What Natural Herbs Are Considered Nootropics?
Best Herbal Nootropics [Herbs Used as Cognitive Enhancers]
Nootropics have been a hot topic lately (although having been around and used for thousands of years prior) for their incredible abilities to improve the brain. Nootropics are used to give people energy, focus, faster reaction times and to increase attention span. Nootropics are often considered cognitive enhancers. They are very popular among bankers, entrepreneurs, and even athletes. They have been used by body builders to create extra energy and drive to push through those hard moments. Students turn to nootropics for increased focus, better memory recall and more efficient studying. Gamers are fond of nootropics stacks and products for the increase to reaction time and clearer decision making.
Many nootropics enthusiasts and advocates suggest using more than one nootropic, creating what they call a “nootropics stack.” It can be difficult to decide which nootropics are the best cognitive enhancers to include in a stack, which is why many people choose to select a well-formulated dietary supplement. Nootropics that come as dietary supplements are basically already-prepared nootropics stacks, made by the experts. Still, it is important to pick a product or stack that is best for each individual person depending upon the desired effects.
So which nootropics herbs are the best cognitive enhancers? Which herbal nootropics will provide the greatest mental boosts? And what are the effects of the best nootropics plants out there? Botanical Shaman has done the legwork to list the best natural cognitive enhancers used today.
List of Natural Herbs Used as Cognitive Enhancers
Many nootropics exist, however, some nootropics herbs immensely outperform the rest. These are the most popular and most effective natural herbs used for their cognitive enhancing abilities. This list of nootropics are in alphabetical order.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha has also been known as Indian Ginseng and Poison Gooseberry. It is a member of the nightshade family and is native to India, also having a rich history of being used in Ayurvedic medicine. It is very commonly employed as a tonic with rejuvenating and re-energizing effects. Ashwagandha can be frequently found in a number of nootropics stacks and dietary supplements focusing on cognitive enhancement. It is considered to be contributory towards a healthy brain.
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri)
Bacopa is a highly versatile-growing plant, and is native to wetlands around the world, literally growing on nearly every continent. It has a strong history of being employed in Ayurvedic medicine. It is most commonly known in Ayurvedic practices as “Brahmi” or “Brahma,” which is also a deity. Bacopa has been suggested to produce cell-protective effects and may have neural-protective effects in the brain. It has specifically been suggested to help protect against neurodegeneration. Bacopa is also commonly found in nootropics stacks and supplements which are meant to increase cognitive function.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba)
Ginkgo is native to and has been found growing in China as far back more than 270 million years ago. It is very regularly cultivated and used around the world today. It is most frequently employed today as a nootropic, specifically to improve all around cognitive function. Ginkgo advocates will swear by its ability to improve memory, attention span and reaction times and often call it one of the best nootropics for cognitive enhancement stacks.
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
Gotu Kola is known by many names including: Hydrocotyle, Indian Pennywort, Spadewort and a variety of other spellings of “Gotu Kola.” It is native to Eastern Asia and has both culinary and medicinal purposes. It is very commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine, but has recently has become popular in the United States. It is a nervine, which means the nervous system likes this herb. It is a powerful nootropic for the brain, being able to increase attention span, focus, and concentration for all types of activities. It is regularly used to increase intelligence and is considered a smart drug. It is also used to specifically improve memorization and memory recall.
Huperzine A (Huperzine serrata)
Huperzine A is a very popular nootropic and a naturally occurring sesquiterpene found in the clubmoss Huperzine serrata. Huperzine may be very popular around the world today, however, it was first used in traditional Chinese medicines. It is a popular part of many effective nootropics stacks and additionally found in many powerful nootropics supplements. It has been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and is said to improve memory, reaction times, overall focus and even give an energy boost. Huperzine A is one of the most effective and best herbs used as a cognitive enhancer.
St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
St John’s Wort holds a super special place in the world of “Old Herbalism.” The flowers of St John’s Wort are a rustic-like yellow-to-gold color and almost look as though they are contorting. They are still considered a pleasant flower to receive, and are often picked for their ornamental value. They have a variety of folklore and folk-uses associated with them, however, they are more commonly employed today for their medicinal properties. St John’s Wort has been used to help treat mood disorders, depression and a variety of brain imbalances for centuries. It is considered a nootropic for its abilities to improve the working flow of the brain.
Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)
Schisandra is a vine native to Northern China and Eastern Russia. Schisandra produces a fruit which is commonly referred to as “Magnolia Berry” or “Five Flavor Fruit.” The berries produce all five flavors, hence the nickname. The berries are considered a nootropic, specifically providing a powerfully energized mindset. This plant is an adaptogen and is able to help one better control mood and focus levels. Many people have suggested Schisandra has made them much more accurate, depending upon the activity.
Last Words on Using Natural Herbs as Cognitive Enhancers
There is be a diverse index of plants and herbal products that can provide the brain and mind extra bursts of stimulation and energy. And the smaller array of popular nootropics are proving to be the some of the most effective cognitive enhancers on the planet. Some of these nootropics work differently for some people than for others; and some nootropics stacks may contain more ingredients (herbs) than others. It is clear, however, that nootropics have paved the way for intellectuals of all fields to begin “hacking the brain,” for all around better performance. Nootropics have brought upon a new age of advancing human thinking, using the natural plants already available for disposal. And it works.
