Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa

Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri), is a perennial herb that has been recently reclassified into the Plantaginaceae family from the Scrophulariaceae or Figwort family. Bacopa is a small, creeping succulent and water loving herb, which grows in ponds, tidal lands, and wetlands in tropical and semitropical areas. The flowers have 5 petals, are white or whitish-blue, and grow on short pedicels at the axils of the leaves The whole plant can be dried and used medicinally, or the aerial parts can be eaten fresh. Native to India & Sri Lanka, but now naturalized in the southern coasts of the U.S, & Australia, its growth habits can be a challenge for finding pure sources. Given its ability to thrive and absorb the moisture of its environment, Bacopa is notorious for also absorbing the pollutants of its environment, such as pesticides, microbes, and heavy metals.
Bacopa shares the common name Brahmi with another herb significant in Ayurvedic medicine, Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica). The term ‘brahmi’ originates from the Hindu god Brahma, which refers to the feminine aspect of Brahman. Brahman is the divine ‘essence of source from which all created things emanate, or with which they are identified and to which they return at the time of dissolution’ . Brahman is also referred to as the ‘cosmic consciousness’ , leading Bacopa to be associated with knowledge, learning, memory, and concentration*. Energetically, Bacopa is a cooling bitter that is thought to pacify all doshas (vata, pitta, & kapha), or constitutions in the Ayurvedic tradition. Some use Bacopa to increase concentration and devotion to support a spiritual practice, and it is believed that ancient scholars utilized Bacopa as a nootropic to memorize extensive hymns and scriptures.

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What is Bacopa Used For?

Traditionally, Bacopa was utilized in various conditions afflicting the mind and nervous system. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa is a rasayana, or a rejuvenative tonic, which promotes the revitalization of the body and tissues. It was used tonically to promote intellect and longevity*. Modern research on Bacopa shows that Bacopa monnieri extracts are able to improve various cognitive functions in healthy college students. Other studies suggest that Bacopa monnieri decreases the rate of forgetting newly acquired information in healthy adults, and may improve cognitive processes in healthy humans*. As more and more people turn to herbal medicine, Bacopa monnieri is experiencing increasing popularity as a nootropic aid. Study participants noted a sense of calm and wellbeing from Bacopa with short term use, however, studies showed that beneficial cognitive effects of Bacopa are typically seen after 6-12 weeks, with better results seen with long term use*.

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Highlights

What is Bacopa Used For?

Traditionally, Bacopa was utilized in various conditions afflicting the mind and nervous system. In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa is a rasayana, or a rejuvenative tonic, which promotes the revitalization of the body and tissues. It was used tonically to promote intellect and longevity*. Modern research on Bacopa shows that Bacopa monnieri extracts are able to improve various cognitive functions in healthy college students. Other studies suggest that Bacopa monnieri decreases the rate of forgetting newly acquired information in healthy adults, and may improve cognitive processes in healthy humans*. As more and more people turn to herbal medicine, Bacopa monnieri is experiencing increasing popularity as a nootropic aid. Study participants noted a sense of calm and wellbeing from Bacopa with short term use, however, studies showed that beneficial cognitive effects of Bacopa are typically seen after 6-12 weeks, with better results seen with long term use*.

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Active Constituents of Bacopa
Bacosides A1, A2, A3, and B, brahmine, herpestine, saponin, monierin, hersaponin, bacogenins A1 to A4, bacosine, bacopasaponins A–F, triterpenoid glycosides, Bacopasides III– V
Parts Used
Aerial parts
Additional Resources
1.) https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=BAMO2.) Winston, David et al. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Healing Arts Press, Rochester VT. 2007. 3.) Dass, Vishnu. Ayurvedic Herbology East & West. A Practical Guide to Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine. Lotus Press: Twin Lakes WI. 2013. 4.) Dash, Bagwan. Kashyap, Lalitesh. Basic Principles of Ayurveda. Concept Publishing Company: New Dehli. 1980. 5.) Kapoor L, ed. CRC Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1990.6.) P. C. Sharma, M. B. Yelne, and T. J. Dennis, “Volume I,” in Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda, pp. 93-101, Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha Department of ISM & H, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India, 2000.7.) S. Rastogi and D. K. Kulshreshtha, “Bacoside A2—A triterpenoid saponin from Bacopa monniera,” Indian Journal of Chemistry B, vol. 38, pp. 353–356, 1998.8.) S. Rastogi, R. Pal, and D. K. Kulshreshtha, “Bacoside A3—A triterpenoid saponin from Bacopa monniera,” Phytochemistry, vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 133–137, 1994.9.) S. B.Mahato, S. Garai, and A. K. Chakravarty, “Bacopasaponins E and F: Two jujubogenin bisdesmosides from Bacopa monniera,” Phytochemistry, vol. 53, no. 6, pp. 711–714, 2000.10.) A. K. Chakravarty, S. Garai, K. Masuda, T. Nakane, and N. Kawahara, “Bacopasides III-V: three new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monniera,” Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 215–217, 2003.11.) Dash, Bagwan. Kashyap, Lalitesh. Materia Medica of Ayurveda. Concept Publishing Company: New Dehli. 1980. 12.) Kumar, Naveet et al. Efficacy of Standardized Extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize„) on Cognitive Functions of Medical Students: A Six-Week, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Vol. 2016 Art. 4103423. 13.) Roodenrys, Steven et al. Chronic Effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on Human Memory. Journal of Neuropsyschopharmacology. 2002. Vol. 27 No. 2. 14.) Stough, C et al. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Journal of Psyschopharmacology. 2001. 156:481 – 484. 15.) Barnes PM. Bloom B. Nahin RL. Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children: United States. Natl Health Stat Report. 2008;12:1–23.16.) Aguiar, Sebastian et al. Neuropharmacological Review of the Nootropic Herb Bacopa monnieri. Journal of Rejuvenation Research. 2013. 16(4): 313-326. 17.) Goswami, Shishir et al. Effect of Bacopa monnieri on Cognitive functions. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health. April 2011. Vol. 3, No. 4.
Important Precautions
Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.
Disclaimer
This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.