Ginseng is a well-known herbal supplement for its energy-boosting qualities. It has also been demonstrated to boost brain activity, making it a popular herb for enhancing athletic and mental performance. Panax ginseng has received the greatest attention in human trials. Ginseng includes chemicals such as ginsenosides, eleutherosides, and ciwujianosides, which are considered to enhance performance and energy. Ginseng supplementation has been demonstrated in a number of human trials to improve physical performance in both inactive and active adults, provide anti-fatigue qualities, and increase mental alertness.

Doses of 200-1,000 mg per day have been linked to improved energy levels, focus, and mood in adults. It's important to remember that ginseng might cause sleeplessness, diarrhea, and an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Furthermore, this plant may interact with popular drugs used to treat diabetes, depression, and heart disease.

According to research, sage may have significant cognitive-enhancing effects in adults. It contains a lot of powerful plant chemicals, such as luteolin, rosmarinic acid, camphor, quercetin, and apigenin, which give it its therapeutic effects. Sage has been demonstrated to increase mood, alertness, attention, memory, and word recall in healthy younger and older individuals when taken as a supplement.

A research of 36 healthy people, for example, discovered that treatment with 50 microliters (uL) of sage essential oil improved memory and attention skills. Over a 4-hour period, it also decreased mental weariness and boosted attentiveness. Surprisingly, sage is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE). This enzyme degrades acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is essential for brain functions such as memory, attention, and motivation. AChE inhibitors improve cognitive performance by increasing the availability of acetylcholine in the brain.

Because of its stimulating properties, guarana is often utilized as an ingredient in energy beverages and supplements. It includes a variety of compounds, including caffeine, saponins, and tannins, which are considered to improve energy and cognitive function. While human studies have yielded conflicting findings, additional research has suggested that taking guarana extract alone or in combination with other nutrients in dosages ranging from 37.5-300 mg may help improve attention, alertness, and memory ability.

A short research of 10 pentathlon players indicated that 300 mg of guarana supplementation may help reduce perceived effort and improve athletic and cognitive performance. Although guarana is usually regarded as harmless, using it in excessive dosages might cause negative effects such as elevated heart rate and anxiety.

Bacopa monnieri is a plant native to South Asia that thrives in moist, marshy environments. Ayurvedic medicine is used to cure a range of diseases, including anxiety, sleeplessness, and memory problems. Bacopa monnieri's cognitive-enhancing benefits are ascribed to its high concentration of triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides, which have neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing characteristics.

According to research, the plant may aid improve brain function and attentiveness. A meta-analysis of 9 research including 518 participants found that taking roughly 300 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract daily increased brain function, particularly the speed of information processing and reaction time. Although Bacopa monnieri is usually regarded as safe, it may induce adverse effects such as digestive problems in certain people and may interact with certain drugs.

Simply breathing the delightful scent of peppermint essential oil, a mix of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica), may aid in the enhancement of energy, mood, athletic performance, and alertness. Several studies have found that breathing peppermint essential oil improves alertness, memory, and vitality.

One research with 144 participants discovered that smelling peppermint essential oil improves attentiveness and memory. Peppermint essential oil is quite safe. However, you should never swallow an essential oil unless you have spoken with your healthcare practitioner beforehand since too much peppermint essential oil can be hazardous.

The scent of rosemary essential oil, like that of peppermint, may aid boost cognitive performance. Inhaling rosemary essential oil causes terpenes, which are oil constituents, to enter your circulation and directly impact your brain. A study of 20 individuals discovered that breathing in rosemary essential oil diffused into the air increased performance on cognitive tests such as speed and accuracy. Another small trial of 8 people found that drinking 250 mL of rosemary extract water increased performance on computerized cognitive tests.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a Peruvian plant valued for its energy-boosting properties. According to human research, taking it as a supplement may help raise energy levels, reduce anxiety, and improve athletic performance. A 12-week therapy with 2,400 mg of dried maca extract enhanced physical and social performance in 50 men with erectile dysfunction when compared to a placebo. In human research, maca has also been proven to increase athletic performance and have a good influence on mood and energy levels.

Rhodiola Rosea is a plant that has been used in traditional medical systems across the world for millennia to promote memory, alertness, and endurance. In human and animal trials, it has been proven to alleviate mental tiredness, improve brain function and mood, and improve exercise performance. Burnout, described as "emotional, motivational, and physical depletion as a result of continuous job stress", may benefit Rhodiola Rosea in particular.

12-week research of 118 burnout patients revealed that supplementing with 400 mg of Rhodiola Rosea extract per day dramatically reduced symptoms of weariness, decreased attention, and loss of joy when compared to their baseline. Rhodiola Rosea supplementation may also aid persons suffering from chronic tiredness and improve exercise performance.

Several studies have revealed that ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), an Ayurvedic herb used since ancient times, has substantial therapeutic benefits on brain function. 8-week research of 50 adults found that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract daily significantly enhanced memory, attention, and information processing when compared to a placebo. A five-study meta-analysis discovered that ashwagandha supplementation was well tolerated and resulted in enhanced performance on cognitive tests, attention, and response speed.

A 12-week trial of 50 older persons found that ingesting 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract daily improved sleep quality, mental alertness, and overall quality of life when compared to a placebo group. According to research, ashwagandha may have favorable impacts on cellular energy generation and be a useful tool for improving athletic performance.

Gotu kola has been utilized in traditional medical systems to aid boost brain function, and its benefits on alertness and mood have been examined. 2-month research of 28 older persons who received 250-750mg dosages of Gotu kola extract per day revealed that those who took the highest dose improved in working memory, alertness, and self-rated mood when compared to a control group.

Another 3-month trial in 80 older persons found that supplementation with 500 mg and 750 mg of Gotu kola extract per day enhanced strength and physical functioning much more than a placebo group. Furthermore, research on 33 patients with anxiety discovered that taking 1,000 mg of Gotu kola extract per day for two months improved attention and reduced anxiety and mental tiredness compared to their baseline.