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Looking for herbal nootropics to help you improve concentration and mental ability?
Natural nootropics are growing in popularity as more and more people express a preference for herbal supplements.
While synthetic nootropics like Piracetam and Aniracetam are considered highly safe, you do not need to rely on these compounds to get the brain-boosting effects that you want.
Natural nootropics can be just as strong as their lab-produced counterparts these days.
Most individuals will take more than one natural nootropic at a time to get better results. These combinations are known as nootropic stacks and they can help you see well-rounded cognitive improvement rather than focusing on one specific area of brain capacity.
You can either purchase the herbal supplements listed below on their own to mix your own stack. Or you can buy a pre-designed natural nootropic stack supplement like Alpha Brain to save yourself some time and money.
Here are our picks for the Best Herbal and Natural Nootropic Supplements:
Mental Function
Mental Function
Brain Health- Promotes brain health & communication
- Supports memory, reasoning & cognition
- oosts focus, mental clarity & attention
Best Natural Nootropics
Related Topics
- What are Nootropics?
- Nootropics List
- Types of Nootropics
- Effects & Benefits
- How Do Nootropics Work?
- Natural Nootropics
- Enhace Intelligence
- Boost Memory
- Improve Concentration
- Reduce Anxiety
- Treat Depression
- Nootropic Side Effects & Dangers
- How to Stack Nootropics
- Best Nootropic Stacks
- Strongest Nootropics
- Where to Buy Online
- Cheapest Nootropics
- Are Nootropics Legal?
1. Bacopa Monnieri
The herb Bacopa Monnieri grows in wet climates of North America and India.
It is recognizable as a small, white flower with five petals and has a long tradition of being used in Ayurvedic medicine.
The ancient Indians recognized this supplement for its cognitive enhancing powers and used it to boost their memory as well as treat epilepsy.
Bacopa also is an effective antioxidant and has been used in a number of anti-aging formulas.
The primary medical ingredient derived from the Bacopa Monnieri plant is the bacopasaponins alkaloid. Studies of this drug show that it can improve several different factors related to memory at the same time including memory formation, retention of concepts, and restoration.
The effects of Bacopa as a Nootropic will be best experienced with long-term consistent usage. Since Bacopa only addresses one area of brain health and has not been connected to improved concentration levels or improved learning, it is most typically found in a Nootropic stack.
Products like Alpha Brain and BrainStack both use Bacopa Monnieri plant extract as one of their key ingredients.
2. Huperzine-A
Huperzine-A is an all-natural compound that is extracted from Firmoss which grows in Southeast Asia. While Huperzine-A has been used for its nootropic benefits for hundreds of years, it is only recently that we discovered the mechanism of action of this supplement.
Huperzine-A blocks the production of acetylcholinesterase – a chemical which breaks down the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine when there is too much of it. By inhibiting certain receptors that control the amount of acetylcholinesterase produced, Huperzine-A is therefore able to indirectly affect acetylcholine levels.
Higher amounts of acetylcholine lead to improved cognition and learning scores as well as better memory. Acetylcholine also plays a role in protecting brain cells from dying as well as being necessary in the formation of new brain cells. Some people will take Huperzine-A with a synthetic choline nootropic to get the best benefits from both supplements working together.
- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
3. Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a species of tree believed to date back millions of years. It grows natively in China and has been harvested both for food and for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
The ginkgo tree leaves contain terpenoids and flavonoid glycosides which act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Ginkgo also improves circulation throughout the body, protects organs from free radicals and oxidative damage to the cells and may be able to prevent the formation of blood clots.
Ginkgo Biloba has proven effective at enhancing cognition in patients diagnosed with dimension and is used to boost the memory and concentration. While it may not be as strong as other nootropics, it is a good addition to any natural nootropic stack.
4. Lion’s Mane
The Lion’s Mane mushroom (known by the scientific name of Hericium erinaceus) is an edible mushroom that grows in North America. Lion’s Mane is popular in traditional Chinese medicine serving as an antioxidant and helping to regulate blood lipid and blood glucose levels.
Pills made from Lion’s Mane are even used to treat gastric ulcers. For those interested in the nootropic benefits of this mushroom, a 2009 study from Phytotherapy Research found that taking this mushroom resulted in improved cognitive ability.
Other studies have shown that Lion’s Mane increases nerve growth factor secretions. NGF is a protein that is vital to the growth and maintenance of neurons in the brain, contributing to long-term brain health.
5. Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is one of the alkaloids found in the Periwinkle plant and is therefore a naturally-derived nootropic.
However, most sources of Vinpocetine are now synthetic and produced in a lab so some people may not consider this to be a fully herbal nootropic example.
We highly recommend Vinpocetine as one of the best natural nootropics for its well-documented effects on improving brain oxygenation.
Vinpocetine is a supplement that is highly regarded around the world though it is not as well known in Western countries. In certain locales, Vinpocetine is prescribed to prevent or slow the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia and Parkinson’s syndrome.
Clinical trials have shown that Vinpocetine is a strong vasodilator and can significantly increase blood flow to the brain in the short term. This can enhance brain functions like alertness and focus while also causing a boost to learning and memory.
Vinpocetine is also considered a neuroprotective nootropic because it reduces the potential for oxidative stress (that can occur when the brain is not getting enough oxygen) on brain cells.
Natural Nootropic Stacks
Each of the nootropics mentioned above can have a positive impact on your mental abilities on their own. However, for the best results it is a good idea to combine several nootropics together so that you can see more well-rounded improvement in your brain power.
You can either buy each of these ingredients independently to make your own stack based on your current needs or you can look for a natural nootropic supplement stack that already mixes several of these ingredients together.
Check out our reviews for Alpha Brain, Focus XT, BrainStack and Focus Factor to see four possible alternatives that might work for you.
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Article last updated on: January 31st, 2018 by Nootriment
5 Comments
Very good info and a base for expansion! Red reishi another known natural nootropic, 5-HTP is borderline natural. Love to see this post expanded
After reading a lot about Bacopa Monnieri i decided and bought 500 grams onlie. Used it for a month and did’t feel or notice any effect. For me it was useless.
Daniel,
I had a similar issue. I think it affects people in different ways. Both my husband and one of my dear friends uses it with great results. They just rave about it. I do see an effect from other nootropics thought. I try to use them one at a time to see what the impact is before stacking them.
I’m been looking into a more natural brain enhancer, something with the basic Vitamins, Herbs, and Amino Acids. What do you think of the product Simply Focus? Its been getting a lot of good customer Feedback.
Have you tried brainherbs.eu, where they have connected herbal nootropics/ adaptogen supplements with additional VR app with different experiences for anxiety, ADHD, productivity, focus etc. Ordered it, havent received yet but seems pretty freakin awesome. What do you think of the product?