Could this Chinese ‘golden root’ foster a brain BONANZA?

If you’re past a certain age… you might feel like your brainpower is WITHERING AWAY.

You might even be tempted to GIVE UP on turning your cognitive health around.

But don’t throw in the towel just yet…

Because I GUARANTEE you haven’t tried everything to get your cognitive function back on track.

And today, I might have something BRAND NEW to you.

It’s one of THOUSANDS of plants that grow in the mysterious region of Lake Baikal… the deepest and most ancient lake in the world… located in the Russian Far East.

But fortunately, it’s made its way to the West… and the science backing up its traditional use is SOLID.

Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine… which calls it “Huang Qin” (or “golden herb”).

This ancient medicinal approach uses the root of this plant, whose flowers look like medieval helmets — hence its common name.

According to TCM theory, it helps “clear heat”… but in modern terms, that means it’s a powerful anti-inflammatory.

And that may be one of the keys behind how it could help improve cognitive performance.

Skullcap root also contains a number of antioxidants with neuroprotective and brain-boosting effects…

Including the compounds baicalin and baicalein, which target GABA receptors to help improve focus and mental sharpness.

According to a 2018 review, baicalin helps support neurological health by PROTECTING against toxin-induced damage…

Even damage potentially caused by beta-amyloid and stroke.

But that’s not all.

Because baicalin also helps keep nerve cells from DYING OFF too soon…

And helps promote the growth of NEW nerve cells.

Chinese skullcap root also contains another antioxidant compound – one that’s been shown to help increase alertness.

It’s called oroxylin A…

And in animal studies, it’s also been found to help IMPROVE memory by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, or the “memory center” of the brain.

You’ve read about BDNF before right here in eAlert – and how it acts like “Miracle-Gro” for your brain.

And what’s one of the culprits behind memory loss and other cognitive deficits in aging folks?

Brain SHRINKAGE!

In one animal study, oroxylin A was able to REVERSE memory impairments that the researchers had induced in the study subjects by giving them certain drugs.

You can get Chinese skullcap (a.k.a. Baical or Baikal skullcap) in supplement form – just make sure what you’re getting is the dried root and not some other part of the plant.

It might be labeled as “Scutellaria” or by the Latin name Radix Scutellariae.

Baicalein and baicalin are also increasingly available in supplements either on their own or in various formulas.

And you can find oroxylin A in a standardized extract called “Sabroxy”… which isn’t extracted from Chinese skullcap, but the Indian trumpet tree (Oroxylum indicum), from which it gets its name.