BrainBalms is backed by certified scientific research.
We understand the importance of scientific research to show if and how a plant works in the brain. Here are supporting articles, definitions and references for our research.
We understand the importance of scientific research to show if and how a plant works in the brain. Here are supporting articles, definitions and references for our research.
Fruit and veg
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28329221); Feeney, Joanne; O’Leary, Neil; Moran, Rachel; O’Halloran, Aisling M.; Nolan, John M.; Beatty, Stephen et al. (2017): ‘Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with better cognitive function across multiple domains in a large population-based sample of older adults: Findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging.’ In The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glw330.
Chinese clubmoss
Sun, Q.Q.; Xu, S.S.; Pan, J.L.; Guo, H.M.; Cao, W.Q. (1999): ‘Huperzine-A capsules enhance memory and learning performance in 34 pairs of matched adolescent students.’ In Zhongguo Yao Li Xue Bao = Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 20 (7), pp.601–3. Xing, Shu-Huai; Zhu, Chun-Xiao.
Bacopa
Kongkeaw, Chuenjid; Dilokthornsakul, Piyameth; Thanarangsarit, Phurit; Limpeanchob, Nanteetip; Norman Scholfield, C. (2014): ‘Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract.’ In Journal of Ethnopharmacology 151 (1), pp.528–35. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.11.008.
Peppermint
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999. Moss, Mark; Cook, Jenny; Wesnes, Keith; Duckett, Paul (2003): ‘Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults.’ In The International Journal of Neuroscience 113 (1), pp.15–38.
Black walnut
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=A+cross-sectional+study+of+the+association+between+walnut+consumption+and+cognitive+function+among+adult+US. Arab, L.; Ang, A. (2015): ‘A cross-sectional study of the association between walnut consumption and cognitive function among adult US populations represented in NHANES.’ In The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 19 (3), pp.284–90. DOI: 10.1007/s12603-014-0569-2.
Blueberry
Whyte, Adrian R.; Schafer, Graham; Williams, Claire M. (2016): ‘Cognitive effects following acute wild blueberry supplementation in 7- to 10-year-old children.’ In European Journal of Nutrition 55 (6), pp.2151–62. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-015-1029-4.
Nigella
Bin Sayeed, Muhammad Shahdaat; Shams, Tahiatul; Fahim Hossain, Sarder; Rahman, Md Rezowanur; Mostofa, Agm; Fahim Kadir, Mohammad et al. (2014): ‘Nigella sativa L. seeds modulate mood, anxiety and cognition in healthy adolescent males.’ In Journal of Ethnopharmacology 152 (1), pp.156–62. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.12.050.
Rosemary
Pengelly, Andrew; Snow, James; Mills, Simon Y.; Scholey, Andrew; Wesnes, Keith; Butler, Leah Reeves (2012): ‘Short-term study on the effects of rosemary on cognitive function in an elderly population.’ In Journal of Medicinal Food 15 (1), pp.10–17. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2011.0005.
Sage
Lopresti, Adrian L. (2017): Salvia (Sage): A Review of its Potential Cognitive-Enhancing and Protective Effects. In Drugs in R&D 17 (1), pp. 53–64. DOI: 10.1007/s40268-016-0157-5.
Akhondzadeh, S.; Noroozian, M.; Mohammadi, M.; Ohadinia, S.; Jamshidi, A. H.; Khani, M. (2003): Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. In Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics 28 (1), pp. 53–59.
Scholey, Andrew B.; Tildesley, Nicola T. J.; Ballard, Clive G.; Wesnes, Keith A.; Tasker, Andrea; Perry, Elaine K.; Kennedy, David O. (2008): An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers. In Psychopharmacology 198 (1), pp. 127–139. DOI: 10.1007/s00213-008-1101-3.
Founders sci studies on sage Perry, N. S.; Houghton, P. J.; Sampson, J.; Theobald, A. E.; Hart, S.; Lis-Balchin, M. et al. (2001): In-vitro activity of S. lavandulaefolia (Spanish sage) relevant to treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology 53 (10), pp. 1347–1356.
Perry, N.S.L.; Menzies, R.; Hodgson, F.; Wedgewood, P.; Howes, M.J.R.; Brooker, H.J.; Wesnes K.A.; Perry, E.K.; A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial of a combined extract of sage, rosemary and melissa, traditional herbal medicines, on the enhancement of memory in normal healthy subjects, including influence of age. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2017.08.015
Do what you enjoy. People who enjoy (Lewis, 2017 Nathan lwe Carleton uni Canada)
Exercise and the brain.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508129/ Sleep (Nedergaard, 2013; Maiken at the Unicerys of Cpopenhagen in Denmark).
Lettuce
Yakoot, Mostafa; Helmy, Sherine; Fawal, Kamal (2011): ‘Pilot study of the efficacy and safety of lettuce seed oil in patients with sleep disorders.’ In International Journal of General Medicine 4, pp.451–6. DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S21529.
Lotus
Yan, Ming-Zhu; Chang, Qi; Zhong, Yu; Xiao, Bing-Xin; Feng, Li; Cao, Fang-Rui et al. (2015): ‘Lotus leaf alkaloid extract displays sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects through GABAA receptor.’ In Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 63 (42), pp.9277–85. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04141.
Wuling
Lin, Yan; Wang, Xiao-yun; Ye, Ren; Hu, Wan-hua; Sun, Shu-chen; Jiao, Hong-juan et al. (2013): ‘Efficacy and safety of Wuling capsule, a single herbal formula, in Chinese subjects with insomnia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.’ In Journal of Ethnopharmacology 145 (1), pp.320–7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.11.009. Ni, Xiaojia; Shergis, Johannah Linda; Guo, Xinfeng; Zhang, Anthony Lin; Li, Yan; Lu, Chuanjian; Xue, Charlie Changli (2015): ‘Updated clinical evidence of Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.’ In Sleep Medicine 16 (12), pp.1462–81. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2015.08.012.
Mexican calea
Mayagoitia, L.; Díaz, J. L.; Contreras, C.M. (1986): ‘Psychopharmacologic analysis of an alleged oneirogenic plant: Calea zacatechichi.’ In Journal of Ethnopharmacology 18 (3), pp.229–43.
Alpha-pinene
Yang, Hyejin; Woo, Junsung; Pae, Ae Nim; Um, Min Young; Cho, Nam-Chul; Park, Ki Duk et al. (2016): ‘α-Pinene, a major constituent of pine tree oils, enhances non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice through GABAA-benzodiazepine receptors.’ In Molecular Pharmacology 90 (5), pp.530–9. DOI: 10.1124/mol.116.105080.
Valerian
Fernández-San-Martin, Maria Isabel; Masa-Font, Roser; Palacios-Soler, Laura; Sancho-Gomez, Pilar; Calbo-Caldentey, Cristina; Flores-Mateo, Gemma (2010): ‘Effectiveness of valerian on insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.’ In Sleep Medicine 11 (6), pp.505–11. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2009.12.009. Poyares, Dalva R.; Guilleminault, Christian; Ohayon, Maurice M.; Tufik, Sergio (2002): ‘Can valerian improve the sleep of insomniacs after benzodiazepine withdrawal?’ In Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 26 (3), pp.539–45.
Hop
Salter, Shanah; Brownie, Sonya (2010): ‘Treating primary insomnia – the efficacy of valerian and hops.’ In Australian Family Physician 39 (6), pp.433–7. Schmitz, M.; Jackel, M. (1998): ‘Comparative study for assessing quality of life of patients with exogenous sleep disorders (temporary sleep onset and sleep interruption disorders) treated with a hops-valerian preparation and a benzodiazepine drug.’ In Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift 148 (13), pp.291–8.
Chamomile
Howrey, Bret T.; Peek, M. Kristen; McKee, Juliet M.; Raji, Mukaila A.; Ottenbacher, Kenneth J.; Markides, Kyriakos S. (2016): ‘Chamomile consumption and mortality: a prospective study of Mexican origin older adults.’ In The Gerontologist 56 (6), pp.1146–52. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnv051. Zick, Suzanna M.; Wright, Benjamin D.; Sen, Ananda; Arnedt, J. Todd (2011): ‘Preliminary examination of the efficacy and safety of a standardized chamomile extract for chronic primary insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study.’ In BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 11, p.78. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-11-78.
Jujube
Cao, Jie-Xin; Zhang, Qing-Ying; Cui, Su-Ying; Cui, Xiang-Yu; Zhang, Juan; Zhang, Yong-He et al. (2010): ‘Hypnotic effect of jujubosides from Semen Ziziphi Spinosae.’ In Journal of Ethnopharmacology 130 (1), pp.163–6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.03.023. Ma, Yuan; Han, Huishan; Eun, Jae Soon; Kim, Hyoung Chun; Hong, Jin-Tae; Oh, Ki-Wan (2007): ‘Sanjoinine A isolated from Zizyphi Spinosi Semen augments pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors through the modification of GABA-ergic systems.’ In Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 30 (9), pp.1748–53. Rodriguez Villanueva, Javier; Rodriguez Villanueva, Laura (2017): ‘Experimental and clinical pharmacology of Ziziphus jujuba Mill.’ In Phytotherapy Research : PTR 31 (3), pp.347–65. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5759.
California poppy
Hanus, Michel; Lafon, Jacqueline; Mathieu, Marc (2004): ‘Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed combination containing two plant extracts (Crataegus oxyacantha and Eschscholtzia [sic] californica) and magnesium in mild-to-moderate anxiety disorders.’ In Current Medical Research and Opinion 20 (1), pp.63–71. DOI: 10.1185/030079903125002603. Rolland, A.; Fleurentin, J.; Lanhers, M.C.; Misslin, R.; Mortier, F. (2001): ‘Neurophysiological effects of an extract of Eschscholzia californica Cham. (Papaveraceae).’ In Phytotherapy Research : PTR 15 (5), pp.377–81.
Wild cherry
Garrido, M.; González-Gómez, D.; Lozano, M.; Barriga, C.; Paredes, S. D.; Rodriguez, A. B. (2013): ‘A Jerte valley cherry product provides beneficial effects on sleep quality. Influence on aging.’ In The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging 17 (6), pp.553–60. DOI: 10.1007/s12603-013-0029-4. Howatson, Glyn; Bell, Phillip G.; Tallent, Jamie; Middleton, Benita; McHugh, Malachy P.; Ellis, Jason (2012): ‘Effect of tart cherry juice (Prunus cerasus) on melatonin levels and enhanced sleep quality.’ In European Journal of Nutrition 51 (8), pp.909–16. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-011-0263-7.
Vervain
Khan, Abdul Waheed; Khan, Arif-Ullah; Ahmed, Touqeer (2016): ‘Anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sedative activities of Verbena officinalis.’ In Frontiers in Pharmacology 7, p.499. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00499.
Exercises
Archontogeorgis, K.; Nena, E.; Papanas, N.; Zissimopoulos, A.; Voulgaris, A.; Xanthoudaki, M. et al. (2017): ‘Vitamin D levels in middle-aged patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.’ In Current Vascular Pharmacology. DOI: 10.2174/1570161115666170529085708. Wang, Fang; Eun-Kyoung Lee, Othelia; Feng, Fan; Vitiello, Michael V.; Wang, Weidong; Benson, Herbert et al. (2016): ‘The effect of meditative movement on sleep quality: A systematic review.’ In Sleep Medicine Reviews 30, pp.43–52. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2015.12.001.