Brahmi is said to have a positive effect on body and mind. But how exactly does taking Brahmi affect memory or the ability to concentrate? What influence can Brahmi have on Alzheimer's?
In this article we would like to answer your basic questions about the effects of brahmi. This gives you an overview and allows you to assess at the end whether taking Brahmi is suitable for you.
the essentials in brief
- Brahmi can improve cognitive abilities and lead to an increase in mental performance. A recognizable effect of the intake is usually achieved after 8 to 12 weeks of regular intake.
- Hair and skin can benefit from using a brahmi oil. It can have an anti-inflammatory effect on the (scalp) skin and strengthen the hair structure.
- The most common dosage forms are capsules or teas. Before you buy, you should consider both options and choose the one that suits you best.
Definition: What is Brahmi?
Brahmi, also known as Bacopa Monnieri, is a nootropic. These remedies can have a positive impact on the central nervous system. By taking it, for example, the ability to think or the ability to concentrate can be improved without tiring. (1) The fleshy, round leaves of this plant are used for this.
Brahmi has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine. But it is also attracting increasing attention in Germany as a dietary supplement.
The Indian healing art Ayurveda offers various solutions for everyday ailments. (Image Source: Lisa Hobbs / unsplash)
Brahmi is offered in various dosage forms. The individual forms are discussed in more detail below.
The Effects of Brahmi: What You Should Know
Before you decide to take Brahmi, you should understand how this dietary supplement works. We want to answer the most frequently asked questions about the effects of Brahmi below.
How does Brahmi work against oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is caused by excess free radicals in the body. This special group of oxygen compounds can damage the genetic material and accelerate the aging process.
Brahmi can help reduce free radical overload in the body.
As a scavenger of free radicals, Brahmi can prevent this oxidative stress. The antioxidant activity of this nootropic may help treat human diseases caused by free radicals.(2)
How does Brahmi work with anxiety disorders or nervousness?
Anxiety and nervousness can be triggered by stress, among other things. Adaptogens can help to reduce the feeling of stress. Adaptogens are plant substances that help the organism to better adapt to and cope with stressful situations.
The nitrogen produced in the botanicals of brahmi can also have a positive effect on the blood vessels and thus calm the entire system.(4)
Brahmi contains adaptogens and can therefore have a positive effect on the body. Brahmi can also help reduce levels of the hormone cortisol in the body.(3,4)
If you suffer from anxiety, nervousness or stress, taking brahmi can be a possible solution for you.
What influence can Brahmi have on the brain?
The effect of brahmi can be seen above all in the area of ​​brain performance. Brahmi can speed up information processing and improve memory. In addition, a positive effect on long- and short-term memory can be achieved. Information can be processed faster and stored longer.(5)
In addition, taking Brahmi can improve the ability to concentrate. The mental performance and linking of information, for example in learning processes, can be easier with the intake of brahmi.(6)
However, a significant effect of this increase in performance can usually only be achieved after 8 to 12 weeks. It is therefore advisable to take it over a longer period of time in order to ensure the most positive effect possible.(6)
If you find it difficult to concentrate, Brahmi can be a possible support. (Image source: Thomas Park / unsplash)
It is also possible to use Brahmi in children with ADHD. Symptoms such as attention deficits, restlessness or learning problems can be reduced with the help of Brahmi. According to studies, the tolerability also showed no problems in the children.(7)
So Brahmi represents a possible solution to improve and protect your mental performance.
What influence can Brahmi have on Alzheimer's?
The potential for developing Alzheimer's increases with age. As a result of this neurodegenerative disease, memory performance can decrease and the ability to remember can dwindle. The reasons for this are varied and not yet fully understood. Possible explanations can be the breakdown of neurons in the brain.(8)
Brahmi can counteract this degradation of the neurons and slow down the process. The cell death of the neuronal cells can be reduced overall and the performance can also be increased.(9)
It is therefore potentially possible to treat cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's with the help of brahmi. Again, you should seek the advice of a doctor before taking it. More studies and research are needed to determine the explicit effects of brahmi on such conditions.
What effect does Brahmi have on skin and hair?
Brahmi can have a positive and nourishing effect on the hair structure and skin. The use of brahmi oil is particularly useful here.
Brahmi oil can help strengthen your hair structure and protect your scalp. (Image source: Tamara Bellis / unsplash)
The oil, which is obtained from the fat leaf of the Brahmi plant, mainly contains saponins. These have an antibacterial effect and can prevent and treat inflammation of the (scalp) skin. Other ingredients such as plant sterols, flavonoids and glycosides are also important for hair growth.(10)
Here we have summarized the possible effects of brahmi oil for you:(10)
- Strengthening of the hair structure
- anti-inflammatory
- Hair growth stimulation
- shine and suppleness
- Reduces (head) skin dandruff
The oil can also be easily distributed and massaged into the (scalp) skin. This simplifies handling during use. Whether and to what extent brahmi influences your hair structure also depends on hereditary factors and previous damage to your hair.
What dosage forms are there?
Brahmi can be taken in different ways. The two most common dosage forms are capsules or teas. There is also the brahmi oil described above, which is more suitable for external use.
capsules
The capsules contain the extract of the brahmi plant in the form of a powder. The capsules can also be taken on the go, making it quick and easy to take.
However, you should pay attention to the concentration of the respective brahmi powder and strictly adhere to the recommended dosage. This can be between 200mg and 500mg.
tea
A tea can have a calming and relaxing effect. Therefore, people like to use a Brahmi tea, which is prepared quickly and easily.
The disadvantage, however, is that many teas do not contain the active ingredient in the brahmi plant that produces the expected effects. If you want to improve your memory, for example, you should pay attention to the bacoside content. When buying a tea, you should therefore definitely seek advice.
In addition, only a small amount of the active ingredients can be absorbed with a cup of tea. It is therefore advisable to drink several cups of this tea a day in order to achieve an effect.
What side effects can brahmi cause?
As a herbal food supplement, Brahmi can generally be taken without any major concerns. The duration of ingestion is also not a problem. Rather, the effect increases with the length of ingestion.
However, there are exceptions where taking brahmi is not recommended. This includes interactions with necessary prescription drugs. Brahmi as a nootropic should not be taken with antidepressants or thyroid medications.(6)
Before taking it, you should always check with your doctor whether interactions with Brahmi are possible.
Brahmi is also only suitable to a limited extent for pregnant women or very small children up to the age of 6 years. Since there are not enough studies on the effects of brahmi in these reference groups, you should refrain from taking it as a person affected by these groups.
We have summarized other side effects that may occur for you below:(11)
- nausea
- stomach pain
- frequent bowel movements
The probability of occurrence depends on the dosage and the general tolerability of this dietary supplement. If you recognize such side effects, you should stop taking Brahmi immediately.
What alternatives are there to brahmi?
In addition to Brahmi, a few other plants are used in Ayurvedic medicine, which aim to increase cognitive abilities and well-being. Therefore, we have summarized the three main alternatives for you here.
- Ginkgo Biloba : Ginkgo intake may boost focus, learning, performance, and memory. Ginkgo can also be used for circulatory disorders.
- Centella Asiatica : Also known as pennywort, this plant can aid in wound healing and has anti-inflammatory properties. Their antioxidant effect can also have a positive effect on oxidative stress.
- Ashwagandha Root : This plant can improve sleep and performance and have a positive effect on cortisol levels. Usually capsules with the powder of the root are taken.
Which of these plant substances is suitable for you depends on your individual goal for your well-being.
Conclusion
If you would like to use Brahmi as a dietary supplement, you should seek advice when buying it in order to achieve the best possible effect. If you are taking prescription medication at the same time, you should discuss possible interactions with your doctor. This is especially true for thyroid medication or antidepressants.
Overall, Brahmi can be a way to increase your ability to focus and improve your mental performance. It is advisable to take Brahmi as a powder in the form of capsules or as a tea. In addition, oxidative stress can be reduced and excessive cell death prevented. Brahmi can also have positive effects on skin and hair. As an oil, it has an anti-inflammatory effect and gives your hair a natural shine.
References
- Cervenka F, Jahodár L. Rostlinné metabolity jako nootropika a kognitiva [Plant metabolites as nootropics and cognitives]. Ceska Slov Farm. 2006 Sep;55(5):219-29. Czech. PMID: 17128592.
- Russo A, Izzo AA, Borrelli F, Renis M, Vanella A. Free radical scavenging capacity and protective effect of Bacopa monniera L. on DNA damage. Phytother Res. 2003 Sep;17(8):870-5. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1061. PMID: 13680815.
- Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Kumar A, Ghosal S. Antioxidant activity of Bacopa monniera in rat frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus. Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):174-9. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(200005)14:3<174::aid-ptr624>3.0.co;2-o. PMID: 10815010.
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- Stough C, Lloyd J, Clarke J, Downey LA, Hutchison CW, Rodgers T, Nathan PJ. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Aug;156(4):481-4. doi: 10.1007/s002130100815. Erratum in: Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Jul;232(13):2427. Dosage error in article text. PMID: 11498727.
- Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jul;16(7):753-9. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0342. PMID: 20590480.
- Dave UP, Dingankar SR, Saxena VS, Joseph JA, Bethapudi B, Agarwal A, Kudiganti V. An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Adv Mind Body Med. 2014 Spring;28(2):10-5. PMID: 24682000.
- Uabundit N, Wattanathorn J, Mucimapura S, Ingkaninan K. Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in Alzheimer's disease model. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010 Jan 8;127(1):26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.056. Epub 2009 Oct 4. PMID: 19808086.
- Limpeanchob N, Jaipan S, Rattanakaruna S, Phrompittayarat W, Ingkaninan K. Neuroprotective effect of Bacopa monnieri on beta-amyloid-induced cell death in primary cortical culture. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Oct 30;120(1):112-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.07.039. Epub 2008 Aug 5. PMID: 18755259.
- Dubey S, Nema N, Nayak S. Preparation and evaluation of herbal shampoo powder. Anc Sci Life. 2004 Jul;24(1):38-44. PMID: 22557149; PMCID: PMC3330909.
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KHURSHID, Fowad et al. Effect of herb-drug interactions of Bacopa monnieri Linn. (Brahmi) Formulation on the pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline in rats. braz J.Pharm.Sci. [on-line]. 2017, vol.53, n.4 [cited 2020-10-02], e17072. Available from: