Brahmi (bacopa)
Bacopa monnieri · ब्राह्मी
Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda.
Also called Bacopa, Water hyssop, Thyme-leaved gratiola
Sanskrit: ब्राह्मी (Brahmi)
Slow to work; stomach upsetBacopa, called brahmi in Ayurveda, is a creeping herb of wet places that is studied for memory, with modest results in small, short trials.
Did you know? Brahmi is named after Brahma, the Hindu creator god, and some northern Indian healers use the same name for gotu kola, so the two can be mixed up.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Memory & focus. Small trials of about 12 weeks found better memory on some tests. Gains were modest, and other thinking skills changed little.Early proof
- Stress & anxiety. Traditionally used to calm the mind. Few good human trials have tested this.Traditional proof
- Inflammation. Lab and animal studies show anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Human evidence is lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
In Ayurveda, brahmi is a medhya herb, meaning it supports memory, learning and a calm mind.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Brain tonic, Nervine, Antioxidant. Energy: cooling.
- Ayurveda
- Tridoshic: balances all three doshas. Taste (rasa): bitter, astringent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): sweet. Medhya (brain tonic), Rasayana (rejuvenative).
How people take it
Most memory trials used about 300 mg a day of a standardized extract for 8 to 12 weeks. Benefits build slowly, so short use will not show much.
Powder, capsule and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows in wet ground across India, Southeast Asia and Australia. Sold as dried herb, powder, capsules, extracts and syrups, and quality varies a lot.
Be careful
The most common complaints are stomach cramps, gas, nausea and dry mouth. Animal studies suggest it can change thyroid hormone levels, so people with thyroid disease should ask a doctor first. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding because it is not well studied in those groups.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; thyroid disease.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Often combined in Ayurvedic blends for stress and calm focus.
- Works well together
Classic Ayurvedic memory herbs that are often used together.
- Works well together
Both are classic medhya herbs in Ayurveda and are often grouped together for memory.
- Works well together
Both are classical medhya herbs in Ayurvedic memory lists.
- Works well together
Often grouped with brahmi in Ayurvedic calm and memory blends.
- Works well together
Often grouped with brahmi in Ayurvedic calm and memory blends.
- Works well together
Both are sold together in memory supplements. Neither has strong proof.
- Use cautionThyroid medicine (levothyroxine (Synthroid))
Animal studies suggest it can change thyroid hormone levels.
The honest take
Bacopa has several small human trials, and some show modest memory gains after about 12 weeks. The trials are small and some are old, so the results are not firm. It should not replace a doctor's care for memory loss.