The herbs in Brain formula stimulate circulation and blood flow and assist in bringing oxygen to the brain to assist with mental alertness and combat mental fatigue.

Gingko has been shown to significantly increase blood flow in all organs and tissues, including the brain and heart muscle.  It assists in bringing oxygen to the brain and has been shown to improve memory, concentration, mental alertness and promotes a sense of physical and emotional well-being.  A number of studies have found that ginkgo has a positive effect on memory and thinking in people with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia.  A 1997 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that ginkgo extract was capable of stabilizing and, in a substantial number of cases, improving the cognitive performance and the social functioning of demented patients.  

The Commission E* has licensed Ginkgo in Germany for the treatment of cerebral dysfunction, including memory deficits (resulting from aging or impaired blood flow to the brain), disturbances in concentration and depressive emotional condition. It is also used for accidents involving brain trauma.

*The Commission E is an expert panel of physicians and scientists having expertise in herbal medicine and related disciplines. In 1978 the Commission was formed as a division of the German Federal Health Agency to evaluate the safety and efficacy of over 300 herbal medicines sold in German pharmacies. The Commission E is considered the world’s foremost authority on herbal therapies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of Ginkgo biloba extract for symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate cerebrovascular insufficiency (poor circulation in the brain). World Health Organization. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants, Vol. 1. (Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization. 1999): 154-167

In a study of Alzheimer’s patients given Ginkgo biloba extract, improvement was observed in the group of patients with very mild to mild cognitive impairment, while in more severe dementia, ginkgo functioned more to stabilize or slow down worsening of condition. 

Drug interactions:

Ginkgo Biloba extract may increase the effect of blood thinning agents and aspirin. Herbal Med, AHPA 57-5. Ginkgo biloba extract may beneficially increase the activity of papaverine, used in the treatment of male impotence. 

Skullcap is an anti-spasmodic, nervine and tonic. It is good for raw nerves, epilepsy and motor nerve injury. It tones and soothes the nervous system. It is high in magnesium and also contains 

calcium, Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and C, iron, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, silicon, zinc, lignans, chromium and cobalt. Silicon promotes firmness and strength in the tissues and works with calcium to help restore bones. Silicon has been used for weak bones, improving hair and nail quality, improving skin healing and for treating sprains and strain.

Rosemary is an analgesic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and encephalic.

Improves circulation & increases mental activity, focus and concentration.

Boosts the function of the liver and helps to lower blood sugar.

Relieves pain associated with migraines, rheumatism and arthritis.

Key constituents:

Caffeic acid and rosemarinic acid which shield the brain from free radicals, thereby lowering the risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Carnosol which is a potent anti-cancer compound.

1,8-Cineole (terpene)

  • has the ability to enter the blood stream by inhalation and cross the blood-brain barrier
  • inhibits the enzymes that break down acetylcholine—the principle neurotransmitter in the brain, which helps synapses fire.
  • cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s is associated with low dopamine and 1,8-cineole increases dopamine release in brain cells (Wolfe et al 1990), (Kako et al 2008)

The most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals for treating loss of cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease are AChE inhibitors, also known as cholinergic drugs. All three of the major constituents of rosemary oil individually inhibit (AChE), as do three of its minor constituents.

Rosemary is a good source of vitamin A, C (required for collagen synthesis), E (alpha tocopherol) and is exceptionally rich in B-complex vitamins, such as folic acid, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and high levels of folates. Rosemary is a rich source of minerals like potassium, calcium, iron (83% of RDA per serving), manganese, copper, and magnesium. 

Rosemary has long-lived reputation for improving memory and has been traditionally known as the remembrance herb. Evidence suggests that oxidative damage caused by highly reactive (free radical) oxygen molecules in the body plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. The natural acids present in rosemary help protect the body’s cells and DNA from free radical damage. One particularly potent antioxidant is rosmarinic acid. Some studies claim that the carnosic acid found in rosemary may also shield the brain from free radicals and thereby lower the risk of strokes and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

Researchers from Northumbria University in the United Kingdom found that the amount of 1,8-cineole, a main chemical in rosemary oil, in the blood is linked with brain performance. Their work was published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. After the researchers exposed 20 people to different levels of rosemary oil aroma, they found that the more 1,8-cineole in the bloodstream of the person, the better the person’s performance on both the speed and accuracy tests. Researchers also noted a small effect on mood. The Huffington Post, Amanda L. Chan Posted: 02/27/2012.

Gotu Kola is high in B vitamins. Supplementation with Gotu kola in the elderly enhanced working memory and showed improvement of self-rated mood. Studies suggest the potential of Gotu Kola to attenuate age-related decline in cognitive function and mood disorder in the healthy elderly. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Mar 5;116(2):325-32.

Cayenne is the purest stimulant. It stimulates circulation and blood flow which significantly increases the effect of other herbs when taken in combination. It is warming, dilating and equalizes blood pressure. Contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C and E and calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, quercetin, lutein, folate, chromium, cobalt, copper, linoleic-acid, lysine, silicon, tryptophan, and 1,8-cineole as well as amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Consult your doctor if you are taking prescription medication. Not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. Keep out of reach of children.

This information is to be used for educational purposes only and has been solely based on the historic and traditional use of herbs.  It is offered for informational use only, and for use in maintaining and promoting good health in cooperation with a licensed medical practitioner.  It is not intended for the use of diagnosing any disease or condition or prescribing any treatment whatsoever. This information has not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.