This article will discuss about 14 imperative herbs and spices, which play vital role in promoting brain health –

Turmeric       

• Turmeric has been extensively used for centuries for various therapeutic purposes. It contains an important component named curcumin that exert potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which help to improve brain health as well
• Its antioxidant activity is responsible for protecting every brain cell from oxidative damages thus help to promote their health and functionality. On the other hand its anti-inflammatory activity is also accountable for delaying the onset of neuroinflammatory events that help to decrease the risk of developing neurological disorders
• Whereas the most important neuroprotective feature of turmeric is that it helps to prevent the breakdown of nerve cells, which plays vital role in shielding brain health
• Consumption of turmeric is thought to be very effective for reducing the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease as it is associated with inhibiting the building up of beta-amyloid in brain, which is responsible for producing Alzheimer’s related brain plaque
• It also helps to improve memory, cognition as well as attention

Cinnamon

• Its consumption is closely related with enhancing blood circulation to brain that ultimately promotes brain’s activity by increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to brain cells

• It helps to improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease too

Sage

• Sage is an important spice and it is very popular for its pungent scent
• It has been traditionally used for improving overall brain health
• Its consumption is closely related with boosting up the neurological functions that ultimately lowers the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders
• It has seen that consumption of sage is also useful for improving memory
• It is associated with promoting cognitive health as well
• It helps to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease too

Nutmeg

• Nutmeg is another important spice, which offers numerous health benefits
• It exerts strong antioxidant activities that help to protect nerve cells from free radical induced oxidative damages as a result promotes the activity of nerve cells that ultimately help to improve brain health
• It helps to improve cognition as well as memory

Ashwagandha

• Ashwagandha has been traditionally used in Ayurveda for various medicinal purposes
• It plays vital role in boosting up brain health as well
• It has seen that consumption of ashwagandha is extremely helpful for delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease as it is closely associated with decreasing oxidative stress

Gotu Kola

• Gotu kola has been widely used for improving mental clarity
• It is also associated with exerting antioxidant activity that helps to protect the entire nervous system from oxidative damages, which ultimately helps to improve brain functions
• Individual suffer from Alzheimer’s disease should include gotu kola in their as it helps to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
• It helps to boost up cognitive health as well
• It is also associated with enhancing memory
• It is linked with promoting mental health. It has seen that consumption of gotu kola is extremely useful for preventing stress as well as anxiety
• It also acts as anti-depressant, which helps in preventing depression and improves mood
• It helps to soothe the brain as well, which helps to improve sleeping quality hence prevents insomnia

Rosemary

• Rosemary is considered as one of the most important herbs for brain health
• Consumption of rosemary is closely related with inhibiting brain cell death, as a result it helps to protect the body from the detrimental consequences of neurodegenerative diseases
• It exerts anti-inflammatory activities too that help to delay the progression of neuro-inflammatory events
• It plays vital role in improving memory as well

Saffron

• Consumption of saffron is awfully helpful for improving brain health as it offers several neuroprotective effects
• It exerts antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory activities that help to protect the brain from damages and promotes its functionality
• It has seen that consumption of saffron is extremely effective for providing a positive impact on cognitive functions as well
• It is also associated with protecting the body from the harmful effects of neurotoxins

Pepper

• Pepper is widely used as an imperative herb for boosting up brain health as it contains an important substance named piperine that exert several neuroprotective activities
• Its consumption plays significant role in boosting up the functionality of brain thus lowers the risk of developing neurological disorders
• It is linked with stimulating the chemical pathways to brain, which ultimately helps to improve cognitive health
• It helps to enhance memory as well
• Its consumption is also related with improving mood and helps to prevent depression symptoms

Ginger

• Consumption of ginger is very much useful for promoting brain health as it contains numerous bioactive components that exhibit anti-inflammatory activities, which help to protect the brain from inflammatory damages
• Its antioxidant activity is also accountable for protecting the brain from oxidative damages

• It helps to treat Alzheimer’s disease as well as dementia

Ginkgo biloba

• It has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine for various medicinal purposes especially for promoting cognitive health
• It contains proanthocyanidins as well as flavonoids, which exert potent antioxidant activities that help to protect the brain from oxidative damages and prevents aging
• It also helps to improve cerebrovascular health, which subsequently improves concentration as well as memory
• It plays vital role in promoting circulation, which ultimately helps to improve blood supply to brain that ultimately enhances the activity of brain
• It helps to treat dementia too
• It is also related with decreasing the susceptibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease
• It helps to improve neuropsychiatric symptoms as well

Lemon Balm

• It is awfully useful for promoting the health and activity of nervous system
• Its consumption is closely related with providing a calmness to the body that helps to improve mood
• It helps to improve cognition too
• It helps to promote alertness as well
• It also helps to decrease oxidative stress and also prevents brain ageing  

Ginseng

• It is one of the most imperative medicinal herb that promotes the health of overall nervous system

• It contains an important biologically active component named ginsenosides that exert anti-inflammatory activities, which help to protect the brain from inflammatory damages and reduces the risk of developing neurological disorders
• It also helps to decrease the concentration of beta-amyloid in brain and improves the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Bacopa

• It has been traditionally used as an imperative cerebral tonic that helps to boost up brain health
• It helps to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, nervine and neuroprotective activities, which help to protect the brain from various damages as a result improves the activity of brain
• Its consumption is closely related with improving memory
• Individual who experience difficulties in focusing should include bacopa in their diet for improving attention
• It helps to improve mental clarity too
• Its consumption is also related with combating mental fatigue

Consumption of the above mentioned herbs and spices are extremely beneficial for improving brain health but it is better to use herbs and spices in small amount because their prolong consumption in concentrated form like supplements may cause various side effects.

Butt, M.S., Pasha, I., Sultan, M.T., Randhawa, M.A., Saeed, F. and Ahmed, W., 2013. Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 53(9), pp.875-886.

Dunbar, P., Best Herbs for Brain Health.

Huegel, H.M., 2015. Brain food for Alzheimer-free ageing: focus on herbal medicines. Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents for Amyloidogenic Diseases, pp.95-116.

Jatwa, V., Khirwadkar, P. and Dashora, K., 2014. Indian traditional memory enhancing herbs and their medicinal benefits. Indian Journal of Research in Pharmacy and Biotechnology, 2(1), p.1030.

Meletis, C.D. and Barker, J.E., 2004. Herbs and nutrients for the mind: A guide to natural brain enhancers (Vol. 1). Greenwood Publishing Group.

S Panickar, K., 2013. Beneficial effects of herbs, spices and medicinal plants on the metabolic syndrome, brain and cognitive function. Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry-Central Nervous System Agents), 13(1), pp.13-29.