Top 5 Herbs for Focusing

It’s hard to keep your attention in check these days. Distractions are everywhere. Add to that the stress of daily life and the busyness that always seems to follow and you have a perfect storm for focusing difficulties.

Many people will try to fix the problem by turning to pharmaceutical remedies or highly processed energy drinks that often have unpleasant side effects. Fortunately, there are natural, herbal supplements that are effective with few, if any, adverse effects. These herbs have been used for centuries to improve cognitive function and increase mental clarity. They may even contribute to maintaining improved cognitive function long-term, while boosting energy levels, especially for older adults.

It is amazing what nature has given us for improving the health of our bodies and brains. Taking a daily herbal supplement of these herbs in the form of our great-tasting liquid extracts can boost cognitive health while offering protection against mild cognitive impairment and significant improvements in brain health. Start your fight against brain fog and begin your herbal medicine journey.

These are the top 5 herbs for focusing and increasing attention.

Holy Basil

Holy basil goes by several names, Ocimum tenuiflorum, tulsi, tulasi, and Ocimum sanctum L. This aromatic perennial plant is native to India but can be found in parts of Asia as well. While it is a close cousin to sweet basil (the culinary herb), it is not the same.

As a staple of traditional Ayurvedic supplements, holy basil has long been used as an herb to address ailments. It truly is an herb with whole-body benefits and there is an impressive body of research including clinical studies that supports this. As a daily dietary supplement, it can help improve brain function, which in turn improves focus.

This herb supports the nervous system due to its powerful antioxidant properties which also help the body manage stress better. This results in helping you feel calmer. When you can better manage stress, it may help by reducing racing thoughts, being easily distracted, and difficulty focusing.

Drinking tulsi tea daily is a common practice in many cultures, including in the United States. However, our holy basil extract delivers a potent dose of the herb in a more efficient, effective way than herbal teas. This is because there is nothing added so all you get is holy basil leaf, purified water, and USP-grade vegetable glycerin.

The suggested use of our holy basil extract is .62 mL, or 1/8 teaspoon taken 1 to 3 times a day or as needed.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, Indian Ginseng, or winter cherry, is a member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. In India, the herb is called the “strength of the stallion” due to its ability to strengthen and support the immune system. Used for thousands of years, ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurvedic medicine. It is an evergreen shrub that is native to the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa.

This adaptogenic herb boasts an impressive list of benefits that address the entire body. It is an herbal supplement that has long been used in Ayurvedic and traditional supplements with a history that spans more than 2,500 years.

One of the most sought-after properties of ashwagandha is its ability to aid the body in maintaining homeostasis, especially during times of physical or emotional stress. It also supports the immune system to help the body maintain healthy function. It may also help to slow the aging process.

There have been a number of clinical studies on Ashwagandha's effect on the nervous system and brain, including reducing stress while boosting energy levels.

Various parts of the plant are used for specific benefits. This can include the fruit, seeds, and leaves, but it is the root that is used. It is often available as an oral supplement, but Cedar Bear offers an ashwagandha extract that delivers all the goodness of the herb in convenient, easy-to-take drops. It gives you everything you want in a supplement without any of the junk that you don’t. Our Ashwagandha Root extract contains ashwagandha root, purified water, and USP-grade vegetable glycerin.

The suggested dosage is 1/8 teaspoon, or .62 mL taken up to 3 times a day, or as needed.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a flowering plant that belongs to the ginger family (Curcuma longa). It is an herbaceous, rhizomatous, perennial plant that is native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, mainly because it requires moderate temperatures ranging from 68° to 86° Fahrenheit as well as higher than average annual rainfall to grow and thrive.

While the root is used for culinary purposes, turmeric is also popular in Ayurvedic supplements where it is called Haridra, as well as in traditional Chinese medicine supplements. It is believed to provide many benefits to the body such as helping to ease the mind and supporting the immune system and organs.

Turmeric may be effective in supporting neurogenesis, which means it may aid in the creation of new brain cells. This can impact mood, memory, productivity, intelligence, and, you guessed it, focus.

Turmeric may also help to boost the production of dopamine and serotonin, two chemicals in the brain that promote well-being, happiness, and better concentration.

With so many benefits it’s easy to see how turmeric is such a sought-after supplement. It literally helps to improve the health of the entire body. While there are a number of ways it may be taken, we recommend our Turmeric Root extract due to its convenience, purity, and effectiveness. All it contains is turmeric root, USP-grade vegetable glycerin, and purified water. That’s it, nothing else!

The recommended dose is 1/8 teaspoons (.62 mL) up to 3 times a day or as needed.

Gingko Leaf

Gingko biloba is a tree that is native to China as well as Korea and Japan but is grown in the United States and Europe. Also known as gingko, or gingko leaf, it is in the order Ginkgoales and is the last known living species of that order. It is the oldest known living tree species, believed to date back around 200 million years, and is listed as endangered.

The ginkgo leaf is packed with flavonoids which have very strong antioxidant properties. It also has terpenoids which have beneficial effects on blood flow because it makes platelets less sticky and dilates blood vessels.

Many people take ginkgo in oral form as a tablet, capsule, extract, or tea. The seeds of the ginkgo tree should not be consumed because they can be toxic.

The benefits of ginkgo biloba focus strongly on brain health as well as other areas of the body. Some clinical evidence suggests that the herb may be effective in improving mental fatigue, boosting mental clarity, and minimizing the effects of mild cognitive impairment.

When it comes to focus, memory, and cognitive function, gingko is a very common go-to herb that is believed to help tremendously in these areas.

You can get a dose of gingko biloba in our Brainy & Bright Kids’ Formula, Adrenal Balance, and Brain Booster Adult Formula. Each product has a combination of powerful brain-boosting herbs that are FDA eGMP compliant, Kosher Certified, Non-GMO, and Vegan certified.

The suggested dose for Brainy & Bright Kids’ Formula is 1/8 teaspoon up to 3 times a day for ages 2 and up. For Adrenal Balance and Brain Booster Adult Formulas, the suggested dose is ¼ teaspoon (1.23 mL) up to 3 times a day or as needed.

Gotu Kola

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Apiaceae, a flowering plant family. It is also known as kodavan, Asiatic pennywort, and Indian pennywort. Gotu kola is native to Asia, Africa, and Australia’s tropical regions as well as islands located in the western Pacific Ocean.

The herb is a staple of traditional Chinese, Indian and Ayurvedic supplements. It is believed to improve brain function as well as support the organs. This herb also supports the mind, promoting more relaxed cognitive function.

Most of all, gotu kola benefits the entire body. This reduces stress in the body, allowing it to come into a better balance. When the body is balanced, the mind and memory improve, as well as focus and attention.

Gotu can be used in a variety of ways. It can be included in food dishes where it not only improves the flavor but gives you all the brain-boosting benefits. It can also be taken as a supplement orally, as an extract, or as a tea. At Cedar Bear, our Brainy & Bright Kids’ Formula, and Adrenal Balance and Brain Booster Adult Formulas each contain high-quality gotu kola. If you are looking for a delicious way to increase your brain power, our supplements will satisfy you in the most delicious way.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm leaf, scientifically known as the Melissa officinalis plant, is native to the hot climates of southern Europe and West Asia but is now naturalized throughout the world. It grows best in temperate climate zones and will grow vigorously in most herbal gardens. 

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family that has a wonderful lemony smell and taste. It is also known by its Latin name, Melissa, which is Greek for honey bee. Bees loved this lemony mint plant so much that the ancient Greeks planted it around their temples to encourage their bees to stay nearby, and the plant itself became synonymous with the honeybee!

Lemon balm leaf has antioxidants that protect overall health and is both calming and mood-lifting. At the same time, it helps relax and restore the nervous system. It also has a tonifying effect on the heart and circulatory system, which benefits blood pressure. It is an amazing herb in many ways and will help clear brain fog and help you focus.

Other Herbs that Help with Focus

There are a handful of other medicinal herbs that may also help with focus. While they did not make our top 5 list of herbs for focus, they are worth mentioning here.

• Chinese Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
• Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)
• Green Tea Leaf (Camellia sinensis)
• Eleuthero Root (Eleutherococcus senticosus) (formerly called Siberian ginseng) 
• Water Hyssop (Bacopa monnieri)

Why do Herbs Help with Brain Fog?

Our brains are one of the few organs that do not hurt when they are inflamed. Rather, our brains communicate this problem by slowing nerve cells and creating “brain fog”. According to the Bangkok Hospital, brain fog manifests as a lack of mental clarity affecting things like reaction time, stress levels, and mood. The medicinal properties of the outlined herbal remedies are an excellent way to combat these symptoms.

Taking Cedar Bear Extracts 

Before taking Cedar Bear extracts, or any natural supplement, talk to your health practitioner about any potential drug-herb interactions. In some cases, an herb-drug interaction can cause one of the medications or supplements to be less effective. Even healthy adults should talk to their healthcare professionals before taking any herbal products to make sure that they are right for them.

Also, pregnant women and nursing mothers should talk to their OB/GYN, midwife, or doula about any herbal products they are considering taking.

If you are ready to boost your brain power and sharpen your mental focus, visit the Cedar Bear site today and browse our wide selection of herbal extracts for every member of your family (including the four-legged members). Nothing is more important than your family's health. You can put your trust in Cedar Bear.