BACOPA MONNIERA: Brain Health and Nervous System Restorer

The Bacopa monniera herb, also known as Brahmi, has been used as a traditional Ayurvedic treatment for mental issues, epilepsy, and asthma. In fact, its documented medicinal uses can be traced back to the 6th century A.D.

A classic brain and nerve tonic, Bacopa is a medicinal herb that has been used effectively for several thousand years as a brain and nervous system restorer. The herb is known to increase mental clarity and promote improved memory and intelligence. It also assists in heightening mental acuity and supports the physiological processes involved in relaxation. In other words, it can keep you feeling relaxed while also boosting mental clarity, your focus, and mood. In fact, Bacopa is thought to help nourish neurons as it restores depleted synaptic activity.

Bacopa Monniera for Improved Memory

A 2006 double-blind, randomized study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry showed that the control group taking 125 mg of Bacopa extract for 12 weeks had improved memory compared to the placebo group. They concluded that Bacopa extract yielded significant improvement in mental control, logical memory, and paired associated learning. What this means is that the subjects could better remember people’s names following introduction, find misplaced objects, and remember telephone numbers. Who doesn’t need more of that?

Bacopa Monniera for Depression and Mental Pleasure

Another study published in 2008 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that elderly test subjects who took Bacopa extract not only improved memory but decreased depression and anxiety. Overall, the researchers found that the extract is safe and effective for memory and overall well-being.

Perhaps the most interesting of the many effects of Bacopa monniera is its ability to help increase novelty-seeking behavior, an attribute of intelligence associated with increased mental pleasure and increased lifespan.

Bacopa Monniera for Reduced Mental Deterioration

Speaking of the brain, Bacopa monniera has also been studied for its effects on reducing the risk of age-related mental deterioration, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In one animal study, long-term supplementation with bacosides, a class of active compounds found in Bacopa monnieri, showed therapeutic value against the mental degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

More Natural Health Benefits of Bacopa Monniera

Studies have indicated that Bacopa and Bacopa extract can help:

• Improve memory
• Enhance episodic memory
• Increase learning speed and learning capacity
• Relieve stress and anxiety
• Support healthy cerebral function
• Promote awareness and perception
• Improve concentration and attention span
• Diminish attention-deficit problems
• Balance emotional states
• Nourish and rejuvenate the mind
• Lower mental fatigue
• Aid natural weight loss
• Protect the brain from free-radical damage
• Help in the handling of increasingly difficult tasks
• Promote vigilance
• Inhibit age-related cognitive decline

Bacopa Monniera Antioxidant Properties

Like most medicinal herbs, Bacopa benefits more than just one area of the body. In other words, it does more than just help with mental functions. To start, Bacopa has antioxidant properties which help provide protection against damage from free radicals. Bacopa may be helpful in preventing and healing stomach ulcers. The herb protects stomach cells and helps stimulate the production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as relaxes the muscles that control the intestinal blood vessels. Some studies have also shown that it may help encourage liver function following toxin damage.

Bacopa Monniera for Natural Allergy and Asthma Relief

And finally, in Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa has been used to help treat and relieve symptoms of allergies and asthma. The herb helps relax bronchioles and the blood vessel muscles around the respiratory airway passages.

How to Take Bacopa Monniera

You can find Bacopa monniera in a variety of forms including powder, leaf, capsule, syrup, and tea. As indicated by the fact that, historically, the herb was taken with ghee, an Indian clarified butter, it is best to take the supplement with a meal. Look for products that are organic or wild-crafted for best quality.