5 Herbs that Promote Mental Clarity

Your brain uses about 20 percent of your body’s energy when you’re resting.

If you’re spending time solving the world’s problems (or a sudoku), it can use even more than that. The idea behind brain fog is that there is something going on with the body that is forcing the brain to focus on solving an internal problem rather than this week’s NYTimes crossword.

It’s important to note here that short term brain fog or mental exhaustion is normal within the ebbs and flows of life. If you’re having this issue consistently, though, that’s when it’s time to talk with your practitioner about what could be going on with your body. Here are some common causes of short term brain fog:

Lack of restful sleep – If you’re not getting good sleep, your thoughts probably aren’t super clear. Working really hard to stay awake isn’t a good use of all that brainpower.

Dehydration – Not drinking enough water can cause all sorts of issues. Brain fog is one of the first symptoms you might notice. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – drink water.

Stress – If your adrenals are running like crazy and you are pulled in a bunch of different directions, it’s natural that you won’t be on top of your game.

Food – Processed food and greasy food can cause brain fog over time because your body is spending more time digesting it and getting rid of toxins than it is helping you think.

Environmental toxins – These are things like air pollution, heavy metal contaminants, and chemicals in the environment. If you are subjected to this in your environment, it could be causing or contributing to your fog.

Other health issues – If this is a chronic problem and you just can’t figure it out, it might be caused by other health issues. Your body is using your energy to heal and not enough energy is left over to help you think clearly. Chat with a holistic practitioner about this and any other seemingly unrelated symptoms that you might be having.

5 Herbs that Promote Mental Clarity

Need a boost? From helping your memory to improving circulation to increasing your ability to work through stress, herbal allies can be really helpful for keeping your mind clear and focused.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Along with being one of our favorite culinary herbs, rosemary has been known as “the herb of remembrance” for hundreds of years. Historically, people wore rosemary around their heads when studying and then again when taking exams because scent is so closely tied to memory.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

This is the classic herb for mental clarity. It is most commonly used for the elderly suffering from various types of dementias and confusion.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

You all probably know by now that mugwort is one of my very best herbal allies… Because I talk about her all the time. Just knowing that mugwort is helpful for digestion and headaches tells us that she is wonderful for brain clarity as well—especially if your brain fog is caused by something going on in your digestive system.

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

It’s said that eating two gotu kola leaves a day keeps senility away! We usegotu kola in our products to increase cell regeneration in the skin, and it has the same sort of effects inside the body!

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is a powerful adaptogen that helps the body deal with stress physically and emotionally. Brain clarity isn’t specifically listed in any book that I have read about it, but it is a consistent side effect that I hear about from people who use this herb daily. It gives you the physical strength to power through the day while subtly working on your ability to think through the problems that you face without concern or fog. This is good for brain fog brought on by too much stress and being pulled in too many directions.

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