THE ROLE OF HERBAL IN INCREASING PHYSICAL & MENTAL HEALTH

At the announcement ceremony of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine, the representative of the World Health Organization said, “The 21st century is considered the century of medicines and products from herbals”. Currently, Vietnam and many countries around the world tend to “back to nature” prioritizing the use of herbal products, especially to enhance physical and mental health, and to improve the health foundation that makes life more valuable.

What herbs are scientifically proven to promote and maintain physical and mental health? What are the advantages of anti-free radicals and anti-oxidant, supporting the metabolic processes in the body of those herbs? How to use herbs for physical enhancement and brain nourishment?

The following is an interesting piece of advice from Assoc. Prof. Dr. NGUYEN THI BAY – Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of East-Western Medicine Association, about the role of herbs in enhancing physical and mental health.

1/ What is the scientific basis for saying that “The 21st century is the century of medicines and products from herbals “?

Modern science has researched and prepared drugs of synthetic chemical origin and targeted drugs that bring effective treatment but have many side effects.

With medicinal herbals, according to Than Nong Ban Thao, the manuscript contains over 5,000 herbs, including 12 types of organic compounds that have been studied and extracted with certain pharmacological effects, demonstrating the folk experiences of using herbs for effective disease prevention and treatment.

2/ Herbals for increasing physical and mental health

Many familiar herbs are used for physical and mental health benefits, including ginseng, ginkgo, and blueberries.

Ginseng: has the main active component Ginsenoside. Depending on the type of ginseng, there can be from 30-55 different types of ginsenosides. Through scientific studies, these ginsenosides have the effect of nourishing the body, reducing stress, fatigue, anti-inflammatory, strengthening the immune system, helping the immune system work strongly and effectively, against some types of cancer.

Ginkgo biloba: The main ingredients are flavonoids, which help strengthen the walls of the vessels, and improve the elasticity and suppleness of the blood vessels. Therefore, ginkgo is used in many cases such as hypertension, cardiovascular risk, increasing blood flow to the brain, renewing brain cells, and creating energy for brain cells to work effectively.

Blueberry: contains vitamins and minerals which help support the proper metabolism. In addition, blueberries contain anthocyanidine-based ingredients that help neutralize free radicals and powerful anti-oxidants, protect nerve cells and prevent aging.

3/ The most mentioned advantages of herbal products are anti-free radical function, anti-oxidant, and support for metabolic processes in the body

• Free radicals are continually formed in the body and prolonged oxidative stress can cause numerous diseases such as cardiovascular, neurological, cancer, etc. Free radicals are neutralized by anti-oxidants.
• Meat and fish products also contain fewer antioxidants than fruits and vegetables.
• Ginseng, Ginkgo biloba, and Blueberries all have anti-free radical and antioxidant effects especially anthocyanins in Blueberries.
• Ginsenosides in Ginseng reduce oxidative damage and increase cellular energy production, thereby supporting metabolism processes in the body.

Conclusion: To promote the use of herbs to enhance physical and mental strength, patients should choose products with a combination of herbs such as ginseng, ginkgo, blueberry, etc. The products contain these herbs must have a clear origin from reputable companies and brands in the market.

Watch full advice of Dr Bay here: