I’m pretty sure everyone has experienced a day or two where their brain feels muddled and they struggle to concentrate. Maybe you have had a hard time organizing tasks and information? Maybe you have struggled with remembering details or even remembering where you put your keys? Sound familiar?
If this is something that you struggle with daily, or if you have an official diagnosis I’d like to present some herbs that might help. Keep in mind, I’m not a doctor or a pharmacist, I am not giving medical advice, I do not know what you are currently taking and what health conditions you have going on, I am only presenting information that might help you and it is your responsibility to discuss any herbs or supplements you decided to take – with your doctor and pharmacist.
One of the issues that I struggle with the most in dealing with my ADD is lack of focus. Diet and exercise play a huge role in this but Rhodiola Rosea has been very helpful to me and my family to gently help the brain pay better attention.
Rhodiola Rosea: Energy and Focus
Rodiola Rosea has a long history of use in many cultures with its first documented usage in 77CE. In modern usage, rhodiola is best known for its adaptogenic properties, helping to restore and maintain homeostasis of physiological systems in response to stress. It is know for its energizing and healing properties as well. In animal studies, extracts of rhodiola, seem to enhance the transport of serotonin precursors, tryptophan, and 5-hydroxytryptophan into the brain. It is also an adaptogen and helps your body balance its stress response. The effects go so far as to help in depression, chronic fatigue and other mood and energy disorders developing subsequent to intense physical or intellectual strain, influenza and other viral exposures, and other illness. I like to use one dropperful (Tincture: 1-3 mL (1:5, 50%) 3x/day ) in the morning and early afternoon. While it can be taken up to 3 times daily I don’t take it in the evening because it is energizing. (source and more info can be found here). It is not recommended for bipolar disordor or in conjunctions with medicine containing MAOIs or SSRIs. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist. I found no information about dosing in children, or safety in pregnancy or nursing.
Gotu Kola/ Centella/Brahmi (Learning retention, Nervine)
Gotu Kola is another herb with a long history of use both in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine and has many studies confirming its neuroprotective activity. It contains a vast number of triterpene saponosides as well as several flavonoid derivatives including quercetin. Its positive effects on brain aging have been generally attributed to its two major triterpene saponosides; asiatic and madecassic acids. It has been studied extensively in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases. the extracts may positively influence neuronal morphology and caused a significant augment in dendritic arborization in neurons in mice. (That’s the nerd version of the herb, source and more info can be found here)
Gotu kola has a wide range of actions, working as an anti-inflammatory, nervine tonic, rejuvenative, vulnerary, alterative, diuretic, antipyretic, cardioprotective, immunostimulant, anticonvulsant and thyroid stimulant. It is also widely regarded as an adaptogen. While the mechanism is not known, the herb improves vascular tone and protects against (and reduces symptoms of) cardiovascular disease. This vascular support may be linked to gotu kola’s usefulness in increasing circulation to the brain and extremities. A major mechanism that contributes to gotu kola’s anti-anxiety effects are its modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that induces feelings of relaxation and calm. For me, it signals my brain that I can be done with my day and go to sleep but it doesn’t cause sleepiness. If you have racing thoughts when you are headed to bed at night, this herb might be of benefit. I use one dropperful of a tincture 2x a day, this is helpful before bed as well due to its relaxing qualities. (Tincture: 3-8mL/day of 1:1 extract)
Gotu kola is generally accepted as a gentle herb, contraindicated only where there is a known allergy. Most sources show that the herb is safe in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and for children’s use. people with fat malabsorption issues, deficiency of vitamins A, D, E, and K, some upper GI irritation, and cholestasis should use caution. Always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before adding herbs to your wellness routine.
Lionsmane/Hericium erinaceu
Lionsmane isn’t an herb, it’s a mushroom that is known for being beneficial in neuroprotection, neurotrophic activity, cognitive function, neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic stroke.
While its exact mechanisms of action are still being studied, there are two compounds that have been isolated from Lion’s mane mushroom and looked at in regards to brain health. Of particular interest are hericenones and erinacines, which are believed to occur only in Hericium spp. Hericenones are isolated from Lion’s mane fruiting bodies, and erinacines are isolated from the mycelium. Both hericenones and erinacines are low molecular weight compounds that potentially cross the blood-brain barrier.
Hericenones have shown a strong stimulatory effect on the biosynthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF) in vitro while Erinacines are cyathin diterpenoids that appear to stimulate the synthesis of NGF. To date, 15 erinacines (erinacines A–K and P–S) have been identified. Several erinacines show neuroprotective activity.
One of the best pieces of news for helping my husband with his ADD is that oral supplementation with Lion’s mane induced a statistically significant improvement in spatial short-term and visual recognition memory in studies done on wild-type mice. What this means in practical terms is that he can remember where he put his keys!
To date, there has been no concerted investigation into the use of Lion’s mane mushroom in pregnancy and lactation. Due to the fact that allergies and sensitivities to mushrooms are not unusual use caution when trying out lions mane if you have other mushroom sensitivities
It is best to supplement with preparations of Lion’s mane that use a combination of aqueous and alcohol extraction (called a double decoction) to ensure the whole spectrum of contents is present. The dose of Lion’s mane-dried fruiting body recommended for increasing NGF production is 3–5 g per day. A dose of 250 mg of 96% Lion’s mane dry powder three times a day for 16 weeks was associated with significant improvement on a dementia rating scale in subjects with mild cognitive impairment. I take 1 dropperful 1-3x daily (Tincture: Approximately 1-3 mL (1:3 in 60% for fresh fruiting body, or 1:5 in 40% for dried)) Source and more info can be found here.
There are many more herbs that can be useful for symptoms of ADD/AHD and these aren’t just limited to those with an official diagnosis. They help with focus, learning, memory, and stress support. In some cases, they can be useful supporting those experiencing anxiety and/or depression. It’s important to understand that while herbs are for everybody, not every herb is for every body. If you have an unpleasant experience with an herb- that herb is not for you, but that doesn’t mean that herbalism itself is unhelpful. I have many videos on TikTok (@tandtapothecary) regarding these herbs that I will slowly be uploading to youtube. Stay tuned and always do your own research!
Thorn and Thistle Apothecary 