Bacopa monnieri, also called brahmi, is derived from a low-growing plant that is found in tropical marshes. Brahmi has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India. It is considered to be a nerve and brain tonic that can improve memory, as well as stimulate nerve and brain function.
Traditional Uses
According to the clinical herbalist and Ayurvedic practitioner Todd Caldecott, Bacopa monnieri's traditional uses include treatment of psychosis and epilepsy. It has also been used in Ayurvedic treatments for anxiety and depression. Along with herbs such as rosemary and ginkgo biloba, brahmi is used in traditional herbal cures for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.The herb is also used with milk oat seed and skullcap to treat children with attention deficit disorder and autism.
Improved Memory
Traditionally, brahmi is used to improve memory and counter the effects of aging on memory and mental acuity. A 2002 study published in the journal "Neuropsychopharmacology" found that using Bacopa monnieri for three months significantly improved memory. The 76 participants were tested on retention of new information, and the placebo group forgot the information more quickly than the group taking Bacopa monnieri.
Decreased Male Fertility
A study in the journal "Contraception" showed that Bacopa monnieri caused a temporary decrease in fertility in male mice. When mice were given the herb, sperm count, motility and viability were reduced for about eight weeks. Brahmi did not affect the mice's testosterone levels or libidos.
Improved Cognitive Function
According to a 2008 study in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," elderly participants who used 300 mg per day of Bacopa monnieri showed a significant improvement in certain mental functions compared to a placebo group. The tests that examined attention and the ability to learn auditory verbal information showed the most improvement, leading the researchers to conclude the herb might be used to improve cognitive function in elderly people.
Decreased Stress
In addition to the improved cognitive function reported by the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" study, the participants taking brahmi also showed fewer signs of depression and anxiety, and their heart rates were decreased over time.
The journal "Phytotherapy Research" reports on a study done on rats, where the brains of animals that were pre-treated with Bacopa monnieri were less affected by stress, and the animals were physically better able to cope with stress.
References
- Todd Caldecott: Brahmi
- "Neuropsychopharmacolog": Chronic Effects of Brahmi on Human Memory
- "Contraception": Evaluation of Anit-Fertility Potential of Brahmi in Male Mouse
- "Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine": Effects of a Standardized Bacopa monnieri Extract on Cognitive Performance, Anxiety, and Depression in the Elderly: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- "Phytotherapy Research": Antistress Effects of Bacosides of Bacopa Monnieri: Modulation of Hsp70 Expression, Superoxide Dismutase and Cytochrome P450 Activity in Rat Brain
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