Is Polygala Tenuifolia the answer to anxiety, stress, and poor sleep that’s destroying our cognitive health? Find out all you need to know, including how it works and cautions to bear in mind.
Polygala Tenuifolia is a potent nootropic that’s been praised for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, with a rich history dating back to its frequent mentions in the medical encyclopedia Zhong Hua Yi Dian.
Through its history, users noted the incredible benefits they experienced from supplementing with it. Now, with science in our armor, we’re learning more and more about its neuro-protective properties.
We’re starting to understand more about its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory behaviors, and how it supports us with anxiety, stress, depression and sleep.
It’s even shown promise in the fight against age-related cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
I’ve put together a guide here on all things Polygala Tenuifolia, from what it does and how it works, to side effects and cautions, so that you can be sure it is a nootropic that’ll benefit you safely.
An Introduction To Polygala Tenuifolia
Known for its impressive nootropic properties, Polygala Tenuifolia is a powerhouse in its category. What gains it the most attention is the alleviating effects it has on us for stress and anxiety.
These are hugely damaging symptoms for so many of us today. A large UK study reported a worrying 74% of people felt so stressed, that they were unable to cope or felt overwhelmed. In the same study, 61% reported anxiety.
Stress and anxiety have a bidirectional relationship with depression, meaning one can exacerbate the other.
An example of this is a study that showed that 84.4% of university students were stressed and 88.4% were suffering with anxiety, leaving 75% of them feeling depressed.
These figures are really concerning to read, and quite sad. Life can be tough, and we’re faced with increased demands, challenges, and information overload more than ever before.
If you think you may be depressed, it’s crucial you reach out to someone who is professionally trained and can guide you along the best pathways and support.
I can’t give advice on depression, unfortunately. But what I can do is tell you a little about what we know of Polygala Tenuifolia, and how it appears to help calm our minds to function with focus and patience, and even prevention of cognitive decline.
Holding a mini catalog of active components ranging from saponins, ginsenosides, oligosaccharides, to alkaloids and flavonoids, Polygala Tenuifolia shows some remarkable nootropic abilities.
Where Polygala Tenuifolia Can Help
If you have oxidative stress, neurotransmitter dysfunction, increased cortisol levels, and inflammation, you’re much more likely to suffer with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Obesity
- Insomnia
There are a number of clinical studies and user reports that show supplementing with Polygala Tenuifolia can relieve these symptoms and prevent neurogenerative disease.
Polygala Tenuifolia For Stress and Cognition
Polygala Tenuifolia functions as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), and these inhibitors are known to increase the utilization of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, helping to enhance mood, arousal, alertness, and energy levels. And when we experience all these benefits, we often see improvements in learning and memory.
This incredible herb also contains compounds such as tenuifolisides and 3,6-disinapoylsucrose, which contribute to improved congition. They foster an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and suppress the abundance of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, which are often associated with cognitive decline.
Notably, the saponins found in Polygala Tenuifolia stimulate the activation of a BDNF receptor called TrkB. Their role is game-changing, considering they prevent the reduction of NMDA receptors in aged individuals, therefore supporting important cognitive functions like learning and memory.
Also helping our memory enhancement, Polygala Tenuifolia’s action on acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter crucial for learning and memory) and upregulation of BDNF facilitates more robust synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, the part of the brain essential for memory storage.
Polygala Tenuifolia For Sleep
Sleep plays a huge part in our overall well-being and cognitive performance, and Polygala Tenuifolia has long been glowing as an effective remedy for sleep issues. Different clinical studies (albeit mostly animal-based so far) have recognized its effectiveness in improving sleep.
The herb’s potential can be attributed to a notable active component, Senegenin. This unique compound can help increase levels of GABA and acetylcholine (the neurotransmitters associated with sleep) in various brain regions.
As a result, the use of Polygala Tenuifolia imitates natural sleep patterns, enhancing both non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) phases of sleep.
Polygala Tenuifolia For Memory
Evidence spanning way back to the traditional text of the Zhong Hua Yi Dian right up to contemporary research validates Polygala Tenuifolia’s memory-enhancing attributes.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in South Korea involving around 50 elderly individuals showed that supplementing with Polygala Tenuifolia significantly bolstered short-term memory and recall.
More interestingly, researchers found that the herb acted as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). We’ve seen already how this increases dopamine and norepinephrine utilization in the brain, and paves the way for enhanced learning and memory.
Polygala Tenuifolia Recommended Dosage
Between 100mg to 300mg, taken no more three times a day.
Always start with a low dose and assess your response. Children can also supplement at the same dose.
Always seek professional medical advice before starting any new supplement regime, especially if you’re taking medication, have a medical condition or concern, or are pregnant, or supervising a child.
What Is It Like Supplementing with Polygala Tenuifolia?
Users report that they very quickly and quite simply feel happier when supplementing with Polygala Tenuifolia.
Generally, it does get to work fast. While many nootropics can take a good few weeks to really settle in (with best results after a couple of months), you’ll often see best results from Polygala Tenuifolia after only week one or two, and often feel calmer and more focused from day one.
Users have even reported that when taking Polygala Tenuifolia sublingually, they drop the overbearing feeling of negativity within less than a minute. This relief from stress and anxiety can be incredibly helpful in aiding sleep, with many saying it is the most effective nootropic they’ve used for it.
The feeling of supplementing with Polygala Tenuifolia has been described as ‘mental space’. A mindfulness that allows to observe, and more easily identify and mitigate negative thought patterns.
For most users, Polygala Tenuifolia shows crystal clear improvements – less stress and anxiety, more calm and focus, and an enhanced ability to learn and memorize without the debilitating negative effects of stress blocking cognitive pathways.
However, like any nootropic supplement or indeed anything at all, we all have our unique thresholds and tolerances – so pay close attention to how you respond, and stop taking immediately if the effects are at all negative.
Polygala Tenuifolia Side Effects
Polygala Tenuifolia is considered non-toxic. However, staying true to the mantra of “no cure-all”, Polygala Tenuifolia does indeed have some associated drawbacks. As we know, any substance, natural or synthetic, may cause adverse effects in certain people.
One of the side effects reported with Polygala Tenuifolia use is gastrointestinal upset, while a small number have reported symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild indigestion.
While these side effects are not particularly severe, they could cause discomfort and inconvenience.
As with all nootropics, I recommend you start with a low dose and observe how your body reacts first. Your own personal response to Polygala Tenuifolia or indeed any supplement can be affected by various factors including your age, overall health, and any other medications you might be taking.
This is why it is so important to seek professional advice unique to you before starting any new supplement. While Polygala Tenuifolia has been safely used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, the lack of extensive human clinical trials means that there might be unforeseen risks associated with its use.
Polygala Tenuifolia Summary
Polygala Tenuifolia really is quite a good nootropic. This herb is an ally against the most common mental disruptions so many of us have to live with, relieving us from the chains of anxiety and stress.
We have plenty of user testimonials evidencing Polygala Tenuifolia’s efficacy with real-life results that, without sounding melodramatic, can be life-changing. And it’s exciting to see building scientific evidence as we learn more and more about this incredible nootropic.
However, despite its rich history in traditional medicine, knowledge, respect and responsibility reign supreme – and whilst human studies remain limited, we must continue to tread with caution.
Seek medical advice first, and dose carefully to ensure you experience only the incredibly positive effects Polygala Tenuifolia has to offer.
Sources:
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/stress-statistics
- https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/stress-depression
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7372668/
