Professor Andrew Scholey, an academic and consultant based in the UK and Australia, also supports the power of adaptogens, stating, “the traditional adaptogens definitely have a place here”.
Nektium’s Thoma points to the adaptogenic herb Rhodiola rosea, which has been shown in clinical trials to trigger a brain-enhancing reaction with a rapid onset of activity – with the beneficial effects lasting for at least five hours.14 Another study indicated its positive effect on long-term potentiation due to the electrical stimulation of brain pyramidal cells, suggesting improvement in memory and learning.15
The traditional adaptogens definitely have a place here
NutriConnect’s Ghosh says Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is one of several nootropic and adaptogenic herbs shown to have a significant positive effect on improved memory, recall and learning through multiple randomly controlled trials.
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“Bacopa has multiple mechanisms which control many such [brain] disorders,” Ghosh says.
Ghosh has also studied adaptogenic and nootropic ingredients such as New Zealand blackcurrant standardised extract containing high cGP (cyclic glycine proline), which showed a demonstrable increase of brain function by increasing IGF-1 function.