Bacopa Monnieri | Brahmi, Brain Supplement Nootropics Booster

Since more than 3000 years Ayurveda sciences has been using Brahmi (the name derived from the name of Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati). This is a perennial herb most widely known for its memory enhancing properties.

Often it was used as Brahmi tea that is made by brewing Brahmi leaves, which helps to manage cold, chest congestion and bronchitis by clearing out the mucus from the air passages and thus helps in ease of breathing.

It’s been used as a memory enhancer and Brain tonic for kids because of its property to enhance cognition.

Brahmi oil application to the scalp helps to prevent hair loss as it nourishes and provides strength to the hair roots. It also is used to disinfects the skin and speed up the healing process when applied externally.

It greatly reduces pain and inflammation in the respiratory tracts and throat because to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ayurveda practices have shown that Brahmi powder intake with milk supports in improving brain functions by preventing brain cell damage caused due to free radicals as it possesses antioxidant properties.

As a precaution excessive intake of Brahmi should be avoided as it may lead to nausea and dry mouth in few cases.

Q. Does Brahmi / Bacopa Improves Mental and Cognitive Functions?

Our Ayurveda practices since ages have shown taking bacopa may help to improve your mental performance and cognitive functions. Bacopa leaves contain bacosides, which can improve learning, memory and overall mental function, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Bacopa promotes new nerve production, helps to mend damaged nerve cells and improves nerve signals. According to Drug Digest, different animal studies have found that bacopa can improve learning ability and memory, but human studies haven’t yielded the same positive results. A study of healthy individuals who took bacopa for three months found that the accuracy of their memory improved, and small studies of children in India found that taking 1,000 milligrams per day of bacopa improved memory, reaction time and observation.

Q. How can Brahmi / Bacopa helps in Easing Depression and Anxiety?

If you have depression or anxiety, taking bacopa could help. Bacopa boosts the effects of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin and acetylcholine, states the University of Michigan Health System. This effect on neurotransmitters is what enables bacopa to decrease depression and anxiety symptoms. According to Drug Digest, animal studies of bacopa’s effectiveness in treating anxiety and depression have produced positive results, finding that bacopa was nearly as effective as common prescription anti-anxiety medications, but without the side effects. Some human studies failed to find any anti-anxiety benefits from taking bacopa, however.

Q. Is Bacopa Monnieri Benefitial for Health and Brain Power?

In Ayurvedic medicine, most Bacopa Monnieri benefits are common knowledge. This plant-derived natural medicinal has been widely prescribed to both children and adults to enhance brain power for centuries in India. Specifically, Bacopa improves memory retention, while eliminating sources of anxiety which stand in the way of great neural function. It is similar in effect to natural Piracetam – one of the best-selling brain supplements of all time. As a part of modern nootropic stacks like Alpha Brain, the benefits of Bacopa Monnieri are amplified even further.

Q. Does Bacopa / Brahmi supports respiratory Conditions ?

Bacopa might help in preventing and healing stomach ulcers, as well as protecting your gastrointestinal tract. Bacopa stimulates production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract and appears to protect stomach cells, Drug Digest reports. Another action that helps to prevent and treat ulcers is bacopa’s ability to relax the muscles that control the intestinal blood vessels, according to animal studies cited by the University of Michigan Health System. Bacopa may help to treat or relieve your symptoms of certain respiratory ailments, including allergies and asthma. Bacopa relaxes the bronchioles, which often become inflamed or irritated from respiratory conditions. Bacopa extracts also relax the blood vessel muscles around the respiratory airway passages, notes the University of Michigan Health System.

Q. Does Bacopa monnieri / Brahmi support the Fights against Alzheimer’s?

As people age, it’s common for age-related brain degradation to happen. The active compounds in Bacopa, known as bacosides, are beginning to be evaluated for their effects on the brain and human health. Some research has shown the compounds in Bacopa to positively influence brain cells that prompt the regeneration of brain tissue. In one animal study, long-term supplementation with bacosides showed therapeutic value against the rapid degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Hopefully more will continue to explore its potential benefits for brain health. Any illness or irritation can cause redness and swelling in the body. No location more dangerous than the brain. Bacopa may be helpful at fighting this. Research supports its use for managing systemic redness in the brain caused by the body’s autoimmune response. Much of the research is ongoing; however, the emerging data offers hope for new therapies in the treatment of chronic discomfort and redness.

Q. How to take Brahmi / Bacopa Monnieri?

It’s available in several forms, including capsules and powders. Bacopa monnieri can be purchased online and from health food stores. Typically dose for Bacopa monnieri extract in human studies range from 250–500 mg per day, but it depends on the purity of the extracts.

The powdered form can be added to hot water to make a soothing tea. It can also be mixed with ghee and added to warm water to make an herbal drink.

Although Bacopa monnieri is considered safe for most people. However, dosage recommendations can vary widely depending on the product one buys. If you have questions regarding dosage, speak with a qualified health professional to ensure your safety.

Reference:

Kongkeaw, C; Dilokthornsakul, P; Thanarangsarit, P; Limpeanchob, N; Norman Scholfield, C (2014). "Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract". Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

Neale, Chris; Camfield, David; Reay, Jonathon; Stough, Con; Scholey, Andrew (5 February 2013). "Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Sivaramakrishna, C; Rao, CV; Trimurtulu, G; Vanisree, M; Subbaraju, GV (2005). "Triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Phytochemistry.

Garai, S; Mahato, SB; Ohtani, K; Yamasaki, K (2009). "Dammarane triterpenoid saponins from Bacopa monnieri". Can J Chem.

Chakravarty, A.K; Garai, S.; Masuda, K; Nakane, T; Kawahara, N. (2003). "Bacopasides III–V: Three new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Chem Pharm Bull.

Chatterji, N; Rastogi, RP; Dhar, ML (1965). "Chemical examination of Bacopa monniera Wettst: Part II—Isolation of chemical constituents". Ind J Chem.

Chakravarty, AK; Sarkar, T; Nakane, T; Kawahara, N; Masuda, K (2008). "New phenylethanoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Chem Pharm Bull.

Bhandari, Pamita; Kumar, Neeraj; Singh, Bikram; Kaul, Vijay K. (2007). "Cucurbitacins from Bacopa monnieri". Phytochemistry.

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