Bacopa Monnieri

Introduction

Bacopa monnieri is an herb that is native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, and many other countries.^1,2 This is a plant that has been traditional to Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. It often grows in wet, tropical environments.¹ Bacopa monnieri has been used for a variety of health benefits including improving memory, reducing anxiety and even for epilepsy.³ Research indicates that there is a very strong likelihood that Bacopa monnieri can improve brain function and alleviate issues such as anxiety and stress.^1,2 

In the United States today, Bacopa monnieri is not an approved supplement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, it is important to ensure that any individual who would like to try this product consults with a healthcare provider to assess the safety of using this product.

Benefits of Bacopa monnieri

Antioxidant Effects

Bacopa monnieri has shown to contain many powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that are found in many foods, such as berries, and help protect the body against cell damage which is caused by free radicals, or harmful molecules. Research suggests that the damage that is caused by free radicals has been linked to many chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.⁴ Therefore, consuming foods and taking supplements that have strong antioxidant effects can be very beneficial for the body. There is research that suggests that Bacopa monnieri can help prevent the damage that is caused to the body by free radicals.⁵ This is suggestive that using Bacopa monnieri can be helpful in prevention of diseases that can be caused by free radicals in the body.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

Inflammation is another physiologic process that Bacopa monnieri is thought to affect as well. In the short term, inflammation is a positive response and indicates when the body is trying to help heal or fight diseases. However, chronically, inflammation can lead to some chronic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease. Studies have shown that Bacopa monnieri has the ability to suppress some of the molecules in the body that will stimulate inflammatory responses.^7,8 Additionally, one study showed that this natural product had anti-inflammatory effects that were comparable to some NSAID pain medications. Although more research is necessary, these studies show that there is potential to decrease the inflammatory responses of the body to improve chronic inflammatory conditions.

Improved Brain Function

Bacopa monnieri has shown many health benefits as mentioned above. However, the most common issue that this product is used for is to improve brain function. Much research leads to the conclusion that Bacopa monnieri can very well improve the ability to think clearly and retain more information. One study showed that with the use of Bacopa monnieri in mice, there was an increase in the number of dendritic length and branching, which are parts of nerve cells in the brain that are responsible for linking learning and memory.¹⁰ Another study showed that in healthy adults, there was an improvement in the speed of processing visual information, learning rate and memory when using this natural product.¹¹ Lastly, a third study showed similar results as well and indicated that the adults who used Bacopa monnieri had improve memory, attention and ability to process information as well.¹² 

Additional Benefits

A few other health benefits that Bacopa monnieri has been shown to improve include the following:

• Reduce symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)² 
• Prevention of issues such as stress and anxiety²
• Lowering of blood pressure²
• Potential anti-cancer properties²

Unfortunately, more data is required to conclusively indicate that all of the mentioned benefits are true. However, Bacopa monnieri is a promising natural product as there are many studies that continue to support these benefits.

How Do I Use Bacopa monnieri?

Bacopa monnieri is often purchased online as it is not readily available in stores. It can be found in capsule form and powder form as well. The dose ranges that have been used in studies range anywhere from 300 mg to 450 ng per day. However, you should consult with a doctor to determine which dose is appropriate for you. The capsule is taken by mouth once a day with a full glass of water. The powder form can be added to hot water to drink as a tea.

As discussed, Bacopa monnieri is not regulated by the FDA. Use caution when trying new this product and always use the same manufacturer once you have established which brand you prefer. This will help ensure that you are receiving a similar strength of the supplement with each use.

Safety of Bacopa monnieri

As a natural product, this may seem like a wonderful option to try for various potential health benefits. However, Bacopa monnieri may not be for everyone.

Side Effects

Overall, Bacopa monnieri is well tolerated and is considered a safe natural product to use. However, as with any drug or supplement, there are some potential side effects to watch for. There are reports that use of Bacopa monnieri can cause digestive symptoms which can include nausea, stomach cramping or diarrhea. Additionally, since there have not been any studies conducted in pregnant women, it is recommended to avoid this natural product if you are expecting to become pregnant or are pregnant.

Most importantly, it is possible for Bacopa monnieri to interact with some medications such as antipsychotics. Therefore, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider prior to starting the use of Bacopa monnieri to determine that this is a safe option for you.