Brahmi

Scientific Name: Bacopa monnieri

Unani Name: Brahmi

English Name: Water Hyssop, Thyme-leafed Gratiola, Herb of Grace, and Indian Pennywort

Mizaj: Cold and Moist

Actions

• Antioxidant (1)
• Anti-inflammatory (2) - Brahmi is cooling and thus counteracts inflammation often associated with heat. Brahmi is known traditionally to target the cerebral region.
• Anxiolytic (Reduces anxiety) (3)
• Anticonvulsant (3)
• Cardiotonic (3)
• Bronchodilator (3)
• Peptic ulcer protection (3)

Therapeutic Uses:

• Enhancing memory by decreasing forgetfulness (3)
• Insomnia (3)
• Epilepsy (3)
• High Blood Pressure
• Hair Growth
• Youthful Skin

Brahmi and ADHD

"Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a clinically heterogeneous disorder of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity or difficulty in controlling behavior." (Chaudhari et al., 2017).

With constant visual stimulation and increased technology use, in addition to poor nutrition, young children are becoming increasingly unfocused and impulsive. ADHD is rising year by year; however, Brahmi has been found to be a gentle herbal treatment for this condition.
In a study conducted in Mumbai, India, the score for reduced restlessness in children after taking Brahmi for six months increased by 93%—a significant finding, to say the least. Self-control improved by 89%, while attention-deficit symptoms were reduced by 85%. Learning problems, impulsivity, and psychiatric issues also decreased by over 50%.

Brahmi for Students

A recent study highlights the impact of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory. Conducted as a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the research involved 76 adults aged 40 to 65. Participants underwent memory function tests and anxiety level assessments across three sessions: before the trial, after three months on the trial, and six weeks post-trial completion.

The findings revealed a significant improvement in the retention of newly acquired information among those taking Brahmi. Interestingly, follow-up tests indicated that Brahmi did not enhance the rate of learning but rather slowed the rate of forgetting. However, other cognitive functions, such as attention, verbal and visual short-term memory, and retrieval of pre-learned knowledge, remained unaffected. Additionally, the herb showed no impact on participants' self-reported everyday memory function or anxiety levels.

These results suggest that while Brahmi may not influence all aspects of memory, its ability to aid in retaining new information makes it a noteworthy tool for supporting cognitive health in older adults.

For this reason, it is often taken by students to help with the retaining of their study material and enhance their memory, particularly during exam season. (5)

Reference:

1. Sekhar, V.C., Viswanathan, G. and Baby, S. (2019) ‘Insights Into the Molecular Aspects of Neuroprotective Bacoside A and Bacopaside I’, Current Neuropharmacology, 17(5), pp. 438–446. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180419123022.
2. Edited by Hakim Mohammed Said. (1970). Hamdard pharmacopoeia of Eastern medicine. [Karachi],[publisher not identified]
3. Chaudhari, K.S., Tiwari, N.R., Tiwari, R.R. and Sharma, R.S. (2017) ‘Neurocognitive effect of nootropic drug Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) in Alzheimer's disease’, Annals of Neurosciences, 24(2), pp. 111–122. doi:10.1159/000475900. PMCID: PMC5448442.
4. Dave, U.P., Dingankar, S.R., Saxena, V.S., Joseph, J.A., Bethapudi, B., Agarwal, A. and Kudiganti, V. (2014) ‘An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children’, Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, 28(2), pp. 10–15. PMID: 24682000.
5. Roodenrys, S., Booth, D., Bulzomi, S., et al. (2002) ‘Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory’, Neuropsychopharmacology, 27, pp. 279–281. doi:10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00419-5.

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