Top 10 Tips To Improve Memory by Yanlii

First things first - do you need to improve memory?
A well improved memory is a wonderful thing, it benefits you in all fields. Imagine not needing to write down phone numbers and remembering names of all people you encounter. If you are a pupil or student, imagine being able to remember all your study materials after a single read, or learning thousands of new words in other languages at the first try. If you are a senior then you would, too, benefit from memory exercises as memory usually starts to fade with age. Mathematicians, physicists, scientists, engineers, programmers and other proffessions that involve active thinking would greatly benefit from memory training. Imagine being able to remember everything from the first attempt. That would be great, wouldn't it? With practice - it is possible.

Recently I discovered myself a new hobby - memory training. Now I practice various memory exercises daily, and I want to share some tips. Currently there are 10 tips to improve your memory, but I will keep the lens updated with more information.

1. Play games to improve memory
Fun and improvement - the best combination
Play memory games. For example, chess. This game requires you to remember many possible moves ahead and countless combinations. If chess is too much of a challenge, try checkers or sudoku. Or if you are a gambler, try blackjack card counting techniques. Google more about MIT blackjack crew to see the benefits of card counting and a good memory. This game might not only improve your memory but also your income :)

I recommend this simple memory game for kids. Here is another game which is more advanced. When playing these memory games my tip is not to hurry and take time to remember each element and its place and associate it or link it to another element. Here is a large data-base of memory games.

From computer games I would recommend you quests, for example, Myst and Syberia are both beautiful games with challenging logical puzzles. Tons of adventure games can be found here.
2. Link method and story methods.
Bring your memories to life
This method is useful for remembering certain amount of things in a sequence. For example, a phone number 2501-555-106. Let's start giving each number their own face and character and try linking them in a bizarre situation with the next number. The event should look bizarre because unique things tend to soak in your brain much better than generic.

- Let's say number 2 got angry and hit number 5 two times in one eye and in the other.
- Now number 5 says:"I have no (zero) eyes", and decides to call number 1. oculist, who happens to be a mutant.
- Oculist has three arms with 5 fingers each(555).
- He grabs the the phone in the spare hand while playing mini golf under his TENt.
- The mutant oculist says that "you can come on Saturday (6)".

I used mixed link and story method to associate each event with the next one. The story is stupid and creepy, which is why it will stay in your brain. This exercise will also benefit your creativity.
3. Number/Rhyme system.
Code your memories
This is also good for short lists. It can be used, for example, to remember all of USA presidents in the correct order. The idea is to assign a word that rhymes with the number it is assigned to.

For example:
1. Sun
2. Shoe
3. Tree
4. Tour
...and so on up to ten.

You can assign whatever words you find to suit the number better.

Now let's try to remember top 4 famous historical figures from this list:
1. Mahatma Gandhi. Imagine MaHUTma Gandhi sitting in a HUT meditating and gazing in the SUN rise through the window.
2. Martin Luther King. Imagine a KING sitting in his throne, drinking martini, while servants are polishing his SHOES.
3. Rasputin. Imagine a character PUTting IN his RASp in a chest up a TREEhouse.
4. Winston Churchill. Imagine a person taking a TOUR to CHURCH of STONE.

PS
Magicians use this system to "guess" birth dates. I won't tell you how exactly they do it, because then I would be revealing magicians secrets :) I just wanted to inform you that this simple tactic is involved.
4. The Journey Method.
Journey through your memory
Use this technique by associating information with landmarks you know well. It could be your room, your flat, your house, your neighbourhood or your sreet. Let's say you need to remember to buy: potatoes, visit Joe, fix your car and buy a present.

Imagine starting the journey in your bedroom, going through the door and seeing potatoes rolling on the floor, then go through hallway and see your friend Joe sobbing lonely at the end of it, then walk out of house and notice your car going all crazy and drifting the yard, then walk further the street and notice a decorated tree with presents under it...you get the idea :) This method is extremely useful for longer lists.

If you are interested in finding more about link/story, alphabet/journey, phonic, peg and lot's of other memory training techniques, be sure to check out this course on memory improvement. What is great about this offer is that it comes along with software programs which will help you train your memory more efficiently. You can also get free lessons at the site. Highly recommended!


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5. Train your sensory memory.
Feel the world around you
Have you ever heard an old song and suddenly experienced a nostalgic feeling? Maybe you listened to this song when you had fallen in love. The same can be said for tastes and scents. Sometimes when you smell certain fragrance, you remember a place or a person, which was associated with it. I am getting in hypnosis now, but all I can say is when you are feeling very good and happy, try to concentrate on everything - the sounds, smells and tastes around. Close your eyes and feel them. This way when you will hear these sounds or feel certain scents later, your brain will automatically recall the nice feeling you had before.

This method is very close to hypnosis and hooking techniques. They are highly efficient if used properly. If you want to find out more about these techniques, I advise you reading "Master Your Memory" by Mike Teitelbaum.


Click Here To Find Out More About Memory Improvement Package

6. Learn foreign words with associations.
Give the words another meaning
For example, "Wall" in german is "Die Mauer", which sounds like MOWER in English! Now imagine Demi Moore driving a MOWER in to the wall. As the character is female, the word is feminine - article "die". You can do this for every word you find had to remember, and if you must remember articles, just use different characters for each article. For words with article 'der' use a male character, for words with 'die' - a female. For words with 'das' use something different, for example, an animal. This technique will also boost your creativity.
7. Visual perception exercise.
Pay attention to detail
This exercise is good for training visual memory and it is also used by bodyguards and high rank security personnel. It is simple and can be done anytime, anywhere. When you come in a room full with people, scan it quickly for couple of seconds. Then look away or close your eyes and try to recall how many people where there, what items were in the room, etc...when you can do this easily, try to recall how many women, men, children, animals were in the room, train, park, whatever. Then try to recall what type of clothing each of them had on. Then try to shorten examination time, until you can count how many skittles are on a plate in two seconds like Derren Brown.

Derren Brown said he developed this skill by counting characters in random words when he was a kid. For example, when you read an advertisement "Win Free Money", you automatically count "win - 3 letters + free - 4 letters + money 5 letters = 12 letters" or try to count only certain letters - how many a's, i's, e's, n's, m's are n the text?

I must also add that this technique goes hand to hand with Photographic memory training. If you want to get really good at it, I would advise you getting e-book about photographic memory training. There are tons of very useful tips, which I also use daily. Check it out, because the site also offers a FREE memory training course.



Claim Your FREE Photographic Memory E-Course Here!

8. Make yourself think!
Exercise your brain
If you watch TV shows, my tip is to watch only those which make you think about them afterwards. Lost is a good example (did they actually survive the plane crash?). Or read books on psychological and religious topics or mystery solving. A useful way to making yourself think is learning a new language.
9. Memorize things!
Do it old-school style
This could be tough, but try not to use cell phone contact option at all, try to memorize all the numbers, e-mails and names. Try to memorize the words in songs you hear, try to memorize poems, stories and jokes. While doing so remember to use the methods I mention in this lens.

Some studies have shown that modern children have worse memory than their ancestors, because of all the technologies available, which you can use to store everything in instead of your brain.

If that seems too hard for you, then might want to check out these simple strategies for improving your memory. These are especially useful for children at school age as they aren't too complicated but at the same time will greatly benefit learning capabilities.
10. Exercise!
Your brain will thank you
That's right! Physical exercise gets more oxygen in your brain. Researchers believe that there is a link between a healthy heart and a healthy brain. Meaning that exercises which are good for heart are also good for brain. These are aerobic exercises like running, cycling, swimming and others.

For seniors exercise is important because it lowers blood pressure which directly influences brain functionality.

That's enough tips for today :)
Memory Improvement

How to Keep Your Mind Sharp,

Everyone has seen or heard of someone with a photographic memory. We have also seen or know people afflicted with alzheimers, dementia, and low IQ's. Why do some people have such memory power and others either never have it or are stripped of it by disease and neglect.

Studies have shown that 50% of brain power and function is genetic, and 50% is environment derived. What that means is that, yes, there are some that are born better off than others - Just like some people are born with more wealth than the rest of us (Paris Hilton, Martin Sheen, etc...), but for every one inherently better off rich kid (spoiled brat) there are 3 or more selfstarters that have equaled or surpassed them with hard work. This is the same with inherent genius. This means that 50% of your brain power is a direct result of its environment - what it is exposed to, the activity it receives, and can be seriously developed to even surpass the born super geniuses.

The brain is very similar to a muscle. We have all heard of stories of the underdog in sports. Someone whom has overcome great difficulty, diseases like cancer (Lance Armstrong), etc... and risen to be the best - far exceeding people with better genetics, better training, etc... The brain is no different. The number one thing to increase your brain's thinking power is activity. Just like muscles it needs to be exercised and stretched out.

Dr's know that the way to avoid mental decline is to constantly expose the brain to new activities. Keep it active. Studies have shown that the harder you work your brain the more it will improve. It has actually been proven that those who work their minds the hardest have actually shown definite and marked improvement in scores on various intelligence tests. It has also been proven that stagnation will cause a marked decline on those same tests. This same activity has even been proved to help those whose minds have already started to decline - even in alzheimers patients.

Now, just like the body has many different muscles, the brain has numerous functions and each has its own area or region. This is why there is autism and savants like Rainman. Gentics just like the environment can lead to gross overdevelpment of a region and underdevelopment of others (autism). Just like body builders wouldn't want to just work on their chest muscles, you want to try and expand your whole range of thought for a more well rounded brain. There are many different areas of brain thought like short term and long term memory, spatial perception, logic, some even say there is an unknown area that has been related to psychics and communication with the unknown (studies have actually shown that there is an area of the mind unlinked with any known thought processes that is highly developed (extensive increases in neuropathways and blood flow) that is only seen in psychic and paranormal activities - interesting!

We will not go into how to exercise each of the areas of the brain as there are numerous books on this (a great one is by Harry Lorraine - The Memory Book. Just remember crossword puzzles, college and adult education classes, reading - especially different subject matter, brainstorming, etc... will all help you develope your mind and reach your peak mental fitness and potential. I just want you to realize how important it is to keep your mind active and sharp. This mental exercise will inherently improve your IQ, bolster your confidence, make you and your life more interesting, earn you more friends, and make you more money for all these same reasons, regardless your profession - what have you got to lose. Maybe through brainstorming and streching the limits of your mind you will invent new ideas, products, or maybe even start your own business. This is how we invented our patented headlight cleaner and restorer, formed a biochemical company, and became the number one supplier of TCA peel skin peels in the world. Start exercising your brain today - you never know where it may take you!

Top 10 Tips to Improve your Memory

Virtually every day we are required to remember a name, a face, a number, or some other piece of information. For many people it is a struggle. It no longer needs to be so - here is a list of ten great tips to improving your memory.

1. Patterns

An excellent way to remember a large number or phrase, is to look for patterns. Here is a simple example:

3810151722242931363843

The number appears to be random until you realize that it is following a pattern: add 5, then add 2, repeat. Once you know the pattern, you only need to remember the first number in the sequence. This can be a useful way to create a numeric password that changes regularly. Another way to use this system is to remember the numbers in the form of a numerical keyboard. You can use your spatial awareness to remember the number rather than just blind memorizing.

2. Associations

This is an excellent method for memorizing numbers. In this system, you associate portions of the number with a word that has some relation to it. For example:

74736052007365

Split the number up and make an association for each sequence. Doing so can give us a list like this: Jumbo Jet (747), XBox (360), Deck of Cards (52), James Bond (007), Days in the year (365). This method can again be used for passwords that are easy to remember. To help you remember your images, try to imagine a scene that incorporates all of the items. For example, you may see a calendar with a photograph of James Bond playing poker on his XBox on a private 747. Sounds weird, but it works.

3. Alphabetize

We are all very familiar with the system of alphabetization - we see it every day in phone books, online directories, and a variety of other places. If you have a list of words to remember, put them into alphabetical order. If you wanted to learn a very long list - such as the States of the USA, start with one state per letter. Once you have that memorized, go back and add another state for each letter. Repeat until the whole list is stored in your mind. You would be surprised how much more effective this is than just trying to remember the whole list in one go.

4. Categorize

In a way, alphabetizing is categorizing, but with this method you can go a lot further. If you have a big list of things to remember, you can find similarities and group them. For example a shopping list:

Apples, Shampoo, Cheese, Milk, Sugar, Bananas, Soap, Coconut, Flour

Now, reorder them into categories and we have this:

Fruit: Apples, Bananas
Dried Goods: Coconut, Sugar, Flour
Dairy: Milk, Cheese
Bathroom: Shampoo, Soap

Another great way to remember your categories (especially in the case of a shopping list) is to remember your categories in the order that they are found in the supermarket. For example, if your first aisle is Fruit, remember the fruit first and think of the fruit aisle while you are doing so.

5. Chunking

Chunking is such a useful method of remembering things that we all use it every day. The best example is telephone numbers. When we are told a phone number we have to remember we chunk it up - usually into area code - 3 digits - four digits. This is not out of conformity - it is because it is the most effective way to remember such random numbers. This is also an excellent way to remember long sequences like pi to n digits. Taking just four extra digits a day you can easily remember pi to many decimal places. Great for a party trick.


6. Images

This is the most effective way to remember a person’s name. If you meet John Key, imagine his face with a big key right in the center of his face. If you meet someone called Patty Grant, you can try to remember a meat patty wrapped in wads of cash. I will leave it up to your own imagination if you meet Bob Johnson. Another way to do this is to find an association between this person and someone else you know - imagine them shaking hands or standing next to each other.

7. Visualize

This is a very ancient technique of memorization called Loci. In this method you imagine a location (something easy like your home) and you place the objects you need to remember in to a different part of the room. The famous Cicero had this to say:

“One must employ a large number of places which must be well-lighted, clearly set out in order, at moderate intervals apart, and images which are active, which are sharply defined, unusual, and which have the power of speedily encountering and penetrating the mind.”

For example, if you need to remember a list of vegetables, put each vegetable in a different place in the room. When you need to recall the list, move in your mind through each location in the room and see what you put there. If you find this one especially helpful, you can expand on it by adding additional floors to your location.

8. Story Method

This one can be very fun. Make up a story and include all of the things you need to remember in it. The story can be totally ridiculous. Let’s say you need to remember to buy a bucket, a dozen apples, a hairbrush, and some kitty litter, you might make a story like this:

After Jane emptied the kitty litter from Felix’s dirtbox in to the red bucket, she gave him a good brushing with his new hairbrush while she ate an apple for lunch.

It is not the most thrilling or original story, but it can be very effective in helping you to remember your list


9. Mnemonics

A mnemonic is a word or short phrase that you can use to remember something because it is like a key to the rest of the information. For example, if you learned music as a child, you probably remember the phrase: “every good boy deserves fruit” - each word stands for a note on the musical staff - EGBDF. No doubt you were also taught a mnemonic to remember the colors of the rainbow as well.

Another slight variation is to use a phrase: desert and dessert: the sweet one has two sugars. We also use this to remember daylight savings time: Spring forward, fall back.

10. Senses

If you have to remember a word, try remembering it with your other senses. For example, if you have to remember to buy soap, try to conjure up an image of soap and whilst doing so, imagine what it smells like. You can also use your other senses in the same way: to remember to buy an alarm clock, remember the sound it makes when it goes off in the morning.

All of the items on this list can be used on their own, or in conjunction with the others to help you improve your memory. The more you practice these tips, the better you will become.

Source: 5 Minute Memory Workout

How to increase your memory

You should have left the house five minutes ago. Instead you're demolishing the place in search of your car keys. You finally find them (how on earth did they get there?) and pull up to the school just as the bell rings. That's when your six-year-old pouts, "Mommy, it's my day to bring snack, remember?" You race to the store, deliver a box of Goldfish to the teacher (no time to run home for the homemade treats you left in the fridge), and make it to work with seven minutes to spare until your very important meeting. The meeting for which you created a fabulous Power Point presentation, which is sure to impress your superiors. The Power Point that is saved on your laptop. On your desk. At home.

Wouldn't life be easier if you could only remember things better? Good news! You can boost your powers of recall and become healthier simultaneously.

Dr. Paul Bendheim, a renowned neurologist who specializes in memory loss and Alzheimer's disease says there is a way to actually increase your brain's function. Bendheim, an authority on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, helped pioneer a lifestyle program called BrainSavers (www.brainsavers.com), which emphasizes nutrition, memory enhancement exercises and physical fitness as a three-pronged approach to increase and preserve cognitive skills and even ward off Alzheimer's. Could this approach help you with your everyday recall?

"Absolutely!" says Bendheim. "The brain is like a muscle that needs to be exercised to increase memory and cognitive function."

Bendheim recommends building brain reserve over your lifetime. Professor Shlomo Breznitz, founder of CogniFit, Ltd., concurs, stating that just like a muscle the mind requires exercise to keep fit and strong and that you must either "use it or lose it!" In order to develop your "brain muscle" you should embark on what might be called a cognitive fitness program.

Cognitive skills include decision making, problem solving, and abstract thinking. Increasing these skills will not only improve your day-to-day memory function, but can help ward off Alzheimer's as you age.

MindFit is a brain power fitness software program created by CogniFit. (BrainSavers is a distributor of the software). A demo is available here . Also offered are a corporate program for employers, a program called "Back on Track" for breast cancer patients experiencing chemo fog (a beta version is available here, and a DriveFit program which can improve the different cognitive processes related to driving.

MindFit engages your mind by exercising your cognitive skills. Once you complete the evaluation section you will be able to log on daily and perform challenging, enjoyable scheduled tasks that border on addictive! Feedback is provided by a virtual "personal coach" and the software adapts to your training requirements.

Other ways to exercise your cognitive skills include seeking higher education, undertaking challenging employment opportunities, attending interesting and informative lectures, and even entertaining yourself with games of chess or mind-bending word puzzles.

Foods rich in antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids are the second aspect that should be considered, according to Bendheim. Make sure your diet includes loads of fresh produce, fish, healthy fats such as olive oil, and - if you are so inclined - a modest amount of wine. (BrainSavers offers delicious bars that are loaded with mind-enhancing nutrients.) Along with a healthy diet, supplements that can help improve your memory include vitamins C and E and ginkgo biloba.

The third factor of the memory building equation is physical fitness. Dr. Bendheim states that this aspect is very important.

"Even an aging, older brain can generate new cells with only modest physical exercise," affirms Bendheim.

Medical studies have shown that aerobic exercise will increase the number of neurons in the brain, the number of connections between neurons, and the even size of the frontal and temporal lobes.

You don't need to swim the English Channel or run the Boston Marathon, either. Any aerobic exercise - walking, swimming, biking - performed at a comfortable pace with only a slight increase in heart rate and breathing will do. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes, at least three times each week.


Other forms of exercise may help your memory improve as well. Nicole Persley, a certified yoga instructor in Fort Lauderdale, FL recommends yoga. Her fiancé Randy Schneider attests that since he started practicing yoga every morning, in particular headstands for two to five minutes, his memory has increased tremendously. Yoga helps improve concentration and focus, and spine lengthening postures can activate the spinal column and stimulate the nervous system. Inverted postures such as standing on one's head increase oxygen and blood circulation to the brain.

So get moving, make brain-nourishing food choices and work on increasing that brain muscle. Before you know it, you will find yourself walking out that door on time, with keys, snacks and laptop in hand. An added bonus: with all that healthful living, your memory will be the only thing that resembles an elephant!

Top 10 Memory Improvement tips

Before you study for your next exam, you might want to use a few strategies to boost your memory of important information. There are a number of tried and tested techniques for improving memory. These strategies have been established within cognitive psychology literature and offer a number of great ways to improve memory, enhance recall, and increase retention of information.

1. Focus your attention on the materials you are studying.
Attention is one of the major components of memory. In order for information to move from short-term memory into long-term memory, you need to actively attend to this information. Try to study in a place free of distractions such as television, music, and other diversions.2. Avoid cramming by establishing regular study sessions.
According to Bjork (2001), studying materials over a number of session’s gives you the time you need to adequately process the information. Research has shown that students who study regularly remember the material far better that those did all of their studying in one marathon session.3. Structure and organize the information you are studying.
Researchers have found that information is organized in memory in related clusters. You can take advantage of this by structuring and organizing the materials you are studying. Try grouping similar concepts and terms together, or make an outline of your notes and textbook readings to help group related concepts. 4. Utilize mnemonic devices to remember information.
Mnemonic devices are a technique often used by students to aid in recall. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. For example, you might associate a term you need to remember with a common item that you are very familiar with. The best mnemonics are those that utilize positive imagery, humor, or novelty. You might come up with a rhyme, song, or joke to help remember a specific segment of information.5. Elaborate and rehearse the information you are studying.
In order to recall information, you need to encode what you are studying into long-term memory. One of the most effective encoding techniques is known as elaborative rehearsal. An example of this technique would be to read the definition of a key term, study the definition of that term, and then read a more detailed description of what that term means. After repeating this process a few times, your recall of the information will be far better. 6. Relate new information to things you already know.
When you are studying unfamiliar material, take the time to think about how this information relates to things that you already know. By establishing relationships between new ideas and previously existing memories, you can dramatically increase the likelihood of recalling the recently learned information.7. Visualize concepts to improve memory and recall.
Many people benefit greatly from visualizing the information they study. Pay attention to the photographs, charts, and other graphics in your textbooks. If you don’t have visual cues to help, try creating your own. Draw charts or figures in the margins of your notes or use highlighters or pens in different colors to group related ideas in your written study materials.8. Teach new concepts to another person.
Research suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and recall. You can use this approach in your own study by teaching new concepts and information to a friend or study partner. 9. Pay extra attention to difficult information.
Have you ever noticed how it's sometimes easier to remember information at the beginning or end of a chapter? Researchers have found that the position of information can play a role in recall, which is known as the serial position effect. While recalling middle information can be difficult, you can overcome this problem by spending extra time rehearsing this information or try restructuring the information so it will be easier to remember. When you come across an especially difficult concept, devote some extra time to memorizing the information.10. Vary your study routine.
Another great way to increase your recall is to occasionally change your study routine. If you are accustomed to studying in one specific location, try moving to a different spot to study. If you study in the evening, try to spend a few minutes each morning reviewing the information you studied the previous night. By adding an element of novelty to your study sessions, you can increase the effectiveness of your efforts and significantly improve your long-term recall.

Scientists discover way to reverse loss of memoryloss

Your brain is a vital organ, and like the other vital organs in your body, it can be damaged by poor diet, stress, exposure to toxins, and aging.

Just like your heart, your brain won’t work as well if cholesterol deposits or high blood pressure damages the arteries that supply its blood. In fact, a study from the Netherlands found that the same high-saturated-fat diet raises your risk of having a heart attack or stroke also makes you more prone to developing dementia. That word doesn’t mean demented, exactly. But dementia does include age-related memory impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

"What works for the heart, works for the brain, with some modifications," says Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., president and medical director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation in Tucson and co-author of Brain Longevity. That’s why many of the nutritional supplements recommended to shield your brain from age-related memory impairment also offer protection from heart disease.

"Memory loss used to be considered a somewhat normal occurrence with age, but it isn’t," says Dr. Khalsa. "People don’t have to inevitably decline."

Some researchers regard Alzheimer’s disease as a kind of a subcategory of normal memory loss that’s associated with aging, Dr. Khalsa says. "Experts now think that there is a continuum from age-associated memory loss into Alzheimer’s disease, at least in some people."

Other researchers aren’t so sure. When people have Alzheimer’s disease, microscopic changes occur in the brain, and those changes are somewhat different from the changes seen in people who have declining memories as a result of the aging process, says Jay Lombard, M.D., assistant clinical professor of neurology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City and co-author of The Brain Wellness Plan. There’s also a genetic component to Alzheimer’s disease, so your risk may be higher if a parent or grandparent had it.

Some forgetfulness—and even some memory loss—doesn’t mean that you’re on the brink of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, there are a number of ways that you may be able to slow the progression, Dr. Khalsa says. "Reducing stress is really important because stress may be the main cause of memory problems in people under age 40," he says. The amount of sleep you get and the quality of your diet can also have a major impact on how fast your brain can compute.

Even exercise can protect your brain. One study showed that people who were least active from the ages of 20 to 59 were 2½ times more likely to have Alzheimer’s disease than those who were most active.

Nutritional supplements or herbs can also help. Some can protect neurons in the brain from being damaged by free radicals. Unstable molecules can harm cells, and free radicals can sometimes prevent the breakdown of the important messenger chemicals called neurotransmitters, says Dr. Khalsa. Other supplements can actually stimulate the production of neurotransmitters. If you want to give your memory a boost, here’s what is recommended.

Save Your Brain with Ginkgo

Ginkgo has long been used to improve mental function. In Europe, an extract of this herb is an approved treatment for dementia, including that caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The first clinical study done in the United States found that 120 milligrams daily of ginkgo extract not only stabilized Alzheimer’s disease but also led to significant improvements in mental function in 20 percent of the patients. The concentration used was standardized to 24 percent ginkgoflavoglycosides and 6 percent terpenelactones, which are believed to be the active agents. There were no side effects.

Ginkgo also acts as a potent antioxidant, says Dr. Lombard, so it can help to protect your brain from oxidative damage due to aging, heart disease, or toxins. It can also inhibit the breakdown of some kinds of neurotransmitters that are involved in mood and memory and enhance the release of others.

Ginkgo can be used to treat the early stages of Alzheimer’s and to protect against further damage. Dr. Lombard recommends twice-daily doses of 120 milligrams of extract standardized to 24 percent ginkgoflavoglycosides. Don’t expect immediate results, however. It may take up to six months of taking ginkgo consistently before the benefits begin to show.

Antioxidants Prevent "Brain Rust"

Our brains are prone to damage from free radicals just like the rest of our bodies. When they damage brain cells, we pay the price with memory loss. In addition, the immune system reacts to the damage with a process that actually generates even more free radicals, so there’s a cascade of free radical production. One study by Canadian researchers found evidence of significantly more free radicals than normal in samples of brain tissue from people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Chinese Moss May Help Restore Memory
A natural substance extracted from a rare moss found in the cold climates of China is being sold in the United States as a nutritional supplement that may alleviate symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Called Huperzine A, this substance can be extracted from the club moss Huperzia serrata, which has been used for centuries in China to treat fever and inflammation, says Alan Kozikowski, Ph.D., director of the drug discovery program at Georgetown Institute of Cognitive and Computational Sciences at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Huperzine A works by interfering with an enzyme that influences acetylcholine, an important brain neurotransmitter. An Alzheimer’s drug on the market, donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept), works the same way. “Preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine allows the small amount that is present in the brain to exert its benefits so you can retrieve memories or form new ones,” says Dr. Kozikowski. Several studies have shown that Huperzine A improves brain function in patients with dementia.

Huperzine A seems to have additional properties that may help it to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Kozikowski says. One study showed that it can slow the formation of a harmful kind of plaque, a buildup of protein deposits in the brain. Other studies indicate that it can protect brain cells from glutamate, a neurotransmitter that becomes toxic when it is secreted in large amounts. Scientists suspect that the brain releases these super-high secretions when it’s low on oxygen. Some research also indicates that Huperzine A helps to block the process of inflammation that occurs as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, Dr. Kozikowski says.

The amount of Huperzine A used in the Chinese studies was four 50-microgram tablets a day. The dosage currently being recommended on the product sold in the United States is just half that amount—two 50-microgram tablets a day. More research on Huperzine A is currently under way in the United States, says Dr. Kozikowski.



There is good reason to believe that antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin E, can help prevent damage to brain cells, Dr. Khalsa says. Vitamin E protects signal-sensitive neurons in the brain from free radical damage. Certain areas of the neurons, called neurotransmitter receptor sites, benefit from some fix-it work when vitamin E is present, he notes, "so vitamin E can not only prevent deterioration of the brain, it also actually reverses an important element of deterioration."

Vitamin E is fat-soluble, so it has a free pass around the brain, which contains a lot of fats. In its travels, vitamin E interacts with cell membranes, traps free radicals, and interrupts the rapid-fire chain reactions that produce even more free radicals. When scientists did animal studies using vitamin E, they found that this important antioxidant reduces the degeneration of cells in the hippocampus, which is precisely the part of the brain that’s hit hardest by Alzheimer’s. After blood flow was cut off for a time, vitamin E could help the cells recover, and it enhanced the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.

Some test-tube studies have also been done, and they suggest how vita min E can do even more: It can help protect cells that have suffered from a lack of oxygen. It can also reduce cell death associated with a protein that causes damage in Alzheimer’s disease.

A study that involved people with Alzheimer’s showed some positive results when the participants took vitamin E. Recruited from 23 centers participating in the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study, people with moderately severe disease received 2,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin E for two years. According to researchers, those people survived an average of 230 days longer than those not getting supplements.

Both Dr. Lombard and Dr. Khalsa recommend taking antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin E. But they favor a mixture of antioxidants and less vitamin E than was used in the cooperative study. "If you are on an antioxidant program, you just don’t need that much vitamin E," Dr. Khalsa says. "The antioxidants act synergistically, so 1 and 1 equals 11, not 2. A mixture of antioxidants is more effective than large amounts of just one."

Dr. Khalsa recommends 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E, 3,000 milligrams of vitamin C in divided doses, 10,000 to 25,000 IU of vitamin A, and 50 to 100 micrograms of selenium. In addition, he suggests that people take 100 to 200 milligrams a day of coenzyme Q10, which acts as an antioxidant and helps energy production in cells throughout the body. With doses this high, however, it’s important to have a doctor approve the supplement program.

Boost Your Brain with B Vitamins

Most of the B vitamins play a role in brain function. They help the breakdown of blood sugar, or glucose. Since the brain relies on a perpetual supply of glucose for energy, this is very important, Dr. Khalsa says.

Deficiencies of both vitamin B12 and folic acid have been associated with memory loss. When someone complains of problems with memory, a doctor usually begins an examination by checking for deficiencies of these vitamins, Dr. Khalsa says.

A study has helped establish the connection between these vitamins and Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists at England’s Oxford University and in Bergen, Norway, found that 76 Alzheimer’s patients had lower blood levels of the two vitamins than 108 people of the same age with no signs of Alzheimer’s symptoms. The researchers also found that the Alzheimer’s patients had higher blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid by-product that other studies have shown to be a factor in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). This offers further support for supplementing with folic acid and B12, since both are known to reduce homocysteine levels.

Diagnosing a deficiency of vitamin B12 can sometimes be difficult because a person can be low in the vitamin even if blood tests appear normal. Many doctors are now recommending a more sensitive screening to detect a B12 deficiency by measuring homocysteine levels. With some people who have Alzheimer’s disease, homocysteine levels are abnormal, and Dr. Lombard has found that vitamin B12 treatment can be effective for them.

Since the B vitamins are generally beneficial, your best tactic may be to take a high-potency B-complex formula that includes 50 milligrams of most of the different kinds, Dr. Lombard says. Look for one that includes 1,000 micrograms of both vitamin B12 and folic acid along with the other ingredients.

A Memory Pill

Dr. Lombard suggests that people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease should also take 300 milligrams of a nutritional supplement called phosphatidylserine (PS) daily with meals. "Phosphatidylserine is an important component of cell membranes and helps cells in the brain to retain their fluidity—an important property for proper function," he says.

Several studies have shown PS to be helpful for age-related memory decline, Alzheimer’s disease, or depression. In one six-month study, a group of people with moderate to severe senility were given three daily 100- milligram doses of PS. In another group with similar symptoms, participants received inactive pills (placebos). Researchers assessed both groups to measure their mental performance and behavior at the beginning and end of the study. Significant improvements were noted in the mental function and behavior of members of the group receiving PS.

The substance used in these studies was derived from cow brains. Since reports of mad cow disease began surfacing in the mid-1990s, cow brains are no longer considered a safe source, says Dr. Khalsa. The PS that is now on the market is derived from soybeans. "It appears to be pretty much the same and to have the same benefit, but there are no published studies to confirm that," he says.

Memory Aid from Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Acetyl-l-carnitine, derived from the natural substance l-carnitine, is structurally similar to the memory neurotransmitter acetlylcholine and displays similar actions in the brain, Dr. Lombard says.

Acetyl-l-carnitine protects nerve cell membranes from free radical attack. It also is essential for the production of energy in brain cells and helps transport fatty acids into the cells’ tiny power plants, the mitochondria.

Several studies have shown that acetyl-l-carnitine is helpful for people with Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Lombard says. One multicenter study was done with 357 people age 55 or older who had Alzheimer’s. It showed that the memories of those 65 or younger who received 3,000 milligrams of l-carnitine a day didn’t decline as quickly as those of a comparative group of people who weren’t given the supplement.

Dr. Lombard suggests 2,000 milligrams of acetyl-l-carnitine daily for treatment of people with mild to moderate memory loss. Take this supplement between meals, he advises.

As for

Scientists discover way to reverse loss of memory

Scientists performing experimental brain surgery on a man aged 50 have stumbled across a mechanism that could unlock how memory works.


The accidental breakthrough came during an experiment originally intended to suppress the obese man's appetite, using the increasingly successful technique of deep-brain stimulation. Electrodes were pushed into the man's brain and stimulated with an electric current. Instead of losing appetite, the patient instead had an intense experience of déjà vu. He recalled, in intricate detail, a scene from 30 years earlier. More tests showed his ability to learn was dramatically improved when the current was switched on and his brain stimulated.

Scientists are now applying the technique in the first trial of the treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. If successful, it could offer hope to sufferers from the degenerative condition, which affects 450,000 people in Britain alone, by providing a "pacemaker" for the brain.

Three patients have been treated and initial results are promising, according to Andres Lozano, a professor of neurosurgery at the Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario, who is leading the research.

Professor Lozano said: "This is the first time that anyone has had electrodes implanted in the brain which have been shown to improve memory. We are driving the activity of the brain by increasing its sensitivity – turning up the volume of the memory circuits. Any event that involves the memory circuits is more likely to be stored and retained."

The discovery had caught him and his team "completely by surprise", Professor Lozano said. They had been operating on the man, who weighed 190kg (30st), to treat his obesity by locating the point in his brain that controls appetite. All other attempts to curb his eating had failed and brain surgery was the last resort.

The treatment for obesity was unsuccessful. But, while the researchers were identifying potential appetite suppressant points in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain associated with hunger, the man suddenly began to say that memory was flooding back.

"He reported the experience of being in a park with friends from when he was around 20 years old and, as the intensity of stimulation increased, the details became more vivid. He recognised his girlfriend [from the time] ... The scene was in colour. People were wearing identifiable clothes and were talking, but he could not decipher what they were saying," the researchers write in Annals of Neurology, published today.

The man, who has not been identified, was also tested on his ability to learn lists of paired objects. After three weeks of continuous hypothalamic stimulation, his performance on two learning tests was significantly improved. He was also much more likely to remember a list of unrelated paired objects with the electrodes turned on than when turned off.

Speaking to The Independent yesterday, Professor Lozano said: "His performance improved dramatically. As we turned the current up, we first drove his memory circuits and improved his learning. As we increased the intensity of the current, we got spontaneous memories of discrete events. At a certain intensity, he would slash to the scene [in the park]. When the intensity was increased further, he got more detail but, when the current was turned off, it rapidly decayed."

The discovery surprised the scientists as the hypothalamus has not usually been identified as a seat of memory. The contacts that most readily produced the memories were located close to a structure called the fornix, an arched bundle of fibres that carries signals within the limbic system, which is involved in memory and emotions and is situated next to the hypothalamus.

Professor Lozano is a world authority on deep-brain stimulation who has undertaken 400 operations on Parkinson's disease sufferers and is developing the technique as a treatment for depression, for which he has performed 28 operations. He said the discovery of its role in stimulating memory had wide implications.

"It gives us insight into which brain structures are involved in memory. It gives us a means of intervening in the way we have already done in Parkinson's and for mood disorders such as depression, and it may have therapeutic benefit in people with memory problems," he said.

The researchers are testing the approach in six Alzheimer's patients in a Phase 1 safety study. Three have so far had electrodes surgically implanted. The electrodes are attached via a cable that runs below the skull and down the neck to a battery pack stitched under the skin of the chest. The "pacemaker" delivers a constant low-level current that stimulates the brain but cannot be perceived by the patient.

Professor Lozano said: "It is the same device as is used for Parkinson's disease. We have placed the electrodes in exactly the same area of the hypothalamus because we want to see if we can reproduce the findings in the earlier experiment. We believe the memory circuits we are stimulating are close by, physically touching the hypothalamus.

"It is a very effective treatment for the motor problems associated with Parkinson's disease and it has been used on 40,000 people. We are in the early stages of using it with Alzheimer's patients and we don't know if it will work. We want to assess if we can reach the memory circuits and drive improvement. It is a novel approach to dealing with this problem."

British researchers welcomed the discovery. Andrea Malizia, a senior lecturer in psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol who is studying deep-brain stimulation as a treatment for depression, said: "If they had said let's stick an electrode in the hypothalamus to modify Alzheimer's disease, I would have said 'Why start there?' But, if they have had a serendipitous finding, then that is as good. Serendipitous findings are how a lot of discoveries in science have been made."

Ayesha Khan, a scientific liaison officer at the Alzheimer's Disease Society, said: "This is very cutting-edge research. It is exciting, but the initial result is in one person. It will need much further investigation."

How deep-brain stimulation works

Deep -brain stimulation has been used for more than a decade to treat a range of conditions including depression, chronic pain, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

It has been so successful in treating Parkinson's that 40,000 patients worldwide now have electrodes implanted in their brains driven by pacemakers stitched into their chests.

As the devices become smaller, requiring less risky surgery, and the target areas of the brain requiring stimulation are more precisely identified, demand for the treatment is expected to leap. Although it is expensive, the potential savings in care and treatment costs are immense. It does not lead to dependence on drugs and is reversible.

The electrodes are implanted under local anaesthesia while the patient is awake. Before the operation, the neurosurgeon performs an MRI scan and establishes the target location for the electrodes. He then carries out a craniotomy – lifting a section of the skull – and inserts the electrodes and leads. By stimulating the electrodes and checking the patient's response, the surgeon can check that they are positioned in the right place.

Different areas of the brain are targeted for different conditions. For Parkinson's disease, they are placed in the subthalamic nucleus; for depression, in area 25 of the cingulate cortex.

Deep-brain stimulation was developed in France and first licensed by the Food and Drug Administration in the US in 1997 as a treatment for tremor. In the UK, the surgery is performed at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, in Bristol, in Oxford and at a handful of other centres.

The name of the procedure is in some ways a misnomer as it often involves inhibiting electrical activity in an area of the brain rather than stimulating it. The technique is as much about restoring balance between competing brain areas which leads to the tremor characteristic of some types of Parkinson's disease

Ideas to improve your memory

Ever since I entered college, I have been obsessed with improving memory. You see, I am pretty intelligent, but my memory has never matched my other intellectual skills. Normally, as soon as I finish studying for a test, I forget the information. If I am determined enough, I can keep it in to my mind for as long as it takes to pass the exam, but for no longer. Unfortunately, in college there is much more material to memorize than there ever was before. I barely made it through my first semester because I kept forgetting facts. I feared that if I didn't find a way to improve memory, I would probably fail a few classes. That was definitely something I did not want to do.



There are all kinds of different ways to improve your memory – so many that it is hard to remember all of them! Basically, they all break down into a few simple categories. You can improve memory through supplements, through mental exercises, and through self hypnosis. Many people start with supplements because they promise to improve memory with no work on your part. Unfortunately, they rarely deliver. I know that I was unable to improve my memory by taking these pills. All I did was waste money that I could have spent on memory improvement books.

Those books were quite a bit more successful. Although they take a long time to improve memory, they do eventually work. They have a lot of interesting techniques in them based on the way that memory works. If you can list things in different ways in your head, you can take advantage of the way that memory tends to group multiple pieces of data together. For example, if you can remember facts in chunks of three or four together, you can fit much more into your brain at once. The techniques are explained in simple ways that allow you to practice them over and over again until you get them right. Although these books don't deliver on improving your memory overnight like they say they will, they still do help in the long run.

Of course, the most novel way to improve working memory is through self hypnosis. A lot of companies sell hypnosis tapes they claim will help you improve memory by reprogramming your brain To function in a more efficient way. This is almost entirely nonsense. Although in theory hypnosis works, in practice you would be much better to work on improving short term memory through exercises.

one of the task that people tend to forget is a series of exercises let say in yoga or gymnastic. no matter how many times you saw the instructor doing the exercise and you follow him doing the exercises in the club or in class, when you go home trying to remember the sequence you fail. another example is jokes, people tend to forget jokes the minute after they hear the jokes. i have now more then 300 jokes and stories that i can tell just from the name or from 4 words from the story or the joke. so let me give you a simple method you can try yourself. first you have to commit that you go for it. it must be important for you so you take it seriously and make the effort necessary to accomplish the task. it seems long but as you see no matter how long you did something before you still don't remember so it worth the effort to succeed next time. the main principle is to do one at the time many time step by step with all the ceremony involved. if it has few steps take 1 step at a time, after 2 at a time then 3 at a time and repeat the group until you feel that it staked in your memory. after doing it and repeat for 10 time the full sequence you will see that you can't forget it anymore. if you let say jump one step you feel it and you must do it

Herbs for mental sharpness

The essential oils of Rosemary, Basil and Peppermint are all very helpful in promoting a clear and alert mind. Memory stimulation seems to be very receptive to essential oils, one reason may be that both the sense of smell and memory functions share the same area of the brain.
Rosemary seems to be considered the king when it comes to clear headedness and concentration as well as enhancing memory. I've used these oils often and they have worked quite well for me - I usually use Rosemary when I have work that needs concentrated effort and Peppermint for a pick-me-up when I am feeling mental fatigue.

There are a variety of ways to use them - simply taking a few whiffs from their bottle when you feel the need is fine, using a diffuser if that is convenient gives off a wonderful aroma or even just putting a few drops on a cotton ball to carry with you to smell once in a while. These can be used on the skin, but I would dilute them with a little lotion or oil first as they are quite potent. I use about 1-2 drops in a tablespoon of carrier (lotion -oil, even vegetable oil) and that seems to be adequate, then I just put some on each wrist and the scent is with me for a few hours




Dry fruits like Almonds, Pistachio and almost all kind of edible fruits and dry fruits will provide some help.
I beleive Brahmi and Gotu cola is the same herb.It is very good for memory and highly recommended herb in Ayurvedic medicine.



Gingko has helped improve cognitive functioning of many "normals" during its thousands of years of human usage. While a small number of studies did not show gingko to improve memory in "normals," there are certainly other studies -- plus centuries of human usage -- which show otherwise. It is one of the oldest medicine trees still growing on the planet.

Some of the clinical testing of gingko use too low a dose to show improvement in unimpaired individuals. For example, tests were conducted using 60mg/daily, whereas serious herbal practictioners find that 300mg/daily is an effective dosage.

Clinical testing of herbs & other non-drug therapies in North America is very often biased & designed to produce failure. Some common ways that this is done is to use improper form (dried as opposed to fresh herb; standardized extracts as opposed to whole herb; plant parts harvested in the wrong season; etc.), or improper dosage (not enough to be effective; ridiculously high amounts that produce undesirable side effects).

Please keep that in mind when evaulating this and other venerable herbs.

And while I'm particularly found of gingko & gotu kola because they were so profoundly helpful during my recovery from a head injury 3 years ago, I don't thing gingko should be taken casually. Good diet, gotu kola & the essential oils are great ideas. Be sure to get your gotu kola from reputable source, or grow your own (easy) to avoid the sometimes high levels of contaminants in the imported herb




This web page for Brahmi,with botanical name.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/newpages/book/sample/sample10.html
This one for Gotu Kola,with botanical name.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/newpages/book/sample/sample28.html

Im not all that good with "proper names",but I know there is a differance because I grow them both and for differant reasons.


You may look into www.holisticonline.com for Brahmi or Gotu Kola.

Hatha Yoga – Cure For The Dull Brain

Modern education cannot just bypass this truth by saying that yoga is a physical or gymnastic system, or that yoga is a science of the other world. Many scientific experiments have already been carried out. Yoga is not a system which should be regarded as being beyond the scope of scientific investigation.

The activities in the brain during the practice of pranayama have been investigated, and the claims of hatha yoga have been properly substantiated. Hatha yoga talks about ida and pingala nadis, the cold and hot channels. It states clearly tat these two channels are physiological in nature. They are not abstract or symbolic, they are real. These two important channels exist within the framework of the spinal column. One channel controls the brain and its faculties of consciousness, and the other channel controls the life force and its impact on human existence. Therefore, these two channels should be properly regulated in order to ensure the balanced development of the child.

If there is a blockage in these two channels, the brain has to suffer. When a child is dull, how are you going to scientifically evolve the state of the brain? It is not enough to classify children as dull and forget about them.

A dull brain can be tackled by rejuvenating the respective nadi or channel. When a child is found to be dull, it does not necessarily mean that he has some mechanical or structural defect in his brain. Dullness may be due to a deficiency in the quantum of energy supplied to the brain. Hatha yoga is very clear about this. It states that through the practice of pranayama, the pranas are extended to every part of the brain, increasing and awakening the total functioning capacity. Circulation of the pranas is very important, not only for physical activities, but also for mental activities.
With the help of pranayama, certain electrical activities are generated within the body. In scientific investigations, it has been shown that in pranayama the brain emits special electrical energies. In the same way, while practising yoga nidra one is not just sleeping. It has been noted that during yoga nidra, alpha waves are intensified. During ordinary sleep, however, delta waves are predominant. Whether one is sleeping soundly or is in the state of yoga nidra can be properly deduced by examining the brain activity recording for delta or alpha waves.
Freeing the minds of our children
Actually, it is not the parents whom children revolt against. It is the structure which has been put into their minds. They want to be free from them, to be able to think and act according to their own nature and choosing after all, parents are also simple people, Not all are yogis, gurus or exemplary people. Parents fight because that is an emotional factor which cannot always be controlled. They are satisfied or dissatisfied with their children because that is the nature of parents, and because they don’t know that this is going to affect the child’s brain.

What can be done for children in this situation? Children should be allowed to visualise, to fantasize, to operate their minds in absolute freedom, but first they must be made conscious of what is happening in their minds. They should not practise this independently, not should they practise for a long period of time. They should practise the technique with your help and only for a short period. Then gradually step by step, they will throw out the impressions they do not like or need.

Parents are very much in the minds of children, but it is necessary for the child’s growth that the parents leave. As long as parents dominate the minds of children, they can never develop.

Mantra and Memory
The final point is the problem of memory. Memory is a great problem for children, i.e., the problem of encoding, storage and retrieval. All these processes combined are known as memory. Once you solve the problem of memory you solve the greatest problem in education. If you can find a method to improve the child’s memory, you will be introducing something truly revolutionary into the educational system. The mantra works immediately on the subconscious and unconscious planes. With the help of mantra, antar mouna and yoga nidra a very clear memory can be developed in children.

Top ten memory improvement tips

Before you study for your next exam, you might want to use a few strategies to boost your memory of important information. There are a number of tried and tested techniques for improving memory. These strategies have been established within cognitive psychology literature and offer a number of great ways to improve memory, enhance recall, and increase retention of information.

1. Focus your attention on the materials you are studying.
Attention is one of the major components of memory. In order for information to move from short-term memory into long-term memory, you need to actively attend to this information. Try to study in a place free of distractions such as television, music, and other diversions.
2. Avoid cramming by establishing regular study sessions.
According to Bjork (2001), studying materials over a number of session’s gives you the time you need to adequately process the information. Research has shown that students who study regularly remember the material far better that those did all of their studying in one marathon session.
3. Structure and organize the information you are studying.
Researchers have found that information is organized in memory in related clusters. You can take advantage of this by structuring and organizing the materials you are studying. Try grouping similar concepts and terms together, or make an outline of your notes and textbook readings to help group related concepts.
4. Utilize mnemonic devices to remember information.
Mnemonic devices are a technique often used by students to aid in recall. A mnemonic is simply a way to remember information. For example, you might associate a term you need to remember with a common item that you are very familiar with. The best mnemonics are those that utilize positive imagery, humor, or novelty. You might come up with a rhyme, song, or joke to help remember a specific segment of information.
5. Elaborate and rehearse the information you are studying.
In order to recall information, you need to encode what you are studying into long-term memory. One of the most effective encoding techniques is known as elaborative rehearsal. An example of this technique would be to read the definition of a key term, study the definition of that term, and then read a more detailed description of what that term means. After repeating this process a few times, your recall of the information will be far better.
6. Relate new information to things you already know.
When you are studying unfamiliar material, take the time to think about how this information relates to things that you already know. By establishing relationships between new ideas and previously existing memories, you can dramatically increase the likelihood of recalling the recently learned information.
7. Visualize concepts to improve memory and recall.
Many people benefit greatly from visualizing the information they study. Pay attention to the photographs, charts, and other graphics in your textbooks. If you don’t have visual cues to help, try creating your own. Draw charts or figures in the margins of your notes or use highlighters or pens in different colors to group related ideas in your written study materials.
8. Teach new concepts to another person.
Research suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and recall. You can use this approach in your own study by teaching new concepts and information to a friend or study partner.
9. Pay extra attention to difficult information.
Have you ever noticed how it's sometimes easier to remember information at the beginning or end of a chapter? Researchers have found that the position of information can play a role in recall, which is known as the serial position effect. While recalling middle information can be difficult, you can overcome this problem by spending extra time rehearsing this information or try restructuring the information so it will be easier to remember. When you come across an especially difficult concept, devote some extra time to memorizing the information.
10. Vary your study routine.
Another great way to increase your recall is to occasionally change your study routine. If you are accustomed to studying in one specific location, try moving to a different spot to study. If you study in the evening, try to spend a few minutes each morning reviewing the information you studied the previous night. By adding an element of novelty to your study sessions, you can increase the effectiveness of your efforts and significantly improve your long-term recall.

Take Early Action to Retain Your Mental Health

The entire process of storing, retaining and recalling information is known as memory. Many a times we have thought about how bad we fare on our mental capacity to remember things but we seldom take it seriously however recessing memory is a serious health disorder. Action taken early can go a long way in restoring our mental health.

Experts have designed so many ways to overcome the disorder or improve the condition. One of such tools is called mnemonics it enhances our capacity to remember things based on similarity. It is the neurons in our brain that send and receive signals. The stronger neurons connections are the better the memory is. If we practice ways to strengthen and protect them it can go a long way in ensuring a better memory, which generally degrades with age and mental disorders such as stress. So one should try reducing stress and getting involved in leisure activities. Try to experience new experiences and skills and move away from routine functions. Try new adventures and challenges and give body and mind new environments to function. Exercise regularly and do include brisk walk and cardiovascular exercises to enhance blood flow to brain to enhance its growth. Stimulate brain by involving oneself in brainstorming puzzles and quizzes. Read thru various magazines and books and stay update with newspapers. Try retaining as much information as possible and recall on a regular basis by referring to them in conversation. Avoid medication such as antidepressants and sleeping aids, as they tend to dull our mind. One should also try to kick unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and getting involved in drugs/doping. Making sure to get adequate hours of sleep (minimum 8 hours per day) also ensures to help our brain stay active.

Memory can be long term or short term, few people boast of amazing memory they remember things as old as 20 years or more. Whereas some people might not even remember last week activities. It typically also depends on attention paid, it is researched that if one focuses for about 8 seconds or more the information is stored in the memory center of brain. Undistracted attention and avoiding multitasking also ensures information retention. Trying to involve as many senses to relate to information and recalling it by relating to it also helps in strengthening memory. Organizing information in a better way of referring back to when required for e.g. using address book or appointment diaries. Breaking down complex material into bits and pieces and interpreting them also helps in boosting memory.

Diseases such as diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases also affect memory. Stress also makes it difficult to concentrate and remember things. Eating healthy can help in restoring memory and generate healthy brain cells. It also helps to fight adverse effect of medication. Leafy green vegetables and legumes help to generate red blood cells that carry oxygen to the brain. Vitamin B, C and beta-carotene also acts as antioxidants and improve flow of oxygen thru body and brain. These naturally good substances are found in fruits and vegetables such as sweet potato, blue berries tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, green tea, citrus fruits, liver and nuts. Omega 3 fatty acids founds in cod liver oil and other fresh water fishes like salmon and tuna is good for cognitive functions. It is also found in certain vegetarian food such as walnut and flaxseed. On the other hand there are supplements to overcome deficiencies such as vitamin b and folic acid capsules or health food fortified with such vitamins. These foods if taken in adequate quantity can help boost heart functions that in turn supplies blood to brain and will improve neuron functions leading to better memory.

Naturalmemoryenhancer

Memories help shape our lives, and memory is one of our most valuable health assets. Without a normal memory, coping with daily life would be difficult. Previously, it was believed that memory loss was a normal part of aging, but many people now believe that this is not totally correct.

According to the US Census Bureau, there are about 291 million people in the United States today.1 In the year 2000, there were 35 million Americans 65 and older, and and it is expected that this number will grow to 54 million by 2020.2

While many elderly people are interested in improving their memories, they are not the only ones attempting to stave off memory loss. Many baby boomers and students are also trying out different strategies to ward off memory loss or to enhance memory.

Several treatments, including mental exercises, nutrition, and drug therapy, are being evaluated for their use in maintaining memory function over time. Mental exercises have been shown to improve memory in the elderly while good nutrition and drug therapy improve general health and increase blood flow to the brain.3,4

The old saying "use it or lose it" describes the aging memory. Some activities that are recommended for maintaining memory as one ages are crossword puzzles and word searches. Proper nutrition entails getting the correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and trace elements that the body needs as it ages. A good physical exercise program helps to maintain overall general health.3,4

Types of Herbal Supplements
There are several herbs that are purported to aid in body processes. Tonic herbs assist in maintaining the body's balance without affecting metabolism and include alfalfa, angelica root, and celery seeds. Adaptogenic herbs help the body adapt to a multitude of environmental and psychological stresses, maintain good health, and protect against disease. Examples of adaptogenic herbs are ashwaganda and the Asian, American, and Siberian varieties of ginseng. Nootropic herbs (nootropic is derived from Greek and means acting on the mind) and their isolated constituents—also referred to as smart drugs—include huperzine A (isolated from Chinese club moss), vincamine (isolated from Vinca minor), and vinpocetine (prepared from vincamine). Memory enhancer herbs, such as ginkgo, may enhance the memory and increase blood circulation in the brain.

According to a recent article in BusinessWeek, the herbal supplement industry is a $4-billion-a-year industry.5 With products on the market having brand names like Memory Booster, CerebroPlex, and Brain Lightning, it is no wonder that people want to try them. Because consumers obtain information from the Internet, friends, and infomercials, it is imperative that pharmacists have sufficient information to advise patients on herbal use. In a survey published in 1998, 18.4% of American adults reported concurrent use of at least one herbal product with a prescription medicine. Of this group, 61.5% did not disclose this information to their health care providers.6 This number has increased in the past few years as more people want to treat their various illnesses with natural products that they deem safe. Numerous articles discuss the lot-to-lot variability of products, the contamination of herbal supplements from Asia with heavy metals, and the adulteration with substances, such as antibiotics and steroids, that are not listed on the labels.7

This article will discuss four of the herbs reported to aid in both long- and short-term memory enhancement—ginkgo biloba, huperzine A, vincamine, and vinpocetine. It will also discuss information on herbal supplements that pharmacists should consider sharing with patients. Pregnant women and children should not use herbal supplements.

Ginkgo Biloba
The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba is obtained from the ginkgo tree, which is also known as maidenhair tree, kew tree, ginkyo, yinhsing, EGB-761 (extract ginkgo biloba), or GBE-761 (ginkgo biloba extract). These trees are dioecious and have fan-shaped leaves. The male tree produces blossoms, while the female produces a plum-like gray-tan fruit that has a fleshy pulp with a foul, offensive odor. The inner seeds of the fruit, resembling almonds, are edible when roasted.

The active compounds for memory enhancement are pr esent in the leaves and not in the seeds. The concentrations of these active compounds in the leaves vary with the seasons, with the highest amount present in autumn. These constituents include terpenoids (eg, bilobalide [FIGURE 1]) and ginkgolides A, B, C, J, and M [FIGURE 2]), flavonoids (eg, kaempferal, quercetin, isorhamnetin [FIGURE 3], and polymeric flavonoids proanthocyanidins), steroids (eg, sitosterol and stigmasterol), and organic acids (ascorbic, benzoic, shikimic, and vanillic).8 The flavonoids and terpenoids are believed to be responsible for the herb's pharmacologic actions, which include increasing blood flow, decreasing blood viscosity, antagonizing platelet-activating factor receptors, increasing tolerance to anoxia, inhibiting monoamine oxidase, protecting against infections, and preventing membrane damage by free radicals. The flavonoids are associated with the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of the herb, while the terpenoids are associated with the anti-infective properties and the antiplatelet-activating factor, which helps prevent membrane damage to vessels and decreases blood viscosity. Because ginkgo is believed to regulate the tone and elasticity of blood vessels, it could increase blood flow to the brain and improve the tolerance of the brain to hypoxia.9 Ginkgo is sold alone or in combination with other herbal and dietary supplements. Some ginkgo products include MemoRise, Super Memory Formula, Memory Boost, Ginkgo Plus, and Nature's Bounty Ginkgo Biloba

The data on ginkgo's efficacy in improving memory are encouraging but not fully convincing. Moulton et al found no significant improvement over placebo in memory performance when gingko was studied in young, healthy, male subjects. Study participants were given 120 mg/day of ginkgo for five days, which may not have been long enough to elicit an effect.10 Solomon et al performed a study in which subjects older than 60 were given 120 mg/ day of ginkgo for six weeks. The researchers did not observe a significant difference over placebo in memory improvement.11 However, an article published recently by Mix and Crews showed memory improvement in subjects older than 60 who were given 180 mg/day of ginkgo for six weeks.12 Many studies are poorly designed; they might include only a small number of patients, report only the positive effects of ginkgo over placebo, and study subjects for a short time period. Thus, ginkgo's long-term efficacy is not well understood.13 Since the parameters used to assess memory enhancement vary between studies, direct comparisons are not always possible.

Despite the lack of literature from well-conducted studies, the recommended dose of ginkgo is 40 mg three times a day of standardized extract made from ginkgo leaves. Quality extracts should contain 22% to 27% flavonoids and 5% to 7% terpenoids. Clinical effects usually appear after at least four weeks of treatment. There is no information on the long-term use of this herb or whether people taking ginkgo should have herb-free holidays.







There are relatively few drug interactions with ginkgo, but the herb can have serious interactions with antiplatelet drugs (increased risk of bleeding), thiazide diuretics (may increase blood pressure when used concurrently), and warfarin (increased anticoagulant effect of warfarin and risk of bleeding). Because of the increased risk of bleeding, patients should use caution when taking ginkgo with any herbs or dietary supplements that contain anticoagulant or antiplatelet constituents (eg, angelica, anise, capsicum, chamomile, garlic, ginseng, licorice).14 Pharmacists should consult appropriate references (eg, Natural Medicines Database, Micromedex, The Review of Natural Products) to answer questions regarding the use of ginkgo with other herbals or dietary supplements.

Reported adverse reactions to ginkgo include mild gastrointestinal complaints, headaches, dizziness, palpitations, and allergic skin reactions. Large doses have been associated with restlessness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lack of muscle tone, and weakness. There are case reports of subdural hematoma resulting from ginkgo use, one report of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and one report of a bleeding iris. Anecdotal evidence suggests that ginkgo may be associated with seizures. People with bleeding disorders and epilepsy should use ginkgo with caution.14 The fruit and pulp of the ginkgo tree are potent contact allergens and can cause severe allergic skin reactions and irritation of the mucous membranes and gastrointestinal tract. Ingestion of the pulp can cause redness around the mouth, rectal burning, and painful anal sphincter spasms. Properly prepared ginkgo extract, which is made from the roasted seeds of the ginkgo fruit, should not cause the adverse effects associated with ingested ginkgo's flesh and pulp. The fresh seeds, however, are toxic and potentially deadly.14

Huperzine A
Another herb that is purported to improve memory is huperzine A (FIGURE 4), which is also known as HupA, Huperzine-A, and selagine and is an alkaloid chemically isolated and purified from Chinese club moss, Huperzia serrata, or Lycopodium serratum. Huperzine A is a reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It can inhibit AChE activity in the brain for up to three hours. It has been used for treating Alzheimer's disease, enhancing memory and learning, reversing age-related memory impairment, increasing alertness and energy, protecting against neurotoxic agents, and treating myasthenia gravis.14 Examples of products that contain huperzine A are Ginkgo/Ginseng, Huperzine A with Ginkgo, Huperzine A with Ginseng, and Huperzine A with Vitamin E.







Huperzine A may be effective in improving memory in healthy adolescents. Qing-Qi and colleagues studied huperzine A in 34 adolescents ages 14 and 15. The dose was 0.1 mg/day for four weeks; a significant improvement over placebo was noted in memory function using standard memory assessment tools.15 As with research on ginkgo, the studies of huperzine A have involved small numbers of patients and have compared the herb only to placebo. Thus, researchers do not know how huperzine A compares to the other memory enhancers.14

A few drug interactions must be kept in mind when counseling patients using huperzine A. Anticholinergic drugs (eg, scopolamine, atropine, benztropine, niperiden, procyclidine, and trihexyphenidyl) used concurrently with huperzine A may decrease the efficacy of either agent. Concurrent use of cholinergic drugs or AChE inhibitors (eg, bethanechol, donepezil, echothiophate, edrophonium, neostigimine, physostigimine, pyridostigmine, succinylcholine, and tacrine) with huperzine A may increase acetylcholine activity. There are no known interactions with other herbs or dietary supplements at this time.14

Adverse reactions reported when using huperzine A include nausea, sweating, blurred vision, hyperactivity, anorexia, decreased heart rate, and muscle twitching. Presumably, since huperzine is an AChE inhibitor, it may cause adverse effects similar to other AChE inhibitors (eg, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, hypersalivation, increased urination/incontinence, and bradycardia). Huperzine may also exacerbate bradycardia, cardiovascular disease, and other heart conditions that are sensitive to a decreased heart rate; epilepsy and other seizure disorders; gastrointestinal tract obstruction; peptic ulcer disease; pulmonary conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and urogenital tract obstruction. The Cerebra brand of huperzine A has been confused with prescription drugs that have similar names (Celebrex, Celexa, and Cerbyx). Huperzine A, which is also known as selagine, should not be confused with selegiline.14

Vincamine
Vincamine (FIGURE 5), an alkaloid obtained from Vinca minor (periwinkle plant), is thought to increase cerebral circulation and the brain's use of oxygen. Aethroma, Centracetam, and Dipervina are products that contain vincamine.







There are insufficient data available to report on the clinical efficacy of vincamine for memory enhancement. Concomitant use of vincamine with antihypertensive agents may interfere with blood pressure control. There are insufficient reliable data concerning the use of vincamine with other herbal and dietary supplements. Possible adverse reactions to vincamine include stomach pressure, upper abdominal pain, nausea, facial flushing, slight reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, sleep disturbances, and headache. Patients who have hypertension or cardiac dysfunction should use vincamine cautiously.14

Vinpocetine
A chemically modified derivative of vincamine, vinpocetine (FIGURE 6), also known as AY-27255, cavinton, ethyl apovincaminate, RGH-4405, and TCV-3b, is thought to have some effect on memory. The mechanism of action of this compound is unclear. Some studies indicate that vinpocetine may enhance cerebral blood flow without affecting peripheral blood flow. It is believed that its actions upon the brain are due to indirect or direct cholinergic activity, augmented norepinephrine effects on cortical cyclic adenosine monophosphate, increased turnover of brain catecholamines, and inhibition of adenosine reuptake. It has been used orally for enhancing memory; improving cerebral blood flow, oxygen, and glucose use by the brain; and protecting against age-related cognitive impairment. It has also been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular disease, organic psychosyndromes, intractable tumoral calcinosis in hemodialysis patients, menopausal symptoms, and seizure disorders, as well as in the prevention of poststroke morbidity and mortality.14 Vinpocetine is sold alone or in combination with other products and is available as Vinpo-Zine, CerebroPlex, and Vipocem.







While vinpocetine may enhance memory, only a limited number of well-designed studies have been undertaken. One study, performed by Subhan and Hindmarch, evaluated three dosages of vinpocetine given to 12 women ages 25 to 40. The women took 10, 20, or 40 mg of vinpocetine or placebo three times daily for three days. Compared to placebo, the 40-mg dose showed significant reductions in response time but no significant changes in response rate.16 The recommended dosage of vinpocetine is 5 to 10 mg three times daily with food, which enhances its absorption.

Vinpocetine has been known to interact with antiplatelet drugs and warfarin by increasing bleeding risk and with blood-pressure­lowering agents by enhancing their effects. It is also known to interact with herbal and dietary supplements that have antiplatelet/anticoagulant activity, such as angelica, anise, capsicum, chamomile, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, Panax, and licorice. When counseling patients, refer to the herbal references mentioned earlier to ensure that there are no interactions of note.14

The adverse reactions associated with vinpocetine include stomach pressure, upper abdominal pain, nausea, facial flushing, slight reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, sleep disturbances, and headache. Vinpocetine should not be used by patients who have blood-clotting disorders, since it may increase the risk of bleeding.14

Conclusion
As observed, there is a lack of data from well-designed clinical trials to show that any of these herbal agents will improve memory. Clearly, more clinical studies with larger numbers of patients and with longer durations than past studies are needed to better understand these agents. Pharmacists should proceed with caution and be aware of the potential hazards associated with herbal supplement use. Always check an appropriate reference before recommending these agents to patients to ensure that there are no drug, herbal/dietary supplement, or disease state interactions that would preclude their use. Encourage patients to inform their health care professionals that they use these agents. Because the FDA does not regulate these herbal supplements, it is recommended that patients use only products that are of high quality and from reputable suppliers. Pharmacists should recommend products that carry the USP certified logo, state on their packaging that they are standardized, and list a manufacturer's name and telephone number. Encourage patients to provide you with the information that they find on the Internet, so that you can assist them in evaluating accuracy and validity. Pharmacists are in a unique position to assist patients in this area of health care and need to become informed in order to provide the best care for their patients.

REFERENCES
1. US Census Bureau. US POPClock Projection. Available at: www.census.gov/cgi-bin/popclock. Last accessed May 30, 2003.
2. Administration on Aging. A profile of older Americans: 2002. Available at: www.aoa.gov/prof/statistics/profile/profiles2002_pf.asp. Last accessed June 9, 2003.
3. Dentali S. Natural Treatments To Improve Memory. Roseville: Prima Publishing; 2000: 94-95.
4. Sahelian R. Mind boosters: a guide to natural supplements that enhance your mind, memory, and mood. New York: St. Martin's Press; 2000:43-52.
5. Carey J. Herbal remedies: a $4 billion enigma. Business Week. 2003;3830:104-105.
6. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Ettner SL, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: results of a follow-up national survey. JAMA. 1998;280:1569-1575.
7. Fugh-Berman A. Herb-drug interactions. Lancet. 2000;355:134-138.
8. Cada D, Covington TR, et al. The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis: Facts and Comparisons. 2002: 281-284.
9. Massey AJ. Effectiveness of ginkgo biloba in memory disorders. J Pharmacy Practice. 1999;12:217-224.
10. Moulton PL, Boyko LN, Fitzpatrick, JL, Petros TV. The effect of ginkgo biloba on memory in healthy male volunteers. Physiol Behav. 2001;73:659-665.
11. Solomon PR, Adams F, Silver A, et al. Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288:835-840.
12. Mix JA, Crews WD Jr. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in a sample of cognitively intact older adults: neuropsychological findings. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2002;17:267-277.
13. Ernst E. The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies: ginkgo, St. John's wort, ginseng, echinacea, saw palmetto, and kava. Ann Intern Med. 2002;136:42-53.
14. Jellin JM, Gregory P, et al. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 3rd ed. Stockton, California: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2000: 479-481, 578-580, 1060-1061.
15. Qing-Qi S, Si-Sun X, et al. Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 1999;20:601-603.
16. Subhan Z, Hindmarch I. Psy

Bost your brian power-herbs to improve memory

I SPEND MUCH of my time writing, which demands a lot of concentration. Often, while straining to recall some elusive fact, I reach over to pinch a leaf of the rosemary plant that sits next to my computer; I find that just a sniff usually is enough to bring back the information. Some might think this is downright odd, but it actually carries the weight of historical precedent. Many years ago, I learned that renowned 17th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper suggested rubbing rosemary leaves on the temples or brewing them into a tea to "help a weak memory and quicken the senses." I tried it and have been a devoted fan of this brain-enhancing herb ever since

Rosemary isn't the only herb with a long-held reputation for improving your smarts. For example, the Pents'ao, an ancient Chinese compendium of herbal lore, recommended ginseng for "benefitting the understanding," and in India, the herb gotu kola is a traditional brain tonic so highly regarded that it's called brahmi, or "of the highest order."

The ability of herbs to improve mental capacity isn't just folk wisdom; modern clinical studies have found that the "four Gs"--gingko, Panax ginseng (which includes Korean, Chinese and American ginsengs), Siberian ginseng and gotu kola--can indeed enhance concentration, aptitude, alertness and even intelligence. Scientists haven't discovered all the ways herbs increase brain power, but we do know that ginkgo, Panax ginseng and Siberian ginseng increase the activity of some of the brain's neurotransmitters, chemicals that transmit messages from one nerve cell to another. Some herbs--such as rosemary--work their magic through their fragrance alone, while other herbs are most effective when ingested as a tincture, tea or capsule. One advantage that all these herbs have over our culture's favorite stimulant--caffeine--is that they don't overstimulate the adrenal glands and thus don't create the adrenaline rush that can lead to the jitters. In fact, both Panax ginseng and Siberian ginseng are known as herbs that can stabilize the adrenals.

HERBS FOR EATING OR DRINKING

ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS to take brain herbs is to combine them in a tincture, a potent liquid extract; I often take it during long hours of lecturing to herb students. One evening I noticed my students were beginning to droop, so I passed my tincture around the class. Maybe it was just a placebo effect, but they perked up in only 15 minutes, asking far more questions than usual. Three of these students--one in her 20s, one in her 30s and one in his 40s--were also attending college at the time. After that herb class, they decided to take herbal brain-boosters daily; for their final exams, they also dosed up heavily with

one or two droppersful about an hour beforehand, and half a dropperful every half hour during the test. They reported a big difference in their ability to stay alert, and they didn't feel as drained afterward. Obviously, this wasn't a controlled study--but all three graduated with honors!

We'll get to specific herbs in a moment, but first some general guidelines for using them are in order. The four Gs are all non-toxic, and are most effective if taken on a relatively long-term basis. Most people use them for several weeks, but you can safely take them for several months. (You could take these herbs for years without side effects, but I don't recommend it. If your need for these herbs is that great, you may need to investigate whether you have other health problems.) You can use any of the herbs individually, but I and most other herbalists have found they are most potent if taken in combination.

The following dosages apply to both single herbs and two or more of the herbs combined in equal parts; these amounts should be enough to produce the effects described later in various studies. For tinctures, take 30 drops (about half a dropperful) two to four times daily. The amount of herb in a capsule or tablet varies from brand to brand, so follow the directions on the label. For a tea, you can purchase the herbs either already packaged in tea bags or loose in whatever amount you choose. For loose herbs, place herb in a cup or glass jar; pour in a cup of boiling water per teaspoon of herb and cover. Let it steep for 15 minutes or so, then strain and enjoy. If you're facing an especially grueling situation--such as an exam or a job interview--you can safely double the dose that day; be sure to take one of those double doses about an hour beforehand.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has won widespread recognition as a brain tonic that seems to be particularly useful for decreased mental capacity due to a physical disability or advancing years. The brain requires one-fifth of the total oxygen carried in the blood to function optimally, and if it doesn't get this amount, cognitive abilities decline. The primary reason mental processes decrease as people age is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which slows the flow of blood, and thus oxygen, to the brain. Research has found that gingko increases the ability of the brain to use available oxygen, and it also directly stimulates the area of the brain responsible for memory (Pharmakotherapie, 1978, 1:137-144). Evidently, many people appreciate these effects of ginkgo, because according to the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colo., it's one of top-selling herbs in the United States

Research currently is underway to see if ginkgo can delay mental deterioration in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and dozens of studies done in Germany and France during the last decade have found that ginkgo helped people 60 and older feel more alert, attentive, sociable and less moody after just one to two months. In fact, studies have found that ginkgo improved mental and behavioral performance in the elderly as well as such drugs as Hydergine, a prescription medication for treating senility that is the world's fifth most widely prescribed drug. (Fortschritte der Medizin 1990, vol. 108).

Another study conducted in France took a group of 80 elderly people whose reasoning ability, mental perception and memory had suddenly taken a sharp decline (Psychology Medical, 1986, vol. 19). One group of subjects took gingko, and the other group received a placebo. After three months, the gingko group per formed four times better than the placebo group on mental aptitude tests. The most dramatic improvements were seen in immediate short-term memory, attention span, and how quickly they perceived and responded to information. A study on young, healthy subjects (Therapiewoche, 1986, vol. 36) determined the reason for these effects. Electroencephalograph tests conducted an hour after subjects were given ginkgo extract showed an increase in the strength of both beta and alpha waves, the brain waves associated with, respectively, normal consciousness and wakeful relaxation; this effect lasted more than four hours.

Gingko is best known for long-term effects, but in increased doses it can also be quick-acting. For example, a study of healthy young women found that subjects who took 600 milligrams of ginkgo extract one hour before performing challenging memorization tests scored significantly higher than when they didn't take anything (International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1984, vol. 4: 889-93).

Panax ginseng (Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius) is another favorite brain herb, though its mechanism of action is different from ginkgo's. According to research done at the Institute of Materia Medica at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science, an herb research institute in Beijing, Panax ginseng contains compounds called ginsenosides that increase the brain's neurotransmitter activity as well as its synthesis of protein, which is necessary for a variety of functions.

Having a quick brain is good for more than just improved memory. The reference book Korean Ginseng Studies tells of a 37-year-old pianist whose performance was suffering because he couldn't concentrate and was tired all the time. Researchers gave him Panax ginseng for several months and a placebo for several more months. During the period he took ginseng, it helped so much that the researchers found the audience applause increased by 12 percent; there was no increase when he took the placebo. This was an unusual way to gauge the success of an herb, but it certainly makes its point!

In a more conventional study, Swedish researchers at the 1974 International Ginseng Symposium--a gathering sponsored by researchers and businesses interested in promoting ginseng--reported that college students who took two capsules of Panax ginseng a day experienced improved concentration and better test scores than a control group. Several clinical ginseng studies have been done on proofreaders and radio telegraph workers, whose stressful jobs demand accuracy and quick responses. When they took Panax ginseng, they had faster responses, made half as many mistakes, and increased their reading speed and concentration.

The same effects were found when the subjects took Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus sentiocosus), which is from the same family of plants as Panax ginseng and shares many of the same attributes. In other studies on Siberian ginseng, Russian researchers gave the herb to people who were senile or had mental disorders from atherosclerosis. After a period of time ranging from one to three months, most of the subjects' memories had improved; most also felt stronger and more self-confident about functioning in day-to-day life

When I first started using medicinal herbs in 1970, I wondered why gotu kola (Centella asiatica) was one of the few Oriental herbs widely available in the United States. (Gotu kola is not to be confused with the cola nut [Cola acuminata], which is found in some brain-herb preparations but unfortunately contains caffeine.) I traced its introduction to the Western world back to 1933, when a story in India's Ceylon Daily News was picked up by The New York Times. The attention-grabbing article called gotu kola "the Secret of Perpetual Youth" and said that the herb energized and preserved the brain cells of anyone who took it.

I and many other herbalists have found gotu kola to be extremely effective, despite the fact that relatively few scientific studies have been conducted to confirm its benefits. One clinical study did find that the scores on standardized intelligence tests and even the behavioral patterns of mentally challenged children improved (Medicinal Plants of India, vol. 1: 217-219). One of the best things about gotu kola is that although it is known as a brain stimulant, pharmacological research shows that it contains at least two sedative compounds; in fact, east Indians use it to quiet the mind for yoga and meditation. Thus, gotu kola gives you the best of both worlds: You feel calm and relaxed, yet mentally alert.

SNIFF YOUR WAY TO BRAIN POWER

MODERN JAPANESE RESEARCH shows that a number of aromas are indeed brain stimulants, and as a result, several large corporations in Tokyo now employ aromatherapy, or the therapeutic use of scent from essential plant oils. Throughout the day, various fragrances are released by a computer-controlled air system. A typical scent for the morning is lemon, to wake up workers. After lunch, the invigorating scent of cypress is used to promote constructive work. Peppermint improves work efficiency and dispels drowsiness in offices and conference rooms; it's often accompanied by lavender, which helps create a positive mood. Workers can also visit Tokyo's Health Club Harry's for a 30-minute stress-releasing morning workout in a room scented with rosemary and lemon to improve their concentration for the rest of the day.

Research in this country has found similar effects. For example, research done at the University of Cincinnati by psychology professor William N. Dember, Ph.D., found that workers in rooms scented with peppermint had more correct answers when identifying complicated patterns on a computer, and their performance didn't decline as rapidly as workers in unscented rooms (Journal of Cosmetic Chemistry, 1991, vol. 42: 199-210). In a similar study, researchers found that the fragrances of lemon, pepper and cinnamon all cut computer errors

Besides enhancing mental acuity, aroma can also improve memory. Trygg Engen, Ph.D., a Brown University professor of psychology and author of Perception of Odor (Academic Press, 1982), has found that the ability to recall events at least doubles when the event is associated with a smell instead of a visual memory. Think about your own life--what fragrances send you down memory lane? When I smell roses I am instantly a little girl again, sniffing my grandmother's potpourri jar. The scent of lavender just as quickly reminds me of her scented sheets.

Increasing your retention of information with the aid of scent is easy. Tuck a fragrant herb into your notebook when you write down important information, or dab a drop of essential oil on your calendar when making a date you don't want to forget. You'll be amazed how quickly smelling that aroma again will trigger your memory.

You can easily create your own brain stimulating massage and body oil; rub some on or even just take a sniff when you need a lift. To make, add 20 drops lemon essential oil and 5 drops rosemary essential oil to 4 ounces sweet almond oil or other light vegetable oil, such as apricot kernel or grapeseed. To perk it up even more, add I drop peppermint essential oil. You can also make a brain-boosting tea with half a teaspoon each of dried or fresh rosemary and peppermint leaves by following the instructions for the four Gs.

As you explore the use of brain boosting herbs, keep in mind that stress, anxiety and lack of sleep all can contribute to memory problems at any age. If any of these are an issue for you, the herbs in this article may help temporarily, but for lasting improvement you should address the source of the problem. Just be sure to do it soon--before you forget.

KATHI KEVILLE is the author of three herb books, president of the American Herb Association and editor of the AMERICAN HERB ASSOCIATION QUARTERLY.