Herbs for Memory
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Name not given
Posted on: November 20, 2000

Hi, I had been taking ginkgo biloba for many years, with my blood pressure pill Accupril. Also if I needed an aspirin I took one or two. Now I hear that that was a very dangerous thing to do. Can you tell me what other herb is good for your memory that I could safely take? I also take Zaanyx, I hope that is the right spelling. One in the A.M, and one at night. I would like to know as I am getting older and things are coming to me a little slower, like remembering a movie actress or a first name, which I hear happens sometimes after 6o and maybe sooner.

Ginkgo may contribute to dangerous blood thinning in the presence of aspirin and other blood-thinning medications.

Exercise and diet are the main factors contributing to healthy brain function. The brain needs a good supply of blood to function optimally. Exercise improves blood circulation. Fatty foods such as fatty meats, dairy products, desserts and sauces, can clog the arteries with fat, decreasing blood flow to the brain. Alcohol kills brain cells. Antioxidants, especially in fresh fruit and vegetables, have a positive effect on the blood vessels. Foods high in the B vitamins nourish nerve and brain tissue: baked potato, sweet potato, chickpeas, turkey and bananas. Nuts, seeds and fatty fish such as salmon, sardiines, herring and mackerel, provide essential fatty acids, which nourish the brain. Blueberries have shown to improve learning and memory in animals in research laboratories.

Other herbs that can be taken for memory improvement are: Rosemary which stimulates blood circulation and the nervous system, and is an ancient remedy for memory loss; Oats, which nourishes and strengthens nerve tissue; Cayenne pepper, which stimulates blood circulation to the whole body, strengthening the heart, blood vessels and nerves; Ginger, which stimulates blood circulation and Gotu Kola, an ancient Indian brain tonic that purifies the blood, improves energy and relaxes the nervous system. Thomas Bartram, in "Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine" (available at Richters) recommends that Gotu Kola be taken for no longer than 6 weeks without a break.

For more information, please go to our website at http://www.richters.com, choose "Q&A" from the main menu choose, then choose "Medicinal Herbs and Their Uses" and search for the item " Herbs to Improve Memory ".

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