bacopa monnieri

Bacopa also called brahmi, water hyssop, thyme leaf gratiole and herb of grace, is a staple herb in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Bacopa monnieri has been used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine for centuries for a variety of purposes, including improving memory, reducing anxiety, and treating epilepsy (Russo & Borrelli, 2005)
In fact, research shows it can boost brain function and alleviate anxiety and stress, among other benefits. A class of potent compounds called bacosides in Bacopa monnieri is believed to be responsible for these benefits.
• May boost brain function
Research suggests that Bacopa monnieri may help improve brain function. For example, a study on mice showed that Bacopa monnieri supplementation improved their spatial learning and their ability to retain information (Vollala et al., 2011)
The same study also showed that it increased the length and branching of dendrites. Dendrites are parts of nerve cells in the brain that are closely linked to learning and memory (Vollala et al., 2011)
Additionally, a 12-week study in 46 healthy adults found that taking Bacopa monnieri 300 mg daily significantly improved visual information processing speed, learning speed, and memory, compared to treatment. placebo (Stough et al., 2001)
Another 12-week study in 60 older adults found that taking 300 mg or 600 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract daily improved memory, attention, and ability to process information, compared to placebo treatment. (Peth-Nui et al., 2012)
• May prevent anxiety and stress
Bacopa monieri helps prevent anxiety and stress. It is considered an adaptogenic herb, which means it increases your body’s resistance to stress (Rai et al., 2003)
Research suggests that Bacopa monnieri helps reduce stress and anxiety by elevating your mood and reducing levels of cortisol, a hormone closely linked to stress levels. (Benson et al., 2014)
A rodent study showed that Bacopa monnieri had anti-anxiety effects comparable to those of lorazepam (benzodiazepine), a prescription drug used to treat anxiety (Bhattacharya & Ghosal, 1998)

• May help reduce ADHD symptoms
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention (Furman, 2005)
Interestingly, research has shown that Bacopa monnieri can help reduce ADHD symptoms.

A study in 31 children aged 6 to 12 found that taking 225 mg of Bacopa monnieri extract daily for 6 months significantly reduced symptoms of ADHD, such as restlessness, lack of self-control, inattention and impulsivity in 85% of children (Dave et al., 2014)
Another study in 120 children with ADHD found that taking a herbal mixture containing 125 mg of Bacopa monnieri improved attention, cognition, and impulse control, compared to the placebo group (Katz et al. , 2010)
Although these results are promising, more large-scale studies examining the effects of Bacopa monnieri on ADHD are needed before it can be recommended as a treatment.