Brahmi – Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping herb native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America. Bacopa Monnieri is also called Brahmi, Hespestis monniera (лат), Indian pennywort, Water penny, Marsh penny, Water hyssop, Bacopa, Herb of grace, Babies tear, Aindri. The hole plant is used in Ayurvedic medicine and cosmetology.
The well-known plant that restores the balance of three doshas is used as an independent remedy and as part of many other effective medicines. Brahmi is one of the main ingredients of brain tonics. In Ayurveda, Brahmi is called “food for the brain.” Bacopa monnieri contains alkaloids (brahmien, nicotine, herpestine), saponins (d-mannitol, hersaponin, monnerin), beta-sitosterol, betulic acid, xylota A, stigmastarol, numerous bacosides (among them bacosides A and B, which are responsible for the cognitive effect of brahmi) and bacopasaponins and other glycosides.
Uses:
Like a tonic for the brain:
– stimulates the brain;
– strengthens memory;
– improves concentration and attention;
– gives clarity of mind;
– nourishes the brain;
– rejuvenates brain cells;
– normalizes cerebral circulation;
– relieves fatigue after intense mental activity, relieves stress, eliminates headaches;
– Helps treat atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease;
– Helps to establish a balance between the left and right hemispheres of the brain;
– increases efficiency, learning ability, improves short-term and long-term memory, treats amnesia;
– expands the cognitive abilities of healthy people, activates their mental activity, the ability to remember and reproduce information;
– protects the blood vessels through which oxygen enters the brain, thereby stimulating the flow of oxygen to the brain. After its adoption, the concentration improves. Students who participated in experiments and took brahmi showed the best result in exams.
As a tonic for the nervous system:
– relieves anxiety, stress, tension, helps with depression, including postpartum depression;
– gives a feeling of calm and relaxation, while simultaneously activating mental processes;
– treats mental disorders, acts as a sedative, eliminates anxiety;
– normalizes sleep, treats insomnia.
As a treatment for many skin diseases:
– has an anti-inflammatory effect, strengthens blood vessels and capillaries, which supply blood to the tissues of the affected areas, improving blood circulation and stimulating blood flow, thereby contributing to the rapid healing of wounds;
– effectively combats psoriasis;
– contains the important ingredient asiaticoside, which helps to destroy the protective coating of bacteria that cause leprosy, allowing the immune system to successfully fight them.
Other uses:
– as an effective remedy for cellulite;
– varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (strengthens vascular tissue);
– reduce pressure;
– for hearing restoration (one of the best means in Ayurveda for this);
– headaches;
– scleroderma (a disease in which tissue compaction occurs);
– cleanse the blood;
– improve blood circulation;
– like a tonic for the whole body;
– as an aphrodisiac, treats impotence, increases sexual desire;
– normalize the activity of the kidneys, liver and lungs;
– arthritis and rheumatism;
– tuberculosis, bronchitis, asthma, cough, hoarseness;
– lowering cholesterol;
– as an anti-inflammatory agent for colds and flu;
– as a mild diuretic;
– hemorrhoids
Cautions:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking bacopa if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Bacopa might slow down the heartbeat. This could be a problem in people who already have a slow heart rate.
Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Bacopa might cause “congestion” in the intestines. This might cause problems in people who have a blockage in their intestines.
Ulcers: Bacopa might increase secretions in the stomach and intestines. There is concern that this could worsen ulcers.
Lung conditions: Bacopa might increase fluid secretions in the lung. There is concern that this could worsen lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema.
Thyroid disorders: Bacopa might increase levels of thyroid hormone. Bacopa should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
Urinary tract obstruction: Bacopa might increase secretions in the urinary tract. There is concern that this could worsen urinary obstruction.
Additional informaion: Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is often confused with another plant – Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica). Both plants are called brahmi because in Ayurveda, the name “brahmi” can be applied to any powerful tonic for the brain, given that it carries the energy of the god Brahma, the creator of the universe in Hinduism. However, it so happened that the word “brahmi” most often refers to bacopa monnieri. Brahmi and Gotu Kola are the most powerful brain tonics in Ayurveda. These two plants are extremely similar to each other in appearance and properties. Both are used in Ayurveda as the two most powerful tonics for the brain, in cosmetic formulas for face and body skin, and especially for hair.
These two plants are perfectly combined with each other. Both are powerful antioxidants that cleanse the blood, strengthen the immune system, tone the entire body, treat a number of diseases, including skin diseases, and also perfectly heal wounds and ulcers. However, Brahmi has a cooling effect that regulates vata and kapha dosha, and Gotu-kola has a warming effect that normalizes pitta dosha. Thus, together they perfectly balance all three doshas, the whole organism. Both herbs are taken orally as a medicine and are part of numerous cosmetic preparations. Brahmi is more used for food additives and face and body skin care products, and Gotu Kola is used in cosmetics for face and hair (this is a very conditional difference).