Boost for the Brain? Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monniera (Brahmi, water hyssop) is an Ayurvedic botanical medicine used to enhance learning, memory and attention span. It has been used for centuries in India as a treatment for epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, and disorders of memory and attention. Brahmi has not been as widely researched in modern scientific studies as have other Ayurvedic treatments. Through case studies and long-standing Ayurvedic and naturopathic approaches, it's worth noting that scientists are now interested in Brahmi as a therapeutic intervention for ADHD, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and age-related memory loss.

How Does It Work?
The way medications work, especially those that affect brain function, aren't always fully understood by doctors. Brahmi is believed to have an effect on certain brain substances called neurotransmitters, which are involved in thinking, learning, mood, and memory. Some research suggests that Brahmi may have a protective effect on the cells, keeping them from either failing to function properly or helping them resist damage that can occur from infection, toxins, and the aging process. A few clinical studies with healthy adult participants showed an improvement in their ability to retain new information over a period of time. Improvements in memory have also been seen in children from a rural Indian village. Further studies, including long-term studies, are necessary to fully understand these effects in adults, young people, and for various health concerns.

Precautions
Be careful not to confuse Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) with other natural medicines that go by the same name. It may interact with other medications. Consult Dr. Bossio to determine if Brahmi is appropriate for you, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or recovering from surgery or illness.

Image Attribution: inarik/bigstockphoto.com
References

Meditate: It Does a Brain Good!

Amazing changes happen to mind and body when you meditate. During meditation, there is a physiological shift called 'the relaxation response' (RR). This response is exactly opposite the stress response that so many of us have a hard time avoiding in our daily lives. You may think you have lots of ways to relax-sleeping, watching TV, reading-but these activities do not produce the same physiological changes that happen when you meditate.

In addition to changes in brain waves, heart rate and respiration rate, meditation results in disengaging from the thinking process. You become a detached observer of the clutter that fills your mind and learn to let go of it all, one breath, one moment at time. Your troubles won't magically disappear, but your perspective about them will shift, even if you meditate just a few days a week.

How does Meditation work?
When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that can have a negative effect on your health. Research shows having stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) circulating through your body for prolonged periods is associated with certain diseases. Meditation brings about the RR and reduces the levels of stress hormones. Now, your immune system is better able protect you from illness, recover quickly, and restore optimal wellbeing.

What can Meditation Do For You? Alot!

• Reduces tension-related pain
• Strengthens the immune system
• Improves quality of sleep
• Strengthens neural pathways
• Improves emotional stability
• Enhances creativity
• Boosts brain chemicals associated with mood, memory and learning

Start a Meditation Practice
Begin with 5 minutes a day and progress to 20 minutes at least 3-4 times a week. Use sounds of nature, music, a candle, or a guided imagery to help you get started. Meditation is often done seated or lying down. Use cushions or a chair to support your posture. Eyes closed or open is up to you.  You'll soon discover that meditation is a state of mind involving awareness and acceptance, that you can do in the midst of any activity.

Image Attribution: Luna Vandoorne/bigstockphoto.com
References

Gardening Therapy

Recent years have seen gardens popping up in some of the most unexpected places - retirement homes, after-school programs, and even prisons - where, it turns out, they have proven to be a very beneficial form of therapy and rehabilitation on multiple levels. Horticultural therapy is a centuries-old practice that began as a treatment for mental illness. Over the last 75 years that net has expanded to include physical rehabilitative care, memory care, and even social and work-related rehabilitation.

The possible benefits of horticulture therapy include improvement in memory, cognitive abilities, language and social skills, as well as coordination, balance, endurance and muscle strengthening. Gardening with purpose also can help teach people to work independently, problem solve and follow directions.

While many therapeutic gardens are designed by landscape architects for clinical application in order to promote a specific set of therapeutic benefits, you too can create your own garden oasis for at-home therapeutic use. The first step is to decide what kind of therapy you want to use your garden for. If you have mobility limitations, an enabling garden with gently graded accessible entrances and paths and raised planting beds may be right for you. If you want to promote learning and memory care, consider incorporating a sensory-oriented plant selection focused on color, texture and fragrance. If you have kids, you may want to consider making your garden a fun place for them to learn and play as well. Give your child a kid-friendly planter and encourage them to plant and maintain their own assortment of flowers and herbs. Hang a tire swing from a tree in your yard for your child to play on. If you want to encourage physical health and nutrition consider producing your own natural food supply, using organic farming principles. Or maybe you simply want a calm place to recuperate after a long day, in which case you may want to consider incorporating plants with calming scents and easy upkeep. No matter what type of therapies you choose to incorporate, the key is to remember that gardening should be enjoyable and beneficial, it should not feel like work. For more ideas on how to make your garden more therapeutic, check out these resources:

• The American Horticultural Therapy Association's characteristics of therapeutic gardens.
• The American Society of Landscape Architects website.
• Healthcare and Therapeutic Design Professional Practice Network's Therapeutic Landscapes Network.

REFERENCES

Photo Credit. Annies Gardens. http://www.annies-gardens.com/5-gardening-tips-kids-apply.html.

Gardeners Hand Care Routine.  Garden Therapy.ca. http://gardentherapy.ca/gardeners-hand-care/.

About Horticultural Therapy. American Horticultural Therapy Association. http://ahta.org/horticultural-therapy.

Can Gardening Help Troubled Minds Heal? The Salt. National Public Radio. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/02/17/147050691/can-gardening-help-troubled-minds-heal.

Characteristics of Therapeutic Gardens. The American Horticultural Therapy Association. http://ahta.org/sites/default/files/attached_documents/TherapeuticGardenChracteristic_0.pdf.

American Society of Landscape Architects. http://www.asla.org/PPNIndividualHome.aspx?id=3308.

Therapeutic Landscapes Network. Healthcare and Therapeutic Design Professional Practice Network. http://www.healinglandscapes.org/.

Image Attribution: Annies garden (http://www.annies-gardens.com)