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Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden : Column Index : 2005 : Mar205
Coming Soon...
Don't Forget! Herbs and Tricks for Improving Your Memory
Doesn't it drive you crazy when you forget where you've put something important? It happens to me a lot! We don't think about our memory much, until we forget to do something or forget where we put something. When I was going through "the worst of" menopause, I had to walk around my house with a written list of things to do and things to get in other rooms, because by the time I got there, I would have forgotten. This type of memory problem afflicts many women and for you, I can happily say, "it does get better." For the rest of us, 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 you until your final days.
Understanding Memory Problems
I know that I quote Christopher Hobbs' book Herbal Remedies for Dummies a lot, but it is a great reference source, so here goes again: "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."
Memory problems can sometimes indicate a serious medical condition. The web site www.dementia.com says that dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction, which gradually affects a person's ability to successfully navigate daily activities. The most well known type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. If your memory problems or those of a loved one are serious, please consult with your medical care professional.
Herbs To Help Your Memory
The classic herb for improving brain and memory functions is Ginkgo biloba, available in capsule form at drugstores and as a tincture or bulk dried herb at natural food stores. Ginkgo improves blood circulation to the brain and other parts of the body. It can also help to improve sociability and mood, and to reduce anxiety, tension, headaches, visual problems and even tinnitus, according to Michael Tierra in his book The Way of Herbs. The Dummies book says "you're better off using the tincture for mild conditions or prevention, or the standardized extract for moderate to severe conditions, especially for long-term use."
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) grows wild here as a small groundcover plant with small, round, scalloped leaves. It even has a Hawaiian name: pohe kula; it was introduced to Hawai`i in ancient times. As with many Hawaiian plants and plant medicine practices, we know little about how it was used in prehistoric times, but Dr. Arthur Whistler says that gotu kola was used in ancient Polynesia to treat eye ailments, migraine headaches, and as a poultice for swellings and boils. In his book Polynesian Herbal Medicine, Whistler states that it also contains an antibiotic used to treat leprosy, but the ancient Hawaiians did not suffer from this disfiguring disease until the first explorers and whalers introduced it from other places, so this use of gotu kola was developed in more recent times.
The Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines reports no adverse side effects associated with taking either ginkgo or gotu kola. However, you might experience a negative reaction if you combine ginkgo with certain prescription medicines, such as anticoagulants, antiplatelets and aspirin: hemorrhages have been reported for a very small number of patients who combined ginkgo with such anticoagulant drugs.
Recipes For Better Memory
For ginkgo: Take 2 to 3 full droppers of tincture daily for one or two months for prevention of memory problems or for mild to moderate symptoms. For longer-term use or moderate to severe symptoms, Christopher Hobbs recommends that you take 1 capsule or tablet (60 milligrams) 2 or 3 times daily.
For gotu kola: The Dummies book says to take 2 to 4 full droppers of the tincture or 2 to 3 cups of tea made from fresh or dried gotu kola, 2 to 3 times daily. You can also put a few fresh leaves in your salad, but be sure to do it every day and beware: if you start getting headaches, reduce your dosage.
Christopher's herbal formulas: (1) Drink gingko or gotu kola tea with some rosemary thrown in. (2) Mix 1 tablespoon each of ginkgo leaf, gotu kola, ginseng root, wild oats and nettle or mamaki in 4 cups of drinking water in a non-metallic pan such as Pyrex, bring it to a boil, then turn off the heat and allow it to steep for 20 minutes. Strain it and then drink 1 cup of this tea 2 or 3 times daily, before meals.
Dosage and Regularity Are So Important
Because herbs are generally milder than prescription medicines, and their effects are often more subtle, it is important to be patient and follow a strict regimen when you begin taking any herb for a specific symptom or disease. 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.
Lifestyle Habits Can Also Help
Try to 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-your mother was right-eat your fresh fruits and veggies and avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, and sugary snacks. And drink plenty of water. If you smoke pot, consider reducing your consumption if you're having trouble remembering things.
Don't Forget! Herbs and Tricks for Improving Your Memory
Doesn't it drive you crazy when you forget where you've put something important? It happens to me a lot! We don't think about our memory much, until we forget to do something or forget where we put something. When I was going through "the worst of" menopause, I had to walk around my house with a written list of things to do and things to get in other rooms, because by the time I got there, I would have forgotten. This type of memory problem afflicts many women and for you, I can happily say, "it does get better." For the rest of us, 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 you until your final days.
Understanding Memory Problems
I know that I quote Christopher Hobbs' book Herbal Remedies for Dummies a lot, but it is a great reference source, so here goes again: "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."
Memory problems can sometimes indicate a serious medical condition. The web site www.dementia.com says that dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction, which gradually affects a person's ability to successfully navigate daily activities. The most well known type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. If your memory problems or those of a loved one are serious, please consult with your medical care professional.
Herbs To Help Your Memory
The classic herb for improving brain and memory functions is Ginkgo biloba, available in capsule form at drugstores and as a tincture or bulk dried herb at natural food stores. Ginkgo improves blood circulation to the brain and other parts of the body. It can also help to improve sociability and mood, and to reduce anxiety, tension, headaches, visual problems and even tinnitus, according to Michael Tierra in his book The Way of Herbs. The Dummies book says "you're better off using the tincture for mild conditions or prevention, or the standardized extract for moderate to severe conditions, especially for long-term use."
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) grows wild here as a small groundcover plant with small, round, scalloped leaves. It even has a Hawaiian name: pohe kula; it was introduced to Hawai`i in ancient times. As with many Hawaiian plants and plant medicine practices, we know little about how it was used in prehistoric times, but Dr. Arthur Whistler says that gotu kola was used in ancient Polynesia to treat eye ailments, migraine headaches, and as a poultice for swellings and boils. In his book Polynesian Herbal Medicine, Whistler states that it also contains an antibiotic used to treat leprosy, but the ancient Hawaiians did not suffer from this disfiguring disease until the first explorers and whalers introduced it from other places, so this use of gotu kola was developed in more recent times.
The Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines reports no adverse side effects associated with taking either ginkgo or gotu kola. However, you might experience a negative reaction if you combine ginkgo with certain prescription medicines, such as anticoagulants, antiplatelets and aspirin: hemorrhages have been reported for a very small number of patients who combined ginkgo with such anticoagulant drugs.
Recipes For Better Memory
For ginkgo: Take 2 to 3 full droppers of tincture daily for one or two months for prevention of memory problems or for mild to moderate symptoms. For longer-term use or moderate to severe symptoms, Christopher Hobbs recommends that you take 1 capsule or tablet (60 milligrams) 2 or 3 times daily.
For gotu kola: The Dummies book says to take 2 to 4 full droppers of the tincture or 2 to 3 cups of tea made from fresh or dried gotu kola, 2 to 3 times daily. You can also put a few fresh leaves in your salad, but be sure to do it every day and beware: if you start getting headaches, reduce your dosage.
Christopher's herbal formulas: (1) Drink gingko or gotu kola tea with some rosemary thrown in. (2) Mix 1 tablespoon each of ginkgo leaf, gotu kola, ginseng root, wild oats and nettle or mamaki in 4 cups of drinking water in a non-metallic pan such as Pyrex, bring it to a boil, then turn off the heat and allow it to steep for 20 minutes. Strain it and then drink 1 cup of this tea 2 or 3 times daily, before meals.
Dosage and Regularity Are So Important
Because herbs are generally milder than prescription medicines, and their effects are often more subtle, it is important to be patient and follow a strict regimen when you begin taking any herb for a specific symptom or disease. 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.
Lifestyle Habits Can Also Help
Try to 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-your mother was right-eat your fresh fruits and veggies and avoid consuming too much caffeine, alcohol, and sugary snacks. And drink plenty of water. If you smoke pot, consider reducing your consumption if you're having trouble remembering things.
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