Brahmi Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Andri, Bacopa, Herb of Grace, Hysope d'Eau, Herpestis Herb, Indian Pennywort, Jalanimba, Jalnaveri , Jal-Brahmi, Nira-Brahmi, Sambrani Chettu, Thyme-Leave Gratiola, Water Hyssop CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for Gotu Kola
Scientific Name
Bacopa Monnieri
Why Do People Use Brahmi?
The oral consumption of brahmi powder is utilized for anxiety issues, Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), memory loss and cognitive impairment, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and allergies. Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is also used for hoarseness, low back pain, epilepsy, mental illness, sexual dysfunction in both genders, rheumatism, as a nerve tonic and as a diuretic.
Is It Safe To Use?
Likely safe - Brahmi powder is safe to use via oral route as long as it used in appropriate doses for appropriate duration. 12 weeks use of Bacopa monnieri is considered safe, as per some clinical experiments.
Pregnancy and Lactation - For pregnancy and lactation there is insufficient reliable information available.
How Effective Is Brahmi?
Likely Effective for Cognitive Function - According to few clinical experiments, using certain brahmi extracts, like Flordis and KeenMind, for consecutively 12 weeks every day in a dosage of 300 mg, may improve some functions of human body including memory, verbal learning and information processing in healthy women and men. Another clinical experiment reveals that by using a mixture of brahmi extract (Natural Remedies and BacoMind) in a dosage of 300 mg every day for 12 weeks enhances memory, verbal learning and retention in healthy adults more than 55 years old.
Likely ineffective for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - For preventing IBS relapse, brahmi powder seems to be more productive as compared to placebo under some conditions. Regarding effectiveness of Brahmi there is insufficient reliable information available.
How Brahmi Works?
Most effective part of brahmi is its leaves. Bacopa monnieri pharmacological reactions are ascribed to the constituents of bacopasaponin and saponin bacoside.
Some clinical studies recommend that refined bacosides A and B may encourage cognitive performance and learning ability of adult men and women. The possible mechanism for improved cognitive functions include choline acetylase activity, acetylcholine release modulation and muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding. The results of in vitro studies have shown that brahmi inhibits acetylcholinesterase action. Because of these cholinergic impacts, brahmi powder may be helpful for Alzheimer's diseases. There is a hypothesis that brahmi might possess neuroprotective impacts too. In vitro studies have shown that brahmi extracts seem to save neurons of body from death promoted by the accumulation beta-amyloid proteins. This may be linked with brahmi's inhibitory activity for acetylcholinesterase. It also appears to lessen intracellular levels of oxygen species, which could be helpful against cell death.
Brahmi is also utilized as an "adaptogen" or general tonic for anxiety purpose. In animal tissue models, extracts of Bacopa monnieri seem to improve stressors adaptation reactions. It is also used to balance monoamine and corticosterone levels in test models of anxiety.
For allergic reactions, brahmi powder is used as mast cell stabilizer.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Brahmi?
The oral consumption of brahmi powder in some cases causes increase in stool frequency in 30% patient, another 16% experience abdominal cramps and 18% individuals experience nausea under some clinical experiments. Some other side effects due to utilization of brahmi are fatigue, dry mouth, bloating, flatulence, headache, less appetite, vivid dreams complaints and insomnia as well.
How Brahmi Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Not known.
How Brahmi Interacts With Drugs?
Acetylcholinesterase (Ach) Inhibitors - Interaction rating of brahmi and acetylcholinesterase (Ach) inhibitors is moderate so be careful with this mixture. Brahmi powder appears to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and may enhance levels of acetylcholine. The concomitant use of Bacopa monnieri with other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may result in additive impacts and enhance cholinergic potential side effects. Cholinergic drugs and AChE inhibitors include donepezil (Aricept), ethanechol, edrophonium (ReversolTensilon), echothiophate, physostigmine, neostigmine (Prostigmin), succinylcholine, pyridostigmine (Regonol) and tacrine.
Anticholinergic Drugs - Interaction rating of brahmi and anticholinergic drugs is moderate so be careful with this mixture. Brahmi powder appears to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and may enhance levels of acetylcholine. Therefore, combined use of Bacopa monnieri and anticholingergic drugs may decrease the effectiveness of brahmi and other Ach inhibitors. There are a number of anticholinergic drugs that include benztropine (Cogentin), atropine, procyclidine, trihexyphenidyl (Artane) and biperiden (Akineton).
Cholinergic Drugs - Interaction rating of brahmi and cholinergic drugs is moderate so be careful with this mixture. Brahmi appears to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and may enhance the level of acetylcholine. Combined use of brahmi powder and cholinergic drugs may cause excess of acetylcholine and acetylcholine related side effects. Cholinergic drugs include donepezil, bethanechol (Urecholine), edrophonium (Tensilon, Reversol), echothiophate (Phospholine Iodide), physostigmine (Antilirium), neostigmine, succinylcholine (Quelicin) and pyridostigmine (Regonol).
How Brahmi Interacts With Foods?
Not known.
How Brahmi Interacts With Lab Tests?
Not known.
How Brahmi Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
Bradycardia - Brahmi powder appears to increase the level of acetylcholine, which is most probably due to its ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase. It should be used with caution as it may cause bradycardia.
Peptic Ulcer Disease - Brahmi appears to increase level of acetylcholine, inhibit acetylcholinesterase and possess cholinergic impacts. It could fasten diseases of peptic ulcer so it should be used with caution.
Pulmonary Conditions - Brahmi appears to increase level of acetylcholine, inhibit acetylcholinesterase and possess cholinergic impacts. It may aggravate the symptoms of lung disease like chronic and asthma due to its secretory effects. Therefore, it should be used with caution in such conditions.
Urogenital Tract Obstruction - Bacopa monnieri appears to increase level of acetylcholine, inhibit acetylcholinesterase and possess cholinergic impacts. It may worsen symptoms of urogenital tract obstruction because of its pro-secretory activity. So, it should be used with caution.
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Brahmi?
Brahmi powder is most likely used to treat cognitive decline. For this purpose it should be used in a dosage of 300 mg every day. Flordis and KeenMind are such products that have been used commercially in clinical experiment.
Comments
In region of India, Brahmi is very famous herb for making Ayurvedic medicine. It might be helpful to improve human intelligence and memory and also for other critical purposes. The word brahmi came from Brahma, which means Hindu pantheon mystical creation. Merremia gangetica and Centella asiatica also associated to name brahmi, but most of medical groups relates it with Bacopa monnieri.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
