Bacopa

• Potent Standardized Extract to 45% Bacosides
• 10 Times more powerful than the bulk herb
• Improve short and long term memory, may help to increase intelligence
• Reduce depression, promote longevity, and decrease senility
• Treat the symptoms associated with ADHD
• 500 mg. per Capsule

Bacopa is the classic Ayurvedic nervine and brain tonic. The latin or botanical name is "Bacopa monniera" . Bacopa is included in a class of Ayurvedic herbs called "Brahmi" Literally translated this mean "Godlike". Obviously, Bacopo is held in great esteem in the science of Ayurveda to earn this title. Traditionally Bacopa has been used to improve memory and learning, increase intelligence, reduce depression, promote longevity, and decrease senility. Bacopa has been widely used to treat a variety of treat psychological, behavioral and cognitive problems. Bacopa supports the nervous system, particularly the hippocampus in the brain, allowing the body to maintain old nerve cells and synthesize new ones more quickly. Bacopa is been used to treat the symptoms associated with depression successfully without the side effect that are often associated with class of drugs known as SSRI's. This class includes the popular drugs like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. Although this class of drugs has proven to be effective in dealing with depression the side effects from the drugs can often be unacceptable for many people who are taking the drugs. Bacopa may well be a wonderful natural alternative for those persons who cannot tolerate the side effects of these SSRI class of drug. Please consult with your physician before making any change to your current medications. Bacopa has been shown to have many of the same benefits of the SSRI without the side effects. The wonderful action of Bacopa is that while helping to control the symptoms of depression is also enhances the brains ability to learn and retain information

Herbal Actions:

The herb is stringent, bitter and cooling and reportedly improves the intellect. It is used in Ayurveda for the treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity and epilepsy and is also potent nerve tonic, cardiotonic, aperient and diuretic. It is reported to improve the intellect, and acts as anti-anxiety agent. It also clams restlessness in children and is used in several mental disorders.

Traditional Uses:

Brahmi has been administered at religious institutions to help students enhance their memory for learning ancient, religious hymns. Direct cardiotonic, ranquilizer and sedative, improves process of learning, Restores memory, enhances power of speech and imagination, diuretic and nervine tonic, anti stress, for nervous and mental strain, use in insanity, epilepsy, hysteria, aesthenia, nervous break down. Taking Brahmi can assist you in feeling a greater sense of well being during period of restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, cloudiness of thought, overactive mind. It is also used as a blood cleanser and is considered helpful For any inflammations, chronic skin diseases, high fevers and hair loss. Some say it assists with the control of blood pressure. In 1951, the central Drug research institute of India (CDRI), India’s premier research institute, Began research on it and found in 1963, they subsequently identified two active molecules confirmed that the bacosides improved memory and enhance learning by increasing the protein kinase activity and new protein synthesis. The CDRI presented their findings to the world’s scientific community at a series of International Brain Research Conferences held between 1986 and 1996 in China, Germany, France, USA, Canada and Australia. Clinical trials on human volunteers that began in 1993 in India have not found any adverse effects. Concentrated extract of Brahmi containing the active molecules Bacoside A & B. Bacoside A assists in the release of Nitric oxide, that causes the relaxation of the aorta and veins and allows blood to flow more smoothly though the body. Bacoside B is a protein that nourishes the brain cells.

Contraindications:

To date, no side effects have been reported with Bacopa.

Clinical Research:

Brahmi has been shown to improve short and long-term memory. When rats were trained to run a particular maze pattern and then given brahmi, they were able to run the maze correctly more often than those receiving a placebo in both the long and short-term tests. A number of compounds have been identified in brahmi, including antioxidant terpenoids and bacosides.

Recently, an alcohol extract of brahmi was shown to neutralize free radicals in brain tissue. Compounds in brahmi bind to brain cell receptors to provide antioxidant protection. The alcohol fraction worked in a manner similar to that of vitamin E, while a hexane extract of brahmi appeared devoid of the
antioxidant activity. These findings underscore the need to use standardized extracts in these products. Standardized brahmi extract can contain as much as 50 percent bacopasaponins, the level reportedly contained in products currently marketed in India.

 

References:

Sharma, R. et al. (1987), Efficacy of Bacopa monniera in revitalizing intellectual functions in children J. Res. Ind. Med.

Kaur, B.R. et al. (1998) Effect of an Ayurvedic formulation on attention, concentration and memory in normal school going children. Indian Drugs. 35(4):200-203.

Mukherjee,GD and Dey, CD (1966) Clinical trial on Brahmi I Journal of Experimental Medical Sciences. 10(1):5-11.

Tripathi YB, et al. Bacopa monniera Linn. as an antioxidant: Mechanism of action.

Ingredients: Standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri leaves ( 45% Bacosides)