Herbs for Mental Health and Energy: A Look at What Herbs Support Mood, Focus and Alertness

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In some of the previous articles I’ve written we’ve looked at herbs for memory and function, but today I’d like to look at herbs for mental health and energy. Memory issues are not the only problems people deal with when it comes to the brain. Many suffer from mood swings, depression and a lack of mental energy. Herbal remedies can help with that too.

For most of us, one of the primary factors that affects our mental health and well being is stress. We all deal with stress in our lives to varying degrees. It seems that the level of stress in life is increasing rather than decreasing. News reports and scientists have done numerous stories and studies showing that people are spending longer hours at work, taking fewer vacations and in general doing more to increase rather than reduce stress. This has a significant impact on how our minds function. Mood deteriorates, energy levels decrease and mental focus becomes more difficult.

To combat this it would be most beneficial to cut back on work hours, take more time off, relax, exercise, etc. However, the reality is that this seems to be difficult for our generation to follow through with. As a result, people are looking for ways to help their bodies cope with stress without the negative side effects of prescription drugs and other methods. One of those tools is herbs for mental health like Siberian Ginseng.

Ginseng has undergone intense studies by scientists in recent years. This herb has been used for generations in China and other parts of asia as a herb for mental health. It has become popular in Europe and the US and research is supporting its use as a beneficial mind herb.

Ginseng is what scientists call an adaptogen. It is a substance that interacts with the brain and other body systems in different ways to help adjust to stress. It levels the systems out so stress has less of an effect on both mind and body thereby helping maintain mental health and stability.

Along with stress comes mood or anxiety issues. Stress and anxiety often seem to come hand in hand. To fight anxiety and help calm mood herbal experts suggest Passion Flower and Bacopin as two herbs for mental health that have a positive effect in reducing anxiety and nervousness and calming mood. Again, research is so far supporting these herbs as helpful to the brain.

After dealing with stress and anxiety, people are often left with fatigue and a lack of mental energy. To that end there are two herbs for mental energy that are often recommended. They are Ginkgo Biloba and Gotu Kola.

Ginkgo is often used to help increase memory and cognitive function. It does so by increasing blood flow to the brain. Another result of this process is that it helps increase focus and alertness by supplying the brain with more oxygen and nutrients due to the rise in blood traffic. That makes Ginkgo one of the more important of the herbs for mental energy.

Gotu Kola is also an useful in providing energy and focus to the brain. It also has some effect on the blood flow in the body. It helps with fatigue by reducing insomnia and boosting mental functions. It also has the added benefit of helping to reduce anxiety and level mood, making it not only one of the herbs for mental energy, but one for overall mental health.

While the problems of stress, anxiety and fatigue may not something that we can just wave our hands and make go away, there are things we can do to protect ourselves from their effects. Though exercise and rest are important to our bodies being able to cope, it may not be enough or even possible to get what we need in today’s world. Using herbs for mental health and energy may be an increasingly important tool in our fight to overcome the negative effects of the heavy demands we face each day.