Brain fog has become a hot topic in recent years, especially in conversations around perimenopause, and too often, it’s chalked up to one culprit: declining estrogen. But the story is much bigger.
In Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, brain fog with its lapses in memory, sluggish thinking, and inability to focus, is rarely seen as an isolated symptom. Instead, it’s understood as a sign of deeper imbalance. It can be linked to gut disorders, chronic fatigue, lingering sinus congestion, unresolved emotions like sadness and frustration, and, in TCM, “dampness,” a buildup of fluids that disrupts digestion and energy flow.
In this Live session,
and I explore the many roots of brain fog and share time-honoured approaches to clear it from nourishing the gut microbiome and reducing inflammation to lowering stress, prioritizing rest, and weaving in movement and massage practices from yogic and Qigong traditions.I mentioned Ginseng as a proven single herb supplement for relieving brain fog. The research shows that Asian *Korean red ginseng can regulate the diversity of the gut microbiome
Ginseng is consumed as a tonic either in soups or as a decoction drunk like a tea. You can make it yourself, recipe courtesy of Nina Cheng, founder of Eastern Philosophy
3 to 9 g dried ginseng root
3 to 4 cups of water
Honey to sweeten
Combine ginseng and water, bring to the boil, and simmer for about an hour. If using sliced ginseng, 30 minutes of cooking time is sufficient. Strain and sweeten.
If you are struggling with hot flashes, irritability, or insomnia, American Ginseng may help. It is milder yet beneficial for improving cognitive function.
If you have particular questions or comments, we would love to hear from yoi. Do reach out to either Chitra or me.
If you are curious to learn more about how Ayurveda and TCM approach perimenpause, then join Chitra and me every Thursday Live. Next week we will be deep diving into hot flashes and night sweats.
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