If you are having difficulties keeping your mind sharp and paying full attention when it is vital that you are fully focused, then try adding some herbal remedies to your daily diet.
Problems with concentration can be the result of fatigue from lack of sleep, dietary glitches or a side-effect of some illnesses. The first step is to look for the cause; if it is tiredness that makes you feel disoriented, try to go to bed earlier – the sleep you have before midnight is more refreshing.
Arrange to have an evening of ‘me time’ each week, where you take time to replenish your energy. Check your diet – keep a food diary for a week in order to decide which changes are needed. Check how much alcohol you drink – this impairs concentration.
Alongside these steps, you can use herbal miracles, such as dandelion, sage and ginger, and nourishing foods with stimulating properties to help clarify your thought processes and keep you motivated and positive.
Stress and anxiety can seriously impair your concentration because, when you are worrying, your focus is always partly on the problem on your mind rather than the task at hand. This makes it difficult to fully focus on anything else and your mind feels fuzzy and your thought processes dissipated. For example, this can often happen if you are trying to revise for an exam or if you are working hard to make an important deadline. Your unease and nervousness are always at the back of your mind, causing your thoughts to wander.
If you are stressed and can’t concentrate, take some steps to ease this if possible. Use herbs to relax, and, if you can, talk to someone who you trust so that you don’t feel alone with the problem. Help yourself work gradually through the stressful time with herbs that allow you to think more clearly and feel mentally fresh and bright.
Herbs can be useful for increasing your energy by stimulating both your body and your mind. Rosemary and lemon balm activate your mental processes and increase your memory power.
Tonics such as ginseng treat the whole system and work best when used for short periods at a time. Stimulating herbs such as sage, thyme and cinnamon help you to live life to the full and experience total well-being.
When you feel stimulated your energy levels are raised, you feel more alert and aware and you are more highly motivated.
Life takes on a glow, and experiences are felt more intensely. Your feelings and perceptions are more acute, and you can engage fully in the activity that you are undertaking.
When you are stimulated this has a powerful effect on the people around you, who are lifted by your energy and tend to respond more positively to you. You may have noticed this effect for yourself when you are socializing. Some of the people you talk to make you feel energized and excited, whereas other people tend to drain you of energy and make you feel tired and bored. This is all to do with the exchange of energy that occurs when you interact with someone.
Keep your mind and body active with the uplifting properties of stimulating herbs, but remember to use each one in moderation so as not to over-load your body.
Lemon balm:
The citrus-scented leaves of this plant are used for colds, insect bites and stings, insomnia, depression and exhaustion. The fresh fragrance acts as a stimulant and the leaves can be used to make a delicious tea. Add the leaves and blossoms to your bath for an instant awakener.
Rosemary:
Rosemary is invaluable for increasing your powers of concentration. It is a tonic for exhaustion or for fatigue after illness and also helps to lift the spirits if you are feeling low. You can boil rosemary in water to make a tea, or add a sprig of it to your bathwater.
Burdock:
Burdock is a bitter tonic that is digestive, cleansing and purifying. The cleansing action of burdock helps to clear your head and increase your concentration. For a mental or concentration boost, make tea with the leaves.
Sage:
Sage is an all-round internal body booster and can help to boost your concentration. Drink sage tea, burn the dried leaves of this plant as a natural incense that will aid concentration or rub the leaves into powder and add to hot water.
Ginger:
Ginger’s warming and stimulating properties aid concentration as well as boosting your entire system. Add grated ginger to your cooking, or boil it in water for five minutes then drink it with a small dash of honey for an instant energy lift.
Make an herbal tea with any of the concentration boosting herbs, such as rosemary, or ginger, and drink it as you work to keep your mind focused or vaporize a blend of oils in a burner to stimulate mental recall.
