Bacopa Monnieri Leaf & Herbal Extract – The Most Powerful Brain Health Supplement?

Is there a difference between Brahmi, Bacopa Monnieri and Bacopa extract?

The short answer is no. Bacopa extract is the same as Bacopa Monnieri. It’s also commonly called Brahmi or Brahmin named after the Hindu creator God Brahma. It’s been used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) as far back as the 6th century A.D.

Brahmi was described in Indian texts such as the Charaka Samhita, Athar-Ved, and Susrutu Samhita as a medhya rasayana–an herb taken to sharpen intellect and help with mental issues, especially when combined with other nootropic herbs like Rhodiola Rosea extract.

The herb was reportedly used by ancient Vedic scholars to memorize lengthy sacred hymns and scriptures. Brahmi /Bacopa Monnieri extract is consistently found in many Ayurvedic preparations prescribed for cognitive dysfunction.

Is Bacopa extract some kind of home remedy?

We’ve probably all heard the term “folk medicine”, right? This is a term for a home remedy that has generally been passed down through word of mouth from generation to generation. Don’t mistake Brahmi/Bacopa extract as just another home remedy without scientific backing though.

After 1400 years of Ayurvedic use, Brahmi has shown real results. The Indian government has invested large amounts of money and resources, and conducted hundreds of studies examining just how it works on the brain, at a cellular level.

A lot of this research into brahmi, has opened other side lines into learning more about anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metal chelation, amyloid, and cholinergic effects within the body.

More recently researchers have turned their attention to better understanding how Bacopa monnieri extract works on various conditions. Although extracts of Bacopa have been studied and used to treat various disorders for centuries (pain, epilepsy, and inflammation, amongst many) perhaps the most well known use is its benefits in improving memory.

So What Makes Bacopa Monnieri Such A Powerful Nootropic?

First and foremost, bacopa is a natural growing herb. We tend to prefer nature’s solutions over our man-made counterparts.

Bacopa has two powerful pathways towards better brain health and increased brain functioning.

The first pathway is that bacopa is considered an adaptogen. You can think of adaptogen as any ingredient or chemical which helps your body overcome the effects of stress.

The second pathway are bacosides, bacopa's active chemical compounds. These unique bacosides help improve your brain’s ability to communicate.

Bacosides also help promote better kinase functioning in your brain (the enzyme process of breaking down substances to be used by your brain cells).

Think of protein kinases as the hallway monitor for your brain. They are the key regulators of cellular functioning.

With improved protein kinases you get help in repairing damaged brain cells and a boost in the creation of new brain cells which ultimately pays off with increased nerve impulse transmission (all hands on deck and working hard).

The combination of these two massive benefits unique to this plant make it one of the leading natural treatments for improved cognitive functioning.

Why is it used?

Bacopa Monnieri is used in a standardized format, for Alzheimer's disease, improving memory, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among many other uses.

An estimated 3.4 million people are affected by dementia in the United States, most of that number will be the elderly. The elderly population (aged over 65) is expected to double by 2030, reaching 72 million, or 20% of the total U.S. population. That’s an epidemic of dementia.

We need weapons in the fight against dementia and Alzheimers, and Bacopa extract shows huge potential in that fight.

What has Brahmi tested positively for?

Epilepsy

Bacopa has been shown to have benefits in the treatment of epilsepsy reducing the amount of convulsions.

Stress

Brahmi is an adaptogen which means it can reduce the bodies reaction to stress and how it processes it. It’s basically a huge buffer in your brain.

Neuroprotection

In general, Bacopa Monnieri extract appears to protect the brain from the oxidative damage and adverse effects of minerals on the brain, specifically iron overload.

Neuroinflammation

Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to reducing neural inflammation associated with aging over a period of time and may actually promote neurological anti-aging.

Anxiety and Depression

Bacopa extract is well known for both it’s anti anxiety and stress releaving properties (an adaptogen).

Cerebral Blood Flow

Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow independent of overall blood pressure. It can also decrease blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic).

Bacopa extract is thought to increase certain brain chemicals that are involved in thinking, learning, and memory. Research suggests that it is also a neural protectant, safe guarding the brains cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer's disease.

It is a fat soluble extract, and as such should be taken with some type of food containing fat. Something like whole fat yogurt, good oil, etc.

Having been a cornerstone treatment in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 70 centuries, bacopa could quite possibly have been used to treat just about every ailment out there.

Our theory is that the herb primarily helps improve brain health which in turn helps improve every other system in your body.

Specifically though, bacopa has been studied to help with:

We have seen that bacopa is a very powerful plant used for thousands and thousands of years.

Because of the diverse use of this plant across ages, races, and health situations there is a good body of knowledge around side effects and adverse reactions to bacopa.

As with any herbal and medical treatment, we strongly encourage you to consult with your physician before taking any supplements.

Every human is different and has a unique biology which will react differently to any ingestion of chemicals (both naturally occurring and man-made).

That being said, the worst side effects reported from taking bacopa seem to be around upsetting your intestinal tract.

Increased bowel movements, a bit of nausea, cramping, or bloating may occur. And the simplest way to avoid these side-effects would be to ingest the herb with food (always a good idea with most supplements).

We have also seen reports that the beneficial effects of reducing anxiety can also be exaggerated and be overly sedative.

If you experience any of these side effects they tend to go away almost immediately with discontinued use of bacopa.

There is one study we could find on adult male mice which looked at the effects of Brahmi on fertility. The study found that the treatment on mice resulted in a reversible suppression of spermatogenesis without any apparent toxic effects.

The only other negative we could find about bacopa monnieri is that studies indicate that it is not immediately effective.

Studies set expectations for the herb at least 4-6 weeks with even better results seen after 8-12 weeks. If you are looking for a stimulant type effect, bacopa is not the supplement you are looking for.