Smart Herbs
Whole Health News – December/January 2000
by Aleks Strande, N.D., Ph.D.

Demand for “smart herbs” is growing everyday. People who are most likely to benefit from “smart nutrients” are those suffering from chronic fatigue, stress, mental problems, and dementia.

This is a summary of five brain chemicals (sometimes referred to as neurotransmitters) and their major functions:

1. Acetylcholine is involved in memory and learning.
2. Dopamine is involved in sex drive, mood, alertness, and movement.
3. Norepinephrine is involved in alertness, arousal, and moods.
4. Serotonin is involved in mood, appetite control, emotional balance and impulse control.
5. GABA (Gamma Amino Buteric Acid) is involved in relaxation and sedation.

There are 100 plus neurotransmitters in the brain but the above five play a particularly important role. Dozens of natural nutrients are known to enhance mental function.
How do you determine which of these supplements is appropriate for you? And how do you decide how much to take, in what combinations, how often, and for how long?

As most of these “smart nutrients” are derived from plants or foods, an appropriate dose must be used to obtain a positive difference within a short time. The following natural herbs and nutrients improve neurotransmitters in the brain:

1. Bacopa moniera is rich in steroidal saponins and will promote recovery from stress. It also enhances learning and memory. It improves the acquisition and delays extinction of the newly acquired behavior.
2. Panax ginseng increases ACTH (Adrenal Cortical Thyroid Hormone), therefore, cortisol production. It has an anti-depressive effect by promoting blood-brain transport of DL-phenylalanine, a mono-amine transmitter precursor. It also normalizes blood sugar and increases alertness.
3. Schizandra chinensis improves vision, hearing skin sensory discrimination and reduces fatigue. The herb has an anti-depressant effect, it increases learning, ability and endurance.

Amino acids such as L-Arginine, Choline bitartrate, L-Carnitine, L-Glutamic Acid, L-Phenylalamine, L-Tyrosine and Glycine will at appropriate doses increase growth hormone stimulation, neurotransmission, reduce mental retardation, improve memory loss, and movement disorders. They will give more energy and libido. They will also, in appropriate doses and combination, elevate your moods and enhance memory.

Alex Strande, N.D., Ph.D., is a naturopath and a microbiologist. His office is in Santa Monica, California. He can be contacted for questions and appointments at
310-907-4424.