Ayurvedic Herb Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) Uses, Benefits, Side Effects
Brahmi is often known as water hyssop, it is a good-looking perennial herb that is generally found along the marshes and muddy shores. Scientifically, this herb is known as “Bacopa Monnieri” which is a Latin word.
In English, Brahmi herb is known as Indian pennywort or Thyme Leaved Gratiola also herb of grace. It is a small, creeping herb that has its distinct look, light purple, or white blooms.
It generally grows in damp soil, shallow water, and marshlands. The name Brahmi is derived from the Sanskrit word “Brahman or “Lord Brahma.” Brahman is the Hindu designation given to Cosmic Consciousness.
Lord Brahma is the divine nature responsible for all the creative powers throughout the world. Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri is an herb that has been used in Ayurveda for numerous purposes. Brahmi plant is well-known and recognized throughout worldwide due to its various health benefits.
Today lots of studies have embarked to evaluate Brahmi’s role against different neurological diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Where Is Brahmi Plant Found?
Brahmi is mainly found along the muddy shores or wetlands of the southern and Eastern India regions such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, and Taiwan. The other additional parts around the world are regions of Australia, Africa, Europe, and parts of Northern and South America.
Plant Description: Brahmi plant
It is a non-aromatic creeping, tropical, everlasting herb that has been rooting from the nodes. The branches are in plenty generally lying stretched out on the ground facing downwards in an area about 10 to30 cm long.
The Brahmi bush rises nearly about 2 to 3 feet in height but the branches creep horizontally covering the earth. It is a herb that generally grows throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
It grows substantially in wetlands, bog gardens, near the ponds, and can even grow significantly in a brackish atmosphere. It favors moist surroundings in immoderate soil conditions and grows well in sand, clay, organic, coral soils, and cinder.
Leaves
Brahmi leaves are tender and juicy with an oblong shape and are sized to about 0.6 to 2.5 cm in length and 3 to 8 mm breadth, and about 4 to 6 mm in thickness.
The Leaves are oblanceolate in shape and are distributed oppositely on the stem. One can smell the nice lemon scent when the leaf is crushed.
Flower
Brahmi herbs are found flowering with colors such as purple, pink, and even white. It has a small actinomorphic flower that has four or five petals and blooms all around the year-round.
The petals on a flower, Corolla is about 1cm long and has a lobe that is about 5cm and is subequal with purple tips.
Vernacular Names
- Hindi name: Barmi, Jalanima
- Assamese name: Brahmi
- Bengali name: Birami, Tholkuri
- English name: Thyme leafed Graciela, Thyme-leaved gratiola, Indian Pennywort, water hyssop, Herb of grace
- Gujarati : Karbrahmi
- Japanese name: Tsubokura
- Kannada name : Jala Brahmi
- Malayalam name: Muttil
- Marathi name: Brahmi, Ghola, Jalabrahmi, Jalnam, Nir brahmi
- Oriya name: Brahmi, Prusni parnni
- Punjabi name: Brahmibuti
- Sanskrit name : Adha-birni, Aindri, Brahami, Brahmi, Gundala, Indravalli, Jalasaya, Jala brahmi, Nira-brahmi,
- Tamil: Vallarai
- Tibetan name: Sin-mnar
- Telugu Name: Sambarenu
- Tamil name: Neera Brahmi
- Unani name: Khulakudi
- Urdu name: Brahmisak, Jal brahmi.
Brahmi plant In Ayurvedic Medicine
Brahmi plant is one of the important plants that have been used as a revitalizing herb by Ayurvedic practitioners for almost 3000 years ago.
It is one of the important herbs that have been named in several Ayurvedic theses such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita in 1st century CE for its health benefits.
According to Ayurveda Brahmi plant is one of the finest herbs for stabilizing and revitalizing Pitta, at the same time it also reduces Kapha. It can balance Vata if taken in precise doses or with other anti-Vata herbs.
The Brahmi plant also has properties that increase the quality of Sadhaka Pitta, which directly affects the nature of consciousness. It is a beneficial herb that promotes and restores weakness, stress, exhaustion, and aggravation of Vata.
It has been used for centuries, as an astringent, antispasmodic, diuretic, cardiotonic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antipyretic, antiepileptic, and analgesic besides as a nootropic herb.
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa): Astringent, bitter and sweet
- Energy (Veerya): Cooling
- Post-digestive quality (Vipaka): Sweet
- Quality (Guna): Dry, light
- Tissue (Dhatu): Blood, bone, fat muscle, and nerve
- Channel (Srotas): Circulatory, Digestive and Nervous
- Effect on Tridosha: Balances Kapha and Vata.
Pharmacological Action
- Anxiolytic
- Sedative
- Tonic
- Alternative
Part used: The whole plant
Ayurvedic Formulation Of Brahmi
- Brahmikalpa
- Brahmisiddhataila
- Brahmighrita
- Brahmiprasha
- Brahmi Rasayana
- Sarasvatarishta
Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Brahmi
Brahmi is an herbaceous plant that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is only for the last few decades that the Brahmi plant has been under observation for its chemical constitution and diagnosis of its therapeutic role.
Several studies have confirmed that Brahmi is undoubtedly a powerful healing herb. They have stated that it has a compound like sterols, saponins, and alkaloids that are responsible for the pharmacologic effects. Below are some health benefits and advantages of using Brahmi plant leaves and roots.
1. A Natural Memory Enhancer
When it comes from the memory intensifying property’s Brahmi will be truthfully imputable due to its two active molecules called bacopasides. Bacopasides is a compound that is known to improve memory, intensify focus, concentration, and aids with learning new tasks.
Brahmi If the taken routine can increase the activity of protein kinase. It also increases protein production in the brain cells that play a role in learning and memory. Brahmi, in addition, rectifies and repairs a damaged nerve cell in the brain, helping to improve brain function and boosting memory.
How To Eat Brahmi Leaves: Take 4 to 5 leaves of Brahmi. Soak leaves overnight in half glass of water, add 2 to 3 almonds little sugar, and milk. Grind it and drink it once a day.
2. It Delay Aging Naturally
We all dream to look younger with glowing skin forever, and if you are looking for natural anti-aging herbs, Brahmi can be your answer. Brahmi herbs are well known for their effects on the nervous system and indirectly support the cognitive aging process. This herb not only helps cognitive aging but also calms and improves daytime alertness.
It reduces stress throughout the system and helps in improving the quality of sleep at night. It is an herb that tonifies and enhances the nervous tissue (majja dhatu) and helps to relax tension within the body. The studies have shown that the long-term use of Brahmi can combat the impacts of aging in the brain.[1]
How To Take Brahmi Juice: Take fresh plant juice of Brahmi leaves, boil 200 ml of juice with 200 grams of Ghee, take one tsp of dose twice a day.
3. Benefits For Epilepsy Sufferers
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person feels convulsion and seizures are a series of disturbing brain actions. Epilepsy generally takes place when permanent changes in brain tissue affect the brain to be too excitable and send out abnormal signals.
Bacopa or so-called Brahmi can be beneficial in these conditions due to its active compounds called “Bacoside A” that has been shown to combat the brain changes related to epilepsy. It not only protects the areas of the brain responsible for serotonin uptake but also helps to stabilize the neurotransmitter. In addition, Brahmi extracts do have a property that regulates the calcium flux across cell membrane channels.[2]
How To Eat Brahmi Leaves: Boil leaf juice of Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) with classified butter, take 4 ml of it twice a day.
4. It prevents Stomach Ulcers
Bacopa herb is precisely helpful for preventing, healing stomach ulcers, as well as protecting your GI tract. It helps to stimulate the production of mucus in the GI tract and appears to protect stomach cells. Brahmi also increases the level of acetylcholine, inhibits acetylcholinesterase, and possesses cholinergic impacts.
The study performed on animals, and humans have stated that the effect of Brahmi extracts is helpful on the gastrointestinal tract. The other in-vitro study has demonstrated it has direct spasmolytic activity on the gastroenteric. It smooths muscles through inhibition of the calcium influx across cell membrane channels implying its benefit in intestinal spasms such as irritable bowel syndrome.
How To Take Brahmi Juice: Take fresh juice of Brahmi and pure ghee in equal proportion, boil it and take 5 ml twice a day.
5. Help to Fight Depression
A mental health disorder that generally evokes when a person feels depressed, loss of mood, lack of interest in activities, feeling sad, anxious hopelessness, and more. In case you are feeling the same then, taking Bacopa or the so-called Brahmi can be beneficial to you. Brahmi or saponins contains the saponins called bacosides that help to boosts the effects of specific neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and serotonin.
This effect on neurotransmitters helps to enable Brahmi(Bacopa) to decrease depression symptoms. However certain human studies failed to find any anti-anxiety benefits from taking Brahmi (Bacopa). According to the report from the University of Michigan Health System, Brahmi seems to increase the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid or “GABA,” acetylcholine, and serotonin, which are helpful to deal with depression.
Some studies stated the effectiveness of bacopa in treating anxiety and depression; positive results were found. Brahmi or so-called Bacopa was nearly as effective as common prescription depression medications also without the side effects. [3]
How To Eat Brahmi Leaves: Soak 4 to 5 leaves of Brahmi in a cup of water overnight. Grind them in the morning with 2 to 3 almonds, one teaspoon of Honey with milk, and drink it once a day.
Dosage
- Brahmi Juice: 10ml to 20 ml
- Brahmi powder: 2 to 3 grams
- Brahmi extract capsules: 25 mg to 500 mg
- Brahmi Capsules: 250 mg to 1 g per day.
Note: Brahmi powder or extract is possibly safe for adults when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks. Some common side effects are found in some people such as stomach cramps, increased bowel movements, dry mouth, nausea, and fatigue. So it is necessary to consult a doctor before using.
Brahmi Side Effects
According to WebMD
- Pregnancy/breast-feeding: Not enough information is available regarding the safety of taking Brahmi in Pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, it is advisable to stay on the safe side and avoided the use.
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate): Consuming Brahmi might slow down the heartbeat so people with Bradycardia ailment should avoid it.
- Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Consuming Brahmi might cause “congestion” in the intestines so people with this ailment should avoid it.
- Ulcers: Consuming Brahmi might cause can increase secretions from the stomach and intestines and could worsen ulcers.
- Lung conditions: Consuming Brahmi might increase fluid secretions in the lung; this condition can worsen the conditions in people having emphysema or asthma.
- Thyroid disorders: Consuming Brahmi might increase levels of thyroid hormone so people with a thyroidal problem must use with cautiously.
- Urinary tract blockage: Consuming Brahmi might increase secretions in the urinary tract and could worsen urinary obstruction.
Note: It is necessary to consult your doctor before taking any remedy as some medication or herb may interact with each other.
Regular consumption of Brahmi with nutrients can help in strengthening your immune system and can keep you free from various diseases and ailments.
