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LIVING & TRAVEL Mental Floss: Your Brain On Ginkgo Published April 24, 1996 Herbs to Cure a Cold (4/2) Herbs for Stress Relief (4/9) Herbs to Sleep Deep (4/17)

If my brain's eggs on drugs, what's it on ginkgo? Despite the warnings, I remember that ad's tasty imagery and slogan well enough to use it as the opener for this here article on brain function. Touche! Or, Cliche! For whatever reason, sometimes our memories fail us. Either it's a short-term memory loss ("Are we stripes or solids?"), or it's long-term memories that seem to fade away ("Shoreline '89?"). As science explains, memories are more or less the firing of electrical currents across synaptic connections among the billions of nerve cells in our brains. A certain pathway or pattern of firing synapses is, in essence, a "memory." If these connections are slow, aren't being made, or if neurons are misfiring, then we have what's known as a "brain fart." A brain fart -- a.k.a. a memory lapse -- can be explained. Just as arteries can be clogged by excess fat and cholesterol in your bloodstream, the synaptic connections in your brain can be damaged by free radicals and abnormal protein build up in nerve cells. These are called senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These damaged synapses cause the electrical signals your body's sending to be slowed or possibly altered, thus affecting your memory. There are two herbs that might help prevent frequent "brain farts." Remember to consult your physician before beginning any herbal supplement program. Herb: Ginkgo AKA: Ginkgo biloba Where found: If you live in New York City, look around you for the trees with the bi-lobed, fan shaped leaves. They're all over. Native to Japan and China, ginkgo trees are popular in urban settings worldwide for their ability to survive insect damage, viral and bacterial infection, and chemical pollution. Most used part: The leaves Scientific stuff: Clinical research shows ginkgo extract (at a 50 to 1 ratio) increases blood flow thus helping provide additional oxygen and nutrients to the brain, eyes, ears and heart muscle. Indications: "(Ginkgo extract) helps improve memory and cognitive function, prevents senile dementia, speeds recovery from head injury, improves vision and hearing in the elderly, and prevents oxygen deprivation of the heart muscle," according to Rob McCaleb, president of the Herb Research Foundation. Contraindications:McCaleb's review of clinical research on ginkgo shows "no serious side effects have been noted in any trial," and "there are no known drug interactions," according to the medical journal the Lancet. Try this: Try convincing your dad whose memory is slowly fading to start taking ginkgo daily. Explain that ginkgo biloba extract is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in all of Europe. Don't do this: Don't expect to take a ginkgo pill and suddenly become Einstein. As with most herbs, ginkgo works over a long period of time. Herb: Gotu kola AKA: Centella asiatica Most used part: The root Where found: An Ayurvedic herb is a 5,000 year old healing tradition from India, found in India, China, Australia, Indonesia, parts of Africa, and the South Pacific. Scientific stuff: Triterpenes are an active compound in Gotu kola that demonstrate both tranquilizing and anti-anxiety effects. Triterpenes stimulate nerve endings in the brain to release acetylcholine, which plays an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses at synapses. Indications: Traditionally used in China as a longevity tonic, Gotu kola has gained recent attention in the West as a mental stimulant and may be beneficial for skin conditions such as psoriasis. Contraindications: Gotu kola has been shown to cause central nervous system stimulation in high doses, which can cause a "racing mind" and insomnia. Try this: Try to find out more about this herb before using it. I had a hard time locating a lot of good information on it even with its long history and current use in many herbal formulas. Don't do this: Don't take a lot of Gotu kola. Its powerful stimulant effects can be irritating if you don't like the jitters. Can't remember where ginkgo comes from? Here are some other brain boosters you might try: Supplements: Antioxidants, especially selenium and vitamin E, guard against cellular damage in the brain from free radicals. (Free radicals are cells that steal electrons from other cells thus causing reactions believed to be involved in the aging and disease processes.) Also, the B vitamins help convert certain amino acids into neurotransmitters important to brain function. Amino Acids: Two supplements -- phosphatidylserine (from the amino acid serine) and acetyl-l-carnitine (from the amino acid carnitine) -- have gained recent study due to their believed effect in aiding memory loss in Alzheimer's patients. Nineteen placebo-controlled studies have shown daily intake of acetyl-l-carnitine may improve memory loss in Alzheimer's patients, according to Walter Crinnion, N.D. DHA: Docosahexaenoic acid is an essential fatty acid derived from cold water fish such as tuna and salmon. Recently, it's been shown to improve dementia symptoms in the elderly. Sleep and Eat Right: It's common sense. Steve Taormina (Pisces) is managing editor for Delicious! Magazine and web editor for HealthCraze.com. This information is not medical advice, and he's not a doctor. Send Steve mail at [email protected]