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 About Zonia:

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 Content:

I.
The Chinese Solution for
Memory Loss ................................................................Page 7

Huperzia Serrata...................................................Page 7

Panax Ginseng............................................................Page 8

Ginkgo Biloba................................................................Page 9

Anemarrhena
Asphodeloides ..........................................................Page 10

Green Tea ..............................................................................Page 11

Rhodiola Rosea........................................................Page 12

Salvia Miltiorrhiza ...........................................Page 13

Pueraria Lobata.....................................................Page 14
 Content:

II.
7 Toxic Habits Damaging
Your Memory .........................................................Page 15

1. Drinking Alcohol................................................Page 16

2. A Sedentary Life.................................................Page 18

3. Taking Medications ...................................Page 19

4. Negative Thought Patterns....Page 21

5. Poor Sleep ........................................................................Page 22

6. Listening to Loud Music.................Page 24

7. Poor Oral Hygiene ........................................Page 25

 Introduction

Are you harming your cognitive function and your memory, or are
you actively improving it?

The brain functions much like your muscles: the more you use it, the
stronger it gets, but it will grow weaker if not properly cared for and
used.

That’s why activities like dance, reading, learning a new language, or

doing puzzles helps improve brain function—it keeps the “muscles”
active and functioning at optimum capacity.

Notably, some of the most efficient brain-boosting treatments may

actually be some of the oldest.

Scientific studies done on Traditional Chinese Medicine found

some fascinating solutions for reducing memory loss and improving
brain function in a few of the herbs used to treat a wide range of
conditions.

In this ebook, we’ll take a closer look at this fascinating subject,

diving deep into what Traditional Chinese Medicine has gotten right
all these years—and we now have the science to prove it.

We’ll also examine a few of your daily habits that might be damaging
your memory and reducing brain function.

By changing those habits and testing out the science-backed efficacy

of Chinese herbal medicine, you’ll give your brain a better chance of
healthy aging.

Page 6
I. The Chinese Solution for
Memory Loss
A 2007 study¹ catalogued a list of a number of herbs and plants
used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that have proven effective at
reducing memory loss and improving brain function.

Huperzia Serrata

Huperzia serrata, better known as toothed clubmoss, is a source of

an alkaloid called Huperzine A.

This alkaloid is a known acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor

that has been proven to be highly effective at improving cognitive
deficits, improving memory (including in patients with Alzheimer’s),
and improving oxidative metabolism in the brain.

In fact, Huperzine A may even be able to reduce and reverse oxidative

stress and free radical damage in the brain, as well as reduce lipid
peroxidation, increase antioxidant activity, and protect against
toxicity (caused by ischemia, oxygen-glucose deprivation, and serum
deprivation).

Page 7
 Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng, better known as ginseng, is one of the most potent

and frequently used herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It’s prescribed for a wide range of conditions, but for the brain
specifically, it has been proven to be highly effective at improving
learning and aiding in the storage and access of memories.

It’s capable of protecting brain function and decreasing neurological

aging by protecting against free radical damage.

Research has suggested it may be highly effective in combating age-

related conditions like dementia, though further research is needed
to find more concrete evidence.

Page 8
 Ginkgo Biloba

The ginkgo biloba tree is considered “sacred” by the Chinese, thanks

to its many amazing restorative and health-boosting properties.

Research has linked ginkgo biloba to improved memory and learning,

reduced working memory deficits, and decreased cellular death
(apoptosis) caused by free radicals.

Ginkgo can also protect against toxicity caused by nitric oxide as well
as cellular death triggered by beta-amyloid (brain plaque).

It can decrease damage to your neurons, slow down the peroxidation

of lipids, and even has neuroprotective effects that will keep your
brain functioning more efficiently as you age.

Studies have also shown it has the potential to be an effective

Alzheimer’s treatment, as it can both improve cognitive ability and
quality of life for people living with dementia.

Page 9
 Anemarrhena Asphodeloides

The Anemarrhena asphodeloides plant is unique to China and

Mongolia and has been used for centuries as a treatment for
malnourishment.

Research has also proven that the active ingredients (including

sarsasapogenin and smilagenin) can protect the brain against
memory and learning impairment caused by a wide range of toxins
and conditions—everything from cholesterolemia to β-amyloid
peptide to D-galactose damage to ischemic brain injury.

It also helps to scavenge free radicals from the brain, increase the
production of the very critical brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and
has potent antioxidant properties.

Page 10
 Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in China, and with
good reason! It’s known to be rich with antioxidants, including
catechins and flavonoids, that are amazing for every aspect of your
health.

Research has linked green tea with reduced oxidative stress in the
brain, more antioxidant activity, and a lower risk of dementia (along
with cancer and cardiovascular disease).

Green tea can essentially “slow down aging”—or the biological

effects of aging on the brain and body—thanks to its powerful
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Page 11
 Rhodiola Rosea

Rhodiola rosea, also known simply as rhodiola, has traditionally been

used as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Rhodosin, the active compound in the plant, is a powerful protector

against injury to the brain caused by external factors as well as
hypoxia.

Rhodosin can also prevent learning and memory impairment

induced by a number of causes, including hypoxia, cerebral ischemia-
reperfusion, D-galactose, and β-amyloid peptide.

It can also have positive effects on your brain as well as preventative.

It can not only increase the production of acetylcholine, the
neurotransmitter crucial for memory and learning, but can also
reduce the activity of the potentially harmful cholinesterase.

Best of all, it’s known to have powerful antioxidant properties that

can protect your brain against oxidative stress and free radical
damage.

Page 12
 Salvia Miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as Chinese sage or red sage, has been
shown to improve circulation, which is why it’s so often used to treat
blood and cardiovascular disorders. That improvement in circulation
can also enhance the flow of blood to your brain, ensuring your
brain gets more of the oxygen and nutrients that are so critical to its
functioning.

The plant is also rich in tanshinone, a compound that can reduce

inflammation, increase antioxidant activity, protect your brain
against ischemic injury, and improve the cholinergic functions of
your central nervous system.

Page 13
 Pueraria Lobata

Pueraria lobata, also known as the East Asian arrowroot, can widen
the arteries in your heart and brain, improving blood flow while also
reducing your coronary and cerebral blood pressure.

The plant also has active compounds that protect against toxicity
and memory and learning impairment.

Take a page from the books of Traditional Chinese Medicine and give
your body a fighting chance at a healthy, aging brain by adding these
herbs to your life!

Page 14
II. 7 Toxic Habits Damaging
Your Memory

While all the herbs we discussed above will help to stave off toxicity-
induced brain damage and protect your memory, on their own,
they’re just not enough.

After all, herbs, no matter how effective, can only do so much to

protect your brain from the toxicity and damage you are exposing it
to on a daily basis.

The truth is that you have a great deal of control over how much
damage your brain sustains every single day. A number of your habits
are very likely the reason that your brain function will decrease over
time.

If you’re serious about protecting your cognitive function, you’ll

eliminate the following seven memory-damaging habits from your
life!

Page 15
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #1:
Drinking Alcohol

This is going to be hard for a lot of people to hear, but it needs to be

said: alcohol isn’t healthy for your brain.

If you drink in excess (3 or more drinks per day, every day of the
week), you run the risk of something called alcohol-related brain
damage, or ABRD².

ABRD starts off with minor symptoms—a bit of memory loss here, a
bit of cognitive impairment there—but it only gets worse over time.
The more you drink, and especially in excess, the worse it gets. It
could eventually turn into what’s called “alcohol-related dementia”,
better known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

But what about those who drink in moderation? Maybe 1-2 drinks a
night, or even 2-4 drinks per week? Surely, light alcohol intake can’t
be that harmful, can it?

Page 16
Well, research³ has connected moderate alcohol use to “lower total
cerebral volume, gray matter atrophy, and lower density of gray
matter in frontal and parietal brain regions.”

On the other hand, some research has identified benefits of light

alcohol intake (no more than 1 glass a day), including an increase of
gray matter in cortical brain regions⁴.

Based on the science, it is worth considering cutting alcohol to a

minimum or eliminating it completely from your diet - especially if
you’re already at risk for neurological disease or dementia.

Page 17
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #2:
A Sedentary Life

Living a sedentary life may be one of the worst things you can do for
a healthy body and brain.

When you spend a lot of time sitting and not enough time exercising,
your circulation decreases, your cardiovascular system grows more
inefficient, and your body is unable to pump sufficient blood where it
needs to go—including your brain.

Over time, a decrease in oxygen and nutrients to your brain will

reduce brain function. In fact, sitting can thin out your gray matter
and decrease the size of your medial temporal lobe⁵, a part of your
brain that is critical for the formation and storage of memories.

Research has also identified sedentary lifestyles as a risk factor in

cognitive decline⁶, concluding, “reducing and replacing sedentary
behavior with intermittent light-intensity physical activity may
protect against cognitive decline by reducing glycemic variability.”

Page 18
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #3:
Taking Medications

Let’s get one thing clear: we are in no way recommending that

you stop taking any doctor-prescribed medications. If you have
been prescribed medications for a health condition, it’s worth
continuing. We are simply providing information on the effects these
medications may have on your brain so you can raise your concerns
with your doctor.

Certain medications have been linked to memory loss, including⁷:

• Anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, including Xanax

and Ativan. They can dampen activity in parts of your brain,
including the parts necessary for memory formation and storage.

• Tricyclic antidepressants, including Amitriptyline and Anafranil.

They can block the chemical messengers in your brain (including

Page 19
• norepinephrine and serotonin) and potentially lead to memory
lapses.

• Sleep aids, including Lunesta and Sonata. These have effects

similar to benzodiazepines, acting on similar chemical messengers
and neurological pathways.

• Anti-seizure medications, including Neurontin and Diamox. They

dampen signals sent through your central nervous system and
have sedative effects.

• Opioids, including Vicodin and Fentanyl. These shut off pain

signals in your central nervous system and blunt your emotional
reaction to pain and may also reduce the chemical messengers
that play a role in short- and long-term memory.

• First-generation antihistamines, including Dimetane and Benadryl.

They decrease the activity of acetylcholine, which is critical for a
number of brain functions, including learning and memory.

• Anticholinergics, or incontinence medications, including Enablex

and Sanctura. These also decrease acetylcholine activity,
increasing the risk of memory loss and reduced memory storage.

Many of these medications are intended to be taken short-term, so

they cannot be studied for long-term consequences.

If you are taking any of them, make certain to discuss the matter
with your doctor.

Page 20
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #4:
Negative Thought Patterns

Did you know that negative thought patterns can actually impair
your ability to think and remember?

Research has linked prolonged negative thinking to not only a higher

dementia risk⁸, but also a decrease in your ability to form new
memories and reason⁹.

Pay attention to your thought patterns, and look out for repeated or
frequent negative thoughts. If you’re hard on yourself or constantly
thinking negatively about your circumstances, you might be harming
your brain long-term.

Page 21
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #5:
Poor Sleep

Sleep is absolutely crucial for brain function, more specifically for

your memory.

While you sleep, your brain “organizes” and “catalogues” all the
information you’ve taken in while awake. Without enough sleep, your
brain is unable to process everything, so your memory suffers¹⁰.

Lack of sleep has been linked to an inability to not only take in

newinformation, but even to just focus on that information in order
to absorb it. Not only that, but without sleep, any information you
absorb won’t be consolidated into proper memories.

Make it your highest priority to get enough sleep every day. Try:

• Following the same sleep schedule every day, waking up and going

Page 22
• to sleep at the exact same time every day.

• Getting regular exercise during the day, but not in the hours
leading up to sleep.

• Cutting back alcohol and caffeine intake.

• Relaxing in the evening and unwinding so you aren’t stressed or

over-energized when it’s time to sleep.

• Creating a cool, dark, comfortable, and pleasant sleep

environment.

• Using a white machine or listening to sleep music to block out

environmental noise.

The better you sleep, the more your brain is able to absorb and store
new information and the better it’ll function throughout the day.

Page 23
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #6:
Listening to Loud Music

Did you know that listening to loud music (especially on headphones)

isn’t just bad for your ears, but also your brain?

Research¹¹ has shown that damaging your hearing by listening to

loud music can also overload the “wiring” in your brain. Also, when
your brain is struggling to process loud sounds pumped
directly into your ears, it has less resources to dedicate to other
activities, such as learning and storing information.

The brain may actually shrink and atrophy as a direct result of

hearing loss and stimulation by sound decreases. There is evidence
that hearing loss may be directly linked to dementia—and yet, it’s
fully treatable!

All you have to do is turn down the volume of your music, especially
if you wear earbuds or headphones. Use headphones or earbuds with
active and passive noise cancellation to block out the sounds around
you, and turn your volume down to reduce potential brain damage.

Page 24
 Toxic Memory-Damaging Habit #7:
Poor Oral Hygiene

Poor oral hygiene may be directly linked to a higher risk of brain

deterioration and dementia, according to one meta-analysis¹².

Data pulled from 14 studies examining more than 34,000

participants indicated that people with higher tooth loss (as a result
of poor oral hygiene) had a 148% higher chance of developing some
form of cognitive impairment, and 128% higher chance of dementia.

The damage may be the result of oral inflammation (which can

spread to the brain) and poor overall nutrition, but it’s a fully
treatable and preventable form of cognitive damage. All you’ve got
to do is take better care of your teeth and gums!

Page 25
 Conclusion

It’s amazing what a difference a few herbs can make in your brain
function and overall health.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has long utilized these plant-based

remedies to treat conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes,
heart disease, and so much more. Science is proving that they
actually work.

If you want to protect your brain, it’s worth adding these remedies
into your daily life.

But don’t just stop there!

Take it a step further by eliminating these unhealthy or potentially

toxic habits, too.

Your need to protect your brain in order to keep it functioning as

you age. A few changes to your lifestyle today may give you a better
future!

Page 26
 Resources:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684515/
2. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/alcohol-
related-brain-damage-arbd

3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28735-5

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18407470/

5. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180412141014.html

6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5651418/
7. https://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2017/caution-
these-10-drugs-can-cause-memory-loss.html
8. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-11-negative-thoughts-alzheimer-
disease.html

9. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528163739.html
10. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-deprivation-effects-on-
memory
11. https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2022/hearing-
loss-dementia.html
12. https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(21)00473-4/fulltext
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