Bacopa enhances memory and protects neurons

A review of studies presented by the pharmaceutical expert in nutrition and medicinal plants Anna Paré at the XII Phytotherapy Congress, held in Oviedo, shows the beneficial effects of bacopa monnieri about the brain. According to the doctor, supplementation with standardized dry extract improves attention, memory and learning in healthy adults, in older people with mild cognitive impairment, and in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. It also increases neuronal plasticity and the levels of well-being neurotransmitters such as serotonin, acetylcholine and GABA acid.

Bacopa, which is also known as water hyssop, is a adaptogenic Plant, that is, it stimulates the body’s response, especially the brain and nervous system, to stressful situations, improving physical and mental performance. Originally from Asia, traditional medicine in India has used it for more than 2,000 years in small doses to treat epilepsy and asthma.

Bacopa improves intellectual abilities and could prevent neuronal degeneration

In Hindi, to the combination of bacopa and gotu kola (Asiatic spark) is called “brahmi”, which means “universal consciousness energy”. Legend has it that ancient Hindu sages took brahmi to memorize the very long sacred texts.

The action of the bacopa is based on its complex chemical composition, where alkaloid substances stand out and, above all, triterpene saponins called bacosides, which improve communication between neurons which especially benefits long-term memory.

In tests carried out with laboratory animals with Alzheimer’s disease, it has been observed that the extract of bacopa can reduce beta-amyloid deposits, which suggests that it could be useful in the prevention and complementary treatment of this neurodegenerative disease, although there is still no research with people to confirm it.

Enhances memory and reduces anxiety

A study published in the journal psychopharmacologycarried out with 46 healthy adults, who were administered 300 mg daily of dry extract with 55% bacosides for 12 weeks, shows that bacopa significantly improves visual information processing speed, learning rate, memory consolidation, and state anxiety compared to placebo.

Drs Morgans and Stevens administered 300 mg of bacopa daily to 81 elderly Australians and observed highly significant improvements in verbal learning, memory acquisition, and delayed memory loss. In summary, clinical research shows that bacopa is effective for decrease the rate of forgetfulness (especially of verbal material).

Bacopa is traditionally eaten with ghee (clarified butter) because fat increases absorption of its active ingredients.

It is a safe plant of which no contraindications have been described and it does not present significant side effects at the doses used. In some cases nausea and other mild intestinal discomfort may appear.

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