Getting to know Bacopa

By naturopath and nutritionist Karen Latter

I find getting to know a medicinal herb much the same as meeting somebody new. First you get to know their name, hear where they come from and find out what they do, which allows you to begin to understand a little of their personality and uniqueness that sets them apart from others. Of course, some become a favourite, which is why I would like to introduce you to one of mine: Bacopa monnieri. 

Bacopa 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, which 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 800 BC 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 to 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 which 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 who suffer from inattention, as it appears to facilitate learning and concentration. Its ability to calm also has value in overactive types. This is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial conducted at Swinburne University’s Centre for Psychopharmacology in Melbourne.

By getting to know Bacopa, we can become acquainted with an ancient herbal medicine that is a tonic to our brain and nervous system. And in our demanding modern daily lives, where facilitating memory, concentration and learning have never been more important, this new friend is well suited to support us.

References available upon request.

This post has been sponsored by Flordis, an Australian brand of clinically proven medicines grown from science.

About the author

Karen Latter is a degree-qualified naturopath and nutritionist who works in clinic practice at Sydney Health & Fertility, Manly, and is passionate about encouraging and guiding individuals to take control of their own health. Karen presents to the general public on various natural health topics and lectures in naturopathy at Endeavour College of Natural Health, where she enjoys teaching the subjects of naturopathic philosophy and herbal medicine. Karen Latter also provides consultant and editorial support to Flordis on a project basis.

About the Swinburne University trial investigating the effects of CDRI08 (a special extract of Bacopa) on children and adolescents with hyperactivity and inattention
The trial will investigate whether KeenMind^® (CDRI 08^®), a specific extract of Bacopa monnieri, may help with the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in boys aged between 6 and 14 years of age. Over 16 weeks, study participants will be given KeenMind^® (CDRI 08^®) and sit tests measuring their IQ, memory, attention, reaction time, inhibition and behaviour. The trial is being undertaken by Professor Con Stough at Swinburne University’s Centre For Human Psychopharmacology.

Study Trial No.: ACTRN12612000827831
www.inattentiontrial.com

Swinburne University’s clinical study investigating the effects of KeenMind® (containing CDRI08^®, a special extract of Bacopa) in children and adolescents with inattention and hyperactivity is sponsored by Soho Flordis International.