Bacopa Bacopa monnieri
Bacopa monnieri
- Common Names
- Bacopa , Water hyssop, Brahmi
- Botanical Name
- Bacopa monnieri
- Family
- PLANTAGINACEAE
Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Bacopa
How to Use| Side Effects | Plant & Garden|
- Medicinal Uses: * Ayurvedic
* Memory/Focus
- Properties: * Calm * Meditation * Nervine
- Parts Used: whole herb
- Constituents: brahmine, nicotine, and herpestine, bacoside, triterpenoid saponins, glycosides, and phenylethnoid glycosides
How to Use: Bacopa
Bacopa appears to strengthen memory and improve concentration by enhancing the conductivity of nerve tissue. It is relatively new here in the West, and has garnered a good deal of buzz as a nootropic supplement used to enhance memory, but has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times to treat mental illness and a range of mental functions. Traditional applications and in vitro lab studies show that Bacopa has a direct effect on improving brain functions, increasing concentration, and in promoting memory functions. 1
Preparation Methods & Dosage :Dried Bacopa can be used as a tea. Its warming, woody and slightly bitter taste can be made palatable with honey. The liquid extract may be easier to administer in high enough doses to achieve the memory enhancing effects. The effectiveness of brahmi is increased by simultaneous supplementation with inositol and/or a B-vitamin complex. Studies of a propritory formula combining bacopa, astaxanthin (from Haematococcus pluvialis algae), phosphatidylserine, and Vitamin E have also show postive effects on mild congnitive impairment (MCI). 2
Bacopa Remedies
Ayurvedic Medicine Brahmi is the common name of both goto kola (Centella asiatica) and Bacopa monniera. These two herbs are not botanically related but are used almost interchangeably in Ayurveda, both targeting the brain and nervous system. Traditional formulations include spices and honey to make a palatable mixture. (Balch, Phyllis A. CNC)
Plant Description
Bacopa monnieri
credit :Forest & Kim Starr
- Plant Class: Perennial, creeping herb
- Etymology: Brahmi, due to the plant's association with the Hindu god Brahma
- Flowers:Small, white flowers with four or five petals
- Parts used: whole herb
- Leaves:Opposite, succulent and thick
- Distribution: throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and is also found in Florida, Hawaii and other southern states. Habitat includes wetlands and bogs
Regional Traditions :Ayurvedic *
How to Grow Bacopa
Bacopa makes a great addition to water gardens.
History and Traditions & Folklore
It is known locally in India as Brahmi, due to the plant's association with the Hindu god Brahma. Bacopa has been used for almost 3,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine. The plant is mentioned in several Ayurvedic texts including the Caraka Samhita and the Bravpra-kash Var-Prakarana as a treatment for a range of mental conditions.Works Cited
- Pase MP, Kean J, Sarris J, Neale C, Scholey AB, Stough C. . The cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa monnieri: , J Altern Complement Med. , (2012;18(7):647-652): A systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials. Bacopa demonstrates antidementic, antioxidant, and cognitive-enhancing effects in several in vivo and in vitro studies. ,
- Zanotta D, Puricelli S, Bonoldi G . Bacopa Combination Supplement Improves Cognition and Memory in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment , Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. , (2014;10:225-230): The authors conclude that Illumina improved cognitive and mnemonic skills in patients diagnosed with MCI. They acknowledge that the basic limitation of the trial is the lack of a control group and say that it should be regarded as an exploratory study. ,