Also known as Bacopa monniera or water hyssop, brahmi churna is an aquatic plant that's native to the marshes of India. Extracts of brahmi's stems and leaves are used in traditional herbal medicine, and the plant has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Brahmi is most often used in helping to treat nervous system and heart conditions, as well as water retention or edema. Before you begin taking brahmi for any health purpose, discuss the proper dosage and potential risks with your doctor.
Function
Brahmi appears to have strong antioxidant and adaptogenic effects in the body, according to DrugDigest.org. As an adaptogen, brahmi seems to help the body endure stress and reduce its negative health effects. Brahmi's antioxidant functions are seen most in the central nervous system, where the herb may support neurotransmitter function, stimulate the production of new nerves and increase the manufacture of an enzyme that helps in repairing damaged nerve cells. The key functions of brahmi in the human body are attributed to the herb's content of saponins, specifically bacosides, notes the University of Michigan Health System. In fact, modern-day brahmi remedies are typically standardized to their concentration of bacosides. Additionally, brahmi's bacosides might help relax blood-vessel, intestinal and respiratory system muscles.
Benefits
Brahmi's various potential functions in the body have led to the herb's recommended uses in helping to treat a variety of health conditions. Brahmi churna is most commonly used in traditional herbal medicine to help improve mental function and memory due to the herb's antioxidant effects in the brain, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Brahmi could help your ability to remember and support learning, DrugDigest.org notes. These benefits regarding brain function might possibly help in treating or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline, or ARCD, in older adults, says the University of Michigan Health System. Brahmi's purported effects on supporting neurotransmitters in the brain could also have some benefits for people with anxiety, depression and epilepsy. Don't take brahmi for any of these medical conditions without talking with your physician.
Potential
Brahmi may also have the potential to help in treating allergies, asthma, stomach ulcers, hypothyroidism and narcotic addiction, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. For respiratory conditions such as asthma and allergies, brahmi may relax bronchioles in the lungs to improve breathing and provide antihistamine effects, DrugDigest.org says. Brahmi's antioxidant effects could also have the potential to protect the liver and kidneys from chemically induced damage, protect stomach cells from damage and irritation, and relieve gastrointestinal cramps. However, no conclusive, widely accepted scientific evidence supports the use of brahmi for treating or preventing any medical condition.
Dangers
Brahmi can cause side effects such as dry mouth, muscle fatigue and nausea, according to the University of Michigan Health System. No other significant adverse effects have been reported due to taking brahmi, but no comprehensive safety testing has been performed on the herb either, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Brahmi's safety in children, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with liver or kidney disease is unknown. Because brahmi might increase thyroid-hormone production, you shouldn't take the herb without consulting your doctor if you have a thyroid condition, DrugDigest.org cautions.
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