Periwinkle: Nature’s Brain-Boosting, Memory-Enhancing Secret Weapon!
Did you know that a natural substance derived from the Periwinkle plant has been used for decades in Europe to increase blood flow to the brain, boosting brain function and sharpening your memory?
When blood flow to the brain is slowed or otherwise compromised due to the ravages of aging, “brain fog” often sets in. This means thinking becomes difficult. Memory problems begin to crop up. Poor concentration becomes the norm. Headaches, fatigue, depression and anxiety can even set in.
But there’s a safe, natural cure for memory loss due to poor blood flow to the brain. And it has over 100 clinical studies behind it, demonstrating its profound effectiveness and safety. I’ll tell you all about it, below…
Hi, Steve Barwick here for Targeted Nutrients…
Modern science knows that the human brain depends upon four crucial resources for optimal cognitive function, sharp thinking and superior memory retention.
Those four resources are: Oxygen, glucose, omega-3 fatty acids and key vitamins and minerals.
While your brain weighs only two or three pounds, it consumes more oxygen, glucose, fats, vitamins and minerals than the rest of your body.
That’s because your brain is constantly working – it’s the master control center for your entire body. So its oxygen and related nutrient requirements are prodigious.
The Fifth, Crucial Resource
But there’s a fifth crucial resource for achieving and maintaining optimal cognition and long-lasting memory as we age.
And unfortunately, that fifth factor is often overlooked by most people – even people who are involved in maximizing their health and well-being through natural means.
I’m talking about blood flow.
You see, you can ingest all of the specialized nutrients you want to help maximize cognitive function as you age – and they’ll certainly work – but only as long as you have enough blood flow to the brain to get these crucial nutrients into your brain cells in the quantities needed.
If you suffer from poor or otherwise restricted blood flow to the brain, the nutrients you take each day, and the nutrients you get from food, simply won’t get to the brain in sufficient quantities needed for activities like brain repair, building of new neurons, increased neuronal function and more.
And that means your starving brain simply won’t work nearly as well as it otherwise could.
Brain Fog and Other Symptoms
According to the Journal of Natural Longevity, symptoms of poor blood flow to the brain include:
- Poor concentration
- Memory problems
- Dizzy spells
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Depression
- Anxiety
All of these are symptoms of “brain fog” – the euphemism often used for age-related decline of mental function and cognition.
As noted health writer Erica Green has pointed out, poor blood flow to the brain starves the brain of the very specific resources it needs for optimized function. She writes:
“When your brain becomes resource-starved, your cognitive abilities begin to decline.
Your brain enters self-preservation mode, and stops doing the least important functions so that the most important ones, the ones that literally keep you alive, can continue uninterrupted.
This is the point at which you may feel what some call “brain fog” descend on you.
For example, you may find yourself reading the same paragraph three or four times, unable to concentrate or absorb the information. You may also find yourself feeling dizzy or suffering from frequent headaches.”
To keep your cognitive function maximized, it’s absolutely essential to achieve and maintain ideal blood flow to the brain.
Thankfully, there are two very natural ways to help restore and maintain optimal blood flow to the brain, so your brain doesn’t become deficient in the oxygen, glucose, fats and the specific brain nutrients it needs for healthy and sustained function.
The most obvious of these two natural ways to achieve and maintain optimal blood flow to the brain is to engage in mild to moderate exercise.
We’ll talk about that briefly. Then we’ll move on to the second way to achieve and maintain optimal blood flow to the brain – use of a very unusual brain-boosting and memory-enhancing nutritional supplement most people have probably never heard of. And no, it’s not Ginko Biloba.
Start with Mild Exercise!
In a recent clinical study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, elderly humans averaging 68 years of age were studied to see what effect mild exercise like dancing might have on brain function.
The researchers found that both dancing and traditional mild exercise offset the normal brain shrinkage brought about by aging and “led to an increase in the size of the hippocampus, the brain structure that controls learning, memory and balance.”
That mean new brain neurons were grown, as well as new connections between them that allow for faster, sharper thinking. The researchers concluded that exercise like dancing “constitutes a promising candidate in counteracting the age-related decline in mental abilities.”
Why would something as innocuous as dancing help boost brain function and counteract the decline in mental abilities we all suffer from as we age?
Again, it’s quite simple. Exercise of any kind increases blood flow to the brain. And that increased blood flow brings with it the oxygen, glucose, fats and key brain nutrients needed for world-class brain function.
As a second witness to this fact, The New York Times published an article titled “For Your Brain’s Sake, Keep Moving.”
That article was about another clinical study which found that physical activity “not only increases the number of new neurons in the brain, it also subtly changes the shape and workings of these cells in ways that might have positive implications for memory and even delaying the onset of dementia.”
The New York Times writer, Gretchen Reynolds, pointed out the following:
“…the brain is a dynamic, active organ in which new neurons and neural connections are created throughout life, especially in areas of the brain related to memory and thinking.
This process of creating new neurons, called neurogenesis, can be altered by lifestyle, including physical activity.
Many past studies have shown that in laboratory rodents, exercise doubles or even triples the number of new cells produced in adult animals’ brains compared to the brains of animals that are sedentary.”
But again, it wasn’t the mild exercise that increased the number of new neurons and neuronal connections in the brain. It was the increased blood flow brought about by the exercise, which flooded the brain with the crucial oxygen and nutrient elements needed for optimal brain function.
Boosting Brain Function with this Periwinkle-Derived Substance, Naturally!
That brings us to the second natural way to increase blood flow to the brain, boosting overall brain function: nutritional supplementation with a unique nutrient known as Vinpocetine.
Vinpocetine is a nutritional supplement that is derived from a natural, brain-boosting substance found in the Periwinkle plant. The Periwinkle plant has been used for centuries in folk medicine, both for memory loss and for circulatory disorders.
Indeed, the Periwinkle plant was first referred to for its medicinal qualities in the 1st century AD by the Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides who had written a 5-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine that was widely followed by physicians for more than 1,500 years.
According to Livestrong.com, “The Latin name of periwinkle’s genus, Vinca, is derived from a word meaning ‘to overcome,’ and it’s been used since medieval times as a medicinal herb to manage a variety of ailments – particularly memory loss and overall mental function.”
Indeed, so strong is the ancient association of Periwinkle with memory enhancement, in folklore it’s said that even gazing upon the Periwinkle plant could restore lost memories.
Scientists now know that the Periwinkle plant has mild vasodilatory properties, meaning it has the ability to widen blood vessels. This makes them more ‘elastic’ in nature so that overall blood pressure in the body is reduced while blood flow to the brain is increased.
The natural, Periwinkle-derived substance in Vinpocetine has a long-touted ability to stave off or even reverse memory loss is likely directly related to its ability to increase blood flow to the brain, thus boosting overall brain function.
The main active ingredient in the Periwinkle plant turns out to be a substance called vincamine, from which Vinpocetine is derived, and is known for boosting brain function in many key, beneficial ways. According to the Herbal Resource Medicinal Herbs Index:
“…Vincamine has very specific actions on the blood flow to the brain…Studies have shown that patients suffering from poor memory, behavioral disorders, speech disturbances, irritability, restlessness, dizziness, and headaches showed significant improvement when administered vincamine.”
Again, as you can see, all of these brain-boosting benefits are due to the increased blood flow to the brain triggered by vincamine, the main active chemical in the Periwinkle plant from which Vinpocetine is derived.
Vinpocetine Facts You Need to Know
Vinpocetine is extracted from vincamine, a natural substance derived from the Periwinkle plant, and is sold as a nutritional supplement for boosting brain function and boosting memory.
WebMD says Vinpocetine, “…is used for enhancing memory and preventing Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that harm learning, memory, and information processing skills as people age.”
WebMD also states, “Vinpocetine is also used for preventing and reducing the chance of disability and death from ischemic stroke. This is the type of stroke that occurs when a blood clot stops blood flow in the brain, causing brain cells (neurons) to die because they are not receiving oxygen.”
In other words, many people at risk of stroke regularly take Vinpocetine for the increased blood flow to the brain it helps to trigger.
Furthermore, Livestrong.com states of Vinpocetine, “Preliminary research has shown that Vinpocetine may help to treat dementia, manage Alzheimer’s disease, improve short-term memory loss caused by some medications, improve age-related hearing loss and reduce calcium buildup from dialysis.”
The prestigious Life Extension Foundation magazine lauds the brain-boosting benefits of Vinpocetine, stating:
“Since the 1960’s Vinpocetine has been used to maintain and improve brain health and cognition. It is widely used in Japan and many European countries to treat a number of cerebrovascular diseases. As a dietary supplement, Vinpocetine offers potential neuroprotective effects as well.
… Vinpocetine has effects on brain blood vessels, brain blood flow, and brain cells themselves. In this way, it can be of value in enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, as well as in possibly preventing the damage that occurs if nutrient delivery is impaired.
Some research suggests that Vinpocetine may also help to prevent the neurotoxic effects implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.”
Life Extension Foundation magazine goes on to explain that Vinpocetine inhibits an enzyme called PDE1, and reduces excessive intracellular calcium levels, as well.
Both PDE1 and excessive intracellular calcium levels cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the brain. But supplementing with Vinpocetine reverses the process, and “thus allows brain blood vessels to relax and increases the amount of blood flowing through them.”
The magazine goes on to explain:
“By inhibiting PDE1, as well as through its antioxidant properties, Vinpocetine reduces the viscosity, or ‘stickiness,’ of red blood cells and platelets. This allows blood to flow more easily through narrowed vessels.
…Vinpocetine is a supplement with a wide variety of biological effects. It causes relaxation of smooth muscle, dilation of blood vessels, and improved blood flow, all of which have beneficial health effects.”
Finally, Life Extension Foundation magazine concludes that Vinpocetine usage is safe. They write:
“Even after more than two decades of extensive use in Europe and Asia, side effects and adverse events are rarely reported among people taking Vinpocetine supplements.”
While other herbal supplements, such as Ginko Biloba, are touted as having the ability to boost blood flow to the brain, clinical research and doctor’s reports on patients demonstrate that none of them work as quickly or effectively as the Periwinkle-derived nutrient found in Vinpocetine.
Works Better, Faster than Ginko Biloba
For example, Bernd Wollschlaeger, M.D., a Florida-based board-certified family physician who is also the associate editor of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association (JANA), says Vinpocetine is one of the mainstays of his practice when it comes to patients complaining of memory loss and mild cognitive impairment.
According to Dr. Wollschlaeger:
“All of the peer-reviewed studies I’ve seen found a significant improvement in cognitive function with Vinpocetine.
Until Vinpocetine, we physicians have had nothing to prevent cognitive decline. We only have drugs to treat after the fact. With safe, natural Vinpocetine, patients see comparatively rapid improvement in memory functions as well as enhancement of learning and recall and overall alertness.
Results are often seen in only seven to ten days. We don’t have to wait four or six or eight weeks, like with Gingko Biloba, to see results.
What’s more, there have been more than 100 clinical studies conducted on Vinpocetine, with over 30,000 patients, proving its safety and effectiveness.”
Why Blood Flow is So Important to the Brain
The nutrient in Vinpocetine derived from the Periwinkle plant improves blood flow to the brain, boosting overall brain function.
Dr. Ward Dean, M.D., co-author of the bestselling books Smart Drugs and Nutrients and Smart Drugs II, says that Vinpocetine facilitates cerebral metabolism by improving cerebral microcirculation (i.e., blood flow to, and throughout, the brain). He notes,
“….in brain cells it steps up the production of ATP, the cellular energy molecule, and increases utilization of glucose and oxygen, the brain’s two most critical fuels. …. It’s one of the few cognitive enhancers that I actually notice a distinctly positive and uplifting difference when I take it.”
We’ll talk a little bit more about Vinpocetine’s ability to boost production of ATP in brain cells, in just a moment. But first, according to Dr. Steven Bratman, M.D., director of The Natural Pharmacist in Fort Collins, CO, and author of the Natural Health Encyclopedia and The Natural Health Bible:
“Vinpocetine aids memory and mental function, not only with mild memory loss and age-related cognitive impairment, but also with Alzheimer’s and related conditions. Most people begin to notice clearer, sharper thinking and recall within a few short days to a few short weeks time.”
In her book, Vinpocetine: Boost Your Brain Power With Periwinkle Extract, author Dr. Beth M. Ley writes:
“Research shows that Vinpocetine provides an astonishing array of benefits. It has a very powerful stimulating effect on memory. In Europe it is often used for the treatment of cerebral circulatory disorders that can cause such symptoms as memory loss, stroke, dizziness and even cerebro-vestibular (inner-ear) problems. Vinpocetine has even been demonstrated to improve visual acuity – that is to say, eyesight – in 70% of subjects tested.”
As you can see, increasing blood flow to the brain has a number of direct and proven benefits other than just cerebral enhancement.
Over 100 Clinical Studies on Vinpocetine
According to Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., an ardent Vinpocetine advocate, “There have been over 100 clinical studies demonstrating the positive effects of Vinpocetine on brain function.”
For example, he notes that:
“Researchers at the University of Surrey in England administered Vinpocetine to patients suffering from mild to moderate dementia. In this placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trial 203 patients received Vinpocetine every day for 16 weeks.
They were given either 10 mg doses of Vinpocetine three times a day, 20 mg doses of Vinpocetine three times a day, or placebo three times a day.
Significant cognitive improvements were found in the active treatment groups compared to the placebo groups. Interestingly, the patients on the 10 mg doses performed even better than those on the higher 20 mg. doses.”
What’s more, according to Dr. Sahelian:
“In another double-blind clinical trial, Vinpocetine was shown to offer significant improvement in elderly patients with chronic cerebral dysfunction.
Forty-two patients received 10 mg. of Vinpocetine three times a day for thirty days, then 5 mg. three times a day for sixty days. Matching placebo tablets were given to another forty patients for the ninety-day trial period.
Patients on Vinpocetine scored consistently better in all cognitive evaluations.”
Other studies have demonstrated Vinpocetine’s astonishing beneficial effects for stroke victims. For example, one study demonstrated a 42% reduction in brain injury for stroke patients who were given Vinpocetine [Acta Pharm Hung. 2002;72(2):84-91].
And another study demonstrated that Vinpocetine interrupts the various stages of the ischemic cascade during strokes, meaning it helps prevent the ongoing damage to the brain that results from the stroke itself [Ideggyogy Sz. 2003 May 20;56(5-6):166-72].
How Vinpocetine Works to
Boost Your Memory and Mental Clarity
George Foss, a long-time consultant to the nutritional supplement industry, and former general manager of Kayser Nutrition, explains how Vinpocetine works, and why it has become the world’s #1 best-selling all-natural brain-boosting supplement:
“Vinpocetine’s astonishing beneficial effects on memory, recall and mental acuity occur principally because of its ability to bring age-related declines in the cellular energy function of the brain back to more youthful levels.
It does so by literally nourishing the brain. First, it increases blood flow to the brain through mild dilation of the blood vessels, which in turn dramatically boosts glucose and oxygen uptake by the brain’s 100 billion neurons.
The neurons thrive on this increased glucose and oxygen, which in turn is used to produce prodigious quantities of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is pure cellular energy.
This increased production of ATP within the brain quite rapidly boosts the metabolism, or energy activity of the entire brain back to the levels of a young adult.
Finally, this increased energy activity triggers two crucial functions in the brain: increased cell-to-cell communication for quicker thinking, and repair and/or replacement of damaged brain cells for optimal brain function.”
As you can see, Vinpocetine not only boosts blood flow to the brain – along with the critical oxygen, glucose and other needed nutrients for optimal brain function – but it also boosts production of ATP (i.e., cellular energy) inside of brain cells.
This boost in the production of ATP leads to:
- Increased brain activity
- Faster cognitive function
- Greater neuronal activity
- Smoother cell-to-cell communication in the brain
- Quicker and more effective brain self-repair
- Overall increased cognition and memory retention
What’s more, experts say Vinpocetine boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich and glucose-rich blood to the brain so effectively it almost immediately results in a vastly increased ability to concentrate and focus.
In fact, in one recent clinical study, 62% of healthy subjects exhibited significant short-term memory improvement in only one hour after taking 40 mg. of Vinpocetine [Eur J Clin Pharmacol1985;28(5):567-71].
What’s more, recent research has demonstrated that Vinpocetine also boosts micro-circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the eyes, thereby improving vision and eyesight disorders. In one study, Vinpocetine improved vision in 88% of test subjects [Arzneimittelforschung 1976;26(10a):1969-72].
Vinpocetine also aids in the delivery of oxygen-saturated blood to the inner ear, improving hearing as well as alleviating many inner-ear problems including tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and vertigo (dizziness) [AF DR 28, 1977-80].
What’s more, these aren’t speculative benefits, but instead, benefits proven in over 100 clinical studies.
So if you’re reaching that age where you notice your cognitive abilities are slipping a bit and you want to provide your body with the nutrition it needs to get you back on top of your mental game, then you just might want to try safe, natural Vinpocetine.
Its long-term safety has been demonstrated in medical studies to be second to none. And with over 100 medical studies backing it up, you can rest assured of its effectiveness.
How to Use Vinpocetine
Most clinical trials on Vinpocetine have involved the use of doses ranging from 10 to 30 mg. per day.
These studies have demonstrated that while lower doses of 10 to 20 mg. per day can be very helpful, in virtually every case it has been the 30 mg. per day dosage (i.e., 10 mg. taken three times a day) that has exerted the greatest therapeutic benefits in terms of boosting memory, concentration and mental acuity.
While the beneficial effects of Vinpocetine are quite noticeable after only a few days of use (many people literally “feel the difference” the very first day), the full range of therapeutic benefits associated with Vinpocetine usage are often not derived until it has been used on a daily basis for 90 days.
In other words, while you’ll notice increased mental energy almost immediately, the effects actually get better and better over the course of the first 90 days of use, as damaged areas of the brain are healed, and stronger cell-to-cell communication in the brain is established.
Where to Find Pure, Pharmaceutical-Grade Vinpocetine at a Great Price!
Targeted Nutrients is perhaps the world’s best source for Vinpocetine.
That’s because we supply the significantly higher-quality pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine straight from Europe, instead of the inferior Chinese-produced Vinpocetine found in most health food stores today.
This is the same pure, high-grade European Vinpocetine that has been demonstrated in clinical trials throughout Western Europe to boost memory, mental clarity and re-call by up to 62%!
While pure, pharmaceutical-grade Vinpocetine is generally much more expensive, frequently selling for $39.95/bottle for just 30 capsules, Targeted Nutrients is offering a one-time-only special get-acquainted savings for readers of this article who might want to try Vinpocetine and see for themselves what a powerful cognitive-enhancer it really is. Just click here.
Yours for peak cognitive function and a sharp mind, the safe, natural way…
Steve Barwick, President
Targeted Nutrients