BRAIN, MEMORY & Circulatory Health

The brain plays the most vital and central role in the body as the major part of the central nervous system.  Thoughts, memory, logic deduction and induction, mental, cognitive and intellectual functions are all performed by brain cells.  The brain also controls our body’s movement,  sensory signals,   heart rate, respiration and many other vital physiological activities.   Brain cells are very sensitive and susceptible to damages when blood circulation is poor in  supplying oxygen and nutrients. Cerebral arteries that supply blood to the brain need to be physiologically stable in their luminal diameter and maintaining blood flow in response to environmental stimuli such as stress signals.  The fact that brain cells constantly need oxygen and nutrients (especially glucose) supplied from blood circulation, made it especially essential to pay attention to circulatory health in order to maintain normal and healthy brain activities.

BLOOD AND BRAIN

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), brain activities such as cognitive and intellectual activities in physiology are classified under functions of the “heart” and it means more than the anatomical heart here. Its functions include those of the nervous system and the brain.

• “ The heart rules the spirit.” -- The "spirit" here generally refers to an individual's vitality, reflected in the eyes, speech, reactions and overall appearance. The "spirit" refers to a person's mental, cognitive and intellectual abilities.
• “The heart rules the blood.” means the heart is a functional unit for maintaining healthy blood flow. Blood is transported inside the blood vessels around the entire body when the heart pumps. The heart, blood and blood vessels are united by their common activities. In TCM, this functional relationship is known as the "ruling" of the heart.  

Both blood and spirit are ruled by the  heart. A healthy “spirit” reflects the harmony of the heart’s functioning. Under these theories,   our “blood” (circulatory health) and “spirit” (brain and mental health) are very closely tied.

Our blood is rich in nutrients and its main function is to nourish our body. The Explanatory Classic for the Huang Di Nei Jing (經) summarized this important function of blood as “Blood rules nourishing.” All parts of our body need nourishment from blood for normal functioning, and nourishment is also needed  for a healthy “spirit” which incorporates our intellectual, cognitive and mental activities. Therefore, when there is sufficient nourishment from the blood with good ruling of the “spirit” by the heart, one will look healthy and fit with rosy cheeks and have a wise, clear and sharp mind. When nourishment is insufficient or there is disharmony of blood and spirit, signs of forgetfulness, poor self esteem, and slow thinking or reactions will appear.

Harmony of Blood & Qi

In TCM, blood health depends on the functional harmony between qi and blood. Qi is the "life energy" or "life force," which flows within us. Qi provides energy to “push” the blood, and “consolidates” or keeps blood flow  inside the blood vessels without leaking out. The “pushing” and “consolidation” work together to achieve  good flow of both qi and blood which is absolutely necessary for supporting organs and tissue functioning.

When there is disharmony between qi and blood, circulatory health will be affected. One of the consequences of blood disharmony is the formation of “blood stasis”, which prevents the “nourishing” function to support the organs and tissues.  Blood stasis will obstruct the flow of qi and can lead to serious health problems based on its severity and location.  Indications

of blood stasis are signs like stabbing and localized pain in the affected area, pain aggravated by pressing the affected area and at night time.  Individuals with blood stasis may appear dark in face color with a purplish tinge to it.  Lips, nails and tongue will also have purplish appearance and/or spots.  Blood stasis reflects blood disharmony and indicates the body is in a disease state. Prior to reaching this state, there is a sub-healthy state in which our body experiences blood disharmony with unsatisfactory circulatory health.  It is ideal if we can resume blood harmony and reinstate circulatory health without progress to the “blood stasis” state.  This well corresponds with the ancient Chinese health wisdom, “Prevention is better than cure”.

Formulation Rationale

This formulation combines the benefits of the four herbs that promote circulatory, brain and memory health. Combining the uses and benefits of these four herbs, Remembrance^TM helps to resume blood and spirit harmony by supporting healthy blood circulation and to achieve the goal of  restoring and maintaining the circulatory, brain and memory health.

Rhodiola rosea  (Aka. rose root and golden root)

·         A popular herb used in Eastern Europe, aka. Arctic root, native to the arctic regions with a long history of use as a medicinal plant in Iceland, Sweden, France, Russia and Greece¹.

·         A well-known adaptogen that helps the body adapt to and resist various physical, chemical and environmental stresses.^1,2. Used to  increase energy, stamina, strength and mental capacity^1,4 and, helps to reduce fatique and prevent altitude sickness².

·         Studies have shown that  Rhodiola rosea helps to improve the endurance exercise capacity in young healthy individuals.³ and have also  demonstrated its potential for improving learning and memory. ^1,2,5

Ginkgo biloba

·         A famous herbal supplement used for improving memory, concentration and circulatory health.  Our extract has been standardized to contain not less than 24% flavones and not less than 6% terpene lactones.

·         Clinical studies demonstrated it can improve certain measures of cognitive functions including memory and cognitive processing^7,8,9, and shown to benefit the central nervous system and vascular condition by improving blood flow and circulation.^6,10,11

·         Possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Help to remove free radicals to prevent or reduce cell membrane lipid peroxidation, decreases oxidative damage to red blood cells, and protect nerve cells⁶.

Radix Notoginseng and Rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong

-- Two Popular Chinese herbs for circulatory health.

• Radix Notoginseng is sweet, slightly bitter in taste and warm in nature. It enters liver and stomach meridians. According to the herbal literature Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), it is very useful to remove blood stasis, stop bleeding and to promote blood circulation and relieving pain.
• Rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong is known to help to lead other herbs’ effects toward regions around the head and the brain.  It enters the liver, gall bladder meridians that go upward to the head and enters pericardium meridian. The herb is pungent in taste and warm in nature. It can promote blood circulation and qi movement, and it can also remove wind and help relieve pain.

The Bencao Congxin (New Compilation of Materia Medica/NCMM) describes Rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong as the qi herb for the blood. It can raise the clear yang and open up various stagnations. Upward it goes to the head and eyes and downward it goes to “the sea of blood” known as Chong mai/meridian This meridian is responsible for regulating the qi and blood of the twelve main meridians.  It can replenish the qi and blood of the organs and meridians during shortage and it can also store the extra qi and blood of the organs and meridians during surplus. The description of “it goes to the sea of blood” refers to the herb is good at treating health problems related to blood disharmony and certain gynecological problems.  It searches for wind evils and disperses blood stasis. Rhizoma ligustici chuanxiong is recorded in NCMM as effective for  headaches caused by wind and dampness evils and for blood disharmonies in

Remembrance^TM is a herbal formula that focuses on maintaining circulatory, brain and memory health. It combines the benefits of two well researched and clinically tested herbs Rhodiola rosea and Ginkgo biloba leaf, which are known for their circulatory, brain and memory health properties. It also contains two other Chinese medicinal herbs Radix Notoginseng and Rhizoma Ligustici chuanxiong which are also beneficial for promoting blood circulation.

Indications

Remembrance^TM is particularly beneficial to those individuals who wish to maintain a satisfactory circulatory, brain and memory health state. It is recommended for people who experience fatigue, a decline in work performance, unsatisfactory concentration, memory and attention spans and for those with a decline in overall vitality due to stress and intellectual strain.

Ingredients

Rhodiola rosea …………………………………….Hong Jing Tian

gGinkgo biloba leaf …………………………………Yin Xin Ye

Radix Notoginseng ………………………………..San Qi

Rhizoma Ligustici chuanxiong …………………….Chuan Xiong

Suggested Use

For adults, take one to three capsules in the morning.

Precautions

Consult a healthcare provider before taking this product if you are pregnant, or on anticoagulant medication (e.g. coumadin) or antiplatelet medication (e.g. aspirin).

References

1.        Jellin JM, Gregory PJ, Batz F, Hitchens, K, et al. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 4^th ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2002:1094-1096. 

2.        Monograph for Rhodiola rosea. Alternative Medicine Review. 2002 Oct;7(5):421-3.

3.        De Bock K, Eijnde BO, Ramaekers M, Hespel P. Acute Rhodiola rosea intake can improve endurance exercise performance. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Jun;14(3):298-307.

4.        Kucinskaite A, Briedis V, Savickas A. Experimental analysis of therapeutic properties of Rhodiola rosea L. and its possible application in medicine. Medicina (Kaunas). 2004;40(7):614-9.

5.        Petkov VD, Yonkov D, Mosharoff A, et al. Effects of alcohol aqueous extract from Rhoiola rosea L. roots on learning and memory. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Bulg. 1986;12(1):3-16.

6.        Jellin JM, Gregory PJ, Batz F, Hitchens, K, et al. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 4^th ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2002:586-590.

7.        Stough C, Clarke J, Lloyd J, Nathan PJ. Neuropsychological changes after 30-day Ginkgo biloba administration in healthy participants. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2001 Jun;4(2):131-4.

8.        Hofferberth B. [The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on neurophysiological and psychometric measurement results in patients with psychotic organic brain syndrome. A double-blind study against placebo.] Arzneimittelforschung. 1989 Aug;39(8):918-22.

9.        Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I. The effects of acute doses of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract on memory and psychomotor performance in volunteers. Phytother Res. 1999 Aug;13(5):408-15.

10.     Zhang J, Fu S, Liu S, Mao T, Xiu R. The therapeutic effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in SHR rats and its possible mechanisms based on cerebral microvascular flow and vasomotion. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2000;23(2-4):133-8.

11.     Ahlemeyer B, Krieglstein J. Neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2003 Sep;60(9):1779-92.

 The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease