Herbal traditions have used these plants for centuries, but we like to go a step further and look at what modern research actually shows. Below are seven herbs in our Cognitive Functions blend, along with a plain-language look at the peer-reviewed studies behind each one.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled trials involving 2,608 patients found that Ginkgo biloba was beneficial for improving cognitive function, daily activities, and overall clinical status in people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. In a clinical trial specifically studying elderly adults with subjective memory impairment, standardized Ginkgo extract measurably improved cognitive control functions and prefrontal cortex activity compared to placebo. A review of the clinical literature found that ginkgo's effects on memory, concentration, and alertness were typically the first symptoms to improve, usually within four to six weeks of use, with a favorable side-effect profile close to that of placebo. 🔗 Meta-analysis (PubMed) · Memory impairment trial (PubMed) · Clinical literature review (PubMed)
Broad-Leaved Thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
Laboratory analysis of Thymus pulegioides extracts found high neuroprotective activity, with the plant's extracts inhibiting acetylcholinesterase — the enzyme that breaks down the memory-related neurotransmitter acetylcholine — by 80%, an effect linked to its rich content of rosmarinic acid, the plant's dominant phenolic compound. In animal research, rosmarinic acid itself reversed learning and memory deficits caused by a cholinergic-blocking drug, with researchers attributing the effect to a combination of anticholinesterase, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties. Separately, rosmarinic acid was shown to inhibit prolyl oligopeptidase, an enzyme involved in memory-related brain function, producing a genuine cognitive-enhancing effect in a classic maze-learning test. 🔗 Neuroprotective/acetylcholinesterase study (PubMed) · Rosmarinic acid memory study (PubMed) · Prolyl oligopeptidase study (PubMed)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, university students who took 500 mg of oral rosemary twice daily for one month showed significant improvements in both prospective and retrospective memory performance compared to a placebo group, along with reduced anxiety and depression. A separate study measuring brain activity found that consuming rosemary produced beneficial short-term changes in brain wave activity in healthy volunteers, consistent with improved cognitive function. At the mechanistic level, an animal study found that rosemary leaf extract improved memory impairment and affected the activity of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase — the two enzymes that break down memory-supporting neurotransmitters — in the brain. 🔗 Human memory trial (PubMed) · Brain activity study (PubMed) · Cholinesterase mechanism study (PubMed)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
In a landmark double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, four months of Salvia officinalis extract produced significantly better cognitive outcomes than placebo, with the authors concluding it may also help reduce agitation. In a separate randomized, placebo-controlled study in healthy adolescents and young adults, a standardized sage extract improved cognitive performance across measures of attention, working memory, and episodic memory. A review of the clinical evidence for the genus Salvia concluded that sage extracts consistently enhance cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and those with cognitive decline, an effect linked to the plant's cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds. 🔗 Alzheimer's clinical trial (PubMed) · Young adult cognitive trial · Clinical evidence review (PubMed)
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Comprehensive chemical analysis of Hyssopus officinalis found that its extracts have a moderate inhibitory action against acetylcholinesterase comparable to galantamine, a pharmaceutical drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, alongside high antioxidant activity relevant to protecting brain tissue. In an animal study of chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment, hyssop essential oil improved avoidance memory and learning performance that had been disrupted by long-term stress exposure. Separately, hyssop extract reduced hippocampal inflammatory gene expression in a model of acute seizures, pointing to a protective effect on the hippocampus, a brain region central to memory formation. 🔗 Anti-Alzheimer bioactive compound study · Stress-induced memory study · Hippocampal protection study (PMC)
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
In an animal study, chronic administration of nettle extract enhanced spatial and associative memory, and separate research found that nettle supplementation combined with exercise reduced the severity of experimentally induced brain injury, working by lowering reactive oxygen species and down-regulating inflammatory transcription factors in the brain. In a model of drug-induced memory impairment, nettle extract protected against the loss of acetylcholinesterase activity and reduced oxidative damage to neurons, directly supporting memory performance. A comprehensive review of nettle's neuroprotective research concluded that the plant enhances the synthesis of brain trophic factors associated with improved learning, memory, and long-term neural plasticity. 🔗 Spatial memory/brain injury study (PubMed) · Acetylcholinesterase protection study · Neuroprotective review (PMC)
Mint (Mentha)
In a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, drinking 200 mL of peppermint tea produced measurable short-term improvements in several cognitive areas in healthy adults, most notably memory and attention, alongside increases in cerebral blood flow measured directly in the prefrontal cortex. In a separate double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, inhaling peppermint essential oil improved performance on demanding cognitive tasks and reduced mental fatigue during extended testing, an effect linked in laboratory pre-screening to the oil's ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and bind to receptors relevant to memory. In an earlier study of 144 healthy volunteers, the aroma of peppermint alone was shown to enhance memory and increase subjective alertness compared to a no-aroma control condition. 🔗 Peppermint tea clinical trial (PubMed) · Essential oil cognitive trial (PMC) · Aroma/memory study (PubMed)
Why This Matters
Each of these herbs has been studied individually for its effects on memory, attention, and brain health — with an unusually strong body of human clinical trial evidence for a botanical blend, including trials in healthy adults, students, and people with diagnosed cognitive decline. We combine them because their documented modes of action support cognitive function from several different angles: inhibiting the enzymes that break down memory-supporting neurotransmitters, improving blood flow to the brain, protecting brain cells from oxidative damage, and supporting the biological processes behind learning and memory formation.
This post is for educational purposes and summarizes existing scientific literature. It is not medical advice, and our blend is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a healthcare provider before using herbal supplements, especially if you have a diagnosed cognitive or neurological condition, are taking blood-thinning medication, or are on medication for memory or mood, as several of these herbs have measurable effects on brain chemistry and could interact with your treatment.