One of the things that has always intrigued, me as well as motivated me to further inquiry is the idea of expanding my cognitive abilities through the use of medicinal herbs. To this end there are a number of plants/herbs that are held in the highest of esteem by traditional Chinese practitioners of herbal medicine. I will mention a few here briefly and provide some links for your further study.
Over the years I have become fond on an herb commonly known as Gotu Kola in the west. It's proper name is Centella asiatica, or "Ping Da Wan," It is one of the medicinal herbs I became familiar with early on when looking for a way to help stave off the degenerative effects on cognition that sometimes occurs with advanced age. On another cultural front, the herb: Bacopa monnieri, is used in the Indian Ayurveda tradition of treatment for similar purpose. Both these plants have a long and reputable history in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The links below are from WebMD and have short descriptions regarding both plants. I reference WebMD, as it is one of the sites that often shows up in search results most people will make.
Both are believed to enhances cognitive abilities, enhance memory and learning skills as well as serve as neuroprotectants.
Centella asiatica: Gotu Kola Bacopa monnieri: Brahmi
Gotu Kola has a long history dating back roughly two thousand years. It is mentioned in "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine." Generally attributed to Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor of the Third Millennium BCE. Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri is part of the Indian Ayurvedic tradition of medicine dating to the times of the Vedas (1500-1000 BCE) The Vedas are ancient texts covering wisdom, religion, music, medicine and more. Essentially the collected knowledge of the progenitors of the Indian peoples.
Links to these sites for your further searches, U.S. National Library of Medicine; National Institutes of health; NCBI (Pubmed) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
and WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/
Web MD is very accessible to most readers who require reputable information regarding herbs, their uses and side effects. Information from NCBI, on the other hand is better suited for those with some background in the sciences. Much information found there will be concerned with research published from around the globe as such is oriented more towards health professionals.
There are other supplements that can your brain's efficiency. An example: Acetyl-L-Carnitine Arginate, and others. More about them later. Here is where I change course a bit though.
I recently read an article published in "Wired," based I believe on work by a Brit. One Paul Expert, Research Assoc, King's College London. His field: Complex Networks, Complex Systems, Neuroimaging. I hesitate to jest regarding his name and his areas of research. I'll let you all do that. The gist of the article is that certain organic chemical compounds have the ability to rewire the brain in a permanent manner. In doing so they connect parts of the brain that normally do not communicate with each other. What a concept! Did I mention an increase in plasticity. Some of you no doubt will intuit more, but on with it.
Other researchers believe that phytochemical compounds (naturally occurring plant compounds) have the ability to do this as well, albeit at a somewhat slower rate. There is an area of study regarding this and the plant compounds and supplements go under the name of Nootropics. Brain enhancers you would call them. In the cells, Nootropics, (like Gotu Kola, Brahmi, and more) seem to have the ability to scavenge lipofuscins, (compounds that break down cellular compounds) and may can damage neural systems.
For more indepth info go here: http://www.innovitaresearch.org/news/06042501.html
Of course there are other ways the brain can be damaged, but this area of research of Nootropics holds a lot of promise for helping us become smarter, more conscious and awake to our reality and so on. When I say this I have to mention that Gotu Kola and Brahmi have been used for over thousand years with the express desire of raising consciousness as well.Taoist monks used it to become more aware and more spiritually conscious.
My own use of these nootropics, gotu kola in particular, has led me to believe there is a component of this phytochemical that does seem to develop ones sense of connection to the universe. In addition I believe it does enhance memory and many cognitive functions. My own opinion is that it seems to function as a very slow form of "mind expansion."
What I have found in years of research on these green alternatives to drugs is that they have the ability to serve, at the least as adjuncts to conventional therapies. Furthermore I am convinced that they may also work so well, according to much of what I have seen as of late in research journals, that they indeed may be designed very specifically to exactly the things they do.
Which leads me to this closing statement: With each passing day and more reading, it seems that our natural environment contains everything needed to maintain, give health and grow our
consciousness in ways we are just beginning to understand. If not subverted, natural medicine will soon take it's place alongside conventional medicine as a full partner in maintenance of full and vital living. It's up to us to push for this basic right to health and well being by learning more about the alternatives to conventional medicine.
I hope this truly helps to spark your further interest in alternative medicine. More next week.
Vern R. C. McFalls
NOTE: this information is provided with no express promises and is furnished for informational purposes only. Consult a physician before use.
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