Now the myth about silly "granny's herbal medicine" is in the past, and herbal supplements have deservedly taken their place among the popular nutritional supplements. Herbal supplements contain different parts such as leaves, roots, flowers, bark, seeds, etc. You can find them in an extracted form, dried, or pressed into botanical oil. These supplements can provide various health benefits, such as better moods, increased memory, and brain power. 

Consider taking herbal supplements to cover your body's needs! Today we'll discover how these mother nature gifts can contribute to your wellbeing and efficiency. (P.S.: Most of them you could have never seen before, so it's going to be an exciting journey).

Herbal supplements: Everything you need know

Herbal supplements are a way of consuming helpful herbs without the need to cook or without the unpleasant taste. They contain a concentrated form of each ingredient or even a mix of them, so you don’t need to wonder whether you get enough. Besides, it’s hard to measure how much of each herb you need to get - that’s where herbal supplements can also make your life easier.

The two main ways to use herbal supplements are taking them directly or putting them into your food. Depending on your preference, they can offer you all the above benefits. So most herbs include natural chemicals called polyphenols, which include flavonoids and phenolic acid, which may affect your cells. They have antioxidant properties to help your body fight diseases and support its protection in the long term.

Polyphenols may also help:

• support your heart health
• strengthen your cells to fight against environmental stresses & dangerous alterations
• maintain healthy blood sugar
• reduce inflammatory processes that lead to constant fatigue, headaches, and "brain fog"

Buckle up because that's just the tip of the iceberg! Herbal supplements have tons of perks for your body & brain. So read on, and you'll discover which one you should take to meet your health goal.

Herbal supplements to support your immunity

Do you want to stay protected during cold seasons when flu and colds await you on every corner? Or is it crucial to keep track of your daily tasks without working yourself to the bone? Then it would help if you took care of your immune protection since it's your natural shield that protects you from bacteria, viruses, and germs. Herbals would be of much help here since our ancestors used them for centuries as a solution to stay healthy. Yet, now you don't have to spend days gathering herbs and drying them - get them in a convenient supplement.

Astragalus root

Astragalus root is a plant that grows mainly in China. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for its immunity-boosting benefits. Chinese people believed this herb might prolong life and serve as a treatment for numerous health disorders. Well, we can't say for sure about prolonging life. Still, astragalus root is definitely a powerful solution to boost your immunity.

Astragalus root contains many different types of antioxidants and flavonoids that are beneficial for protecting your cells. The root of this herb also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce inflammation in the body. Astragalus has anti-viral effects, so taking it allows your body to fight against viral infections.

You can find astragalus root supplements in capsule or liquid extract form. Besides, it's also available as a powder that you can brew into a hot drink or tea. You can safely take up to 6 grams of this herbal powder to power your immunity.

Cat's claw extract

There are lots of benefits to using a cat's claw, which is known as a herbal supplement that's derived from a tropical vine. Cat's claw trees grow mainly in the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of South America. Its roots and bark contain helpful nutrients, which makes this botanical an excellent choice for a supplement. But most importantly, it's a great solution to support your immune protection.

University of Lund's study has found that consuming Cat's claw supplements may increase the number of white blood cells in your body. They, in turn, may help boost your body's ability to fight viruses. Besides, this botanical may help you provide a timely immune response to react before viruses multiply in your blood. You can also take Cat's claw to reduce inflammation, which lowers your immunity in the long term.

Cat's claw is available as powder, tea, capsule, or liquid extract. Taking from 300 to 500 mg of it will be just enough to strengthen your body's natural protection.

Cayenne Pepper Extract

Isn't spicy food your thing? Yet, spicy veggies, like cayenne pepper, contain many helpful organic nutrients to keep your immunity strong. It's a type of chili pepper with a hot flavor that contains capsaicin - an organic compound that has analgesic. This compound makes your mouth burn when you eat chili peppers. Meanwhile, it's also beneficial for your health. According to the researchers, cayenne pepper extract may power up enzymes in your gut.

Cayenne pepper supplements could supply your body with flavonoids for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support of your cells. They, in turn, are responsible for helping your immune system work efficiently. Capsaicin in cayenne pepper may also help build your body's immunity against allergens so that you can live your life to the fullest.

But if you don't like the taste of chili peppers, then you can opt for cayenne pepper in capsule or powder form. Try to stick to the recommended dosage - from 30 to 120 mg - so you don't get overdosed on it.

Herbal supplements to help you wind down & sleep

Sometimes everything you need is just a calming pre-bed routine or a deep, tight sleep after a hectic week. But stresses and anxiety won't allow you to rest well… Unless you help yourself sleep better & wind down effectively with herbal supplements!

Natural herbal supplements are becoming increasingly popular, so we try to find new ways to avoid insomnia and get better sleep. Many of these supplements have soothing effects on the body, helping you wind down before bedtime, reduce anxiety, and relax your brain. Study shows that taking certain herbal supplements has positive effects on your sleep quality & regimen. So let's discover which ones may help you sleep like a baby:

Scutellaria

Among herbal supplements like valerian root or chamomile, well-known as calming nutrients, other herbs can help you sleep better. Scutellaria or skullcup is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family that served as a calming & pain-relieving treatment for centuries in Native American medicine. The leaves and roots of this plant contain organic chemicals that have sedative effects, allowing your body to relax effectively & prepare for sleep.

The University of Melbourne study has found that taking Scutellaria extract supplements may affect your GABA neurotransmitters. It possibly helps relieve anxiety and prepare your body for sleep. This plant also features baicalin - an organic chemical that could contribute to your body's ability to fight insomnia. Try taking it if you want to fix your sleep regimen and avoid this annoying sleep disturbance that occurs on stressful days.

You'll likely find Scutellaria in a liquid, capsule, or powder supplement form. Plus, you can brew its dried leaves into a relaxing tea. Just 1-2 gram dosages daily would be enough for you to experience the effect.

Maca

Maca is a cruciferous vegetable, also known as Peruvian ginseng. Ages ago, it served as a food & drink ingredient for the people of South America. Besides, its powder was famous as a medicine that helps support health. Nowadays, you can get it as a health supplement with multiple effects on your body. But the most helpful maca's property is that it acts as an adaptogen, helping your body resists external stresses and maintain your hormonal balance. 

Thus, taking maca can normalize your melatonin (sleep-inducing hormone) levels to follow a healthy sleep routine. Moreover, maca may help your body reduce anxiety and stress, making it an effective supplement to wind down before sleep.

You can get maca in capsule or powder form - convenient to take and add to the foods. Up to 3 grams of maca daily would be enough to meet your health goals. Just make sure you don't take a higher dosage or get it not right before bedtime.

Hawthorn berry extract

A hawthorn berry is a small red fruit used in candies, jams, jellies, and wines. Hawthorn bark, stems, and berries are present in numerous supplements you can find. Native American tribes used Hawthorn berries to treat health issues and improve sleep. Now you can get it as a supplement to help your body sleep well.

People looking to improve their sleep quality can get Hawthorn Berry as an efficient solution. The leaves contain natural chemicals that may re-balance sleeping halts, ensuring a peaceful night's rest. Besides, scientists have found that Hawthorn berries could reduce anxiety and help your mind relax. So you can take it before going to sleep if you want to wind down efficiently. You can find Hawthorn berries supplements in capsules, liquid extract, or powder. A 250–500 mg dosage would be enough to help you relax & prepare to sleep.

Herbal supplements to boost your brain power

Optimum productivity starts from the inside out. Without proper nutrients, it isn't easy to think clearly and maintain your focus. Herbal nutrients can improve memory and intelligence while improving cognitive skills such as problem-solving and planning. They can also help with focus and concentration, making you more productive. So let's discover which herbal supplements can power up your brain!

Beetroot Extract

Are you worried that your brain may age faster than you wish? Then you should opt for the beetroot extract supplement! This vegetable is a total powerhouse of brain-beneficial nutrients. Beets may positively impact your memory because they're high in nitrates and have intense anti-inflammatory properties. This botanical supplement may help you if you're afraid your memory will weaken as you age.

Research has also found that consuming beetroot extract may increase the blood flow to your brain, possibly boosting its productivity. Besides, it can make your brain more focused and supply it with more oxygen to improve its performance.

You can find beetroot extract in capsules or get it with beetroot juice. A 500 mg dosage daily is safe to consume to take care of your brain.

Gotu Kola Aerial Extract

Feel all the unexpected effects of herbal supplements on your learning abilities and memory. Gotu kola is a staple in traditional Indonesian and Ayurvedic medicine. It was famous for its brain-boosting properties. Now you can get it in supplement form.

Scientists have found that consuming Gotu Kola extract may improve your learning abilities and support memory health. This herbal supplement may also help you reduce strain to maximize brain performance. According to the research, Gotu Kola may also help you avoid brain-destructive diseases like Alzheimer's.

Gotu Kola supplements are primarily available in the form of capsules. Take up to 500 mg twice daily to support your brain.

Boswellia Resin Extract

Boswellia Resin Extract is an ultimate supplement to boost your brain power! It is a natural solution used for centuries to support cognitive functioning. It delivers additional helpful chemicals while helping your body produce serotonin for better memory, concentration, processing speed, and mood.

Boswellia Resin extract supplements could help if you want to power up your brain quickly without unpleasant side effects. You can get it in capsule form - take up to 500 mg daily to achieve desirable outcomes.

Wrapping up

The best way to improve your productivity in a healthy & effortless way is to invest in the basics. And when it comes to the basics, we are talking about essential nutrients that may support your immunity, brain power, and sleep quality. You can get these nutrients with herbal supplements!

Your brain is a complex organ, but its power supply is also limited. To keep your brain functioning at its full potential, you need to give it the fuel and nutrients it needs. Herbal supplements are full of antioxidants, which help you fight off free radicals that can attack the brain and lead to disease. Besides, they may help you fix your hormonal balance to support your healthy sleep routine and keep your brain efficient.

Resources:

• What are Polyphenols? Another Great Reason to Eat Fruits and Veggies (2021)
• Astragalus membranaceus. Monograph (2003)
• Persistent response to pneumococcal vaccine in individuals supplemented with a novel water soluble extract of Uncaria tomentosa, C-Med-100 (2001)
• Cayenne Pepper Fruit Extract: Benefits, Scientific Studies and more (2022)
• GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence (2018)
• What Are Adaptogens and Why Are People Taking Them? (2022)
• Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders (2004)
• Centella asiatica modulates antioxidant and mitochondrial pathways and improves cognitive function in mice (2016)