Remarkable Benefits of Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) for Brain Function

Numerous studies show promising results in preventing cognitive decline, enhancing mental performance like memory and attention, and lowering stress and anxiety.

This story reflects my decades of research and personal experiences related to medicinal plants. This post does not include health advice. It is only for information and awareness purposes.

Photo byCourtesy of Wiki Commons

Cognitive health is essential for our well-being. It is necessary to think, learn, remember, and make decisions. As we age, our cognitive function naturally declines. However, we can support our cognitive health via healthy lifestyle choices. Apart from fundamentals like sleep, exercise, rest, and food, we can also use well-researched supplements.

As we age, cognitive decline is inevitable, but alternative therapies are emerging with promising potential. As a holistic health advocate, I noticed that alternative therapies are becoming increasingly popular for various conditions, including cognitive health, which is the theme of this story.

In this post, I introduce an impressive plant-derived alternative therapy that has shown promising results for cognitive health. It is Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi, Thyme-leafed Gratiola, Water Hyssop, and Herb of Grace in India.

I used Bacopa monnieri in therapeutic doses as recommended by a naturopathic doctor for five years when I was following a plant-based diet with minimal animal products. During those stressful times, I felt some improvement in my memory and attention. It also lowered my chronic stress and anxiety.

Nowadays, the most valuable cognitive supplements for me are omega-3 fatty acids, NAC, acetyl-L-carnitine, TMG, CoQ10, Lithium Orotate, and acetyl-L-tyrosine. You can find links to those stories in this list.

I know many people use Bacopa, including some of my family members. I discussed their effectiveness, and they all were happy with the results. They got recommendations from naturopathic doctors, as I did.

However, I want to emphasize that using supplements without the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals can be risky as they might have side effects and might interfere with medication. It is always wise to consult with a family doctor or a specialist who have access to your medical history

In this post, wearing my neutral researcher hat, I will briefly introduce this promising molecule, summarizing my years of research from reliable sources. This review is not a recommendation but for information and awareness purposes.

An Overview of Bacopa Monnieri from Clinical Studies and Scientific Reviews

As documented in this NIH book, Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is used in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s known for helping with memory, sleep problems, epilepsy, and anxiety.

The plant is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. It also grows in marshy areas in India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the USA.

The Ayurvedic texts like Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhatta have mentioned using Bacopa to treat different mental conditions. In Ayurvedic terms, Bacopa is considered a “medhya rasayana,” which means it’s a herb thought to boost mental health, memory, and intelligence and support overall rejuvenation and longevity.

Western studies have shown that it can improve learning and memory and reduce anxiety. People who use it regularly describe it as a calming brain booster. For example, as documented in this paper, it is known as a nootropic plant.

In 2010, in Australia, of 136 volunteers, 81 completed a clinical trial where Bacopa significantly enhanced verbal learning and memory in healthy older adults. Bacopa improved total learning, delayed recall, and retroactive interference.

While Bacopa improved scores on various cognitive tests, the differences from the placebo group were not statistically significant. Notably, Bacopa did cause gastrointestinal side effects such as increased stool frequency, abdominal cramps, and nausea. Despite this, the study supports Bacopa’s positive impact on memory in line with traditional use.

This review investigating brain function and cognitive therapy covers clinical trials exploring Brahmi’s therapeutic properties and highlights current patents related to its preparation, composition, and application.

This paper on Karger informs:

“studies have shown that Bacopa monnieri promotes free radical scavenger mechanisms and protects cells in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum against cytotoxicity and DNA damage implicated in Alzheimer's disease. It also reduces lipoxygenase activity, reduces lipid peroxidation, increases glutathione peroxidase, and chelates iron.”

The study states that there is no experimental proof that Bacopa monnieri causes genetic or birth defects. Some people might experience mild nausea and stomach issues. It shows potential as a new treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease), but it suggests more studies with people are needed to confirm how well it works and ensure no unexpected effects, as seen in lab experiments.

In a 2016 study, researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with sixty medical students. These students, from the second year of medical school in Nagpur, India, were divided into two groups.

One group received 150 mg of a standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri twice daily for six weeks, while the other group received a matching placebo. Before and after the trial, various tests were conducted, including memory tests and biochemical assessments.

The results showed a significant improvement in cognitive functions among those who used Bacopa monnieri. Additionally, there was a notable increase in serum calcium levels, which remained within the normal range. The study followed up with the students for 15 days after the intervention.

The active compounds, triterpenoid saponins, are thought to be behind its effects. Bacopa is generally safe, with side effects like changes in digestion — more frequent stools, nausea, and stomach cramps.

Previous animal studies have suggested acute anxiolytic, nootropic, and adaptogenic effects of Bacopa monnieri.

Therefore, this study attempted to determine the chronic effects of a single daily dose of 450 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance and anxiety in healthy adults.

The results of the study did not agree with the findings of some of the earlier studies, which have found improvement both in cognitive parameters and a reduction in anxiety scores.

However, a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study investigated the immediate effects of a specific BM extract (KeenMind® — CDRI 08) on healthy individuals during a multitasking framework. The study was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12612000834853).

Seventeen participants completed the multitasking framework after taking a placebo with a 7-day break between treatments. Cognitive outcomes, mood, and cortisol levels were measured.

The results showed positive cognitive effects, especially at 1 and 2 hours after Bacopa monnieri consumption, suggesting a rapid nootropic impact. The study highlighted positive mood effects, and reduced cortisol levels were observed, indicating potential stress reduction.

The study suggests acute Bacopa monnieri supplementation may have adaptogenic and nootropic effects, warranting further research in a larger sample and isolated from stressful cognitive tests to understand the extent of these effects better.

This meta-analysis suggests that Bacopa monnieri has the potential to improve cognition, particularly speed of attention, but only a large, well-designed head-to-head trial against an existing medication will provide definitive data on its efficacy on healthy or dementia patients using a standardized preparation.

According to a systematic review of randomized, controlled human clinical trials published in this paper, some evidence suggests that Bacopa enhances memory-free recall, but research on its impact on other cognitive abilities is lacking due to inconsistent measures in various studies.

The nootropic effects of Bacopa are still being explored, and there’s a need for comprehensive research across all human cognitive abilities. Future studies should also explore Bacopa’s nootropic effects at different dosages and with various extracts.

This 2019 animal study explored the impact of Bacopa monnieri extracts on anxiety during alcohol abstinence. Rats, after voluntary alcohol ingestion, received doses (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg) for three days.

Especially at 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, alleviated anxiety, reversed alcohol biomarkers, and modulated GABA-A receptor subunit gene expression.

The study suggests that Bacopa monnieri extracts mitigate alcohol abstinence-induced anxiety through neurobiological pathways.

Summary

Bacopa monnieri has antioxidant properties that contribute to the protection of brain cells from damage. This aligns with the neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties associated with Bacopa monnieri.

Bacopa monnieri has demonstrated stress and anxiety reduction in people facing chronic stress. So, two intensely studied aspects of Bacopa monnieri are cognitive enhancement and lowering stress and anxiety.

Bacopa monnieri does contain compounds known as bacosides, and these compounds are believed to enhance signaling in the brain.

This 2021 review highlights that Bacopa monnieri is rich in bioactive phytochemical compounds, particularly bacosides, known for their synergistic properties.

The focus of the study was exploring the herb's active components in managing neurological disorders. The review also delved into the signaling pathways influenced by bacosides. The information is critically summarized based on literature mining from various scientific sources.

Bacopa monnieri is typically taken as a capsule or extract. The recommended dose by practitioners is 300–600 mg/day. It can be taken with or without food.

When I used 600 mg twice a day, I had no additional side effects apart from my usual autoimmune and digestive disorders on those days. But when I stopped all plant molecules, my disorders disappeared.

Conclusions

Bacopa monnieri is a promising natural supplement for cognitive health. However, more research is needed to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy, especially in specific populations, like older adults and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Bacopa monnieri may interact with other medications, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements. It is also essential to be aware of the potential side effects of these supplements, such as stomach upset, headache, and dizziness.

If you consider taking Bacopa monnieri, you need to consult qualified healthcare professionals first. They can guide you to determine if these supplements are right for you and can monitor you for any potential side effects.

From my experience, the best way to improve cognitive health is to manage stress by having regular exercise, restorative sleep, and a balanced diet of whole foods. I also enjoy time-restricted eating, long-term fasting, cold showers, and dry saunas, which benefit cognitive health.

However, if we cannot get essential minerals and vitamins, it is wise to consider supplementing them with support from qualified healthcare professionals. For example, when I had a vitamin b12 deficiency, supplementing it with support from a hematologist solved my anemia problem.

I reviewed many nutrients and supplements from credible sources by validating the information with my observations and personal experience. I also wrote about seven valuable nutrients for cognitive health that might help older people. However, besides fundamentals, nothing has been better than meditation to improve my cognitive performance.

If you enjoyed this story, you might also check out this interesting research article on NewsBreak titled Can you imagine Yamabushitake boosting nerve growth factor and enhancing cognitive function?

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

If you found this story helpful, you may also check out my other articles on NewsBreak. As a postdoctoral researcher and executive consultant, I write about important life lessons based on my decades of research and experience in cognitive, metabolic, and mental health.

To inform my new readers, I wrote multiple articles that might inform and inspire you. My topics include brain and cognitive function, significant health conditions, longevity, nutrition/food, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, science, technology, business, and humor.