So what is bacopa monnieri good for? How much do we know about it?
Quite a bit, actually, on both counts.
Bacopa monnieri has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a nerve tonic, as well as to enhance cognitive function.
Written records of bacopa being used for neurological deficits date back to around 600AD.
Bacopa is also known as ‘Brahmi’ in Ayurvedic practice, and is typically prescribed for epilepsy, dementia, Alzheimers, Parkinson’s, ADHD, anxiety, stress, and memory issues.
The interesting thing about bacopa is the way it improves memory. It enhances ‘Active Memory’.
What do I mean by ‘Active Memory’?
Think of it as the RAM in your computer. It’s not the storage capacity; it’s the space you have to perform functions right now.
Bacopa provides users with the flexibility to multi-task; to shift attention from one thing to another.
It’s also good for enhancing creativity; which is somewhat unusual in the world of nootropics.
Is it any wonder that we see bacopa in so many nootropic stacks?
The truth is, we still don’t understand the full extent and scope of what bacopa can do for the improvement of mental capacities.
Ayurvidic practitioners in the East have already accepted bacopa as a broad spectrum neural enhancer.
Meanwhile, the Western world has been doing scientific research to clarify what the health benefits of bacopa monnieri are for quite some time.
In other words, the scientific community is trying to substantiate what is already being assumed as true by Eastern medicine.
That being said, let’s take a look at what we already know about bacopa, shall we?
What is Bacopa Monnieri? – Does it Improve Brain Health?
Bacopa Monnieri is called ‘Water Hyssop’ by Westerners. It’s a creeping perennial native to India and Australia.
It grows in wetland areas, has oval-shaped leaves, and purple flowers. The whole plant is used as medicine.
Bacopa benefits users first as a neuroprotective agent, and second as a natural psychostimulant.
The brain is very vulnerable to oxidative stress because it is largely composed of unsaturated fats or lipids.
When free radicals, or unpaired electrons, are permitted to prowl around in our heads, bad things can happen.
The fats and proteins in our brain cells can essentially get mutated. Metabolic reactions can be disrupted, and the integrity of DNA strands can be compromised.
Basically, when our tissues get damaged by free radicals, they get altered on the molecular level.
You could also say that they get inflamed, which can potentially lead to cancer.
Kind of a big deal…
BM has compounds in it called ‘Bacosides’ that soak up unpaired electrons and render them harmless.
In other words, BM reduces inflammation, and can help prevent cancer.
Great defense! How’s the offense?
Bacopa monnieri also enhances cognitive function in the following ways:
- Reuptake Inhibitor – prevents acetylcholine from breaking down
- Improves Neuroplasticity – increases mental flexibility for better learning
- Vasodilator – increases cerebral blood flow to help neurons operate efficiently
- Acts as an Adaptogen – regulates the release and activity of stress hormones like Cortisol
- Anxiolytic – relieves anxiety and stress, and can act as a mild anti-depressant
This is not an exhaustive list, but as of this writing, these are the health benefits of BM that we have verified with scientific research.
Bacopa Monnieri Benefits – Is it Good for ADHD?
In this article, I really wanted you to understand that bacopa not only provides a wide range of health benefits to users, but a few characteristics that make it very unique as a natural nootropic.
One feature is the ability to improve attention and cognitive flexibility. This is significant because BM has been shown to be a great nootropic for ADHD.
Add to that the fact that Bacopa has virtually no side effects, and I could see it being used in the future for children with ADHD.
In fact, a few studies have already been conducted where children with ADHD have seen significant improvements in restlessness, self-control, attention, learning capacity, and impulsive behaviors.
I know that’s very controversial, but please hear me out.
I have inattentive ADD, and so does my daughter.
My wife and I have decided not to medicate her because we don’t feel that her condition is severe enough to justify the risk.
ADD is a form of ADHD that’s lower on the spectrum; in other words it’s less severe.
It has a minor effect on her performance at school, but we’ve decided to work on that with social conditioning instead of medications.
My wife and I are also aware that only 70% of children that take prescribed psychostimulant medications see significant improvements in behavior.
These kids also run the risk of experiencing symptoms like nausea, insomnia, and weight loss.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would feel a whole lot better having my daughter take bacopa monnieri for her ADD than a completely synthetic medication.
If we were to go that route, I would definitely do my research, consult with my daughter’s doctor, and make as informed a decision as possible.
Medicating kids for ADHD or ADD is a very touchy subject, and it’s not a decision any parent should make lightly.
But I will say this; I see a lot of potential in doing more research on bacopa for this specific purpose.
I think it could be a real game changer once enough studies have been done.
Bacopa Monnieri Uses – How does it Optimize Neurotransmitters?
Another characteristic that I think makes Bacopa special is how it improves the effectiveness of another nootropic, CDP Choline, to enhance brain function.
Let me explain.
Acetylcholine was the first neurotransmitter ever discovered. It performs several key functions in the brain.
Neuro-hackers often take CDP Choline as a supplement to increase acetylcholine levels.
CDP choline provides choline in a form that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, thereby enhancing cognitive functions.
Bacopa monnieri stops the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine from working.
So when neuro-hackers take CDP choline and bacopa together, not only is there more acetylcholine present in the brain, less acetylcholine breakdown takes place.
In other words, taking CDP choline and BM together creates a very powerful synergistic effect to improve mental capacities.
I get to experience this benefit every day when I take my chosen nootropic stack, Mind Lab Pro. I take it to manage my ADD, and it works like a charm.
Mind Lab Pro has 11 ingredients in it, but I think it’s worth noting that CDP choline and bacopa have been paired together in this stack to enhance their effectiveness.
Several premium nootropic stacks are engineered this way.
Bacopa for Depression – Can it Boost our Mood?
As if the many benefits of bacopa already discussed weren’t enough, there are still more to mention.
Bacopa has been shown to provide significant anxiety relief by acting as an adaptogen.
In other words, BM can lower stress and anxiety levels just as well as prescription drugs like Lorazepam, but without severe side effects!
BM can also prevent the onset of depression by increasing levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF).
Increasing BDNF levels in the brain encourages the growth of new brain cells, and the repair of receptors at the synapses.
This of course leads to greater sensitivity to neurotransmitters at the receptor sites, and accelerated brain activity.
Last but not least, bacopa has saponins and flavonoids in it that increase blood flow to the brain.
This means more oxygen and nutrients can be delivered to the brain cells, thereby enhancing cognitive function.
Bacopa Monnieri Side Effects – Dosage Notes
Bacosides are the active ingredient in BM, and they’re fat soluble.
This is why I recommend that bacopa extracts be taken with a high quality fat like organic coconut oil or extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
Basically, it improves the delivery of the bacosides to the brain.
Alternatively, bacopa supplements can be taken with food. Bacopa is generally free of side effects, but sometimes users experience mild nausea or fatigue.
The dosage required to be effective will depend on the bacoside content of the supplement. This is a basic guide:
- Assuming 20% Bacoside Content: Recommended Dosage of 600-900 mg/day
- Assuming 50% Bacoside Content: Recommended Dosage of 250-400 mg/day
It is also important to keep in mind that everybody has a unique body chemistry, and the amount of bacopa needed to be effective might vary somewhat from one person to another.
Bacopa is also more effective when taken over several days; it’s effects are cumulative.
Since it’s a natural nootropic, and not a psychostimulant like Adderall or Ritalin, the benefits of BM can take some time to kick in.
If you do decide to try bacopa either as a nootropic, or to treat a neurological ailment, I think it’s fair to temper your expectations and be patient.
Bacopa Review – Final Commentary
What is bacopa monnieri good for?
I’d have to answer that question with another question; “What isn’t it good for?”.
Bacopa monnieri has so many useful properties as a nootropic that it almost seems like a ‘cure-all’ solution for neurological issues of any kind.
However, I did outline a few special characteristics that I think we should try and take full advantage of whenever possible.
This is my list of ‘Best Benefits’ –
- Enhances Focus/Attention/Multi-Tasking Ability
- Improves Creativity
- Antioxidant/Anti-Inflammatory
- Treatment for Neurological Disorders – Alzheimers, Parkinsons, dementia
- Neural Tonic – Epilepsy
- ADHD Treatment – for both Adults and Children
- Synergistic Effects – Good for Stacking with Citicholine
- Reduces Anxiety & Stress
- Acceleration of Brain Activity
- Managing Memory Issues
Basically, if any of these possible uses resonate with you, I would recommend you try a good bacopa extract.
Please keep in mind that not all supplements are created equal. You need to do your own research on any products that you might purchase.
If you would like to try a good supplement that has bacopa in it, especially for ADHD, I can recommend Mind Lab Pro.
It’s been purposely formulated to create synergy amongst it’s ingredients, and it’s the highest quality nootropic stack on the market, in my opinion.
I use it every day.
Well, that’s about all I had to share with you today on the benefits of bacopa monnieri.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Bacopa truly is a wonder of Nature!
In my next post, I’ll be talking about choline as a natural micronutrient for brain health.
See you there!
Michael
P.S. – Do you or someone you know have problems with attention and focus? Do you think Bacopa could help?
Post a comment below, and I’ll do my best to help you!
I want to verify just in case.
You mainly mentioned that Bacopa can be used as a supplement for people that have cognitive problems, but what about “healthy” people (whatever that’s supposed to mean).
Seeing all those benefits, and since it has no known side effects, would it be viable as a way of giving yourself a cognitive boost?
I can see this being useful for like university students and the like.
Hello Fahim,
That’s a really great question!
Yes, Bacopa is an excellent nootropic for cognitive enhancement, and it is often paired with Citicholine to improve focus and working memory.
In fact, I take Mind Lab Pro every day, and it has both Citicholine and BM in it. It’s a very high quality stack, and I highly recommend it.
Thanks once again for your feedback, Fahim!
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you very much for sharing this information. I know I certainly could use some help in the attention and active memory department.
Interesting that you mentioned that BM is found in Australia. It does look familiar to me.
Do you recommend getting a supplement, or taking Bacopa in some other form?
Can I just pluck these flowers and boil them and drink them like in a tea or something?
Truth is, I don’t know how many artificial ingredients are added to supplements, and if going natural is an option. I think it is probably better to do so.
That said, would you also have a recommended brand for supplements – if that’s the only way to go here?
Hi Abrell,
Thanks so much for your keen interest in Bacopa Monnieri!
There are advantages and disadvantages to both purchasing supplements, and using raw ingredients.
The advantages of buying something online are the convenience, and knowing that the ingredients are free of bacteria, heavy metals, and are standardized for effectiveness.
The disadvantage is that there are usually some additives in any man-made product. There’s just no way of getting around that.
Going all natural is a pretty personal choice. If you just pick some hyssop out of the woods somewhere, you have no way of knowing what the Bacoside content is, or how effective ingesting the raw plant is going to be for you.
If I were you, and I wanted to use raw ingredients, I would get them from an Ayurvedic practitioner. Then you would have some confidence that the ingredients will be safe and effective for you to use.
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what makes you feel the most comfortable.
Thanks for your very interesting questions!
Please let me know what you decide to do in the end. I would really like to hear back from you!
Michael
Hi Michael,
I enjoyed reading this article on Bacopa Monnieri. It’s really amazing how one can find the best medicines within nature. I must say that I have never heard of Bacopa Monnieri, but when you mentioned it is also known as Water Hyssop, I quickly remembered the name.
It does have a great number of health benefits for sure, and fewer side effects than prescription medicines. My question is is it available to purchase, or are there more studies to be done? Also, is this something that needs to be taken every day in order for it to be effective?
Thank you for the great article.
Hi Jenny,
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. I really appreciate it!
In response to your questions, Bacopa is considered quite safe for most healthy adults. Common side effects are some mild nausea or fatigue. That being said, if you have any concerns, you should ask your doctor before supplementing with Bacopa.
Bacopa extracts are available on Amazon, but some people prefer to go to a health food store and get raw ingredients. How you supplement with Bacopa is really up to you.
You will need to take Bacopa daily for a few weeks to see any benefits. The effects are seen gradually, so it’s reasonable to temper your expectations, and be patient.
Thank you once again for your questions and comments, Jenny!
If you need help with anything else, please let me know.
Michael
Thank you very much for sharing this article with us about “Bacopa Monnieri”. I had no idea how useful it can be until today. I learned a lot by reading this article.
It’s very effective as an Ayurvedic medicine, and best of all, it has virtually no side-effects. I would like to give it a try as soon as possible.
Thanks again for this informative article…
Hello Abir,
Thanks for taking the time to learn more about Bacopa Monnieri!
If you need some help shopping for a good supplement, just post another comment, and I’ll give you a few pointers.
I really enjoy helping people achieve their goals!
Good luck!
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you so very much for writing such a great article.
I didn’t know anything about Bacopa Monnieri before reading your post, but now I understand all the great benefits it offers. I love using natural remedies, so I have decided to give it a try, and recommend it to some of my friends.
Joy
Hello Joy,
Thanks for reading my article. I’m glad you found it informative.
If you want to know more about Bacopa, and how it can benefit you or someone you know, please ask me!
I love helping people find the best solutions for their concerns.
Take care,
Michael
Hello Michael – Interesting information on the Bacopa Monnieri plant.
This is my first time hearing about it, and I am kind of surprised!
It’s amazing when you think about how many natural herbs have been provided for us to benefit our well-being.
How does it compare to CDB oil?
I’ve done some preliminary research on Bacopa, and it appears that the side-effects can be daunting.
Hey Nathaniel,
Thank you for giving my article a read, and your very interesting questions.
I would encourage you to do a little more research on Bacopa before getting too alarmed. The side effects of Bacopa are not as severe as you may think. The main side effects with Bacopa, as far as I have read, are stomach upset, diarrhea, and mild fatigue. Pretty minor stuff.
I like to use the literature from the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI) for all of my articles. They reference clinical studies and hard scientific data directly. No second hand information. No messing around.
CBD oil is very safe to ingest. In fact, it’s perfectly fine to take up to 1,500 mg of CBD oil on a daily basis. That’s quite a bit!
I have also read a few articles about CBD oil being combined with Bacopa in capsule form as well.
CBD oil acts as a very effective defense mechanism against anxiety, stress, and depression. This neuroprotective effect prevents stress hormones like Cortisol from impairing cognitive function.
Bacopa regulates the release of stress hormones like Cortisol, and blocks their activity as well.
So when CBD oil and Bacopa are taken together, the users’ brain cells are very well shielded from damage.
Then on top of that, Bacopa improves focus and working memory.
It’s a pretty deadly combination.
Thanks once again for sharing your thoughts, Nathaniel!
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Michael
Hello!
Thank you so much for writing this health awareness article.
You wrote very well about Bacopa Monnieri. Bacopa Monnieri is very beneficial for health. It is a kind of flower with round shaped leaves, and it grows in wetland areas. It is a very effective medicine, and it has virtually no side effects.
I have benefited greatly by taking advantage of it.
Eating Bacopa Monnieri increases memory, relieves anxiety,and stress. It expands working memory, kind of like increasing a computer’s RAM capacity.
I think that Bacopa Monnieri will prove to be very effective for children with ADHD in the future, as you suggested.
Thanks so much for writing this important article. I will share your article with my friends.
Thank you
Hello Alam,
Thank you so much for your interest in my article on Bacopa Monnieri.
It’s really great to share your enthusiasm for all of the benefits this wonderful nootropic provides!
Yes, please! I would really appreciate you sharing this article with your friends!
If you or anybody you know can benefit from using Bacopa, but you are unsure about something, please just post another comment and I will get right back to you!
Thanks again, Alam!
Michael
I was quite interested to hear about Bacopa and its ability to regulate the release of the stress hormones like Cortisol. Being able to decrease inflammation is also a great benefit because of the damage inflammation does to the body. If it works as well with ADHD as you say it does I am certain some parents would be happy for this natural treatment.
I am hesitant to put things in my body that I don’t know about. I would find it useful to do more research on this before using it. I was wondering if this is something you could purchase at a health food store?
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for taking the time to read my article! I really appreciate it!
I just wanted to assure you that I like to reference reports written by the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI). They rely on hard core data that comes directly from clinical trials. It’s a very reliable information source.
In response to your comment about Bacopa being a good remedy for children with ADHD, there is a link in my article highlighted in blue that reads, ‘children with ADHD’. If you click on that link, it will open up a separate window for you with all of the scientific laid out for you.
The point I want to make is that I really appreciate you trusting me, but the science really speaks for itself. You don’t necessarily have to take my word for it!
I want you to know that I consider it my responsibility to be completely honest with my readers. I try really hard to reference reliable clinical studies. No second hand information.
If you are unsure about using Bacopa, I would encourage you to do your own research until you are satisfied and feel comfortable with it.
Still, I would like to assure you, the possible side effects with Bacopa are pretty minor. Nausea and fatigue are the most common. The vast majority of people using it do not experience any issues.
There are a few articles I have read online where people are putting Bacopa leaves into salads. Ayurvedic practitioners have also been using Bacopa as a nerve tonic and neural enhancer for centuries. It’s pretty safe.
Yes, you can definitely get Bacopa in health food stores. If you prefer using raw ingredients, that’s probably the best way to source it.
Thanks once again for your interest in Bacopa Monnieri, Carolyn!
Please let me know what you decide to do, and if you have any other questions, just give me a holler!
Best,
Michael
Thanks for sharing such an amazing and informative article on Bacopa Monnieri. It’s really amazing getting to know thet Bacopa Monnieri is available for our use as a nootropic. I must say that I have never heard of Bacopa Monnieri before now.
Thanks again for sharing, and I am going to put some more time into learning more about Bacopa Monnieri because of this article.
Hey Perry,
Thanks for taking the time to read more about Bacopa and it’s many health benefits.
If you have any questions that you think of in hindsight, just leave another comment below.
Best,
Michael