Bacopa: The Mind's Herb (FAQs)

Z Natural Foods is committed to offering our customers a diverse selection of high-quality foods in their most versatile forms. 

Our Organic Bacopa (Brahmi) Leaf Powder is a prime example of our commitment to quality.  

Today, I aim to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this versatile herb, known as “The Herb of Grace”, to ensure you have all the information you need to make informed choices about your plant medicines.

1) What are some of the lesser-known facts and benefits of Bacopa?

• Bacopa is one of several herbs in Ayurveda known as Brahmi, a name derived from Brahma, the Hindu god of creation and supreme intellect.
• Some unique culinary applications of fresh bacopa leaves include adding them to salads, pestos, soups, and stir-fries. 
• Bacopa monnieri has a unique feature: a single central vein in each leaf. 
• The sprawling growth pattern of Bacopa has been likened to patterns in the nervous system. 
• While bacopa is well known for its nootropic qualities, a lesser-known benefit is that it positively impacts opioid dependence and reduces associated toxicities. 
• In preliminary studies, bacopa has been shown to help liver damage due to toxicities. 

2) What is Ayurveda’s perspective of Bacopa Leaf, and how is it primarily used in this system of medicine? 

According to Ayurveda, Bacopa Monnieri (also known as Brahmi) is classified as a medhya rasayana, a restorative compound for the intellect. While bacopa is traditionally used to improve memory, intelligence, concentration, and learning ability, scholars and yogis have long used it to facilitate memorization of sacred hymns and support meditation. Ayurvedic medicine also believes that bacopa acts as 

• A nerve tonic to manage stress and insomnia (via calming and soothing the nervous system) 
• An anxiolytic to help reduce anxiety through its influence on the GABA neurotransmitter systems. Bacosides upregulate enzymes such as glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which catalyzes GABA synthesis.

Furthermore, Ayurveda holds that bacopa has the following effects.  

A) Balances the Prana Vata, which governs the mind and breath. 

• Prana is the subtle form of Vata responsible for vital functions like breathing, nutrient intake, and consciousness, and, when balanced, brings vitality, joy, and clarity. 
• It also represents the life force energy that governs inhalation, sensory perception, assimilation, and the mind-body connection.

B) Considered a "tridoshic" herb, helping to balance all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). It is particularly effective at pacifying Pitta due to its cooling energy (Virya) and bitter/sweet taste (Rasa).

3) What is one of the most traditional preparations of bacopa in Ayurvedic medicine, and what makes it superior to all other preparations?

One of the more traditional preparations of bacopa is called Brahmi Ghrita. In simple terms, it is bacopa cooked/infused in Ghee. Essentially, ghee is produced by simmering butter to remove water and milk solids (proteins and lactose). The result is a pure, nutty butterfat rich in the following.

• Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K 
• Butyrate: a short-chain fatty acid produced by the gut that supports intestinal barrier integrity and reduces inflammation. 
• Medium-chain fatty acids that are specifically known to enhance nutrient absorption and promote gut energy metabolism,
• CLA: fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and support brain health, potentially complementing the neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa

This simple blend of these two ingredients is considered ideal for supporting the nervous system by enhancing bioavailability. Because Ghee is a pure fat, it helps with the following mechanisms of action. 

• Ghee is a lipid carrier that facilitates passage across the lipophilic blood-brain barrier by mimicking body lipids, delivering fat-soluble active herbal compounds deeper into nervous system tissues. This is due to the “fat-loving” nature of bacopasides, which is believed to increase absorption by 45% compared with water-based extracts.  
• Ghee, like bacopa, is considered a Medhya (intellect-promoting) substance that nourishes nervous tissue/bone marrow and improves overall absorption (known as digestive fire). High-quality fats are the ultimate nourisher for the nervous system. 
• Essentially, Brahmi Ghrita works to pacify Vata (movement of blood, oxygen, and neurotransmitters) and Pitta (governing physical digestion.

4) Why does Ayurveda believe ghee is the most superior form of fat?

According to Ayurveda, ghee is considered a yogavahi or "powerful carrier," due to its lipophilic nature. However, due to its unique fatty acid profile, Ghee works by  

• Mimicking cell membranes 
• Facilitating cellular entry because of its unique fatty acid profile

Ghee is effective in this context because it is rich in saturated fats and short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid. These fatty acids effectively dissolve and transport fat-soluble herbal compounds across cell membranes, delivering them into deeper tissues and organs. Furthermore, Ghee is a pure, clean, animal-based fat (free of protein and lactose) rich in all fat-soluble vitamins, further enhancing bioavailability. 

Ultimately, ghee is used as the primary carrier because of its purity, unique fatty acid profile, and high oxidative stability.

5) What is Western Herbalism’s perspective on Bacopa?

In Western herbal medicine, Bacopa is primarily considered to possess the following qualities. 

• Nootropic: Described in the next question
• Antispasmodic: A plant-derived substance that prevents or relieves involuntary muscle spasms and cramping. Herbal antispasmodics primarily target the smooth muscle of hollow organs in the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems, rather than skeletal muscle. 
• Anxiolytic: Plant-derived compounds used to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, tension, and restlessness through modulating neurochemical signaling specific to GABA, serotonin, and dopamine. These plant compounds also work to support a healthy stress response via the HPA Axis. 
• Has adaptogenic-like qualities: Fulfills some of the specific criteria for an actual adaptogen, but does not elicit nonspecific responses.  

Furthermore, bacopa can also be beneficial for supporting emotional and mental well-being and promoting cerebral circulation, and preliminary studies indicate its ability to prevent brain ischemic damage. 

Many herbalists use bacopa for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with Hawthorn, Milky Oat Seed, and Holy Basil. Bacopa is also frequently used for patients recovering from head trauma injuries in conjunction with St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo, and Holy Basil. 

6) Is Bacopa a true Nootropic?

To answer this question, it is vital to define a nootropic.  

Nootropics are a category of substances (both natural and synthetic) that show potential to improve cognitive function by promoting relaxation and supporting mood, memory, attention, and creativity. The Romanian psychologist Corneliu Giurgea first defined the term "nootropic" and was also the first to synthesize one of the best-known substances in this category, Piracetam, in 1964. The Giurgea Nootropic Criteria state that for any substance to be considered a nootropic, it must do the following:

• Enhance learning and memory.
• Enhance the resistance of learned behaviors/memories to conditions that disrupt them.
• Protect the brain against a broad spectrum of physical or chemical injuries.
• Increase our ability to focus and pay attention
• Lack of common side effects that are related to other psychotropic drugs 
• Be non-toxic at clinical dosages

Keep in mind that many herbs directly affect the nervous system, like sedatives (hops), anxiolytics (valerian, kava), antispasmodics (vervain, kava), analgesics (California poppy), and nervines (milky wild oat, passionflower). These herbs are often miscategorized as nootropics. While the above herbs have specific nootropic-like attributes, they don’t fulfill the criteria to be considered actual nootropics. However, it is exciting to know that nootropics do support many of these particular actions. Nootropics in traditional medicine are not typically used as standalone agents. They are usually combined with supportive herbs, such as adaptogens and nervines, to balance their effects.

Bacopa strengthens the brain’s ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from stress, injury, and disease while protecting brain cells from damage or death. Furthermore, it is widely believed that its key compounds, bacosides, support mitochondrial health and influence gene expression related to neuroplasticity by inducing new dendrite formation and altering gene expression, thereby promoting neuronal repair and growth. In simple terms, it encourages the brain to repair itself, grow, become more flexible (neuroplasticity), and form new communication lines. 

Finally, according to herbalist Donald Yance, Bacopa is rich in the steroidal saponins bacoside A and B.  Derived from the Bacopa leaf, these saponins modulate stress hormones released from the brain, exerting a neuroendocrine-enhancing and stress-protective effect.  Bacopa appears to affect the central nervous system by stimulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cholinergic systems, which have a calming effect on the brain and improve concentration and information retention. 

In fact, the following was reported in a study on the Effects of 12-week Bacopa monnieri Consumption on Attention, Cognitive Processing, Working Memory, and the Functions of Both Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Systems in Healthy Elderly Volunteers who received either a standardized extract of B. monnieri (300 and 600 mg) or a placebo once daily.

• The functions of the cholinergic and monoaminergic systems were assessed using AChE and MAO activities. 
• Working memory was assessed using percent accuracy and reaction time across various memory tests. In contrast, attention and cognitive processing were assessed using latencies and amplitudes of the N100 and P300 components of the event-related potential. 
• All assessments were performed before treatment, every four weeks during the study period, and four weeks after the intervention ended. 
• The B. monnieri-treated group showed improved working memory, along with reduced N100 and P300 latencies. 
• The suppression of plasma AChE activity was also observed. 

Therefore, it was concluded that Bacopa monnieri can improve attention, cognitive processing, and working memory, in part, by suppressing AChE activity.

7) Is Bacopa a True Adaptogen?

To answer this question accurately, it is essential to understand how an actual adaptogen is defined. Adaptogens, a unique category of plants, are a supportive tool for managing a healthy stress response through nonspecific physiological reactions. 

Therefore, for a plant to be an adaptogen, it must fulfill the following criteria: 

1. Be nontoxic at clinical dosage
2. Increase the resistance of the hormonal and immune systems to all kinds of stressors through a nonspecific physiological response. 
3. Normalize body function, no matter how external stressors have altered it. 

However, as research has progressed, we have learned that the primary factor distinguishing plants and fungi as adaptogens is their ability to act through one or both of the body’s master control systems.

1) The HPA Axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis) is a complex system of neuroendocrine pathways and feedback loops that maintains and supports homeostasis in response to chronic stress. The HPA axis interfaces the endocrine, nervous, immune, digestive, reproductive, and cardiovascular systems.  

2) The SAS (Sympatho Adrenal system, aka fight or flight) is a complex system that connects the sympathetic nervous system to the adrenal medulla. In simple terms, it is our fight-or-flight response. A triggered response floods our system with adrenaline and releases hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla. This response increases blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate and suppresses digestion. The release of hormones and redistribution of blood allow the mind and body to respond and survive. 

In simple terms, Bacopa’s effects on the HPA axis are pretty specific: It reduces excessive stress hormones and specifically protects neural structures. Therefore, Bacopa is NOT a “true” adaptogen.

For more information about our Organic Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) Powder, you are invited to review our product description here: Organic Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) Powder.

The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing and has worked in different areas of this field for over 25 years. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael shares his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel, "A Master Herbalist Perspective." He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.