How Bacopa Monnieri Can Support Brain Function

Bacopa monnieri (also known as Brahmi, water hyssop, Indian pennywort, herb of grace, and several other names) is a perennial herb that has been part of the ancient Indian medicinal system of Ayurveda for hundreds of years. Specifically, it has been used to improve learning, memory, and agitation, as well as to treat epilepsy. Within the system of Ayurveda, Bacopa is categorized as a type of “Medhya rasayana,” which are a group of medicinal plants with benefits for cognition and memory.

It may offer significant benefits for the brain’s health and function, including potentially increasing levels of brain chemicals that are important for learning, memory, thinking, and other cognitive processes. At times, it has been used to address brain-related conditions such as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, and anxiety, among other issues. 

In the last few years, scientific studies have found that Bacopa’s numerous benefits for the brain may be due to the fact that it contains phytochemicals called “bacosides,” which are specific chemicals derived from this medicinal plant. It’s possible that these bacosides may contribute to its benefits for the health of the brain, including memory, reduced anxiety, focus (including reduced ADHD symptoms), and protecting against neurological diseases.

Benefits of Bacopa Monnieri for Brain Function

Bacopa monnieri’s potential benefits for brain function are significant, ranging from enhancement of memory and focus to reductions in anxiety and neuroprotective effects. Here are some of the most significant benefits:

Memory Enhancement

Supplementing with Bacopa monnieri is believed to improve memory, although additional research will be required to confirm this benefit. In a high quality (i.e., double blind, placebo controlled) study of healthy adults, taking Bacopa was found to improve memory as well as related metrics such as learning rate and visual processing rate. In elderly adults, a study found that using Bacopa extract on a daily basis increased their memory capacity, in addition to their ability to process new information.

Although animal studies are less convincing than those performed via humans, it is worth mentioning that Bacopa has had memory enhancement effects in rats and improved their spatial learning ability. This is attributable to the fact that Bacopa caused rats’ dendrites, which are brain nerve cells involved in memory, to grow longer.

Anxiety Reduction

Bacopa monnieri may help to lower cortisol, a key stress hormone, and thereby reduce chronic anxiety levels. Research on Bacopa in rats has found that it is similarly effective for anxiety to lorazepam, thought to be one of the more effective anti-anxiety drugs in the benzodiazepine class. However, human studies of its effects on anxiety have had mixed results. For instance, one human study showed that Bacopa reduced anxiety after four weeks, but another study in humans did not find this same effect.

Focus and Attention

Because Bacopa monnieri may help to improve focus and attention, it is believed to have the ability to reduce symptoms of ADHD. One study spanning six months found that more than four in five children taking Bacopa experienced fewer symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and other features of ADHD. These studies also commonly find that Bacopa is typically well-tolerated in most people (only 2.3 percent of all study participants reported mild side effects from Bacopa). More research using high-quality, standardized trial designs will be needed to confirm that Bacopa may be beneficial for ADHD.

Neuroprotection

Bacopa monnieri commonly contains high concentrations of antioxidants, which are natural compounds that may neutralize free radicals throughout the body. Free radicals are thought to be highly damaging and may lead to serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, among many other diseases and chronic illnesses. Consuming high levels of antioxidants, such as those found in Bacopa, may lower the risk of developing these conditions.

These high levels of antioxidants, which are specifically known as bacosides in the case of Bacopa monnieri, mean that it may offer potentially significant benefits for neurological health. These potent bacosides may neutralize free radicals to prevent lipid peroxidation, which is a process in which free radicals react with fat molecules. Lipid peroxidation in the brain may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Thus, reducing this process may reduce the risk of becoming affected by these neurological diseases.

Potential Side Effects and Precautions

Although Bacopa monnieri is thought to be safe for the majority of healthy people, there are some common side effects of Bacopa to be aware of, most of which impact the digestive system: nausea, stomach discomfort, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. Fatigue and dry mouth are other common side effects of this herb. There is also some evidence showing that Bacopa can slow the heart rate (risky for those who already have slow heart rates), slow intestinal transit, increase stomach and intestinal secretions to potentially worsen ulcers, increase thyroid hormone levels, and increase the risk of urinary obstructions. 

Certain groups should also take special precautions with regard to Bacopa. For instance, its use has not been researched in women who are pregnant or lactating, so it is advised not to use it in these instances. In addition, Bacopa has the potential to interact with certain medications, including fluoxetine, amitriptyline, and medications used to treat Alzheimer’s and glaucoma.

How to Incorporate Bacopa into Your Routine: Bacopa Monnieri Supplements

The easiest way to incorporate Bacopa monnieri into your daily routine is by taking it in supplement form. Typically available as a powder or a capsule, whether alone or as part of a brain health supplement containing other ingredients as well, the standard dosage for these supplements is commonly about 300 to 450 mg of Bacopa monnieri per day. 

Although there are many supplements that incorporate Bacopa, the best supplement for brain health on the market is Body Kitchen Total Brain, which combines Bacopa with several other potent herbal extracts to potentially maximize its beneficial cognitive and neurological effects.

The Best Brain Health Supplement: Body Kitchen Total Brain

Taking just two capsules of Body Kitchen Total Brain per day provides the following:

• Synapsa® (320 mg): Studies show that this patented form of Bacopa extract can help make working memory up to four times better in comparison to placebo. This supplement has a total of six clinical studies backing up its positive effects for memory, focus, and clarity. 
• Brainberry® (65 mg): This extract of Aronia berry contains highly beneficial anthocyanins (phytochemicals that can support the health of the brain and eyes) and has even been shown to improve hand-eye coordination in six weeks.
• CognatiQ® (100 mg): Derived from the highest-quality whole-fruit coffee cherries, taking this quantity of CognatiQ® daily is another source of polyphenols that may help to stimulate learning-associated brain activity by 143 percent, according to studies of the compound.

There is a reason that these ingredients have been used in traditional forms of medicine such as Ayurveda, for hundreds of years: they have the potential to significantly improve memory, cognitive processing, focus, creativity, productivity, and the health of the brain and the eyes, among other positive effects. 

Speak to a Medical Professional Before Adding a New Supplement to Your Regimen

Anytime you plan to add a new supplement into your daily routine, including Body Kitchen’s Total Brain, make sure to speak with your doctor to make sure that it is a beneficial choice for your overall health. In particular, it is crucial to rule out any significant interactions between the herbal ingredients in Total Brain and your current medications or health conditions.