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Page 63
| pack in, the harder the task becomes. Plus, they are so easily distracted, just a few seconds of interference makes them forget what they were doing. |
| It is not clear why all of this happens, but it certainly points to irregularities in the brain. The inability to get blocks into a box hints at a problem in the left frontal lobe, and poor drawing relates to the brain's right parietal lobe. Indeed, brain abnormalities have been observed through MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and SPECT scans (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography), especially in the cerebral cortex and front temporal lobe. These irregularities are different from those seen in people with AIDS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, head injuries, lupus, or clinical depression. 34 |
| The brain requires plenty of oxygen to function properly, demanding one-fifth of the total oxygen carried in the blood, so the lack of oxygen in the blood that is common with CFS does not help brain function. In some cases, blood flow specifically to the brain is down as much as 81 percent. The result is not too hard to figure out: fatigue, mental confusion and dizziness.35 |
| Herbs For Brain Function |
| Some herbs that help memory do so by sending more blood to the brain. Examples are ginseng, Siberian ginseng, gingko, hawthorn and gotu kola. In one study, a ginseng tincture increased the brain's blood flow an impressive 34 percent.36 Studies from the Chinese Academy of Medical Science in Beijing show that ginseng probably influences brain chemicals. This is probably true of gingko and Siberian |
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