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Dealing with bouts of sadness, anxiety, “senior moments,” and kids having difficulty staying on task at school has become a way of life for many Americans. While there are many factors that may be at the root of these problems, there is one herb that has recently emerged as a super-herb for the mind.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 16 million American adults are affected by major depressive disorders each year. (1) Not only that, but generalized anxiety disorders affect about 6.8 million American adults in any given year. (2)
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration reported that up to 11% of young people under 18 years old have received an ADHD diagnosis – this is about 6.4 million children per year. (3,4)
Read on for some amazing research on an herb used for thousands of years to support mood, focus, and memory.
This super-herb is called Bacopa monnieri. It is understood to be the most potent and effective nerve and brain tonic in Ayurvedic medicine. As we will see, it has been traditionally used to treat mental health imbalances, mood issues, and support memory, focus, and various cognitive functions. Today, science supports these applications. (5)
1. Bacopa Supports Memory
A 2002 study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that using Bacopa monnieri for three months may bolster natural memory functions. When 76 participants were tested on retention of new information, the placebo group forgot the information more quickly than the group taking Bacopa. (5)
2. Bacopa Supports Learning
According to a 2008 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, elderly participants who took 300 mg per day of Bacopa monnieri showed improvement in certain mental functions compared to a placebo group. The tests that examined attention and the ability to learn auditory verbal information showed the most improvement, leading the researchers to conclude that the herb might be used to reduce natural cognitive decline in aging populations. (6)
3. Bacopa Supports Mood
If you experience energy, focus, or mood concerns, taking Bacopa may help. The University of Michigan Health System website states that Bacopa monnieri supports the effects of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin and acetylcholine. (7) This effect on neurotransmitters is what enables Bacopa to support stable mood. Recent animal studies of Bacopa monnieri’s effectiveness in supporting spatial memory have produced positive results. (8)
4. Bacopa Fights Stress
In addition to the reduced cognitive decline reported by a study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, participants taking Bacopa monnieri also showed more stable mood, and their heart rates under stress decreased over time. (6)
The Journal of Ethnopharmacology reported a study done on rats, where the brains of animals that were pre-treated with Bacopa monnieri were less affected by stress, and the animals were physically better able to cope with stress. (9)
5. Bacopa Supports Healthy Digestion
Stress can impact and irritate the mucus membrane lining of the gut. The result is intestinal dryness, bowel sluggishness, or an excess production of reactive mucus that can affect the function of the intestinal villi to both assimilate nutrition and detoxify. Bacopa is one of the herbs I use to help sever that relationship between emotional stress and the gut, and support healthy functioning of the digestive tract.
6. Bacopa Supports Respiratory Health
Probably the best indicator of how we deal with stress is how we breathe. When the body is stressed, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, which triggers stress receptors located in the upper lobes of the lungs. Over time, this stress response can compromise the inner skin lining of the respiratory tract. Bacopa supports the relaxation of the bronchioles during respiratory distress induced by stress and anxiousness. Bacopa also supports the relaxation of the blood vessel muscles around the respiratory airway passages. (7)
Final Thoughts
In my practice, I do my best to track down and treat the cause of what is ailing my patients, not just the symptoms. Stress – be it mental, physical or emotional – depletes the body and leaves it vulnerable to a host of ailments, a few of which I have mentioned in this article.
While Bacopa monnieri has excited the scientific community with its psycho-physiological potential, it must be said that there is never a magic bullet. The hallmark of Ayurveda is living a healthy lifestyle in harmony with the environment and the cycles of nature. While I have witnessed incredible benefits using Bacopa, it is always a combination of the right herbs with the correct lifestyle adjustment that will fully restore balance.
How has Bacopa monnieri supported you in your health, mood, and memory?
Sri says
Can Brahmi or Bacopa or both help ADHD child? Also, can these whole herbs be given to teenagers to improve their memory?
Norma says
Can taking Bacopa make you cry or emotional about things. I’ve notice my ADHD son will now have tears in his eyes and cry as a response. He used to be more of a defensive response type. Should I be concerned? He is taking 15 drops of extract twice a day. He is 7 and doesn’t swallow pills. They have helped with impulsivity just not sure why he is more emotional now.
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Norma,
Bacopa is generally a very supportive herb for healthy mood and happiness. Extracts are powerful, so you could consider cutting the amount in half or whole herb Bacopa powder as an alternative.
Be Well
Anna says
I am experiencing severe anxiety especially afternoon and evening. I stopped caffeine except for two cups in morning of Oulong tea..
I also have insomnia , fatigue and focus issues. Would you bacopa and happy caps ??
Thank you
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Anna,
Bacopa and Happy Caps could be very supportive for you. You should also look at Brahmi-Brain (centella asiatica) for sleep and mental clarity: http://store.lifespa.com/brahmi-brain.html
Utilizing Happy Caps (which contains Bacopa and Brahmi) during the day and Brahmi at night would be a reasonable approach.
Be Well.
Nadieh khoshamooz says
Hi is this herb safe with antidepressant/ anxiety medicine Like Zoloft, lorazepam, celexa , trazedone,
Can this herb be mixed with Yerba mate tea ?
my mom who is 85 years is going to use this with other medication while using other antidepressants/ anti anxiety drugs, I am trying to convince her to only take the herb if I could
Thank you so much for helping
Nadieh
Christina Carter says
Dr. Douillard,
I am also wondering about Bacopas affect on Adrenal Glands? I’m a Lyme survivor, was treated and cured at an Integrative Clinic in Nevada… but 2 years later, asthmatic type inflammation began to occur, which led to consistantly stressful reactions in my body. Therefore, between the previous Lyme and current asthma type symptoms restricting my amount of sleep, I’ve been trying alllll I know to be helpful, with only partially desired results. I’ve been an Integrative Herbal Nutritionist for about a decade, but am seeking the guidance of others in my field. Could bacopa be the Hand of Midas I seek? (Also, take 3 particular meds… which are only pacifying, not curing)
With hope and gratefulness,
Christina
John Douillard says
Bacopa could be very helpful for you, I would also look into Tulsi https://lifespa.com/the-benefits-of-super-charged-tulsi-holy-basil/ http://store.lifespa.com/tulsi_holy_basil.html Be well, Christina.
Don says
If I am taking LifeSpa Bacopa twice per day ,can I take the Happy Caps as well and not OD on Bacopa. Also, is Ginkgo good to take w/Bacopa for memory. I am a 57 year old male in good health but have a stressful job and struggle w/ sleeping through the night. Thanks
John Douillard says
Hi Don, it should be fine to take Happy Caps with the Bacopa. I would introduce the Happy Caps at one a day to see how you tolerate the addition and then go up to two. The Ginkgo also shouldn’t interact with either of these formulas.
Be well,
Dr. John
Sarah says
My husband takes Plavix and Cymbalta. Any contraindications with Bacopa?
Anthony Harford says
Can anyone say whether or not the Bacopa Caroliniana has any of the medicinal properties as the Bacopa monnieri?
Or does Bacopa Caroliniana has any medicinal value?
Steve says
Hi there Is it ok to take along with
blood pressure medication Bacopa
Hadar Feingold says
Hello!
Any Bacopa supplements that dont contain lead?? Thank you!
John Douillard says
Hi Hadar,
Yes, LifeSpa’s Bacopa is independently tested to be sure that it is free of lead and other contaminants.
Doug Pearl says
Dr Douillard, based on my personal research, all Bacopa products are contaminated with lead. Some more or less than others, and seemingly the whole herb formulations have the highest levels. I’d rather go with whole herb, as you recommend, but I’m reluctant since lead is pretty horrible stuff. Thoughts?
Katherine says
I have been using Bacopa with great results on my memory. My brother would like to try it but he on Coumadin. I have seen conflicing comments on whether it is contraindicated or not. Could you please shed some light? I use the extract.
John Douillard says
Hi Katherine,
Since ours is not an extract it works more like a food. I would still use it under the supervision of the doctor who prescribed the Coumadin with regular testing to be safe.
Paisley says
thanks for that info! i have a question regarding the herb being so close to the anti-anxiety medicines. those meds are also usually advised against sudden discontinuous use. what would be side effects if this herb isn’t taken continuously? Also, is it ok to take alongside vitaminD3 (5000-10000IUs), until vitaminD levels are up to 50-80?
John Douillard says
Hi Paisley,
Be sure to find a whole herb Bacopa rather than an extract. Though there are not side effects from intermittent use of Bacopa, taking it consistently is important in order to experience benefits.
Taking Bacopa with vitamin D is fine.
Hope that helps!
Julie says
Good morning Dr John,
Question about the Bacopa capsules. Can they be opened and taken by the powder only? My son has difficulty swallowing pills and they look pretty big, at least on the picture. Or do they need to be encapsulated?
Thank you, Julie
John Douillard says
Hi Julie,
Taking the powder out of the capsules is completely fine. You can mix it into food or drink for your son.
Nyokabi says
Where can you buy Bacopa Monnieri
John Douillard says
Hi Nyokabi,
We sell organic, encapsulated Bacopa monnieri in the LifeSpa store: http://store.lifespa.com/. You can find it online or possibly in a local herb store as well.
Rachel Wang says
I am wondering if you know if Bacopa is stimulating to the adrenal glands?