Try eating a balanced diet, get moderate exercise daily, avoid too much caffeine and get eight hours sleep.

Mature students often do better than young'uns because they are focused and committed to the task and not distracted by pubs, dates, etc etc.

If you go to this web page you see some very interesting info about brahmi.
It was this info that got me eating it.
It helped me also get over brain damage caused by a car accident.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/newpages/book/sample/sample10.html

Rosemary seems to be considered the king when it comes to clear headedness and concentration as well as enhancing memory. I've used these oils often and they have worked quite well for me - I usually use Rosemary when I have work that needs concentrated effort and Peppermint for a pick-me-up when I am feeling mental fatigue.

There are a variety of ways to use them - simply taking a few whiffs from their bottle when you feel the need is fine, using a diffuser if that is convenient gives off a wonderful aroma or even just putting a few drops on a cotton ball to carry with you to smell once in a while. These can be used on the skin, but I would dilute them with a little lotion or oil first as they are quite potent. I use about 1-2 drops in a tablespoon of carrier (lotion -oil, even vegetable oil) and that seems to be adequate, then I just put some on each wrist and the scent is with me for a few hours.
Good luck with your schooling, I know how you feel!

Gingko has helped improve cognitive functioning of many "normals" during its thousands of years of human usage. While a small number of studies did not show gingko to improve memory in "normals," there are certainly other studies -- plus centuries of human usage -- which show otherwise. It is one of the oldest medicine trees still growing on the planet.

Some of the clinical testing of gingko use too low a dose to show improvement in unimpaired individuals. For example, tests were conducted using 60mg/daily, whereas serious herbal practictioners find that 300mg/daily is an effective dosage.

Clinical testing of herbs & other non-drug therapies in North America is very often biased & designed to produce failure. Some common ways that this is done is to use improper form (dried as opposed to fresh herb; standardized extracts as opposed to whole herb; plant parts harvested in the wrong season; etc.), or improper dosage (not enough to be effective; ridiculously high amounts that produce undesirable side effects).

Please keep that in mind when evaulating this and other venerable herbs.

And while I'm particularly found of gingko & gotu kola because they were so profoundly helpful during my recovery from a head injury 3 years ago, I don't thing gingko should be taken casually. Good diet, gotu kola & the essential oils are great ideas. Be sure to get your gotu kola from reputable source, or grow your own (easy) to avoid the sometimes high levels of contaminants in the imported herb.

And to echo herbalynn (hi lynn!): always do your homework first.

Green Blessings,
bushpoet

This one for Gotu Kola,with botanical name.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/newpages/book/sample/sample28.html

Im not all that good with "proper names",but I know there is a differance because I grow them both and for differant reasons.