How to Improve Memory With Herbs

Doesn't it drive you crazy when you forget where you've put something important? We don't think about our memory much, until we forget to do something or forget where we put something. Our memories can get a little fuzzy as we get older, but there are some herbs you can take and some things you can do to make sure that your memory stays as healthy as possible until your final days. Christopher Hobbs says in his book “Herbal Remedies for Dummies:” "Poor memory often occurs in the elderly as the brain is progressively starved for blood, oxygen and nutrients as the blood vessels are clogged and hardened from a poor diet, stress and stimulants... Poor memory sometimes results from inadequate exercising of the brain. As you get older, keep stimulating and challenging your mind, for example, by taking a new course of study every five or ten years." It's a matter of "use it or lose it."

Things You'll Need

• St. John’s wort, either dried herb, capsules or tincture
• Gotu kola herb (Centella asiatica), either dried herb, capsules or tincture
• Ginseng root
• Nettle leaf
• Water

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Instructions

• 1

  Make lists. Even if you are simply going to another room of your house to pick up something you need, sometimes you might forget why you’re there once you arrive.

• 2

  Develop habits that will reduce your stress level, as this can lead to memory problems. Deep breathing, yoga, meditation, simple stretching and regular exercise can help. Keep your heart pumping with some cardiovascular exercises and try not to worry. And eat fresh fruits and veggies and avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol and sugary snacks. Drink plenty of water.

• 3

  Try taking gingko biloba or gotu kola herbal formulas. Ginkgo improves blood circulation to the brain and other parts of the body. For tincture: Take two to four full droppers of tincture made from fresh or dried gingko or gotu kola, two to three times daily. You can also put a few fresh leaves of gotu kola in your salad if you grow it, but be sure to do it every day.

• 4

  Take the herbs on a regular basis. Many herbs can take one or more months to "kick in," so after you start taking an herb, keep it up every day. If you miss a dose, get back on track with your next dose and then try to remember to take it regularly.