cherry or the somnifera root. This small shrub with yellow flowers grows abundantly in India and North Africa. Because of its powerful adaptogenic capabilities, ashwagandha is often called as Indian ginseng though true ginseng belongs to the genus ‘Panax’ and includes the Asian ginseng and American ginseng.

Ginseng is a highly valued adaptogenic herb used commonly in the Chinese traditional healing system. Referring to ashwagandha as ginseng shows how much value is given to this Indian herb. Both ashwagandha and ginseng have so many valuable health benefits that they seem more like magical herbs.

Ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety properties. Its immune-boosting, thyroid-modulating and neuroprotective abilities are just a few of its benefits that make it so sought after.

The name ashwagandha is said to mean ‘ the strength of the stallion’. The word ‘ashwa’ refers to ‘horse’ in the Sanskrit language while ‘gandha’ means ‘smell’. The name indicates both the unique smell of the herb as well its ability to increase strength. Treatments with medicinal preparations using ashwagandha are recommended in Ayurveda for strengthening the immune system after illness.

Ashwagandha: The Mechanism of Action

Withanolides, the main chemical constituents of ashwagandha, are believed to be the reason for its therapeutic potential. Withanolides are a group of steroidal lactones. Withaferin A, withanolide D and withanone are the withanolides found in ashwagandha. These compounds are unique to ashwagandha and they exhibit different medicinal properties.

Extracts from ashwagandha root or powdered leaves of the plant are used to treat a variety of medical conditions. Since certain parts of the plant have higher concentrations of specific compounds, you have to choose where to take your ashwagandha extract from. Leaf extracts have more withaferin A than root extracts.

From treating mood disorders to preventing degenerative diseases, the benefits of ashwagandha seem innumerable. Nowadays even ayurvedic practitioners prescribe ashwagandha tablets or capsules for general health and well being. Prevention is, after all, better than cure.

Since many of these claims seem too good to be true, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of ashwagandha that have been scientifically proven.

9 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Ashwagandha

Improves Cognitive Functioning

Ashwagandha is one of the most studied herbs, especially regarding its ability to influence the functioning of brain cells. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as a nerve tonic and memory enhancer.

A 2014 study from the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India, assessed the cognitive and psychomotor effects of ashwagandha extract in healthy people. 20 healthy male participants were administered capsules containing 500 mg of ashwagandha root extract, twice daily (or a placebo).

The researchers noted, “significant improvements were observed in reaction times with simple reaction, choice discrimination, digit symbol substitution, digit vigilance, and card sorting tests with ashwagandha extract compared to placebo”.

The study concluded that ashwagandha extract can improve cognitive and psychomotor performance.

Enhances Both Immediate and General Memory

Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging. Herbs like ashwagandha can help slow down this degenerative damage and even improve the cognitive functioning. A 2017 study from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata, India, investigated the efficacy of ashwagandha in improving memory and cognitive functioning in adults with mild cognitive impairment.

50 adults were given 300 mg ashwagandha-root extract, twice daily (or placebo) for a period of 8 weeks. After conducting various tests, the researchers concluded that:

“Ashwagandha may be effective in enhancing both immediate and general memory in people with MCI as well as improving executive function, attention, and information processing speed.”

Helps Repair Damaged Brain Cells

It has antioxidant properties which enable it to protect nerve cells from damaging free radicals. Ashwagandha was even found to reverse some of the damage in brain cells that occurred due to neurocognitive disorders.

A 2013 test conducted by the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, DRDO, Delhi, India, evaluated the neuroprotective and prophylactic (preventive) potential of WS root extract (ashwagandha) in rectifying hypobaric hypoxia (HH) induced memory impairment. The researchers treated Sprague Dawley rats with ashwagandha root extract for a period of 21 days pre-exposure and 07 days exposure to a simulated altitude of 25,000 ft.

The reduced oxygen availability at high altitudes can cause Hypobaric hypoxia wherein the body’s ability to extract oxygen from the blood decreases. Cognitive dysfunctions including memory impairment can result from high altitude exposure and hypoxia.

The research done on rats found that “administering ashwagandha root extract prevented the hypoxia-induced memory impairment along with decreased nitric oxide, corticosterone, oxidative stress and AchE activity in the hippocampal region.”

A 2012 study from the Centre for Neuroscience, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India, investigated the effect of ashwagandha root extract and withanolide A in restoring spatial memory deficit.

Epileptic rats with impaired spatial memory were treated with ashwagandha root extract and withanolide A. They noted that the treatment with “ashwagandha ameliorated spatial memory deficits by enhancing the antioxidant system and restoring altered NMDA receptor density.” A nearly complete reversal of spatial memory impairment was observed in the epileptic rats treated with ashwagandha.

Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is a much required response from our immune system to combat infections and heal injuries. But when inflammation becomes chronic, and lasts for months or even years, it becomes extremely damaging to our body. Many health problems such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease and cancer are driven by chronic inflammation.

A much valued ability of ashwagandha is that it helps reduce inflammation. Several studies have recorded that ashwagandha root extracts have therapeutic perspectives in the treatment of inflammation and pain.

A 2015 study from the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, investigated the effects of Withania somnifera root (ashwagandha) using 48 Wistar-Albino male rats. They found that ashwagandha normalized hyperglycemia in their study subjects by reducing inflammatory markers and improving insulin sensitivity.

A 2009 study from the National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, USA, investigated the immunologic effects of Ashwagandha to determine its mechanism, on types of immune cells in humans. 5 study participants were administered 6 ml of Ashwagandha root extract, twice daily, for a period of 8 days. The researchers noted major changes in immune cell activation across the blood samples collected at different time intervals throughout the study.

Increases Muscle Strength

Ashwagandha is used to strengthen and energize people recovering from illnesses as this potent herb not only increases immune strength, it also helps increase muscle mass, reduce body weight and build up strength and endurance. Now, that’s a tall claim indeed! So let’s take a closer look at studies that investigated these benefits of ashwagandha.

The ICMR Advanced Centre for Reverse Pharmacology in Traditional Medicine at MRC-KHS, Mumbai, India, conducted a research in 2012, to evaluate dose-related tolerability, safety, and activity of ashwagandha formulations in normal individuals. 12 healthy men and women, ages ranging from 18 to 30 years, were given ashwagandha extracts for 30 days.

The dose was started at 750 mg/day, divided into two doses, for 10 days, and then at 1000 mg/day for the next 10 days and at 1250 mg/day for the last 10 days. The researchers noted that the increase of strength in muscle activity was significant. There was a reduction in total- and LDL- cholesterol. Improvement in quality of sleep was observed. A reduction was also recorded in the total body fat percentage. Even at escalated doses, ashwagandha was found to be safe and well tolerated.

A 2015 study from the Sports Medicine, Srimati Kashibai Navale Medical College, Pune, India, examined the possible effects of ashwagandha root extract on muscle mass and strength in healthy young men engaged in resistance training.

In the 8-week, placebo-controlled study, 57 men, ages 18-50 years old, were given 300 mg of ashwagandha root extract twice daily or a starch placebo. The study concluded that:

“Compared to the placebo subjects, the group treated with ashwagandha had significantly greater increases in muscle strength on the bench-press exercise.”

Reduces Cortisol Levels

The adrenal glands release the stress hormone cortisol in response to stress or when the blood glucose levels drop too low. But chronically elevated cortisol levels keep blood glucose levels high and lead to accumulation of body fat, especially in the abdominal areas.

A 2009 study from the C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, India, tested the ability of ashwagandha in combating stress and for treating male infertility. Their study observed 60 infertile individuals treated with 5 g/day for 3 months. The results were recorded as:

“Treatment resulted in a decrease in stress, improved the level of antioxidants and improved overall semen quality in a significant number of individuals.

Reduces Symptoms of Depression

Ashwagandha may help relieve depression. But only a few researches have been undertaken to investigate this claim.

The Department of Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry, Asha Hospital, Hyderabad, India, conducted a research in 2012 to “evaluate the safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of Ashwagandha roots in reducing stress and anxiety and in improving the general well-being of adults who were under stress.”

64 subjects with a history of chronic stress were asked to take one 300 mg capsule of ashwagandha (high-concentration full-spectrum extract), twice a day, for a period of 60 days. The study subjects displayed a significant improvement in all the stress-assessment scores and their serum cortisol levels were substantially reduced. The study concluded that:

“High-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life.”

Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Ashwagandha can definitely affect blood sugar levels. The mechanism by which ashwagandha lowers blood sugar levels has been examined by various studies. This herb is believed to increase insulin secretion and improve insulin sensitivity in muscle cells.

The anti-diabetic activity of ashwagandha root extracts is attributed to the presence of withanolides. A 2015 study from the Institute for Drug Research, Hebrew University Medical Faculty, Jerusalem,  Israel, observed a “correlation between increased content of withaferin A and anti-diabetic activity.”

A 2012 study from the ICMR Advanced Centre for Reverse Pharmacology in Traditional Medicine at MRC-KHS, Mumbai, India, treated 18 volunteers with ashwagandha for 30 days.

250 mg BID doses of ashwagandha were found to improve fasting blood glucose levels as well as cholesterol levels in the participants (95 men, 35 women), in a research study conducted by the Research and Development Centre, Natreon Inc., Salt Lake City, Kolkata, India.

Researchers from the Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Nagpur, India, acknowledged that ashwagandha decreases blood glucose comparable to an oral hypoglycemic. They studied the metabolic effects of ashwagandha supplementation in schizophrenia patients. 400 mg of ashwagandha extract per capsule was administered in a dose of one capsule thrice daily for 1 month. They were able to observe and record significant hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of ashwagandha in this trial.

In another Indian study from the Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic effects of ashwagandha were observed on human volunteers. They confirmed that the reduction in blood glucose was comparable to that of an oral hypoglycemic drug. The researchers concluded that: the root of ashwagandha (W. somnifera) is a potential source of hypoglycemic, diuretic and hypocholesterolemic agents.

Has Anti-Cancer Properties

Ashwagandha may be a useful supplement for cancer patients as this wonder herb seems to not only kill cancer cells, it may even disrupt the growth of new cancer cells.

The anticancer value of ashwagandha was discovered over four decades ago when a crystalline steroidal compound named withaferin A (WA) was isolated from the leaves of this plant.

According to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA, the cancer-protective role for WA has already been established using chemically-induced and oncogene-driven rodent cancer models. Their review summarized the key in vivo preclinical studies demonstrating anticancer effects of WA.

A 2014 study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, U.S.A, examined the cancer-preventive activity of Ashwagandha root extracts in female transgenic mice. They were administered 750 mg/kg of diet for a period of 10 months. The treatment showed a marked reduction (33%) in mammary carcinomas of the mice in the control group. Reduced rates of cell division in the carcinomas were also noted.

A 2006 study from the University of Madras, Chennai, India, evaluated the therapeutic effects of ashwagandha, in addition to chemotherapy medication paclitaxel, on lung tumor induced in male Swiss albino mice. It was noted that treatment with ashwagandha and paclitaxel altered the damage mediated by free radicals, and it displayed a protective role by inhibiting free radical mediated cellular damage.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, conducted a research in 2010, which recorded that the immunomodulatory effects of ashwagandha can prove beneficial in the treatment of colon cancer.

Ashwagandha Dosage

Ashwagandha dosage depends on the type of supplement being used. Crude ashwagandha leaf or root powder is less effective than extracts from the leaves or roots. Standardized root extracts are the most commonly preferred ones among ashwagandha supplements.

Ashwagandha is easily available for purchase in the form of powder or capsules, from health stores or from online shops. 400 to 600 mg of standardized root extract capsules once or twice daily is a safe and effective dose for improving memory and cognitive functioning.

Risks and Side Effects of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is considered safe for human consumption and therapeutic use when taken in appropriate doses. Mild side effects reported include stomach upsets, vomiting and diarrhea. If you experience such side effects, reduce your dosage or take a break before starting again at lower doses.

There is some worry that ashwagandha may induce miscarriage in pregnant women. There is no safety information regarding ashwagandha consumption during breastfeeding. So pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to avoid using ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha lowers blood glucose levels, so if you are on diabetic medication, you need to consult your doctor first. Those with thyroid issues or on thyroid medications also need to practice this precaution as ashwagandha influences thyroid functions. People taking immunosuppressants, sedatives or blood pressure medications may use ashwagandha, but only under the controlled supervision of a doctor as adverse interactions can occur.

The Final Note on Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera, commonly known as Ashwagandha, is an important ayurvedic herb that offers many health benefits. It is used as a nootropic or smart drug as it boosts brain function and cognitive abilities. It also has adaptogenic properties which help relieve stress.

Ashwagandha strengthens the immune system and helps fight off infections. It even helps build muscle mass and strengthen muscle fibers. Ashwagandha is highly valued for its thyroid-modulating, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties.

If you are looking for easy and effective ways to improve your health and productivity, then supplementing your diet with ashwagandha is a great idea.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post 9 Incredible Health Benefits of Ashwagandha for the Body and Brain appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Native Americans have been using ginseng for treating depression and anxiety. Other medicinal uses of ginseng include boosting the immune system, fighting infections, as a headache remedy and for treating erectile dysfunction.

The demand for this nootropic herb is at an all-time high now, as more and more of its amazing benefits are being scientifically proven. Though more evidence is needed to confirm some of its medical capabilities, for centuries many cultures around the world have believed in the beneficial effects of this wondrous plant. The roots are the most commonly used part of the plant.  

What is Ginseng?

Ginseng is a short plant with fleshy roots. It’s a slow-growing plant that is classified into fresh, white or red, based on how long it is grown. While fresh ginseng is harvested by four years, white ginseng requires four to six years for harvesting. Red ginseng takes the longest as it can be harvested only after six years.

The older the plant is at the time of harvesting, the more valued it is. There are records from 1976, of 400-year-old Manchurian ginseng roots, from a mountain area in China, that was sold for $10,000 per ounce.

There are written records that date back to 100 A.D about the properties of ginseng. As early as the 16th century, ginseng had become so sought after that control over ginseng fields was a vital issue. South Korea, China, Canada and the United States together produce over 80,000 tons of ginseng for international trade, though Korea is the largest ginseng provider and China, the biggest ginseng consumer. Ginseng is currently being sold in more than 35 countries and their sales exceed $2 billion.

When Panax ginseng is mentioned, it usually refers to the Asian ginseng, which is also known by the names, Korean ginseng or Red ginseng. This is the original ginseng plant variety that was revered for thousands of years by the Asians, especially the Chinese and the Koreans.

In traditional Chinese medicine, red ginseng was used for helping deal with low Qi (chi or vital energy) and yang deficiency. Their healers used it for treating memory issues, fatigue, diabetes, erectile dysfunctions and so on. Instead of yang deficiency, American ginseng is used to treating yin deficiency. American ginseng helps improve focus, boost the immune system, treat depression, and relieves digestive distress caused by anxiety.

Indian ginseng refers to the renowned ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha, which offer many benefits similar to that of the classic Panax ginseng, but it also exhibits many other properties as well. Brazilian ginseng, called Suma root, contains active compounds called ecdysterone which reduces inflammation, supports muscular health, boosts endurance and even helps fight cancer.

Ginseng: The Mechanism of Action

The two main active compounds in ginseng are the ginsenosides and gintonin. The complementary action of these two compounds is believed to be responsible for the health benefits offered by ginseng supplements. Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) have different concentrations of active compounds and hence their effects also vary. Asian ginseng seems to have a more invigorating effect while American ginseng works better as a relaxing agent.

There are actually 11 species of ginseng and they all belong to the ‘Panax’ genus from the ‘Araliaceae’ family.  In the Greek language, the word ‘panax’ means “all heal”, making it evident that these herbs were valued for their healing powers. Only those belonging to the genus Panax are considered to be true ginseng plants. American ginseng and Asian ginseng are the most popular types of this herb.

Other adaptogenic plants called ginseng, but not a member of the Panax genus, like the Crown Prince ginseng and the Siberian ginseng, have different compositions and functions. Siberian ginseng has high levels of active compounds called eleutherosides, instead of the ginsenosides in Panax.

Nine Proven Benefits of Ginseng

1. Improves Brain Functions

Ginseng can improve concentration and cognitive abilities by stimulating brain cells. Panax ginseng improves mental performance in people suffering from cognitive problems.

A 2008 study from the Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, evaluated the clinical efficacy of Panax ginseng in the cognitive performance of  a select group of patients. After being administered ginseng for 12 weeks, the patients showed significant improvement in their cognitive abilities.

Even after stopping the ginseng treatment, the cognitive improvements continued up to 12 weeks. A decline was noted after this period. The study concluded that Panax ginseng is clinically effective in improving cognitive performance.

2. Improves Mood

Many studies have been conducted to evaluate ginseng’s ability to improve mood and mental functions. A 2010 study from the Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Centre, Northumbria University, UK, investigated “the effects of Panax ginseng (G115) on subjective mood and aspects of ‘working’ memory processes.”

In the placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 30 volunteers (mean age 22 years) were administered doses of 200 mg or 400 mg of ginseng or a placebo for 8 days. A slowed the fall in mood was noted by the researchers at the dose of 200 mg of ginseng, but this also slowed their response to mental arithmetic. On the other hand, the 400 mg ginseng dosage not only improved their calmness, it also enhanced their mental arithmetic during the treatment period.

3. Helps Reduce Stress

Ginseng is known for its adaptogenic properties and can help reduce or even prevent physical and mental stress. A 2003 study from the Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India, compared the anti-stress potential of Panax ginseng with that of Ginkgo biloba against acute stress and chronic stress in rat models.

The rats were fed 100mg of ginseng or 30mg of Ginkgo biloba per kg of body weight. Panax ginseng was found to be a better option for treating chronic stress while Ginkgo was more effective for acute stress. The researchers concluded that both Panax ginseng and Ginkgo biloba have significant anti-stress properties and are effective in helping treat stress-induced disorders.

4. Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Inflammation is the root of many diseases and treatments aimed at reducing inflammation often help relieve many of the disease symptoms. 

A 2011 study from the Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Korea investigated “the therapeutic effect of Korean red ginseng on the expression of inflammatory cytokines in rats with focal cerebral reperfusion injury.” The rats were given 100mg ginseng extract for a week and the researchers observed that ginseng was able to reduce the inflammation significantly and provide neuroprotection.

Allergic rhinitis is an upper airway inflammatory disease commonly seen in both children and adults. Congestion, nasal itching and sneezing are the most frequent symptoms of allergic rhinitis. A 2013 study from the Department of Life Science, College of BioNano, Gachon University, Korea, investigated “how Panax ginseng affected allergic inflammation of the nasal cavity in an allergic mouse model.” The test results using 40 female mice indicated that “KRG reduces the nasal allergic inflammatory reaction in an allergic murine model by reducing Th2 cytokines.”

5. Helps with Weight Loss

Weight loss is ultimately the result of burning more calories than you consume. Ginseng is a great weight loss aid as it not only boosts your metabolism, helping you burn more calories, it also works as a natural appetite suppressant, thus helping reduce your overall calorie intake.

A 2002 study from the Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, USA, investigated the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Panax ginseng. The researchers injected Panax ginseng berry extract at 150 mg/kg body wt. for 12 consecutive days in mice used for the study.

They observed that glucose tolerance increased significantly in their study subjects and furthermore, these mice showed notable weight loss. They concluded that “ Panax ginseng berry extract may have therapeutic value in treating diabetic and obese patients.”

6. Boosts the Immune System

Ginseng can help strengthen your immune system and thus help fight infections and increase your resistance to diseases. A 2012 study from the College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea, reviewed various studies that investigated the effects of ginseng on the immune system. The researchers acknowledged that “ginseng exhibits beneficial effects on controlling inflammatory diseases and microbial infections.”

Our immune systems are composed of diverse types of cells which have their own specialized function. Ginseng can influence the performance of various cells that have a role in our immunity, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells and B cells.

A 2002 study from the Division of Immunopharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea, evaluated the immunostimulating effects of Panax ginseng on macrophage function. They were able to confirm that “ginseng extract enhanced the phagocytic activity of macrophages.”

7. Helps Prevent Cancer

Ginseng is used in the treatment of various cancers due to its ability to inhibit tumor growth. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herbs have been found to help treat cancer and since ginseng has both these properties, it is evidently helpful. But ginseng also works in other ways to mitigate cancer. 

A 2004 study from Thorne Research, Dover, USA, noted that 

“P. ginseng apparently mitigates cancer through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and apoptotic mechanisms to influence gene expression. Additional mechanisms of investigation include influence on neurotransmission and immunosurveillance.”

American and Asian ginseng have both been found to help treat colorectal cancer. A 2009 study from the University of Chicago, USA, noted that: 

“various steaming temperature and time treatment of the ginseng herbs can change ginsenoside profiles, and enhance their anti-cancer activities. This heat treatment process may increase the role of ginseng in treating colorectal cancer.”

8. Treats Sexual Dysfunction

Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been used by traditional healers for treating erectile dysfunction in men. Plenty of clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate this popular claim of ginseng.

A 2008 study by a team of Korean and British researchers systematically reviewed 28 such clinical studies that investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Panax ginseng in erectile dysfunction treatments. The researchers concluded that these randomized clinical studies did provide suggestive evidence for the effectiveness of Panax ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

The researchers concluded that the ginsenosides in ginseng are beneficial for diabetes therapy. They also noted that “Ginseng root is able to increase insulin production and decrease cell apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells, which signifies that ginseng affects the pancreas directly.”

9. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Ginseng, especially American ginseng, is often used as a natural diabetes remedy for people with type 2 diabetes.

A 2016 study from the Department of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China, investigated the efficacy of ginseng in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. They observed that Korean red ginseng improved insulin sensitivity in diabetes patients.

A 2008 study from the Center for Stem Cell Biology, Roger Williams Hospital, Providence, USA, reviewed various clinical studies that investigated the effects of ginseng as a supplement to diabetes therapy.

Ginseng Recommended Doses

According to various studies, and user reports, 250 mg of ginseng, twice daily is the recommended dose, for stress, tension or fatigue. You can also take a single dose of 500 mg of ginseng, if desired. A 2012 Korean study tested the safety and tolerability of high doses of ginseng by administering 1000mg and 2000mg of Panax ginseng extract per day to human test participants. No serious adverse effects were noted at even the highest dose of 2000mg per day, administered as 2 doses of 1000mg each. Mild side effects such as hot flashes, insomnia, and constipation were reported by few of the test participants.

Just 200mg daily seems adequate for treating type 2 diabetes. For erectile dysfunction, creams containing Panax ginseng can be applied before intercourse and washed off afterwards. For boosting mental functions in healthy individuals, 200 to 400 mg of Panax ginseng can be taken once daily or in two doses for a period of 8 to 12 weeks.

To reap the various health benefits of ginseng, including its brain boosting effects, increased energy and endurance levels and a stronger immune system, add ginseng to your daily diet. You can have a daily cup or two of ginseng tea.

Tips to Make Ginseng Tea

The Chinese, who are renowned for their long life spans, youthful looks and good health, have been drinking ginseng tea for generations. Their elaborate tea ceremonies are a very important tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation for thousands of years.

Traditional Chinese healers recommend drinking a cup of ginseng tea every day, for adults over the age of 40, to maintain and improve their health, energy, mental power and memory.

To make ginseng tea, you can use ginseng roots (fresh, dried or powdered) or ginseng tea bags. American ginseng is more suited for use in hotter months while Asian ginseng is recommended for the colder months.

To make ginseng tea, put the ginseng root shavings or powder in a metal tea ball/filter (or use a ginseng tea bag). Put this in a teacup filled with hot water and let it steep for at least 5 minutes. Remove it and enjoy your ginseng tea while it is still warm. You can also eat the ginseng root shavings to optimize these health benefits.

Ginseng: Risks and Side Effects

Ginseng does not have any serious side effects and it is considered safe for consumption in the vast majority of people. Practice general precautions, such as, starting at a low dose and building up gradually and taking breaks to avoid getting dependant on it. Ginseng may not be suited for pregnant women and children.

There have been a few reports of allergic reactions to ginseng, so test using a small sample to ensure you are not allergic to it. Don’t worry, most people are not. Women using ginseng may notice some menstrual changes, but do keep in mind that ginseng has been noted for improving sexual function in premenopausal women.

Ginseng is a stimulant and it increases your energy levels, but taking large doses can cause nervousness and insomnia. Go easy on your coffee intake if you take ginseng as the caffeine content can amplify ginseng’s stimulant effects.

High doses or long term use of ginseng for more than 3 to 6 months, may cause some side effects such as stomach aches, headaches and dizziness. Ginseng abuse and misuse can lead to many serious health issues such as hypertension, cardiovascular and renal toxicity, genital organ bleeding, reproductive toxicity, and so on.

Ginseng may interact with certain medications, especially blood-thinning medications, antidepressants, anti-psychotic medications and medications for diabetes. People using drugs for diabetes should consult their physicians first as ginseng can affect blood sugar levels.

The Final Note on Ginseng

Ginseng is an herbal supplement with nootropic capabilities and has been used for centuries by traditional Chinese healers and Native Americans for its various health benefits.

Ginseng enhances brain functions, strengthens the immune system, and increases energy levels. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginseng may help regulate blood sugar levels and fight fatigue. It improves symptoms of erectile dysfunction and is beneficial in certain cancer treatments.

Ginseng is easily available in health shops and online, in the form of dried roots, extracts, powder and capsules. Whether you want to treat a specific health condition or simply give your health a boost, ginseng is a great option. It works as a general tonic for improving your well-being as it positively affects many different systems in your body.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post Your Complete Guide To Ginseng – Proven Health Benefits and Medicinal Uses appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

It is naturally found in black and green tea, as well as, Bolete mushrooms. But how much tea can you really drink in a day? Since this amino acid is not available in the more commonly eaten foods, its beneficial to take L-theanine supplements. It’s easily available online and in health stores in the form of capsules or tablets.

If you are looking for a ‘smart drug’ that helps you ease stress and unwind, try out L-theanine as this drug also helps improve your attention span and focus, helping you become more productive in life.

L-Theanine: Mechanism of Action

L-theanine is also called r-glutamylethylamide. Unlike the more commonly known amino acids such as leucine, tryptophan, lysine, or methionine that form proteins in our body, L-theanine plays a unique role.

Theanine has been found to influence nerve impulses in the brain and has an impact on the release of neurotransmitters such as Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). With its anxiolytic effect, L-theanine is effective in the treatment of hyperactivity and sleep-related issues.

L-theanine is structurally similar to the amino acid glutamine. Though both these amino acids support energy levels and mental health, theanine is more effective as a natural stress reliever. Glutamine plays an important role in the production of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. High levels of glutamine cause anxiety, restlessness and ADHD-like symptoms, such as inability to focus.

Since L-theanine binds to the same receptors in the brain as glutamate, it displays inhibitory effects. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that counterbalances the action of glutamate.

Other than its anxiolytic properties, L-theanine offers many health benefits. Various studies have found evidence that theanine helps support the cardiovascular system, protects the brain and helps relieve symptoms of mental disorders such as dementia, Schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. It may help prevent and treat cognitive loss.

Stroke patients may benefit from L-theanine supplementation. If you are suffering from mood related disorders, insomnia, or has trouble falling asleep, L-theanine should definitely be on your list. Theanine is also useful for treating high blood pressure and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

5 Health Benefits of L-theanine

With so many L-theanine health claims that seem too good to be true, let’s take a closer look at the ones that have been scientifically proven.

L-theanine Relieves Depression

This is one claim that has substantial scientific evidence to support it. L-theanine. There have been numerous studies to evaluate L-theanine’s ability to promote relaxation without causing sedation. Anti-anxiety pills often leave you feeling lethargic and tired. Though L-theanine may not prove much useful for severe anxiety, it can help calm you down when you feel depressed, mildly anxious or nervous without leaving you feeling tired.

In a 2017 an open-label clinical trial from the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan, evaluated whether L-theanine is effective for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). 20 patients with MDD were administered 250 mg of L-theanine per day for 8 weeks. The study concluded that:

“L-theanine administration is safe and has multiple beneficial effects on depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairments in patients with MDD.”

Alpha brain waves are associated with our state of arousal, mental alertness and wakeful relaxation. Researchers from the Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, in the Netherlands, studied the effects of L-theanine on brain waves at specific periods after consuming 50 milligrams of L-theanine. relative to placebo, they found that there was a greater increase in alpha activity across time in the L-theanine condition. The study concluded that:

“L-theanine, at realistic dietary levels, has a significant effect on the general state of mental alertness or arousal. “

L-theanine Relieves Anxiety

Since L-theanine’s has anti-stress effects comes from its ability to inhibit cortical neuron excitation, it has to first get across the blood brain barrier. When given as an injection, L-theanine is able to easily cross the blood-brain barrier than when taken orally.

Oral supplements are not so quick acting, but they are effective and they raise up brain concentrations of the compound for up to 5 hours. Theanine mostly impacts two important areas of the brain namely, the amygdala and hippocampus. These are the parts of the brain that help control fear responses and memory.

A 2016 study from the Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia investigated the effects of L-theanine on mood responses to a cognitive stressor. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, study used 34 healthy adults aged 18 to 40. They were given a nutrient beverage containing 200 mg of L-theanine. The researchers recorded that:

“Subjective stress response to a cognitive stressor was found to be significantly reduced one hour post-dose, and cortisol response was significantly reduced three hours post-dose”

As tea contains both L-theanine and caffeine, researchers from the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan, compared the effects of both on mental task performance and physiological activities. 14  participants were tasked under conditions of physical or psychological stress, over three separate trials, in which they were given L-theanine + placebo, caffeine + placebo, or placebo only.

L-theanine significantly inhibited the blood-pressure increases caused by the mental tasks in the high-response group while Caffeine had a similar but smaller inhibition of the same. As compared with placebo intake, L-theanine also reduced the Tension-Anxiety scores.

Fight Insomnia and Improve Sleep with L-Theanine

Many people suffer from insomnia. Whether its an exam, a date, a client meeting or a project deadline, we all have a tendency to spend sleepless nights, tossing and turning in bed, worrying about the major or minor issues in our lives. L-theanine supplements are great for improving your sleep, if your anxiety or sleep issues are not too severe. But if your mind is simply too hyperactive, as with ADHD, L-theanine can have a positive impact.

L-theanine was also found to counter the effects of stimulants such as coffee and its calming effect reduces wakefulness and jitters, enabling you to fall asleep much faster.

L-theanine is often given along with Melatonin to induce sleep. 100–200 milligrams of L-theanine can be taken with about 3 grams of melatonin, at bedtime, to reduce stress and promote sleep. But keep in mind that high doses of L-theanine can have the opposite effect.

A 2011 study from the University of British Columbia, Canada, evaluated the efficacy and safety of L-theanine as an aid improve sleep quality in children with ADHD. 98 boys, ages 8-12 years, formally diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), were given tablets containing L-theanine, twice a day. The study conducted over a six week period concluded that:

“400 mg daily of L-theanine is safe and effective in improving some aspects of sleep quality in boys diagnosed with ADHD.”

L-Theanine Can Help Improve Attention

The combination of L-theanine and caffeine has been found to improve cognition, attention and alertness.  Caffeine and L-theanine seem to share a synergistic relationship that surprisingly improves focus and concentration without inducing that ‘wired’ or jittery feelings.  200 mg each of  L-theanine and caffeine is recommended for this purpose.

A 2017 study conducted by researchers from the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University, USA and from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, investigated “whether theanine and theanine-caffeine combination have acute positive effects on cognitive and neurophysiological measures of attention.

They used 20 male volunteers, to compare the effects of 200 mg l-theanine, 160 mg caffeine, their combination, one cup black tea and distilled water as a placebo on cognitive and recognition visual reaction time and neurophysiological measures of attention. The study concluded that:

“A dose of theanine equivalent of eight cups of back tea improves cognitive and neurophysiological measures of selective attention, to a degree that is comparable with that of caffeine. Theanine and caffeine seem to have additive effects on attention in high doses.”

L-Theanine Helps Protect Memory

L-theanine seems to have many benefits that impact our physical and mental health. It is believed to have neuroprotective effects that enhance brain functions. In a 2016 study from the Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Australia, the researchers examine the potential benefits of L-theanine in relation to human health.

In a 2011 Korean study, when a combination called LGNC-07 (360 milligrams of green tea extract along with 60 milligrams of theanine) was administered to patients with mild cognitive impairment, 3 times a day for a period of 16 weeks, the researchers observed that the L-theanine combo improved recognition skills without negatively affecting verbal and visuospatial memory.

After 3 hours, they noted a significant increase in brain theta waves, in the temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital areas, in the eye-open and reading states. Brain theta waves are indicators of cognitive alertness. The study concluded that  LGNC-07 (L-theanine ) has potential as an intervention for cognitive improvement.

Neurons get damaged and killed by the overactivations of receptors for the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. This is called excitotoxicity and is believed to be linked to neurodegenerative disorders, stroke and schizophrenia. The neuroprotective benefits of L-theanine may be due to its ability to prevent excitotoxicity or the excessive glutamate stimulation of brain cells. L-theanine thus offers neuroprotection for the aging brain by blocking some of glutamate’s effects.

L-Theanine For Heart Health

There is a lot of scientific evidence supporting the fact that green tea reduces inflammation and heart health. Active compounds like green tea catechins or theaflavins in green tea were given credit for providing these benefits, but there is increasing evidence that the L-theanine content of green tea plays a major role in its cardiovascular benefits.

If you experience increased blood pressure in stressful situations, then L-theanine supplementation may be beneficial for you. Theanine is believed to help regulate nitric oxide and thus help prevent blood pressure spikes that occur in response to such stressful events.

Nitric acid is produced by our body and it plays many roles, but its most important function is vasodilation. It relaxes the inner muscles of the blood vessels, making them become wider and thus it helps increase blood circulation while reducing blood pressure. Adequate levels of nitric oxide provide protection against artery-blocking clots.

A 2012 study from the Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan found that L-theanine significantly inhibited the blood-pressure in high stress response individuals making it evident that L-theanine does offer cardiovascular benefits.

L-Theanine Reduces Stroke Impact

Considering its cardiovascular benefits, it’s evident that L-theanine is indeed beneficial for those suffering from health problems. Prevention is always better than cure, but if a stroke did occur, then it is most important to minimize the damage being caused and protect the brain cells from irreversible damage. Research has found evidence that administration of L-theanine within 12 hours of the stroke can help protect brain cells from damage caused by the stroke. This protective effect may kick in for a period of up to 24 hours of the stroke.

A 2013 study from the Department of Pathophysiology, I. P. Pavlov Federal Medical University, St-Petersburg, Russian Federation, investigated the neuroprotective effect of L-theanine in the rat model of stroke. L-theanine was administered at 3, 12, and 24 h after the stroke. The researchers concluded that:

“L-theanine at reperfusion exerts neuroprotective effect in the in vivo rat model of stroke. Local treatment with L-theanine at reperfusion prevents glutamate receptor agonist-mediated brain injury.”

When a stroke occurs, there is inadequate blood flow to the brain thus reducing brain oxygen levels. Reperfusion injury, or reoxygenation injury, is the tissue damage caused when blood supply returns to tissue after a period of lack of oxygen. It is important to administer L-theanine before this tissue damage occurs.

Side Effects and Risks of L-Theanine

It is considered safe to consume L-theanine supplements or teas with L-theanine as there are no direct side effects to taking this amino acid. In general, consumption of large quantities of green tea may result in nausea, irritability, and stomach upsets, not because of the L-theanine content, but due to the caffeine content.

Though L-theanine does exhibit some anti-tumor properties, consuming too much tea can prove harmful for those suffering from cancer, as some other compounds in teas may aggravate cancers. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reported that certain compounds in green tea such as polyphenol EGCG were found to reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs such as bortezomib. So chemotherapy patients are advised to consult with their physicians before taking L-theanine supplements or drinking too much tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks.

Another general warning is for pregnant women and children. The effect of L-theanine on pregnant women has not been studied much, so it is safer for women in such conditions to avoid taking this supplement. It is better they limit their tea intake too to avoid getting over- caffeinated.

L-Theanine Dosage Recommendations

The Japanese are famous for their tea ceremonies and tea seems to hold a sacred place in their hearts. For centuries, they have attributed many aspects of their health and well being to their ancient practice of drinking tea, especially green tea.

Drinking tea is generally considered safe and there are no reported incidences of an L-theanine overdose. But this does not mean you can take it in copious amounts. Moderation is key to all things in life and most nootropics and adaptogens have been found to be more effective in lower doses than very high doses.

L-theanine supplements are commonly available in 200-mg tablets. Though recommended dosages per day range from 200 to 400 mg per day, it is always best to consult your physician to make sure which dosage suits your requirements the best. Dosages as high as 4000 mg/kg of body weight per day appeared to be safe in animal studies as no adverse effects were noted by the researchers, in a 2006 study from the

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, in the USA.

The Final Note

L-theanine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in teas, both green and black. Since it is not practical or safe to drink unlimited amounts of caffeinated beverages like tea, it’s advisable to take L-theanine supplements to reap its innumerable health benefits. The L-theanine content of tea is believed to be responsible for many of these health benefits.

After a stressful day, many people love to have a cup of tea and relax, sipping it slowly. This act seems to provide that wakeful relaxation similar to that experienced during and after meditation. The L-theanine content in tea promotes alpha-wave brain production which helps you relax completely, yet remain alert and ready for your next task.

L-theanine offers a wide range of health benefits though its most often sought after for its abilities to improve mental focus and promote better sleep quality. Though L-theanine supplements are considered safe for consumption, more research is needed to confirm many of its claims. Studies, both human and animal models, have already proven that L-theanine does help with relaxation, neuroprotection and improved sleep.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post Energy, Mood and Brain Booster: 7 Health Benefits of L-Theanine You’ll Love appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Historically, Rhodiola has been used in many different traditional medicine systems across the world from the ancient Chinese to the Vikings. For centuries, Russians and Scandinavians have used the roots of this wondrous herb to treat anxiety and depression. Traditional Chinese healers used it for improving stamina and stress while the Vikings swear by its ability to enhance physical strength.

The mountain-dwelling people of Nepal, Tibet and China, the Sherpas, use this herb to help them climb at high altitudes. Other than improving endurance, Rhodiola also improves resistance to high-altitude sickness. Russians are known to use it for improving endurance and work performance, fighting insomnia, fatigue and anxiety.

What Is Rhodiola Rosea?

The scientific name of this popular herb is Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea). Other common names of Rhodiola are roseroot, golden root and king’s crown. It belongs to the Rhodiola genera in the Crassulaceae plant family.

Rhodiola is gaining fame far and wide as a dietary supplement due to its multiple health benefits. It has both adaptogenic and nootropic capabilities.

Adaptogens help your body adapt easily to physical, chemical, and environmental stress. They work by nourishing and reinforcing the adrenal system and moderating stress responses. Adaptogens help to prevent cellular damage since they usually contain plenty of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.

Rhodiola Rosea: Mechanism of Action

The Rhodiola root has over 140 active ingredients of which rosavin and salidroside are the most potent. Rhodiola is effective as an adaptogen as it has several mechanisms of action.  The salidroside impacts normally occurring intracellular products while rosavin helps balance cortisol, the stress hormone. Many studies have observed that the rosavin content in Rhodiola has antidepressant, adaptogenic, and anxiolytic effects.

Within the Rhodiola plant family, rosavin is unique to Rhodiola rosea even though salidroside is commonly found in many other Rhodiola species. Rhodiola rosea has higher concentrations of rosavin than salidrosides, in approximately 3:1 ratio.

According to preclinical studies, Rhodiola may influence beta-endorphins. It interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Rhodiola also influences nitric oxide production, as well as defense mechanism proteins. The active components in Rhodiola may impact the corticotrophin-releasing factors. Rhodiola can affect the availability of neurologically important amines. Via GABA-ergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic receptors, Rhodiola may be able to affect catecholaminergic transmissions.

An ‘ergogenic aid’, Rhodiola rosea initiates a non-specific response, which in turn, has a normalizing physiologic influence. This herb helps fight the negative effects of stress, and is effective in improving both physical as well as mental energy levels. By preventing or reducing the hormonal changes that occur along with prolonged stress, Rhodiola helps the body adapt to stress. Rhodiola’s action mechanism to enhance stress tolerance is believed to be its influence on beta-endorphins and opioid neuropeptides. An early Russian study conducted on rats confirmed the role of opioid neuropeptides in enhancing stress tolerance.

The complexity of the herb is what makes Rhodiola so useful in a wide variety of ways. Considering the potential pleiotropic effects of Rhodiola in the central nervous system, and the way in which its metabolism occurs, it is only fair to expect that users of this smart drug may encounter a broad spectrum of experiences. At lower doses Rhodiola has a stimulating effect while users report that higher doses have a more toning effect.

Seven Proven Health Benefits of Rhodiola Rosea

From anemia and impotence to fighting infections and relieving headache, the medicinal uses of Rhodiola rosea is very long and includes treatment of tuberculosis and even cancer. Here are 7 proven health benefits of Rhodiola rosea.

1. Rhodiola Improves Brain Function

The best way to ensure your brain functions at its best is to get proper nutrition, adequate sleep and plenty of exercises. Nutritional supplements or nootropics such as Rhodiola rosea can also help boost brain functions by reducing mental fatigue and improving concentration. Rhodiola can also help ease the mental fatigue brought on by sleep deprivation and thus improve your cognitive functions.

A study conducted by the Department of Neurology, Armenian State Medical University, Yerevan, evaluated the effect of repeated low-dose treatment with Rhodiola rosea, on fatigue during night duty among physicians. The research using 56 young, and healthy physicians found a significant reduction in general fatigue. The physicians were given either 170 mg of Rhodiola or a placebo pill on a daily basis for a period of two weeks.

The researchers observed improvements in “complex perceptive and cognitive cerebral functions, such as associative thinking, short-term memory, calculation and ability of concentration, and speed of audio-visual perception.”

A 2003 study from the Centre of Sanitary and Epidemiological Inspection of the R.F. Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia, investigated “the effect of a single dose of Rhodiola rosea on capacity for mental work against a background of fatigue and stress.”

161 cadets aged from 19 to 21 years were given either 370 mg or 555 mg of rhodiola, or a placebo. The researchers found that:

When compared to the placebo, both doses of Rhodiola improved the subjects’ capacity for mental work.

2. Rhodiola Can Decrease Stress

To handle stressful situations, adaptogens can be really helpful. Adaptogenic herbs are natural substances that improve our resistance to stress in non-specific ways. Several studies have proven that Rhodiola rosea has adaptogenic capabilities and can help reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety.

When we feel pressured or threatened, the stress gets manifested in physical symptoms such as loss of energy or exhaustion, headaches, etc. The psychological symptoms of stress get exhibited in different ways such as tension, irritability and so on. If not identified and treated correctly, chronic stress can develop bringing a whole host of diseases along with it. To avoid such burnouts, preventive measures and evidence based treatments are needed.

Whether psychological or physical, most pharmaceutical drugs treat only the stress symptoms. Psychotropic medications commonly prescribed for such symptoms usually have undesirable side effects. Rhodiola has a favorable safety profile and it offers comprehensive treatment for stress symptoms.

In a 2018 study from the Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich , Switzerland, the group of researchers from various countries such as the UK, Austria and Vienna, concluded that:

“Rhodiola rosea extract offers comprehensive treatment of stress symptoms and can prevent chronic stress and stress-related complications.”

They also noted that “ the main adaptogen approved by the HMPC/EMA for the indication ‘stress’ and influences the release of stress hormones while boosting energy metabolism. “

A 2015 study from the School of Psychology, University of Surrey, UK, evaluated the effect of Rhodiola rosea extract on mood symptoms such as anxiety, stress, and cognition, using 80 mildly anxious participants. The researchers noted the administration of Rhodiola resulted in:

“a significant reduction in self-reported, anxiety, stress, anger, confusion and depression at 14 days and a significant improvement in total mood. “

3. Rhodiola Offers Anti-Aging Benefits

High levels of stress over an extended period or chronic stress results in accelerated signs of aging. One of the adaptogenic actions of Rhodiola rosea is that it helps balance cortisol levels, which in turn, slows down age related symptoms. Rhodiola is a dietary supplement that makes you look good and feel great.

When we are faced with a stressful situation or a threat of some sort, your body responds with a ‘flight or fight’ response. Cortisol floods your body to enable this response from your nervous system. In today’s world, we are constantly faced with stress in various forms – exams, financial worries, job stress, family issues – on a daily basis. This constant stress keeps the cortisol levels at a continuous high, which is not natural for the body.

Whether emotional or physical, chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels lead to multiple health disorders such as abdominal weight gain, thyroid problems, hormonal imbalances, weak immunity, decreased blood glucose response, poor memory, etc. Accelerated signs of aging can result from this, such as atrophy of memory-related brain structures, poor cognitive performance, weight gain and fatigue. Keeping cortisol levels balanced is one of the keys to looking young, refreshed and energetic.

A 2012 study from the White House Surgery, Horsefair, Chipping Norton, UK, used 1375 subjects with life-stress symptoms, to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of treatment with Rhodiola rosea extract. Chosen subjects were given a dose of 200 mg Rhodiola rosea extract, twice daily for a period of 4 weeks. They noted “clinically relevant improvements with regard to stress symptoms, disability, functional impairment and overall therapeutic effect.”

The researchers concluded that “Rhodiola extract at a dose of 200 mg twice daily for 4 weeks is safe and effective in improving life-stress symptoms to a clinically relevant degree.”

4. Rhodiola Helps Reduce Symptoms of Depression

Depression is a more serious medical issue than most people realize. Everyone gets depressed at some point in their life, but many people are able to overcome it while some others need assistance to deal with their issues and overcome their depression.

Depression can be more than just a mood swing. Serious depression can result from the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Professional assistance may be needed to overcome such chemical imbalances and physicians often prescribe antidepressants for treating the symptoms of depression. But these medications can be addictive and may cause adverse side effects.

Alternative medicine such as ayurvedic treatments can offer relief from depression without much side effects. Rhodiola rosea is one such herb that is effective for relieving depression. A 2012 study from the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, suggested that Rhodiola rosea has antidepressant properties.

A 2009 study from the Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland, investigated the influence of Rhodiola rosea L. roots on mood disorders. The study concluded that:

“Rhodiola rosea L. roots have potent antidepressant activity by inhibiting MAO A and may also find application in the control of senile dementia by their inhibition of MAO B.”

5. Rhodiola Helps Fight Physical & Mental Fatigue

If you are feeling physically exhausted, then Rhodiola can help reduce your physical fatigue. Whether you are a student, a business executive or a housewife, Rhodiola can help improve your productivity and output. Rhodiola rosea is known for its ability to help clear brain fog or other similar symptoms of mental fatigue.

Rhodiola is great for improving focus and concentration. When low-intensity, but frequent movements or exercises leave you feeling exhausted, Rhodiola is a great pick me up. It also helps the deal with the fatigue that results from sleep deprivation. Naturopathic physicians often prescribe Rhodiola rosea as a treatment for adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue and issue related to athletic or physical performance.

A 2015 study by a group of Chinese and Korean researchers investigated the protective effects of fermented Rhodiola rosea extract against fatigue and exercise stress. They found that:

“Fermented R. rosea extract was found to significantly increase swimming time, hepatic superoxide dismutase content, and serum lactate dehydrogenase in mice, while decreasing serum blood urea nitrogen content.”

They concluded that fermented “R. rosea extract effectively protects against fatigue caused by strenuous exercise.”

A 2012 Canadian study reviewed the evidence of efficacy and safety of Rhodiola for physical and mental fatigue. The researchers found evidence suggesting that “the herb may be helpful for enhancing physical performance and alleviating mental fatigue.”

6. Rhodiola Improves Athletic Performance

Many cultures around the world use Rhodiola for increasing strength and stamina. Traditional healers recommend it for raising energy levels and improving athletic performance.

Having a high count of oxygen carrying red blood cells (RBCs) helps delay the onset of fatigue and can dramatically improve the performance of athletes. Rhodiola increases endurance and stamina by lowering oxidative damage and by increasing the red blood cells count. Rhodiola is believed to boost erythropoietin, which in turn, stimulates RBC production.

A 2005 study from the Istituto di Chimica Biologica Giorgio Fornaini, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy, found that Rhodiola rosea acted as an antioxidant in red blood cells.

A 2004 study from the Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, evaluated “the effect of acute and 4-week Rhodiola rosea intake on physical capacity, muscle strength, speed of limb movement, reaction time, and attention.”

The double blind placebo-controlled study using 12 participants, found that

“Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise capacity in young healthy volunteers.”

7. Rhodiola Helps Burn More Belly Fat

An incredible benefit of Rhodiola supplementation is that it encourages and assists the body in burning stored body fat for fuel. Interval exercises or HIIT workouts are great for fat loss. Adding in a regimen of Rhodiola rosea can take your fat burning experience to a whole new level. Rhodiola is especially beneficial in reducing belly fat.

Since Rhodiola has been found to reduce cortisol levels and stress, it helps reduce those stress related cravings for unhealthy and fattening comfort foods such as chocolates and icecreams. Cortisol is also associated with fat accumulation in the abdomen. So lowering cortisols help prevent more fat accumulation.

The active ingredient in Rhodiola rosea, rosavin, helps trigger a fat burning response by stimulating an enzyme known as  “hormone-sensitive lipase”. This particular enzyme breaks down body fat (adipose tissue) which is stored in the belly area.

A 2014 study from the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA found that treatment with Rhodiola extracts on rats resulted in the conclusion that

“Rhodiola extracts have actions on central monoamine pathways and have the potential to be beneficial for the treatment of obesity.”

To get that extra edge in weight loss and fat burning combine your exercise routine with Rhodiola rosea supplementation.

Rhodiola Rosea Dosage

Rhodiola rosea supplements can be easily purchased online or from health stores. Rhodiola extracts are available in the form of tea, tablets or capsules. Pill forms are advisable as this helps with accurate dosing.

It is very important to but Rhodiola supplements from a reputed brand and seller as these supplements are at risk of adulteration. There is a naturally occurring proportion of rosavins and salidrosides in Rhodiola roots. Standardized extracts contain the same proportions of these compounds, 3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides. Always cross check the labels of Rhodiola supplements to ensure they contain the recommended proportions of active ingredients.

200–600 mg in a single dose per day is the optimal dose of Rhodiola for overcoming fatigue or stress. It’s best to take Rhodiola on an empty stomach, before breakfast or lunch. Avoid taking it before dinner or at bedtime as Rhodiola has mild but stimulatory effects that may keep you awake for longer. It’s advisable to start at a lower dose and build up gradually over a period of time, to allow your body to get used to the drug and avoid adverse side effects. to help with absorption, higher doses can be divided and taken at two intervals, such as once before breakfast and then before lunch.

Potential Side Effects of Rhodiola

Rhodiola is considered to be safe and well tolerated by most people. Studies have found that it has less potential for side effects when compared to prescription drugs such as antidepressants. When you first begin Rhodiola supplementation, you may feel some dizziness or experience a dry mouth sensation, but this usually passes as you get used to the medication.

If you are on any kind of medications, first speak with your doctor about possible drug interactions before starting on Rhodiola.

The Final Note

Rhodiola rosea has been used safely for centuries by traditional healers from various cultures, including the Chinese, and the Vikings. Rhodiola has been found to have brain boosting benefits can improve mood and focus, prevent stress and reduce fatigue, making it an effective ‘smart drug’ or nootropic for those looking to increase their cognitive performance and productivity.

As an adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola improves our physical and mental tolerance to stress. It helps balance cortisol levels, improves athletic performances and helps reduce body fat faster. When taken within the suggested doses, Rhodiola is safe for consumption.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post Rhodiola Rosea: 7 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits That Will Amaze You appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Ginkgo biloba is used for treating memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is believed to help improve blood flow to the brain and is helpful for improving concentration, mood disturbances, memory loss and dizziness. Ginkgo biloba also helps relieve symptoms of multiple chronic diseases such as asthma.

Since this ‘wonder of nature’ has been around for so long, people have discovered a long list of uses for it. The recorded history of Ginkgo biloba, being used to treat bronchitis and asthma, can be found as early as 2600 BCE.

What Is Ginkgo Biloba?

Ginkgo biloba is an extract from the leaf of the Ginkgo tree. Also called the maidenhair tree, Ginkgo is native to countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. Because of its medicinal properties, the tree became quite popular and can now be found in many parts of the world from Asia to Europe and America.

Ginkgo trees rank among the oldest living trees. Ginkgo is often described as a “living fossil,” since it has remained unchanged for over 200 million years. Traditional Chinese medicine uses the seeds of Ginkgo biloba while modern researchers use ginkgo extract made from the leaves.

Though Ginkgo supplements are claimed to have several health benefits, most researches are conducted on understanding and verifying its brain health enhancing benefits. Various studies have also been conducted on its platelet-forming and circulation-boosting effects as well as its anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits.

Salisburia adiantifolia is the scientific name of Ginkgo biloba. The scientific terms for standardized extracts of the ginkgo biloba plant are EGb761 and GBE. In Germany and some other European countries, Ginkgo is available only as a prescription drug as it is considered to be quite effective.

The Power of Ginkgo Biloba

Both Traditional Chinese medicine, as well as, the clinical studies on the subject have shown that Ginkgo biloba is safe for consumption and it is beneficial in a variety of ways due to its antioxidant effects and protective power against mitochondrial damage.

Flavonoids and terpenoids are the constituents of Ginkgo biloba that exhibit antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress and thus slow down age-related diseases. Ginkgo biloba has the ability to increase vascular dilation and thus ease up circulatory problems. Improved blood flow to the brain benefits us in many ways. Improved blood circulation also helps detoxify the body and thus strengthen the immune system.

Though it obviously benefits the circulatory system, Ginkgo’s most prominent benefits are brain function and mental performance such as increased focus and memory retention. The International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology reported that ginkgo biloba is presently the most researched and accepted herbal remedy for cognitive disorders.

Ginkgo is believed to help the brain function better by increasing the uptake of glucose in brain cells. In addition to this, ginkgo has the ability to enhance the nerve signal transmissions responsible for various vital functions including heartbeat regulation, eye health memory, and mood.

7 Proven Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba

With so many listed uses and health claims, there is a mixed bag of myths and truth out there. We are here to help you sort through these claims to verify which of these claims are actually true. So check these 7 awesome health benefits of Ginkgo Biloba which have actually been proven true:

1. Contains Powerful Antioxidants

Normal metabolic functions in our body produce free radicals which are highly reactive particles that cause oxidative damages in our body. Free radicals contribute to accelerated aging and disease development. As we age, our tissues suffer from DNA oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation and other damaging changes such as protein oxidative injury.

This leads to impairment of the cardiovascular system, sensorial tissues, and neurological functions. Such impairments have significant contributions towards degenerative disease progressions. To neutralize the damaging effects of such free radicals, we need to consume foods or supplements rich in antioxidants.

Flavonoids and terpenoids are plant compounds known to have powerful antioxidant effects. Ginkgo biloba is a rich source of these compound and hence they have the capability to neutralize free radicals and avert their degenerative actions.

A Brazilian study using Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 confirmed that the extract had an effective role in the treatment of diseases involving free radicals and oxidative damage. Though its exact mechanism is unclear, the antioxidant potential of ginkgo biloba is promising.

2. Can Help Fight Inflammation

When a foreign substance/allergen invades our body, the immune system responds in many ways. Inflammation is one such natural immune system response by which the body fights invaders and heals the affected region.  But inflammatory responses can be triggered by other causes such as chronic diseases even when no other illness or injury has occurred. If not rectified, such excessive inflammation can result in permanent damage to various body tissues.

Numerous studies have revealed that extracts of Ginkgo biloba can reduce inflammation markers in animal and human study subjects in various disease states. Researchers have observed that ginkgo reduced inflammation in people suffering from arthritis, heart disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Improvement was noted in stroke patients and even cancer patients on treatment with Ginkgo biloba.

A 2013 study from the Institute of Toxicology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, investigated whether Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 could inhibit inflammatory responses in Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease with cartilage degradation and inflammation. The researchers noted that

“LPS-induced inflammatory responses were efficaciously reversed by EGb761 and its active components quercetin and kampferol.”

A 2017 study from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China reviewed various pharmacological mechanisms of Ginkgo biloba (EGb), such as its antioxidant, anticancer properties, effect on neuro and cardiovascular protection, and so on. They concluded that Ginkgo does have the potential to be an effective treatment for many of these medical issues.  A 2008 study from the University of South Carolina investigated whether Ginkgo biloba, EGb 761, can be used to prevent and treat colitis and they noted very positive results.

3. Improves Blood Circulation

Ginkgo biloba seeds were used in Chinese Traditional medicine to open “channels” of energy to various organ systems in our body. These channels to the organs such as kidney, lungs, liver and brain are the blood vessels carrying oxygen rich blood. Ginkgo’s ability to increase blood flow to different parts of the body is what makes it effective in ‘opening’ these ‘channels’.

Supplementation with Ginkgo is found to increase circulating nitric oxide levels which in turn help to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow. A 2008 study from the Department of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China, investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE)  in 80 patients with coronary artery disease. A 12% increase was noted in the levels of circulating nitric oxide. Increased blood flow was observed in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and the researchers noted that Ginkgo had a positive effect on improving blood circulation.

Another 2008 Chinese study used 60 healthy elderly adults to test the effects of GBE on distal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) blood flow and endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). The research concluded that

“GBE treatment in healthy elderly adults leads to the increase of LAD blood flow in MDPV, MSPV and DTVI, and the increased response might relate to the improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatory capacity.”

Ginkgo biloba is recommended by traditional Chinese healers for treating diseases related to poor circulation as it helps dilate blood vessels and thus improve the blood flow. Combined with its anti inflammatory properties, Ginkgo offers protective effects for heart health and stroke prevention.

4. Enhances Cognitive Health

There is a lot of speculation on how Ginkgo biloba can improve brain health, especially with regard to cognitive functions. Many studies have linked ginkgo to having the capability to improve attention span, executive functions, memory and focus.

A 2003 study from the Institute for Medical Psychology, University of Munich, Germany, investigated the effects of Ginkgo biloba on mental functions and quality of life in healthy subjects. The test subjects did not have any known cognitive impairments. Sixty six healthy volunteers aged between 50 and 65 years participated in the 4-weeks trial. Based on self assessment scores from the participants, the study concluded that Ginkgo supplements do increase the quality of life, motor performance and emotional evaluation. No serious adverse side effects were noted.

A 2002 study from the Department of Health Sciences, Liberty University, Virginia, USA observed two hundred and sixty-two volunteers, 60 years of age and older, cognitively intact adults for a period of 6 weeks. 131 volunteers assigned to receive 80 mg/day Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 while the remaining were given a placebo. The study concluded that

“Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 in enhancing certain neuropsychological/memory processes of cognitively intact older adults, 60 years of age and over.”

The volunteers who received the Ginkgo biloba extract exhibited significant improvement on “SRT tasks involving delayed (30 min) free recall and recognition of non contextual, auditory-verbal material, compared with the placebo controls. “

For those seeking to enhance their mental functioning and general well-being, Ginkgo biloba seems to be a safe bet to improve their cognitive abilities.

5. Improves Functional Capabilities in Alzheimer’s patients

Ginkgo biloba has been proven effective for improving functional capabilities in patients with Alzheimer’s disease when used in conjunction with other conventional treatments.

In a 2016 study from the Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China, researchers explored the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. 21 trials using 2608 patients led to the conclusion that

“Ginkgo biloba is potentially beneficial for the improvement of cognitive function, activities of daily living, and global clinical assessment in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.”

They also noted that “Compared with conventional medicine alone, Ginkgo biloba in combination with conventional medicine was superior in improving Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores at 24 weeks for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”

6. Reduces Cognitive Decline in Dementia Patients

While using Ginkgo biloba supplements, a significant reduction in cognitive decline rate in dementia patients was noted by scientific studies. In a 2018 study from Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zurich, Switzerland, 1628  patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) were treated with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (or placebo control), for a period of 20 weeks.

814 patients were given a daily dose of 240 mg EGb 761. Remarkable improvements were noted in all symptoms except delusions, hallucinations, and elation. Caregiver distress scores also improved significantly.

Though the mechanism of action is not evident, improved blood flow to the brain could be behind Ginkgo’s effect on dementia as this plant extract has blood circulation improving capabilities. Positive results are observed mostly in vascular types of dementia.

7. Can Provide Headache Relief

Ginkgo biloba is used for treating headaches, especially migraines, by traditional Chinese healers. Headaches can be caused by a variety of triggers. Stress headaches may get relief from the usage of Ginkgo as antioxidants help combat stress related damages.

Constricted or reduced blood flow to the brain may be another reason for headaches. Ginkgo’s ability to dilate blood vessels can probably help relieve this type of headaches. If the headache is caused by excessive dilation, then it is best to avoid Ginkgo.

In a 2011 study from the Department of Neurological Sciences IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy, the researchers assessed the clinical utility of Ginkgo biloba in migraine patients.  The study concluded that:

“Gingkolide B seems to be effective as a preventive treatment in reducing migraine attack frequency and in attenuating the use of symptomatic medication.”

Recommended Dosage

Depending on your requirement, the dosage for Ginkgo biloba can range from 40 milligrams to 360 milligrams on a daily basis. Since the effects of Ginkgo is dependant on the dose, it’s important to build up slowly, over a period of time, to the required levels, before you can observe any significant effects of your supplement. It can take about 4 weeks or even 6 weeks for the effects to become evident, so don’t give up because nothing happened in a week’s time.

Ginkgo biloba supplements are available in many forms, sizes and dosages. Dried leaves, liquid extracts, tablets, capsules and even Ginkgo seeds are available across various health shops, both online and offline. Standardized extracts of Ginkgo contain 4 to 32% flavonoids (flavone glycosides or heterosides) and 6 to 12% triterpene lactones (terpenoids), so be sure to pay attention while buying this wonder drug for its nootropic effects.

Side Effects of Ginkgo Biloba

As with most herbal preparations, Ginkgo biloba is considered very safe for consumption. It is unlikely to cause any serious adverse side effects. But there are always exceptions to the case and some people might experience side effects based on too much or too frequent dosing or because of combining Ginkgo with a variety of other medications.

Whether natural or otherwise, it is always wise to practice certain precautions while taking any kind of drugs. It’s important to stay within the recommended doses. With so many ‘over the counter’ alternative healthcare options, some people tend to choose and combine on their own and this may not be a bright idea. It seems that most people fail to mention herbal supplements to their physicians while discussing medications or even preparing for surgeries.

Bleeding was reported as a side effect by a small percentage of users. Since Ginkgo is associated with the circulatory system and increased blood flow, there is a probability that it can also have some influence on anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. So if you are due for surgery or recovering from one, its best to postpone your Ginkgo supplementation for a while.

It is not advisable to give Ginkgo biloba to pregnant women or children. If you are on any prescription drugs, suffering from chronic disorders or expecting surgery any time soon, don’t forget to discuss your Ginkgo biloba supplementation with your doctor.

The Final Note

Ginkgo biloba ranks among the most popular nootropic or cognition enhancing supplements in the world. Its memory boosting, focus generating and mood enhancing benefits are valued by its users. Traditional Chinese healers have used the leaves and seeds of this tree for treating a variety of ailments, especially those associated with the brain and the circulatory system.

A multitude of studies has established that Ginkgo biloba has the potential to relieve symptoms of mental disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Its antioxidant properties combined with its capability to dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow make it a desirable supplement for those suffering from heart disease and strokes. It is believed to help slow down damages related to aging due to its antioxidant power and its reduction of chronic inflammation. Ginkgo is still being studied by researchers all over the world and more evidence is coming to light over its wondrous health benefits.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post The Brain Booster: 7 Awesome Health Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Users reveal that levodopa has anti-aging properties and can boost libido. It provides pain relief and helps with weight loss. Considering its positive effects on cognitive function in healthy people, levodopa can be used as a ‘smart drug’.

Levodopa is now gaining popularity as a nootropic that improves mood and focus. It is often used along with other nootropics, as part of nootropic stacking, for relieving anxiety, and for boosting concentration.

What is Levodopa?

Levodopa, called L-Dopa or L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is an amino acid which plays a powerful role in the human body. It is biosynthesized in our bodies from the amino acid L-tyrosine. Dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are brain chemicals, and collectively, they are called catecholamines.

L-DOPA is actually the precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine which is then synthesized into the other catecholamines. Dopamine also plays the role of a hormone and it induces pleasure or reward responses inside our brain. So basically, levodopa increases the levels of dopamine and other catecholamines in the brain.

Since Parkinson’s disease is known to affect the brain cells that produce dopamine, levodopa is being used effectively to treat Parkinson’s symptoms. We have to supplement with L-DOPA instead of dopamine, as dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Once levodopa enters the brain, it is converted to dopamine with help of the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase, thus increasing the inner-brain dopamine levels.

Natural Sources of Levodopa

Though L-Dopa is synthesized in numerous plants and animals, it is naturally found and can be extracted from the seeds of the plant Mucuna Pruriens. Also known as Velvet bean or Cowhage/cowage, Mucuna pruriens is a legume plant that grows mostly in tropical climates.

Other names for Mucuna Pruriens include cowitch, lacuna bean, Lyon bean, Bengal velvet bean, Florida velvet bean, Mauritius velvet bean, and Yokohama velvet bean. Synthetic Levodopa, which is synthesized artificially in laboratories, is also available in the market.

Mechanism of Action

Since dopamine cannot cross the blood brain barrier, it is essential that the conversion of L-Dopa to dopamine occurs only after it crosses this barrier. L-Dopa is usually combined with carbidopa to prevent this conversion from taking place outside the brain.

Since carbidopa is also unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, the L-DOPA gets converted into dopamine once it crosses the barrier. This increases dopamine levels in the brain and is the key to fighting against various brain diseases, especially Parkinson’s. Vitamin B6, in the form of pyridoxine, is believed to aid the successful conversion of Levodopa to dopamine.

10 Amazing Benefits of Levodopa

Let’s now take a detailed look into the various seemingly miraculous benefits of levodopa to see which of these are really true, scientifically proven by various studies from around the world. Does L-Dopa really improve cognition, alertness, or concentration? Can it boost your libido and improve your sleep? Here we provide you with only the scientifically backed benefits of Mucuna Pruriens or Levodopa:

1. Brain Boosting Effects of L-Dopa

Adverse health conditions result when catecholamine levels fall below required levels. L-DOPA is a must for the production of catecholamines such as dopamine and adrenaline, which in turn, have vital roles in the brain’s arousal systems. Hence, levodopa can affect mood, energy and concentration, making it evident that supplementation with levodopa can boost brain activities. Levodopa has been proven to have positive effects on depression, anxiety and stress.

L-Dopa is not just a Parkinson’s medication, it is a nootropic or smart drug that has the ability to improve cognition in healthy individuals as well. In a 2004 German study, 40 healthy human subjects were given 100 mg levodopa or a placebo daily for 5 days. On each day, 90 minutes after the dose, these individuals were trained on an artificial vocabulary using a high-frequency repetitive approach. The researchers noted that:

“Levodopa significantly enhanced the speed, overall success, and long-term retention of novel word learning in a dose-dependent manner.”

2. L-Dopa Improves Cognitive Function and Memory

A 2006 British study investigated the effect of levodopa on cognitive function in Parkinson’s disease found that the L-dopa improved both motor skills and cognitive function. Another Italian study noted that L-Dopa improved cognitive deficits and synaptic activity in the hippocampus. This region of the brain is critical for learning and memory.

In a study that used 18 healthy human subjects, 150 mg doses of L-Dopa was found to improve working memory, as well as, long-term memory.

A 2015 Australian study investigated the effect of increased synaptic dopamine levels on new-word learning ability in healthy individuals. Participants completed There were 5 learning sessions within a week and 100 mg levodopa or a placebo was administered at each session. The researchers note that:

“The levodopa group showed superior recall accuracy for new words over five learning sessions compared with the placebo group and better recognition accuracy at a 1-month follow-up for words learned with a semantic description.”

3. L-DOPA Relieves Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder that causes a person to lose control over certain body functions. It is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects the ability to move, and is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the substantia nigra, the part of the brain which controls movement. These nerve cells die or become impaired, thus losing their ability to produce dopamine. The primary cause of the Parkinson’s disease is believed to be this dramatic reduction of dopamine and dopamine-responsive neurons in the brain.

Motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include slowness, rigidity, tremors, a shuffling gait and postural instability.  Cognitive and psychiatric problems are common in these patients. Various studies have proven that L-DOPA helps relieve PD symptoms since it increases dopamine levels in the brain.

A study conducted on 176 Parkinson’s patients found that L-Dopa increases life expectancy during the initial years of therapy (for about 6 years) though protective effect declines over the years, as the disease progresses.

Motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as slowness of movement, rigidity, and tremor show significant improvement on treatment with levodopa. But levodopa doesn’t seem to have much effect on the non motor symptoms though. It is important to start levodopa therapy early on, before extensive degeneration of dopamine neurons occur, as L-Dopa is particularly effective as an early treatment.

A 2015 study from the Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, China investigated the long-term use of L-dopa alone vs L-dopa-sparing therapy, as initial treatment, in early PD. They found that patients on a levodopa-sparing therapy were three times as likely to discontinue treatment prematurely than L-dopa treatment patients, due to adverse side effects. They concluded that, though there was a greater incidence of involuntary movements, L-Dopa alone is the most effective medication for treating the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s patients.

4. Dopamine increases Noradrenaline levels in the Brain

Dopamine increases the noradrenaline levels in the brain, and this, in turn, alleviates depression and sleep impairment, which are both common in Parkinson’s. But there are negative effects to continuous and long term usage of L-Dopa, so it may be necessary for PD patients to take L-Dopa along with other drugs that help deal with these side effects.

Despite the downside, L-Dopa remains the gold standard Parkinson’s disease therapy and a 2005 Italian study reveals why. According to the researchers from Clinica Neurologica Università di Roma Tor Vergata and IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Italy

“Dopamine produced from L-dopa has a larger number of actions compared with dopamine receptor agonists. In addition to stimulating D1- and D2-like dopamine receptors, dopamine might also activate adrenoceptors, novel dopamine sites, the dopamine transporter and trace amine receptors, all of which might contribute to the superior effect of L-dopa in Parkinson’s disease.”

5. Libido Boosting Effects of L-Dopa

How can levodopa affect libido? Can it help improve your sexual life? In Ayurvedic treatments, Mucuna pruriens, the natural source of levodopa, is used for treating infertility in men. In a 2009 study from the C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, India, the researchers studied the action mechanism of Mucuna pruriens for treating male infertility. 75 men undergoing infertility screening were treated using Mucuna pruriens and this significantly improved their T, LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels while reducing FSH and PRL. After undergoing treatment, their sperm count and motility recovered significantly.

Researchers from Netherlands studied the effect of levodopa on sexual response in men and women. They investigated the effect of 100 mg of levodopa and the sexual responses were measured using Achilles tendon reflex modulation. Levodopa was found to increase the T reflex magnitude in response to sexual stimulation only in the males, but not the females. They concluded that levodopa (dopamine) plays a vital role in the energetic aspects of appetitive sexual behavior in men.

The Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan studied the effects of levodopa on male erectile function. Of their 21 subjects, 12 of them were 50 years old or older while the remaining 9 were younger than 50 years of age. With L-dopa treatment, the above 50 group displayed significant increases in two nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) parameters, NPT frequency and total tumescence time. For the younger group, the maximum penile circumference increase showed notable increment with therapy using levodopa.

In a 2014 study, conducted by researchers from the University of Florida, USA, using thirty two male Parkinson’s patients, it was found that dopaminergic therapy using levodopa and a dopamine agonist improved both motor scores and testosterone levels.

Another Japanese study using male rats found that repeated oral administration of L-DOPA increased serum testosterone levels in the test subjects. Testosterone levels tend to decrease in Parkinson’s patients over time as their disease progresses. The hormone, Prolactin is known to lower the levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Dopamine has the ability to inhibit prolactin and hence prevent this decrease in testosterone levels.

6. Levodopa Increases Motivation

L-Dopa has a specific mechanism for increasing motivation. A 2015 study from Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, USA, investigated the connection of the dopaminergic system with reward and punishment processing in healthy human subjects. The researchers used two groups of participants who were administered levodopa or a placebo. The participants were scanned during alternating reward and punishment anticipation blocks. The study reported that:

“Dopamine contributes to punishment processing and suggest that the novelty-seeking trait is a measure of susceptibility to drug effects on motivation.”

In other words, L-DOPA has the ability to improve motivation by raising the brain activation related to punishment processing. A French study using 23 PD patients found that levodopa improved motivational deficits in those suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

7. Levodopa Relieves Anxiety and Depression

It is evident by now that dopamine is required for mental functions and it strongly influences emotions and moods. Dopamine has the ability to calm the nervous system as it regulates various hormones in the brain.

A 2014 Indian study evaluated the anxiolytic activity of Mucuna pruriens using Wistar albino rats. 50,500,750 mg/kg/day of Mucuna pruriens was administered orally for 14 days. The researchers used three different experimental models and they observed significant anti-anxiety effect in each of these models.

Another 2014 study investigated the anti-depressant profile and dopaminergic modulating action of Mucuna pruriens. They found that M. pruriens has the potential to treat stress and depression.

8. L-Dopa Improves Mental Alertness

A study conducted by the Department of Neurology, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, compared other dopaminergic medications for Parkinson’s disease such as propoxyphene with levodopa and they found that L-DOPA induced better sleep and alertness in their test subjects.

A 2006 British study investigated the acute and long-term effects of L-dopa on aspects of attention and cognition in 60 test subjects with Parkinson’s disease and they found that L-DOPA improved alertness in all subjects, with and without dementia.

Another 2012 study, from the Emory University School of Medicine, Georgia, USA, using 63 patients, found that levodopa increased daytime alertness in PD patients.

9. L-Dopa Can Improve Sleep

Children with ADHD are often found to have difficulty in falling asleep. A 2013 Italian study, observed the effect of levodopa on 35 children with ADHD. Treatment with levodopa helped improve their sleep, it reduced sleep disturbances as well as the time it took to fall asleep.

A 2014 French study investigated whether L-dopa treatment alleviates sleep disorders. The researchers conducted experiments on macaques (monkeys) and they found that L-Dopa caused significant, improvement in all sleep parameters, including daytime sleep episodes, sleep fragmentation and night time sleep efficiency.

In a US study that observed 6 PD patients with periodic limb movements, increasing their dosage of levodopa over a two week period improved their sleep, especially in the first few hours.

10. Levodopa has Pain Relieving Properties

A study conducted in 2013 by the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, used 14 test subjects with Parkinson’s, suffering from severe pain, and the researchers observed that dopaminergic treatment using L-Dopa reduced pain intensity.

 L-DOPA decreased pain sensitivity to a hot plate, in sleep-deprived rats, in a 2011 study from the Department of Pharmacology and Psychobiology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The rats had shown decreased numbers of dopaminergic neurons in their periaqueductal gray matter, which is a crucial brain area responsible for pain control. So increasing brain levels of dopamine using L-Dopa helped reduce the pain.

A 2004 Japanese study investigated the antinociceptive mechanism of L-DOPA. The researchers used mice for their experiments and observed that

“L-DOPA relieves pain after conversion to dopamine, with the dopamine sedating pain transmission by way of the dopamine D2 receptor.”

Side effects of L-Dopa

As proven by various studies and user experience, Levodopa is generally safe and well tolerated by Parkinson’s patients as well as healthy individuals. But many side effects have been reported by users, especially when the drug is consumed for very long periods.

Dyskinesia, involuntary and abnormal muscle movements, is a common problem faced by long term treatment with L-Dopa. Agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, confusion, hypotension or low blood pressure, insomnia, vivid dreams and hair loss are some of the other relevant side effects reported by users.

Recommended Dosage of Levodopa

250 mg of levodopa, 2 to 4 times a day, is usually recommended as the oral dosage of levodopa, along with carbidopa, in Parkinson’s disease. This dosage can be increased to a maximum of 2000 mg per day.

According to a British study, “Low-dose L-dopa therapy (up to 400 mg/day), remains the most effective initial treatment of choice for the majority of patients.”

Though the dosage of levodopa varies from person to person, based on requirements, it takes 3 to 4 months of usage to establish a stable regimen. The dosage will need to be monitored and adjusted for long term use, especially in PD patients, as the effectiveness of the drug may reduce with prolonged usage.

Combining levodopa with certain other medications can help minimize undesirable side effects and improve the effectiveness of the medicine. Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors are drugs that inhibit dopamine breakdowns and when administered in combination with L-Dopa, they help stabilize the levels of dopamine.

Conclusion

Though levodopa is most popular as an effective Parkinson’s medication, healthy people can also benefit from its nootropic effects. Mucuna pruriens, a natural herbal supplement, is a great source of L-Dopa. Also called the Dopa bean, Mucuna pruriens, has been used for centuries in traditional healing practices such as Ayurveda.

As a brain chemical that affects emotions, dopamine plays a vital role in motivation, pleasure and mood. Lowered levels of dopamine in your brain can leave you feeling lethargic, unfocused and depressed.  L-Dopa has been found to lower stress, improve motivation and focus, elevate mood and boost sex drive. Levodopa has adaptogenic capabilities and can help prevent stress by regulating the hormones that deal with stress.

If you are looking for a nootropic or ‘smart drug’ to improve your cognitive capabilities, memory and focus, give L-dopa a try. It is important to cycle the supplement and take it for only few days in a week to avoid becoming tolerant or dependent on it.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

The post Mucuna Pruriens: 10 Amazing Benefits of Levodopa You Didn’t Know About appeared first on Nootropics Resources.

Unlike modern-day medications that tend to suppress stress, adaptogens are herbs that help prevent stress by balancing, restoring and protecting the body. Since ancient times, Indian and Chinese healers have been using various herbs for their adaptogenic and nootropic capabilities. The nootropic effects of Brahmi is recorded in ancient Ayurvedic texts that date back centuries. Ayurveda recommends the use of Brahmi for enhancing cognition and for memorizing long passages of text.

Bacopa Monnieri Plant Origin & Nutrition Facts

Bacopa monnieri belongs to the family Plantaginaceae. Bacopa grows best in wet, and sunny locations such as the marshy regions in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is native to the wetlands of India, Southeastern Asian countries, Australia, Europe, Africa, and South America.

This perennial creeper is also known by many other names such as water hyssop, herb of grace, Indian pennywort and thyme-leafed gratiola. Because of its ability to thrive under water, Bacopa is also popular as an aquatic plant for decorating aquariums.

Traditional medicinal preparations utilize most parts of the Bacopa plant while modern preparations use only the extracts of the Bacopa stem and leaves. Bacopa leaves contain saponins such as bacosides which provide the plant with therapeutic capabilities. Saponins are beneficial phytochemicals found in plants and they offer tremendous health benefits. Saponins have been found to support overall wellness, improve cholesterol levels and support the immune system. Studies have noted that purified bacosides enhance mental function and learning ability.

7 Proven Health Benefits of Bacopa Monnieri

1. Bacopa Enhances Intellect and Memory

Bacopa monnieri is considered to be a “medhya rasayana”  in Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine in India, Medhya Rasayanas are a group of medicinal plants with numerous benefits, especially for improving memory and intellect. Medha literally means ‘intellect’ in the Sanskrit language and Rasayana indicates a ‘therapeutic procedure’.

Regular use of medhya rasayanas is believed to boost health, intellect, memory, immunity and longevity. Bacopa is a common ingredient in various Ayurvedic herbal formulations used for treating mental issues such as memory loss, anxiety, concentration loss and poor cognition

A study conducted by the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Adilabad, India, revealed that rats treated with Bacopa monniera extract showed a significant improvement in spatial learning performance and enhanced memory retention. The researchers concluded that :

“The constituents present in Bacopa monnieri extract have neuronal dendritic growth-stimulating properties.”

Dendrites or dendrons are branched extensions of nerve cells in the brain. They conduct electrical messages to the neuron cell body and play a major role in learning and memory formation.

Researchers from the School of Biophysical Science and Electrical Engineering, Victoria, Australia studied the chronic effects of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. The test participants were administered 300 mg of Bacopa for a period of 12 weeks. They found that

“ The Bacopa extract improved higher order cognitive processes that are critically dependent on the input of information from our environments such as learning and memory.”

Compared to the placebo group, the subjects who took the bacopa supplement daily displayed significant improvement in their speed of processing visual information, learning rate, and memory.

A 2012 study from Thailand supplemented 60 healthy elderly subjects, 23 males and 37 females, with standardized extracts of Bacopa monnieri (300 and 600 mg) or placebo once daily for a period of 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted before beginning treatment, and at every four weeks during the study period, and once again at four weeks after the supplementation was stopped. Compared to the placebo treatment, the Bacopa treated group displayed improved working memory. The study concluded that:

“Bacopa monnieri can improve attention, cognitive processing, and working memory partly via the suppression of AChE activity.”

2. Bacopa Has Powerful Antioxidant Properties

Bacopa monnieri is a great health supplement for the health conscious as it has powerful antioxidant properties. All living organisms need oxygen for their survival. But when oxygen is utilized by our cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals are formed. Free radicals have a beneficial role in certain physiological functions, but in excessive quantities, free radicals cause oxidative damage to fundamental building blocks in our bodies such as proteins, lipids and even our DNA.

Such oxidative damage can arrest growth, accelerate aging and increases the risk of several pathological conditions in the human body. Scavenging these ROS and free radicals can help alleviate such diseases completely. Several herbal extracts have been found to have antioxidant properties and one of the most prominent among these is Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri. Ayurvedic healers use Bacopa monnieri for treating various ailments such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The primary active component in Bacopa monnieri, the bacosides, have been noted for their ability to neutralize free radicals. Bacosides are able to prevent fat molecules from reacting with free radicals. Researchers from the Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, India recorded that Bacopa monnieri has the therapeutic potential for managing diseases caused by oxidative stress and ROS by acting as a free radical scavenger.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction cause neuronal cell death and this, in turn, leads to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. A 2015 study conducted by the Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine and Framingham Heart Study, USA, with animal and in vitro studies, observed that Bacopa monnieri is a dietary antioxidant, with several modes of action that may protect the brain against oxidative damage. Several studies using the CDRI08 extract (a special extract of Bacopa monnieri) have shown that this herb has the potential to improve cognitive function in humans.

Free radicals can react with fat molecules resulting in lipid peroxidation, and this is linked to several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A 2012 study conducted by the Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, India, recorded that supplementation with Bacopa monnieri reversed the memory impairment observed in colchicine-induced cognitive impairment in rats.

3. Bacopa Increases Resistance to Stress

As an adaptogenic herb, Bacopa monnieri can help prevent anxiety and stress, by increasing the body’s resistance to stress. A study conducted by the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India investigated the adaptogenic property of Bacopa Monniera extract against acute and chronic stress models in rats. And they discovered that Bacopa monnieri extracts have potent adaptogenic activity.

A 2014 study by the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, used 17 healthy volunteers, to study the adaptogenic and nootropic effects of Bacopa monnieri. The researchers observed positive mood effects in their test subjects, as the Bacopa intake led to a reduction in cortisol levels. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone in our body.

A study from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, investigated the anxiolytic activity of a standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri and the results were compared with those elicited by lorazepam, a prescription medication used to treat anxiety. The researchers concluded that:

“Bacopa produced a dose-related anxiolytic activity, qualitatively comparable to that of lorazepam, in all the test parameters. As was evidenced by using the rota-rod test, Bacopa did not produce any significant motor deficit, at the doses used.”

Though widely used, benzodiazepine anxiolytics have an amnesic action while Bacopa has a major advantage in the fact that it promotes cognition. Researchers from the Helfgott Research Institute, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, USA, conducted a study to evaluate effects of Bacopa monnieri whole plant standardized dry extract on cognitive function, its safety and tolerability in healthy elderly study participants. The study used 48 test subjects, who were divided into two groups. One group was given the placebo while the other group was given 300 mg/day Bacopa monnieri extract.

The researchers concluded that Bacopa has the potential for safely enhancing cognitive performance in the aging. The Bacopa patients exhibited improved memory and concentration powers, lowered depression and anxiety and their heart rate decreased over time when compared to the placebo group.

4. Bacopa Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Inflammation is a part of our body’s immune system response, to fight off infections and heal the body. But long term or chronic inflammation leads to many other medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, etc.  In Ayurveda, Bacopa monnieri is used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Several modern biomedical studies using animal models have noted that Bacopa monnieri inhibits the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6.

A 2014 study conducted by the University of Montana, USA, examined Bacopa’s ability to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from microglial cells, the immune cells of the brain that participate in inflammation in the Central Nervous System (CNS). The researchers also studied the effect of Bacopa on signaling enzymes associated with CNS inflammatory pathways. They prepared and used various extracts of Bacopa such as tea, infusion, alkaloid extracts of bacopa and bacosides. The test result was concluded as :

“Bacopa inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines from microglial cells and inhibits enzymes associated with inflammation in the brain. Thus, Bacopa can limit inflammation in the CNS, and offers a promising source of novel therapeutics for the treatment of many CNS disorders”

Another 2014 Australian study acknowledged that the Ayurvedic herb Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri is effective in relieving acute pain and inflammation, by selective inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme and consequent reduction in COX-2-mediated prostanoid mediators. Their study provided supportive evidence that

“Bacopa monnieri can help manage diseases involving chronic systemic and brain inflammation driven by the innate immune system.”

There have been many other studies, test tube and animal studies, that proved Bacopa monnieri has the ability to inhibit enzymes which play key roles in inflammation and pain, such as cyclooxygenases, caspases, and lipoxygenases. An Indian study using Ayurvedic preparations of Bacopa monnieri revealed that Bacopa may partially mediate its anti-inflammatory activity by interfering with the action of prostaglandins and by stabilization of the lysosomal membranes. The researchers found Bacopa’s anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of indomethacin.

Another Indian study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri (BME). For some tests, the researchers used bacoside fractions prepared from the BME. They concluded that:

“Bacopa monnieri possesses anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of COX and LOX and downregulation of TNF-alpha.”

5. Bacopa Relieves ADHD Symptoms

Bacopa monnieri supplementation can significantly reduce Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. ADHD is not a disease, it is a neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized mostly by symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness. These symptoms represent a final common behavioral pathway for a range of emotional, psychological, and/or learning problems.

A 2014 study conducted at the Center for Research in Mental Retardation (CREMERE) in Mumbai, India, investigated the effectiveness of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in relieving the severity of the symptoms of ADHD in children. The open-label study was for 2 years, from 2008 to 2010. 31 children, 6 to 12 years of age, with an age of onset of ADHD before 7 years of age participated in the trial.

The children were given daily doses of 225 mg of Bacopa extract for a period of 6 months. Except for social problems, there was a significant reduction in all other ADHD symptoms. The symptom scores for restlessness, self-control, learning problems, impulsivity, and psychiatric problems were all reduced considerably by the intake of Bacopa monnieri.

Another 2014 study conducted by the ADHD and Adaptation Clinic, Sheba Medical Center, Israel evaluated the efficacy of a compound herbal preparation in improving attention, cognition, and impulse control in children with ADHD. 120 children, aged 6 to 12 years, were included in this study. A dose of 3 ml of the herbal blend or placebo was given to the participants three times daily, before meals.

The herbal blend, which contained 125 mg of Bacopa monnieri, was found to improve attention, cognition, and impulse control in the intervention group.

6. Bacopa Inhibits Cancer Cell Growth

Bacopa monnieri is receiving a lot of attention these days for its potential in cancer treatments. Various studies, test tube and animal models, have noted that Bacopa may have anticancer properties.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive type of brain tumor. Researchers from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, India found that the extracts of Bacopa monnieri and its bioactive component Bacoside A induces tumor cell death in human glioblastoma cell lines through catastrophic macropinocytosis.

The ethanolic extract of Bacopa monnieri contains bacoside A and B, brahmin, cucurbitacins, and betulinic acid. Cucurbitacins have strong anti-tumorigenic and anti-proliferative activity and they induce cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and formation of multiplied cells. The presence of cucurbitacins and betulinic acid display the anticancer potential of Bacopa.

A 2013 study from the University of Mysore, India, found that Bacopa was useful in treating breast cancer. Aquaporins are membrane proteins. Also called water channels, aquaporins facilitate the transport of water between cells. A 2018 Australian study investigated the anti-tumor potential of bacopaside II in colon cancer cells. Bacopaside II is an extract from Bacopa monnieri and it blocks the Aquaporin-1 water channel and impairs migration of cells that express Aquaporin. The researchers concluded that

“Bacopaside II inhibits colon cancer cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.”

In short, the bacosides in Bacopa monnieri have the ability to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, colon cancer cells, and even kill aggressive brain tumor cells.

7. Bacopa Lowers High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is a medical condition in which pressure in the blood vessels is higher than it should be. The amount

of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries determine your blood pressure. When the heart pumps more blood or your arteries become narrow, your blood pressure becomes high. This puts a strain on the heart, weakening it and increasing your risk of heart disease. High blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke.

Many studies have observed that Bacopa monnieri can help maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Research suggests that Bacopa monnieri may help keep blood pressure within a healthy range. In a 2011 study conducted by the Naresuan University, Thailand, the researchers investigated the cardiovascular actions of Bacopa monnieri. To provide insights to its clinical applications, they assessed the effects of Bacopa on blood pressure and on isolated arteries. They concluded that:

“Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) reduces blood pressure partly via releasing nitric oxide from the endothelium, with additional actions on vascular smooth muscle Ca(2+) homeostasis. Some Brahmi ingredients could be efficacious antihypertensives and the vasodilation could account for some medicinal actions.”

In other words, intake of Bacopa helps lower blood pressure as Bacopa releases nitric oxide which in turn dilates the blood vessels. This helps improve the blood flow and lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Another study from Thailand, using rats, found that:

Bacopa significantly lowered the blood pressure in hypertensive rats, though it showed no effect on rats with normal blood pressure levels.

Side Effects of Bacopa monnieri 

• Bacopa monnieri is generally considered safe for consumption and most people do not experience any side effects. There have been reports of nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea in certain people who are more sensitive to medications.
• Since no studies have been conducted on the safety of Bacopa usage during pregnancy, pregnant women are advised to avoid taking bacopa supplements.
• Bacopa may interact with other medications such as amitriptyline, a medication used for pain relief. So if you are taking any medicines, it’s advisable to discuss such interaction possibilities with your physician, before starting on Bacopa monnieri supplements

Dosages: How to Use Bacopa monnieri

The recommended dosages for Bacopa monnieri range from 300 to 450 mg per day. Start at a lower dose and increase the dosage slowly, over a period of time, to give your body the time to adapt. This helps avoid unpleasant side effects such as nausea or diarrhea.

Bacopa is available in the market in many forms – as powder, oil, liquid extracts and as capsules. You can purchase Bacopa monnieri online or from a reputed health store. Bacopa can be used as an ingredient in meals. Grind it and use it as part of a tasty dip or you can infuse the Brahmi leaves to make an excellent rejuvenating tea.

Tea can also be prepared easily by mixing Brahmi powder. It can also be mixed with ghee, before adding adequate warm water, to make a herbal drink. Another tasty option is to make your favorite fruit smoothie and add in the bacopa powder while blending it.

Conclusion

Bacopa monnieri is a much safer option as a nootropic and adaptogen, in comparison to many of the modern day nootropics. Bacopa or Brahmi has been used widely and safely for centuries by the Indian and Chinese traditional healers. Ayurveda promotes the use of Brahmi as an ancient herbal remedy for all brain related disorders and requirements such as boosting cognition, improved memory and concentration.

Human and animal studies conducted by various institutions have all come to the conclusion that Bacopa monnieri can indeed boost brain functions, prevent stress and treat ADHD symptoms. Bacopa even has anti-inflammatory properties, and the potential to help lower high blood pressure and arrest the growth of cancer cells. More and more research is being conducted to confirm these seemingly magical properties of this humble herb and the results are most promising.

Anju Mobin

Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist who writes health and wellness articles online. The holder of two graduate degrees, she combines her passion for advertising with her knowledge of the health industry to create custom content for healthcare products. She is the founder and editor of the health website fitnesshacks.org. Find out more about her from her LinkedIn profile or contact her at anjumobin@gmail.com.

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