Nootropic Supplements FAQ
Nootropic Supplements
BrainStorm Nootropic Brain Health Support Kits include five all-natural nootropic supplements that:
- Offer five synergistic nootropics
- Support mental clarity and focus
- Provide memory and mood support
- Bolster cellular and mental energy
- Protect against free radical damage
- Support healthy brain function
This proprietary collection of herbs includes five nootropic herbal supplements:
- Cistanche offers neuro-health and cellular energy support.
- Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) provides antioxidant and inflammatory-balance support and is being studied for its potential role in memory, learning, and healthy cognitive aging.
- Semen cuscutae is neuroprotective and supports brain, central nervous system, and eye health.
- Polygala (Yuan Zhi) provides mood, creative thinking, and enhanced dreaming support.
- Vaccinium uliginosum (Bilberry) supports memory and clarity and protects against free radicals.
Each of these herbs is also sold individually in our online store. To learn more about nootropic supplements, check out the resources below.
CISTANCHE
(Cistanche tubulosa)
“Methuselah’s Breakfast”
Significant anti-fatigue, anti-aging, energy, antidepressant, and neuroprotective properties. It’s a global favorite.
HARITAKI
(Terminalia chebula)
“The King of All Medicines”
Nootropic learning and memory support, along with digestive health, joint health, and osteoarthritic support.
SEMEN CUSCUTAE
(Tu Si Zi)
“The Longevity Herb”
Nootropic support for brain health, nervous system health, hormonal balance, and sexual and reproductive health.
POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA
(Yuan Zhi)
“The Will Strengthener”
This traditional nootropic supports memory, mental clarity, mood, focus, and cognitive resilience.
VACCINIUM ULIGINOSUM
(Bog Blueberry; Bilberry)
“The Brain Berry”
Its anthocyanins is studied for its potential roles in memory, antioxidant protection, and healthy cognitive aging
BUY A BRAINSTORM NOOTROPIC KIT TODAY
5 Herbal Extracts in One Kit
Harness the power of nature to support your brain health with five well-studied, time-tested nootropic supplements.
What is a nootropic?
A nootropic may help to improve cognitive ability, memory, concentration, and creativity. Nootropic supplements have the potential to improve mood and reduce anxiety, increase willpower and motivation, and reduce levels of social discomfort.
Where does the word come from?
“Nootropic” is a word formed from the Greek words “nous,” meaning “mind” or “intellect,” and “trepein,” meaning “bend.”
How is a nootropic defined, exactly?
The term “nootropic” was coined by psychologist and chemist Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, who stated that a true nootropic does the following: (1) enhances memory and learning ability; (2) helps the brain resist learned behaviors and disruptive memories; (3) protects the brain from harmful physical or chemical injury or damage; (4) enhances the efficiency of brain functions; and (5) lacks any sedative, stimulant, or toxic side effects.
Is caffeine a nootropic?
If you’re interested in optimal health, then you should probably choose a real nootropic, one that meets all five of Giurgea’s criteria listed above. For example, a true nootropic protects your brain and doesn’t have any toxic, sedative, or stimulant effects. In other words, nicotine and caffeinated coffee don’t make the cut.
More to the point, optimizing your brain function in a natural way with no harmful side effects often has a significant positive impact on your overall health, just as optimizing your physical and immune system health often has a corresponding significant positive impact on your brain function.
Why are the 5 nootropic supplements packaged separately?
The 5 herbal extracts are in separate packs so you can choose how best to support your neuro health. If you have a known allergy, a previous adverse reaction, or a health condition that suggests you should not use one or more of these extracts, customize your usage accordingly.
Do you have any serving suggestions?
Suggested Usage: Blend Cistanche tubulosa, Terminalia chebula and Vaccinium uliginosum into the Morning Mix pouch. Blend Polygala tenuifolia and Semen cuscutae into the Nighttime Mix pouch. Zip seal and shake the pouches well to blend the mixture. The Morning Mix serving size is 1/2 teaspoon. The Nighttime Mix serving size is 1/3 teaspoon. Put the measured amount of mix into hot water or cold fruit juice. Drink the Morning Mix serving on an empty stomach in the morning. Drink the Nighttime Mix serving at night before bedtime.
How did you choose the five nootropic supplements in BrainStorm Kits?
Recent scientific studies suggest Cistanche tubulosa (Rou Cong Rong), Polygala tenuifolia (Yuan Zhi), Semen cuscutae (Dodder Seed), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki), and Vaccinium uliginosum (Bilberry) are among the most promising nootropics in the world. These natural nootropic herbal extracts that have the potential to optimize brain health and help improve memory, focus, and intention
We sell each of these nootropic supplements individually in our online store. In addition, our BrainStorm Nootropic Brain Health Support Kits contain all five of these extracts.
Can I take BrainStorm every day?
BrainStorm is designed to provide ongoing botanical support for brain health, memory, focus, mood, mental energy, and healthy cognitive aging. Its five extracts, Cistanche tubulosa, Haritaki, Semen cuscutae, Polygala tenuifolia, and Vaccinium uliginosum (Bilberry), bring different but complementary properties to a daily nootropic routine.
The five extracts are packaged separately, giving you flexibility in how you use them. Linden Botanicals recommends combining Cistanche, Haritaki, and Bilberry into the Morning Mix and Polygala and Semen cuscutae into the Nighttime Mix. If one herb isn’t appropriate for you, the separate packaging also makes it easier to customize your routine.
As with any botanical supplement, people taking prescription medications, managing a medical condition, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk with an appropriate healthcare professional before beginning regular use.
How long should I use BrainStorm nootropic supplements before evaluating if they’re right for me?
BrainStorm is better viewed as ongoing brain-health support than as a quick cognitive boost. Many of the processes associated with its herbs, including antioxidant protection, neuronal signaling, circulation, stress resilience, and healthy cognitive aging, are more relevant to consistent use over time than to producing a dramatic effect after one serving.
Some people may notice changes in focus, mental clarity, mood, or energy sooner than others. Research involving individual nootropic botanicals also varies considerably in duration and strength of evidence. For that reason, there isn’t a scientifically established number of days after which everyone should expect a particular result.
Pay attention to how you feel over time, including your focus, memory, mental energy, mood, sleep, and overall sense of cognitive well-being. BrainStorm should be considered one part of a broader brain-health strategy that also includes sleep, physical activity, nutrition, stress management, social connection, and lifelong learning.
Will BrainStorm nootropic supplements make me feel stimulated or jittery?
BrainStorm contains no caffeine, and it wasn’t designed to produce the short-lived stimulation associated with coffee, energy drinks, or conventional stimulant products. Instead, the five botanicals were selected to support different aspects of brain function, including memory, focus, mood, cellular energy, stress resilience, and antioxidant protection.
That distinction is central to the BrainStorm philosophy. Healthy mental energy isn’t necessarily the same thing as stimulation. Cistanche, for example, is studied for cellular and mitochondrial energy, while Polygala has a traditional association with mental clarity and emotional balance. Bilberry provides anthocyanins and other antioxidant polyphenols, and Haritaki and Semen cuscutae bring additional complementary brain-health properties.
Individual responses to botanicals can vary, but BrainStorm’s goal is balanced cognitive support rather than creating a caffeine-like spike followed by a crash.
Why does BrainStorm contain several nootropic supplements instead of just one?
Brain health is complex. Memory, focus, mood, mental energy, stress resilience, circulation, neuronal signaling, and protection against oxidative stress involve different but interconnected biological processes. No single botanical needs to address all of them.
BrainStorm therefore combines five herbs with complementary traditional uses and areas of scientific interest. Cistanche is associated with cellular energy and neuroprotection; Haritaki with antioxidant and inflammatory balance; Semen cuscutae with nervous-system and cognitive support; Polygala with memory, mental clarity, mood, and stress resilience; and Bilberry with anthocyanins, circulation, antioxidant protection, and cognitive health.
Packaging the herbs separately also preserves flexibility. BrainStorm provides a framework for combining the five botanicals while allowing you to customize your routine when appropriate.
Can you tell me more about Cistanche tubulosa extract?
Cistanche tubulosa has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for vitality, stamina, and healthy aging. Modern research has explored its potential effects on brain health, fatigue, cellular energy, antioxidant defenses, mood, and the gut-brain axis.
Cistanche contains bioactive compounds including phenylethanoid glycosides, which are being studied for neuroprotective and antioxidant activity. Preclinical research has also investigated how Cistanche may influence mitochondrial function and the gut microbiome.
A recent study in Frontiers in Pharmacology indicates that Cistanche may support the ability to restore gut microbiota homeostasis. In the study, a chronic unpredictable stress-induced depression model was established to explore the impact of Cistanche tubulosa extract on behavioral tests and gut microbiota composition.
These findings make Cistanche particularly interesting as a botanical for supporting both mental and physical resilience, although more human research is needed to understand its effects fully.
Within BrainStorm, Cistanche contributes support for cellular energy, resilience, antioxidant defenses, and long-term brain health.
Can you tell me more about Haritaki as one of the BrainStorm nootropic supplements?
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is a highly valued Ayurvedic botanical traditionally associated with rejuvenation, digestion, and healthy aging. It contains numerous bioactive compounds, including chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and other polyphenols.
Modern laboratory and preclinical research has explored Haritaki for antioxidant, inflammation-modulating, neuroprotective, and acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting activity. Researchers are interested in whether these mechanisms may eventually prove relevant to memory and cognitive health, but they should not be interpreted as evidence that Haritaki treats Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
Within BrainStorm, Haritaki contributes broad antioxidant and healthy-aging support while complementing the more cognition-focused properties of the other botanicals.
A study published in Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences indicates that Haritaki extract shows AChEI and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Can you tell me more about Semen cuscutae extract?
Semen cuscutae, traditionally known as Tu Si Zi or Dodder Seed, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and is increasingly studied for its potential effects on the brain and nervous system.
Laboratory and animal research has explored Semen cuscutae and its compounds for antioxidant, neuroprotective, and inflammation-modulating activity, as well as their potential effects on memory, neuronal signaling, and synaptic health. Some experimental research has investigated these mechanisms in models of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease.
Within BrainStorm, Semen cuscutae provides complementary support for brain, nervous-system, and healthy-aging wellness.
Can you tell me more about Polygala tenuifolia extract?
Polygala tenuifolia, traditionally known as Yuan Zhi, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for memory, mental clarity, emotional balance, and calming the mind. These traditional uses have led to growing scientific interest in Polygala as a nootropic botanical.
Laboratory and animal research has investigated Polygala and compounds such as 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose (DISS) for their effects on neuronal signaling, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection, oxidative stress, and neural stem cells. These findings are intriguing, but evidence of neurogenesis in experimental models should not be interpreted as proof that taking Polygala causes new brain-cell growth in humans.
Within BrainStorm, Polygala is especially interesting because it bridges several aspects of cognitive wellness, including memory, mental clarity, mood, focus, and stress resilience.
A study published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies evaluated cognitive function, neural damages, and hippocampal neurogenesis and revealed that Polygala tenuifolia may reduce cognitive deficits and protect against cognitive decline. In the study, the constituent, 3,6′-disinapoyl sucrose (DISS), triggered a potent increase of hippocampal neurogenesis in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. DISS strengthened APP-neural stem cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation, and DISS treatment for four weeks showed the capability to attenuate cognitive deficits, neuronal injures, and neurogenesis disorder.
Can you tell me more about Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) extract?
Vaccinium uliginosum, commonly called Bilberry or Bog Bilberry, is naturally rich in anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for the deep blue and purple colors of many berries. These polyphenols have attracted considerable research interest because of their antioxidant activity and potential relationships with vascular, eye, and brain health.
Research involving anthocyanin-rich berries has explored potential effects on memory, executive function, processing speed, neuronal signaling, and circulation, particularly in the context of healthy aging.
A study published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences indicates that anthocyanins, a type of flavonoids found in Vaccinium uliginosum (Bilberry) and some other berries, show potential in helping to lower the risk of developing cognitive decline. Significant improvements were observed on memory, while some of the studies also reported effects on attention and psychomotor speed or executive function. The evidence however, does not establish Bilberry as a treatment for cognitive impairment or show that it can reverse age-related cognitive decline.
Within BrainStorm, Bilberry contributes anthocyanins and other polyphenols that support antioxidant defenses, healthy circulation, and cognitive resilience.
Can these nootropic supplements provide support for ADHD?
Yes. For many people with ADHD, the challenge isn’t simply staying focused—it’s managing inconsistent energy, mental overstimulation, emotional reactivity, and difficulty sustaining attention across tasks. Nootropic herbs offer a gentler, more supportive approach by nourishing the underlying systems that govern cognitive performance, mood regulation, and neural communication.
You can learn more here.
Where can I learn more about nootropic herbs and natural brain health?
Nootropics aren’t all alike. Some botanicals are particularly interesting for memory and learning, while others may be better known for focus, mental energy, mood, stress resilience, circulation, or long-term cognitive health. Understanding those differences can help you make more informed decisions about which herbs fit your wellness goals.
Linden Botanicals’ Essential Guide to Nootropic Herbs takes a deeper look at botanical nootropics, how they differ, the benefits researchers are investigating, and how complementary herbs can support different aspects of brain health. It’s a useful next step for anyone who wants to understand the thinking behind BrainStorm and learn more about building a broader, plant-based approach to cognitive wellness.
Do the nootropic supplements in BrainStorm Kits have caffeine?
No.
Do you also sell the 5 BrainStorm supplements individually?
Yes. You can purchase Cistanche, Haritaki, Semen cuscutae, Polygala, and Vaccinium extracts in our online store.