Thursday, January 15th 2009

By sehr tejpar

With one term under our belts this academic year and the new term just beginning, some students might be re-evaluating their routines and studying practices as they try to approach this term in a more effective manner. Some might even be going so far to consider the use of substances that simulate brain activity.

A report prepared in 2006 by the Academy of Medical Sciences for the UK Government brought up an issue more relevant now than ever before: academic performance enhancing drugs.

By no means are these types of drugs a new trend, but who would think that one day steroids for the brain would become commonplace? According to the report, students are using prescription medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and Alzheimer’s, hoping for a brain boost.  

While the health and ethical implications of the use of these drugs are being questioned, the online market for “brain tonics” has been thriving.  These tonics fall into the broader category of nootropics – drugs, herbs and nutrients alleged to have cognitive enhancing effects. The chemicals work by either enhancing the brain’s supply of neurochemicals (such as hormones), by stimulating nerve growth or by improving the brain’s oxygen supply. 

For centuries nootropics have been used in Eastern cultures, and recently their popularity has been soaring in the West. Of the many ancient plants purported to have “nootropic effects,” Ginkgo biloba, Siberian ginseng and Gotu kola are believed to be the most effective. It is important to note, however, that the beneficial properties of most nootropics has not been conclusively determined.

Below is a brief description of these “brain boosting” remedies, all of which are available at local drug stores or grocery stores. Be sure to consult your doctor about using any of the natural brain enhancers. 

Ginkgo Biloba

Used by Chinese monks for centuries, Ginkgo biloba is considered the best for improving mental functioning. 

Benefits: antioxidant properties, enhanced circulation and inhibiting of blood clots. 

Active Ingredients: flavonoids and terpenoids, active plant compounds marketed for their medicinal properties by both the pharmaceutical and food industry. 

Dosage: 40 -200 mg per day.

Gotu Kola

As a rejuvenating tonic in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Gotu kola has a reputation for treating anxiety. Studies have linked this herb to improved memory in rats, but have yet to scientifically establish this link in humans.  

Benefits: as an adaptogen (a substance which supposedly increases the body’s resistance to stress, trauma and anxiety) it has antioxidant properties and a “Vayasthapana effect” (retard aging process).

Dosage: 20 – 60 mg, three times daily.

Siberian Ginseng

Much Like Gotu kola, Siberian ginseng is an adaptogen with a range of wide uses. 

Benefits: enhanced immune function, decreased cortisol levels, decreased inflammatory response, and improved cognitive and physical performance.

Active Ingredients: eleutherosides (triterpenoid saponins) that fit into hormone receptors. 

Dosage: 250 mg, twice daily. Consult your doctor if you have high blood pressure and want to take Siberian ginseng.

While these herbs provide a much safer and more ethical alternative to the use of prescription meds, there are still more conventional alternatives that are probably taken for granted in your usual diet. 

First on the list are almonds or any nut products. This natural nootropic nutrient contains magnesium, which is both a cognitive enhancer and stress reducer.  Try mixing about twenty grams of walnuts and almonds with figs or raisins and you’ve got your own daily homemade brain tonic. 

If you are allergic to nuts, fruits are also a great brain booster. Apples contain vitamin B, phosphorus and potassium all of which help to synthesize glutamic acid. Due to its ability to change the strength of synapses, glutamic acid is associated with learning and memory.

Apples don’t do it for ya? Try berries or any fruit that contains flavonoids and acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants minimize the effects of free radicals, which are just as dangerous to brain cells as any other cell in the body.

Finally, the most common “brain food” that many mothers and doctors suggest: fish. While salmon or fresh tuna are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, they also contain DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol). DMAE is a B-complex nutrient that is believed to enhance brain activity by helping to synthesize neurotransmitters.  

Whether it is an old world leaf extract from China or a pack of trail mix, the resources to get our brains (and memories) through the winter term are readily available. Times may be desperate, but our measures definitely don’t need to be.