By Dr. Terry Willard

With this group of herbs, you can tackle most normal cognitive issues related to stress, mood, anxiety and the need for mental clarity.

Much has been written lately about herbs that can help improve your mood and that alleviate mental and emotional stress. How much of this is hype? Do these herbs really work? As a clinical herbalist, I wanted to focus on those botanicals that have a proven track record for my patients. Which of these botanicals have I seen give consistent success over the last 30 years? How do you tell which botanical medicine is right for you? The herbs we will concentrate on are a group of botanicals we call the "cognitive herbs". They are: reishi, ginkgo, St. John's wort, scullcap, and Siberian ginseng. Each of these herbs has a slightly different application for assisting with mood, mental alertness and stress, but used in the right condition can always be relied on for help. Let's look at each one individually.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum, G. applanatum and related species) is by far my favorite cognitive botanical. The by-line, "to protect an academic from their own brain" is very appropriate here! Reishi is good for calming down the linear mind, imparting a sense of calm, and for some it can induce a meditative state. Reishi relaxes the mind without any feeling of sedation and is specifically beneficial for reducing anxiety. Used for nervous problems such as insomnia and paranoia, it also has a mild effect of reducing depression. Reishi has been described as having a very grounding effect on a person. I particularly like to use it to reduce circular mental arguments that are often hard to shut off, especially when trying to fall sleep. (1, 2)

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) extract (GBX) helps the communicative functions of the brain. The brain is one of the hungriest organs of our body. For proper function, it needs to be continuously bathed in oxygen and nutrient rich blood. Little malfunctions in the circulation of the capillary bed can cause all kinds of problems in the brain, memory being one of the most pronounced. By repairing these small malfunctions in brain circulation, ginkgo can increase brain function and improve memory. Ginkgo also has the capacity to increase the oxygen content of your blood. This is important because it has been proven that memory is enhanced in oxygen rich blood. (3)

When it comes to enhancing brain function, ginkgo does even more. All neural functions in the brain are achieved by the activity of neural transmitters. Neural transmitters are the chemical mechanisms that allow one neural unit to communicate with another. Ginkgo increases the amount of neural transmission between cells and increases the number of receptor sites available for neural transmission. (4, 5)

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is presently the second most prescribed drug in Germany for depression. Even small amounts have been found effective at increasing blood flow to stressed tissue. This blood flow has also been shown to be hypotensive, reducing capillary fragility and enhancing uterine tone. (6, 7, 8)

As fine as St. John's wort is for depression, it is not highly effective on its own for anxiety or bi-polar conditions. I see substantially more bi-polar patients these days (manic depression sufferers with both high and low mood swings), so I often combine St. John's Wort with reishi.

Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) was heavily used by the eclectic doctors for emotional mental stress over a century ago. The calming effect of scullcap has been attributed to scutellarein. The herb has been used for neuralgia, hiccoughs, insomnia and nervous disorders. Heart rate has been shown to be reduced and the entire nervous system slowed and calmed with proper use.

We like to use this herb in sensitive people who often keep their sensitive nature to themselves. When a person holds on to a lot of internal dialogue without some form of expression, it builds into chronic stress conditions. (9, 10)

Siberian ginseng (Eleuthrococcus senticosus) has a strong functional impact on stress and the adrenals, and it also helps to stabilize emotions. The extract of Siberian ginseng has been shown to have adaptogenic effect, meaning it balances all the systems of the body. Studies have shown it to increase physical performance, growth and survival rates, increase protein anabolism and produce thermostability upon heat exposure in humans. (11, 12, 3)

Siberian ginseng is beneficial to both reduce stress and energize a person. I find it very useful to take during intense times of stress, especially when more physical energy is needed. Athletes and performers can benefit from adding Siberian ginseng to their regimen, as can anyone seeking to improve results at the gym or in their personal training program.

Conclusion

With this group of herbs, you can tackle most normal cognitive issues related to stress, mood, anxiety and the need for mental clarity. Take reishi for a meditative and calming state and especially for anxiety. Use ginkgo to enrich the blood supply to your brain (and other tissues) and to boost your memory. St. John's wort will help with depression and winter blues. Scullcap is for you if you want to calm mental anxiety and if you tend to think too much. Siberian ginseng aids with general stress and can provide energy and calming effects at the same time. All of these herbs can be combined with each other for best results. Very often this is done in a clinical setting. Above all, remember that you can relax, reflect, relate and enjoy more learning with the help of cognitive botanicals.

1. Willard T.; Reishi Mushroom: Herb of Spiritual Potency and Medical Wonder; Sylvan Press Issaquah Wa; 1990. 2. Gengtao L, Tiantong B, et al; Some Pharmacological actions of the spores of Ganoderma lucidum and the mycelium of Ganoderma capense cultivated submerged formation; Chen Med J 92 (7) 496-500 1979. 3. Leung, A.Y. and S. Foster, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1996. 4.Mowrey D; Guaranteed Potency Herbs, Next Generation Herbal Medicine; Keats, New Canaan, CT, 1990, p.63-86. 5.Rapin, J.R., Le Ponin-Lafitte, M., Modele experimental d’ischemie cerebrale. Action preventive de l’extrait de ginkgo, Sem. Hop Paris, 55, 2047, 1979. 6. Upton R, et al, St. John’s Wort; American Herbal Pharm and Therapeutic Compendium; July, 1997. 7. Crellin, J.K. and Philpott, J., Herbal Medicine: Past and Present (Vol. II), Duke University Press, London, 1990. 8. Culbreth, D.M.R., A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology, Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland OR , 18xx (Repr. 1983). p.511. 9. Foster S; Scullcap: a Herbal Enigma; Business of Herb May/June 1996, pp 14-16. 10. Medi Herb Professional Newsletter; No 34 & 35, July Aug 1993. 11. Farnsworth N.R. et al; Economic and Plant Research; Academic Press, New York, San Diego p155, 1985. 12. Lawrence Review; Eleuthrococcus; May 1996 pp 1-3.

Dr. Terry Willard

Dr. Terry Willard has studied the medicinal properties of plants for over 25 years. He is recognized as one of North America’s leading clinical herbalists. Dr Willard is a frequent contributor to VISTA Magazine.