How Alpinia Galanga and American Ginseng Improve Focus, Memory, and Mood Naturally

Let’s face it—staying focused, alert, and in a good mood all day is harder than ever. Between constant distractions and that mid-afternoon slump, your brain’s just trying to keep up.

Good news: Two powerful, research-backed natural ingredients—Alpinia galanga and American Ginseng (Cereboost®)—are showing big promise in the world of brain performance. Think better focus, improved mood, and longer-lasting mental energy… without the crash.

1. Alpinia Galanga: The “Caffeine Companion” That Keeps You Sharp

In a double-blind study published in JACN (Srivastava S, et.al., 2017), researchers tested E-AG-01, a proprietary extract of Alpinia galanga, on 59 regular caffeine users.

Here’s what happened:

• Mental alertness increased significantly, up to 12 ms better than baseline (that’s solid in cognitive testing).
• When combined with caffeine, reaction times improved even more, and participants avoided the dreaded “caffeine crash.”

Why it matters: Alpinia galanga can either replace caffeine for a smoother ride or boost it to help you stay sharp longer without the jittery side effects.

2. American Ginseng (Cereboost®): Mood, Memory, and Gut-Brain Power

In a European Journal of Nutrition trial with 61 healthy young adults, Cereboost® (a standardized American ginseng extract) was tested for its effect on mood and cognition (Bell L, et.al., 2022).

Here’s what the researchers found:

• Improved working memory and attention after a single dose.
• After 2 weeks of daily use, users had better results on memory tasks, less mental fatigue, and boosted self-assurance.
• Gut health link: The extract helped boost levels of Akkermansia and Lactobacillus—good bacteria tied to brain and mood health—and increased brain-benefiting compounds like acetate and butyrate.

Translation? Ginseng isn't just a quick brain fix. It’s also shaping your gut microbiome, which scientists are discovering plays a huge role in mood and focus.

How to Use This Info

If you want:

• Clean, crash-free energy → Try Alpinia galanga (especially with your morning coffee).
• Mood and memory support + gut health → Look into Cereboost® as a daily supplement.

Even better? They work in different ways, meaning you can combine them for a double-dose of cognitive power.

Bonus Tip: Try Rapid Mental Energy for Fast-Acting Results

If you're looking for a convenient, fast-acting way to boost both alertness and working memory, consider Rapid Mental Energy by Pure Encapsulations. This supplement combines Alpinia galanga (enXtra) and American ginseng (Cereboost®) for powerful, clinically studied brain support—often within just one hour.

• enXtra: Increases alertness at 1, 3, and 5 hours after a single 300 mg dose, without the crash.
• Cereboost®: Supports verbal and visuospatial memory within 1 hour and sustains benefits for up to 6 hours.
• Bonus: Supports cholinergic activity in key memory regions of the brain like the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Want to try it?
Register here with Pure Encapsulations to receive 5% off and free shipping on all orders.

References

Srivastava S, Mennemeier M, Pimple S. Effect of Alpinia galanga on Mental Alertness and Sustained Attention With or Without Caffeine: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. J Am Coll Nutr. 2017 Nov-Dec;36(8):631-639. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2017.1342576. Epub 2017 Sep 14. PMID: 28910196.

Bell L, Whyte A, Duysburgh C, Marzorati M, Van den Abbeele P, Le Cozannet R, Fança-Berthon P, Fromentin E, Williams C. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost®) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults, including in vitro investigation of gut microbiota changes as a possible mechanism of action. Eur J Nutr. 2022 Feb;61(1):413-428. doi: 10.1007/s00394-021-02654-5. Epub 2021 Aug 15. PMID: 34396468; PMCID: PMC8783888.