'B
acopa monnieri' is somewhat of a formal introduction, using the herb's
two Latin names (also known as 'bionomial nomenclature'). I could
have been less specific and used its common Sanskrit name 'Brahmi',
that has been used by everyday people for thousands of years. However,
such informality may lead to confusion, as another plant with a quite different
character, Centella asiatica, can also be referred to as Brahmi. So, for the purpose
of getting to know this herb, I will use 'Bacopa'.
Bacopa has its history in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, which forms its name
from 'Ayu' meaning 'Life' and 'Ved' meaning 'Science'. Bacopa's first known
mention is in an ancient Ayurvedic text in 800BC and is classified under 'Medhya
rasayana', relating to medicinal plants, which rejuvenate intellect and memory.
For a culture that relied heavily on word of mouth to pass down its teachings and
traditions a sound memory was vital. Bacopa was viewed as a 'restorative agent'
being the primary choice to rejuvenate memory as well as assisting through
the lifespan from sensorial development in early life, mental and intellectual
development in middle age and spiritual growth in latter years.
To understand what Bacopa can do we must look to its known actions of
usage. These have been identified through observation of Bacopa's effect as a
medicine and also through its scientific evaluation in the laboratory.
In Ayurveda medicine, Bacopa is primarily regarded as a 'nerve tonic' to
improve the function of the nervous system. This is an important distinguisher,
because its tonic action in the brain and the nervous system makes it useful in
situations of stress, anxiety or in nervous exhaustion, which are increasingly
prevalent in modern life.
Of crucial importance is Bacopa's ability to act as a 'cognitive activator'
that facilitates quicker learning, recall and improves concentration. I see the
value of this in clinic with my older patients who struggle to remember a 'word'
(for instance the name of a friend's grandchild), feeling it's on the 'tip of their
tongue'. Long-term use of Bacopa seems to open the door to that memory,
allowing them to recall such information faster. The fact that Bacopa acts as an
anxiolytic (reducing anxiety) is useful because there is a lot of fear and worry for
people with diminished memory. This is a unique characteristic of Bacopa and
an advantage over another cognitive enhancer, Ginkgo, which does not appear
to reduce anxiety.
For those with demanding lives, Bacopa has the advantage of improving
cognitive function, calming the mind and improving adaptation to stress. For
instance, Bacopa's ability to improve calm focus helps students learn and retain
information better, improving their exam performance.
Bacopa can also be useful in children