by Vidhya Lingam

Created on: July 23, 2009   Last Updated: July 24, 2009

Alternative medicine: Health benefits of Brahmi

Brahmi, meaning 'god-like' in Sanskrit is also known as Bacopa monnieri. Its common name is water hyssop and is commonly used decoratively in aquariums. It belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae and is a small creeping herb that usually grows in moist areas such as river banks and tropical areas.

Brahmi has been used in Ayurveda since the 6th century A.D. primarily as a brain tonic. Meditators used to take it to enhance their powers of concentration during meditation. It is often used interchangeably with Centella asiatica (gotu kola) but is considered by some as the stronger of the two. Brahmi is used medicinally as follows:

As a brain tonic for improving memory, concentration and learning, and particularly where stress is also present. To assist learning and intellectual development in children, including attention deficit disorder. Nervous deficit due to injury, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Nervous breakdown, nervous exhaustion, behavioral disorders, anxiety and conditions where anxiety may play a part, such as irritable bowel syndrome. May be of value in epilepsy and insanity. In cases of asthma and bronchitis, the whole plant is boiled and applied as a poultice to the chest. Brahmi oil is often applied to the head for improving memory and enhancing hair growth.

Brahmi's medicinal action comes from its active ingredients, a group known as saponins. There are 4 kinds of saponins found in brahmi. Hersaponins are responsible for its sedative and cardiotonic effects. Steroidal saponins known as bacosides are responsible for enhancing nerve impulse transmission thereby strengthening memory and general cognition.

In more recent times, Brahmi is being used extensively for its stress reducing effects and is especially beneficial to those individuals who are run down. It has an adaptogenic effect and is often used in conjunction with the herb Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for adrenal fatigue. It has also shown to be useful in other endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism. Brahmi has also been used successfully for individuals with anxiety disorder. In these individuals it improves sleep, reduces mental fatigue and levels of anxiety, increases feelings of well-being and appetite and improves memory and concentration.

In a double blind placebo controlled study conducted in children with ADHD in India, Brahmi was shown to have made an improvement in all areas of ADHD. In children without ADHD, it has also shown to increase concentration, memory, learning ability and problem solving skills.

The traditional dosage of Brahmi is 8 to 16 mL of infusion or 5 to 10 g of powder per day. The recommended daily adult dose of a 1:2 fluid extract is 5 to 12 mL per day. For children 6 to 12 years old, 2.5 to 6 mL per day is advisable. Brahmi combines well with other nervine tonics and adaptogens such as Withania, gotu kola, the ginseng family and Schizandra. Combination with rosemary and Ginkgo reinforces its brain tonic activity.

Sources:

Michael Tierra and Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, Lotus Press (2008)

Kerry Bone and Michelle Morgan, Modern Phytotherapist, Vol 5 No.2 1999, Pg 22 - 28

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