16 best brain-boosting natural stimulants

Huperzine-A

Huperzine-A is a fascinating chemical. It is often described as a natural nootropic.

Nootropics are smart drugs or cognitive enhancers. They are thought to improve focus, memory, and cognition.

Huperzine-A is considered a natural nootropic because this chemical is produced naturally by a plant called the toothed clubmoss (see photo).

The scientific name for this moss is Huperzia serrata. It belongs in an ancient group of plants called the lycopods. Hyperzia serrata is native to Japan and southeast Asia.

Lion’s mane

Lion’s mane is an edible and medicinal mushroom. You may have already eaten lion’s mane in a Chinese dish. It’s often used as substitute for pork in Asian vegetarian meals.

Lion’s mane grows in clumps along the sides of hardwood trees in North American and European forests. This odd looking mushroom also goes by the name bearded tooth mushroom. If you’ve ever seen the lion’s mane, then that name will make a lot of sense. This odd creature is shaped like a pile of long white teeth (see photo).

Its scientific name is Hericuium erinaceus.

Lately, there’s been a lot of medical interest in this mushroom. A collection of scientific papers have explored the connection between lion’s mane and brain activity.

The results suggest that lion’s mane can stimulate new brain cells and enhance cognitive function. Paul Stamets, the famed mycologist, wrote a nice summary of these scientific findings in this Huffington Post article.

Chaga

Chaga is an odd type of mushroom that grows in northern latitude forests. This fungus grows in large, chunky discs on the side of conifer trees. When you split the fungus open, you often find a rich, orange color. Chaga grows happily in Siberia, Canada and within the Adirondack Mountains along the northeastern side of the US.

Due to its extreme growing habitat, chaga is routinely exposed to extreme environmental stress such as UV radiation, harsh winters and predation from aggressive insects. In an attempt to defend itself against these threats, chaga has evolved a collection of biologically active chemical compounds that help protect against these environmental conditions.

When mammals eat chaga, these active compounds transfer into our body and often engage with our own physiology. Oddly enough, many of the chemicals that are densely packed into chaga will also engage with the cells in our body to produce some type of noticeable effect. On this page, I delve deeply into many of the health benefits of chaga mushrooms and I describe the compounds that generate these effects.

Interestingly, chaga tea has been reported to deliver a subtle boost of energy. Personally, I drink chaga tea most afternoons. This is very intentional. If I drink coffee in the afternoon I won’t sleep well. However, chaga has no effect on my sleep because there is no caffeine in chaga.

In fact, it is not clear exactly which chaga chemicals deliver a lift of mood and a boost of stamina. Perhaps we need the whole collection of chaga chemicals? I have read one report, which mentions that sterols, a ring-like chemical structure, are the compounds in chaga that invigorate our body. These sterols promote the pumping action of our heart and thereby increase blood flow and metabolism.

EthnoHerbalist recommends…

Many people prefer their Chaga in a liquid, tincture form. This Host Defense, Chaga Extract bottle contains about 60 servings. You can add a few drops to a smoothie or into your morning coffee.

Coffee

Any self-respecting list of natural stimulants has to discuss coffee. Coffee remains one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world.

Coffee beans are actually seeds from the fruit of a green, leafy shrub from the Rubiaceae family (see photo). The two species of Coffea shrub most commonly grown for coffee beans are Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Both species are native to Africa.

• Coffea arabica is native to the southwestern highlands of Ethiopa, Sudan and Kenya.
• Coffea canephora is native to the upland forests of Ethiopa.

Coffee is stimulating because it contains 3 different xanthine allakoids: caffeine, theobromine and theophylline.

Xanthines are a group of chemicals that feature a circle structure composed of nitrogen and carbon atoms. They are well known for their ability to stimulate the human body.

As most people know, the primary stimulant in coffee is caffeine.

So, how does caffeine work?

Caffeine is a small molecule that’s officially called an adenosine antagonist. The activity of our brain cells are regulated by adenosine signalling. As we go about our day, adenosine builds up in our brain. Once our adenosine reaches a certain level, we begin to feel sleepy. Caffeine steps in and prevents the sleepy effect.

Caffeine can physically block adenosine from binding to its receptors. Once adenosine signalling is blocked – dopamine and glutamate signals take over. The net effect is that we no longer feel sleepy. Instead, we feel alert and energized.

L-theanine

Have you ever noticed that drinking tea can be stimulating while also calming? Well, it seems that L-theanine is the chemical that’s responsible for that effect.

In the 1950s, scientists discovered that leaves from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) naturally produce this interesting compound. If you drink a cup of green tea, you’re getting about 30 mg of caffeine – but you’re also getting about 10 mg of L-theanine.

L-theanine is structurally similar to the amino acids: glutamate and glutamine. This makes sense, as L-theanine also contributes the savory, umami type of flavor that can be tasted in many green teas.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is pressed from the soft meat of mature coconuts. These coconuts grow on the coconut palm tree (Coccos nucifera).

Coconut oil is unique in that – it has a very amount of saturated fats. In fact, natural coconut oil is about 90% saturated fat.

As you may remember, we are supposed to avoid saturated fats because they can lead to high cholesterol levels. Well, as it turns out, not all saturated fats are created equal. Certain types of saturated fats offer positive health benefits.

Much of the saturated fats in coconut oil are called medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs. According to specialists, MCTs are especially easy for our body to digest and convert into energy. Additionally, at least one report has been published linking coconut oil to weight loss.

Gotu kola

Gotu kola is a small, delicate herb from the Parsley family of plants. This is the same family that includes the carrot. This scientific name for gotu kola is Centella asiatica. As you may expect from the species name, gotu kola is native to the swampy, wetlands of Asia.

The leaves and stems of gotu kola have been used in traditional medicine for a long time. This herb appears in the ancient texts of Traditional Chinese Medicine, traditional African medicine and Ayurvedic medical books from India.

Historically, gotu kola has been used for many different ailments (skin conditions, varicose veins), however we are most intrigued with its ability to help enhance mental clarity.

Kola nut

The kola nut is the seed of the kola tree. This tree is native to tropical rain-forests throughout Africa. In Nigeria and other west African nations, the chewing of the kola nut has become integrated into traditional ceremonies as well as casual social events. Similar to coffee, the kola nut is packed with caffeine.

Because of its caffeine content, the kola nut is used to combat fatigue and mental slowness. Its also used in food and drinks to add flavor and color.

Kola nut played an important role in the design of one of the most famous sodas in the world, Coca-Cola.

In 1886, John Pemberton, a pharmacist living in Georgia, combined carbonated water with extract from kola nut and the Peruvian coca leaf. The coca leaf actually provided this drink with a small amount of cocaine. This concoction soon became quite popular in the local soda fountain shops. John named his creation Coca-Cola.

The ‘Cola’ in the name is a tip of the hat to the kola nut ingredient. The ‘Coca’ is an acknowledgement of the cocaine plant. As you might imagine, neither kola nut nor the Peruvian coca leaf remain in Coca-Cola today.

Return to our list of natural brain stimulants.

Guarana

Guarana is a climbing plant in the Maple family. This bushy plant grows comfortably in Brazil and the broader Amazon Basin.

Similar to coffee and kola nut, guarana is packed full of caffeine and is well-respected for its ability to reduce fatigue.

Consuming caffeine leads to the stimulation of the central nervous system, heart stimulation, increase in blood pressure and the stimulation of skeletal muscles.

Guarana also contains theobromine and theophylline.

Many people will feel a different type of buzz from coffee, mate, kola nut or guarana. This is largely attributed to 2 things:

1. difference in the amount of caffeine in each plant
2. varying ratios of theobromine and theophylline in each plant

Each plant has a unique ratio of these secondary xanthines. Subtle differences in the ratio of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline will effect the way the drink is perceived.

Lately, guarana has been showing up in lots of different energy drinks. You may hear people refer to the stimulating guarana compound as guaranine. Don’t be fooled, guaranine is just another name for caffeine. Below we’ll discuss more plants containing stimulants other than caffeine.

Mate

Mate is a traditional drink from South America. The leaves of the yerba mate plant (Ilex paraguariensis) are chopped up, steeped in hot water and drank as a hot beverage. Mate also goes by the name Yerba Mate and chimarrão (Portugese).

The first people to drink mate were the indigenous Guaraní people living in southern Brazil. After European colonization of Brazil in the 16th century, the drink spread throughout Spain and then into much of the world.

If you want to be traditional, you’ll hold your mate in a hollowed out gourd and drink the concoction through an ornate straw called a bombilla (see photo).

Mate is well known for its stimulating effects. The leaves of the yerba mate plant contain the same xanthine alkaloid compounds as coffee:

• caffeine
• theophylline
• theobromine

When people talk about the mateine chemical, they are just referring to caffeine from the mate plant.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is the common name for Withania somnifera.

This is a short, leafy plant in the nightshade family. Nightshade plants also include: tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant.

If you have any familiarity with Ayurvedic medicine, then you’ve likely heard of ashwagandha. Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originates from India. The ashwagandha plant is used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine to address a range of conditions.

The red berries and leaves are applied to treat skin conditions. The long, slender roots are ground up into a powder. This powder is mixed with milk and honey and drunk in response to stress, pain, epilepsy, arthritis, ext.

Ashwagandha is often referred to as an adaptogen, as its thought to help our body adjust to stress. Interestingly, this plant is also used to help reduce fatigue and improve mental energy.

One study examined brain function in a group of patients suffering from bipolar disorder. The scientists found that ashwagandha provided significant improvements in 3 different cognitive tests (auditory-verbal working memory, Flanker response time and social cognition response.)

The authors acknowledge this data is preliminary but suggest ashwagandha can help cognitive function in patients suffering from bipolar disease.

Bacopa

Bacopa monnieri is a low, creeping water plant that is native to the wetlands of southern India. This small herb grows comfortably in swamps and ponds.

Similar to Ashwagandha, Bacopa is a popular medicinal plant within the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Indians refer to Bacopa as Brahmi. This is a tip of the hat to Brahma, the Creator God of Hinduism.

For centuries, Ayurveidc practitioners have made the claim that Bacopa can improve mental function (i.e. act as a cognitive enhancer).

Recent scientific reports suggest there is a biological basis behind some of these historical health claims.

This plant is used in response to ADHD, poor memory, Alzheimer’s disease and anxiety disorders.

Artichoke extract

Who doesn’t like a good artichoke dip? Its the perfect compliment to corn chips. My parents love artichoke, so I grew up dipping steamed artichoke leaves in heated butter.

My parents didn’t know it at the time, but they were feeding me a brain activating food.

The leaves of the common artichoke (Cynara scolymus) are a rich source of PDE4 inhibitors. Now, I know what you’re thinking. What on earth is a PDE4 inhibitor??

Well,  it turns out – PDE4 inhibitors can help us stimulate our brains and form stronger memories.

PDE4, also known as phosphodiesterase-4, is an enzyme that works in our brain cells to break apart cAMP molecules. We need cAMP molecules in our brain cells. They help us form memories through LTP (long-term potentiation).

A PDE4 inhibitor will prevent the breakdown of cAMP. That leaves us with higher levels of cAMP in our brain. Our brain then benefits from this abundance of cAMP.

American ginseng

Ginseng is a leafy plant with an odd shaped root. Its cultivated all across the world but is most famous for its prominent role in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

There are actually 3 types of medicinal ginseng.

• American ginseng (Panax quiquefolius)
• Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng)
• Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Each of these ginseng species has their own internal biochemistry. And each of these species are used for different reasons by different people around the world.

For the sake of this article, I am focusing on American ginseng (Panax quiquefolius), as this species is used to reduce fatigue and improve mental focus.

American ginseng is native to North America, although the plant is now widely cultivated throughout China. As you can see in the photo, this species has a thick root that forks in the middle.

Maca

Maca is a fascinating plant from the Peruvian highlands. The ancient Inca people of Peru were especially fond of this plant. According to legend, Inca warriors routinely ate maca root before they charged into battle. The plant was believed to boost their strength and endurance.

The Incas must have had the right idea, because now – 600 years later – professional athletes still routinely take maca supplements. Sportsmen report feeling improvements in strength and endurance after eating this plant.

Personally, I am now in the habit of adding a tablespoon of maca to my coffee.