The Herb Stop Blog
Top 6 Herbal Nootropics For Improving Mental Focus & Nerve Health
Picture this.
It’s the middle of the week, and you’re feeling mentally worn down, struggling to focus, and you can’t seem to come up with any creative solutions or ideas for work or your personal life.
We’ve all been there.
Unfortunately, this is a very frustrating state to be in.
You may be asking yourself what you can do to improve your focus, creativity, and overall nerve health. If you’ve recently been searching online for answers, you’ve likely come across the term “nootropics.”
This begs the question - what is a nootropic?
A nootropic is any drug or supplement that has claims to improve your mental and cognitive function, which could include claims to improve your memory, creativity, focus, or motivation levels.
While nootropics have only recently been a buzzword, they’ve been in use for far longer. Today, we want to share with you some of the top herbal nootropics available for supporting your cognitive function and overall nerve health.
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericum erinaceus) is a popular nootropic that may promote improved cognitive function, creativity, motivation, and memory.
During studies, Lion’s Mane Mushroom has been found to stimulate the synthesis of the protein affecting the Nerve Growth Factor. The Nerve Growth Factor protein supports healthy nerve cell function and nerve cell growth.
Lion’s Mane may be an excellent choice for you if you’re looking for a nootropic that supports your overall cognitive function and nerve health.
Ashwagandha
Also known as Indian Ginseng, Ashwagandha is traditionally used for nervous exhaustion and fatigue due to stress. Ashwagandha also supports deeper, dreamless sleep, which can further nourish your body and mind and improve your focus and mental state.
We typically recommend Ashwagandha to those looking to combat stress, promote deeper sleep, and increase their energy levels after high stress.
For maximum support, we recommend our Ashwagandha capsules.
Other great ways to include Ashwagandha in your diet include our Gentle Strength Tea, which is terrific for promoting improved brain function and a calmer state of mind. As well as our Adapto-Gen Capsules, which feature a blend of herbs including Ashwagandha that can help the body and mind cope with stress better.
Rhodiola
Rhodiola rosea is a hardy flower that grows in the frigid, mountainous Arctic environment in Europe, Asia, and North America.
This tough flower is a favorite aid in helping us to soothe and manage our stress levels. Other benefits include supporting a healthy immune system and increasing endurance.
We offer Rhodiola rosea in both pure capsule form and within our Adapto-Gen Capsules blend.
In addition to those options, our Expanded Memory Power Shake mixture includes Rhodiola rosea and many other memory and brain function supporting herbs and a touch of maple syrup to make this a morning treat you’ll look forward to - both for a morning boost and the yummy taste!
For those of you that don’t love taking capsules or are looking for creative ways to add herbal supplements to your everyday diet, the Expand Memory Power Shake mixture can also be added to oatmeal, yogurt, bread, cereal, and other drinks.
Caffeine
Easily the most recognizable nootropic on this list, caffeine is popular for a reason!
As for its benefits, caffeine may improve your focus, attention, and alertness. While many of you may already be drinking coffee or caffeinated tea in the morning, we have a couple of fabulous caffeinated blends that you may also enjoy adding to your repertoire:
Ginkgo
As one of the oldest and most well-researched herbs globally, Gingko is touted for its ability to stimulate blood flow to the brain. Gingko may support the memory and different mental processes like managing stress. One study on Gingko found that it significantly improved mental recall in those taking it over six weeks compared to the placebo group.
Gingko promotes healthy circulation, which may increase blood flow to the brain, giving the brain more oxygen. Increased oxygen to the brain may relieve headaches, which can also help to improve alertness and memory.
We offer Gingko in both capsule form and in our Quick Thought Capsule blend, which supports mental endurance and stamina.
Our Memo Right Capsules blend also contains Ginkgo along with other memory enhancing and clarity promoting herbs.
B Vitamin Supplements
B Vitamins are widely praised for their ability to cultivate lasting energy and mental alertness. B Vitamins may also aid the mind in stress recovery, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase your focus.
Our B Alert Power Shake is designed to provide you with a boost of B vitamins to promote alertness and energy. This herb-packed shake powder is an excellent addition to shakes, juices, and other foods, like cereal, breads, or oatmeal. We recommend using this in the morning to give your mind a mental jolt.
We hope this blog post gave you some ideas for ways that you can supplement and support your cognitive function, nerve health, and mental focus!
Tschau mittenand,
Leilah & Natalie