Overcome Mental Fatigue With Herbal Remedies

In the modern world, life is a series of fast-paced routines that demand a lot of attention and energy, therefore mental fatigue is something that everyone has unavoidably experienced. It makes our concentration low and raises the occurrence of mistakes in our work performance. Sometimes it can be taken care of easily enough by just resting or switching our attention to something more relaxing. For some people, however, mental fatigue has become a chronic problem that cannot be simply overcome by a solid night of sleep or a big cup of coffee.

A lot of people who suffer from mental fatigue assume that drinking excessive coffee or other kinds of energy drinks can help them. The truth is caffeinated drinks can increase energy, but don't necessarily improve attention, memory or task efficiency.

Below are some botanical medicines that can really help you overcome mental fatigue. These herbs are famous for their nootropic effects, which enhance cognitive function of the brain and mental performances. Sometimes they are referred to as "smart nutrients" or "brain enhancers."

Native to the Arctic regions of Siberia, Scandinavia, Lapland and Alaska, Rhodiola Rosea has been widely used as a mental medicine and classified as an adaptogen that assists the body in resisting physical and environmental stressors. A recent study in Russia used Rhodilo Rosea in students during a stressful period of finals. Following the study period, the students' self-assessment of general well-being improved significantly in the areas of both physical fitness and mental fatigue. A number of researchers also state that Rhodiola Rosea is a great mood enhancer, highly effective for alleviating depression.

Ginseng is another popular botanical medicine that has been used for thousands of years. There are three main varieties of this herb: Panax, Siberian and American. The Panax ginseng (grown in China, Korea and Vietnam) is the most famous type. A lot of research on ginseng reveals that it does not only enhance cognitive function of the brain and enliven the mood, but also prevents memory loss.

The Chinese and Koreans love cooking chicken soup with ginseng roots and adding ginseng slices to stir fry dishes. Ginseng powder can also be added to baked items or put in hot water for steaming rice.

Ginkgo Biloba is best known for its preventive effects on Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and age-related cognitive decline. But it also acts as a nootropic agent that effectively improves brain function and cures mental fatigue. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using ginkgo extract for 30 days demonstrated substantial improvements in working memory and rapidity of information processing.

Several studies utilizing combinations of ginkgo and ginseng also have provided impressive results in terms of mental performance; a number of research participants reported that they experienced significantly increased ability to calculate and better long-term memory.

• Barker, Jason E., and Melatis, Chris D. Herbs and Nutrients For The Mind. Westport: Praeger, 2004.