Brahmi or Bacopa monnieri is a medicinal herb used in India by Ayurvedic practitioners. It has soft stems which bear bright green oval leaves and small white flowers. It grows in damp areas and marshy lands.

Health Benefits of Brahmi:

~ Powerful Antioxidant: Antioxidants protect against cell damage caused by free radicals, known as oxidative stress. [2] Oxidative stress has been linked to diseases of heart, cancer, arthritis, stroke, respiratory diseases, immune deficiency, other inflammatory conditions, etc.

~ Reduces Anxiety & Stress: Too much anxiety, fear and stress for a prolonged time can drastically affect our physical and mental health. It can lead to several anxiety disorders like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.Brahmi is used as a nerve tonic by Ayurvedic practitioners for since long. Consumption of Brahmi syrup was found to be effective in reducing the level of anxiety and associated symptoms. Brahmi is also found to significantly reduce stress levels

~ Memory Booster: Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease associated with loss of memory. Brahmi was found to be neuro-protective and effective in Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases with cognitive impairment. Brahmi improves our brain functioning and enhances both short-term and long-term memory.

~ Treatment of Insomnia: Sleep is extremely essential for physical and mental relaxation and rejuvenates us. The fast-paced life, stress, unhealthy eating and sleeping habits disturb our sleep pattern, leading to insomnia and other sleep disorders. Consumption of Brahmi calms us. It effectively reduces stress and anxiety. Brahmi at bedtime induces sleep and is helpful in insomnia.

~ Reduces Blood Pressure: Stress and unhealthy eating habits lead to a rise in cases of high blood pressure or hypertension. Such patients are further susceptible to heart diseases, stroke, congestive heart failure, etc. Brahmi is found to reduce blood pressure

~ It may help lessen ADHD symptoms: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopment disorder that shows characteristics like hyperactivity, impulsiveness, etc. Some research studies show that one of the health benefits of Brahmi may include reducing ADHD symptoms. One study showed that 225mg of Brahmi for 6 months straight reduced certain habits like restlessness, inattention, etc. Another research revealed that a blend of Brahmi helped improve attention and cognitive skills. Although these studies were done on a small scale, the results are promising and only more large-scale studies can tell us for sure.

~ Good for our Hair: Brahmi is a usual constituent of hair oil as it nourishes the hair roots, strengthens the hair and prevents dandruff

~ Helps in the Treatment of Diabetes: Brahmi was found to be effective in the management of diabetes mellitus

~ Anti-epileptic: Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain with learning, cognitive and memory impairments. Brahmi is neuro-protective and effectively enhances mental performance, concentration, alertness and memory.

~ Wound Healing: Bacosides present in Brahmi accelerate wound healing.

~ Intelligence Booster: Brahmi is a wonder herb known to enhance intelligence. It increases alertness and concentration. It also improves memory.

~ Analgesic & Antipyretic: Consumption of Brahmi brings down temperature, thus reducing fever and also giving relief from pain. [14]

~ Useful for Asthmatics: Brahmi possesses relaxant properties. It is known to cause bronchodilation, thus helping patients with asthma to breathe better.

Some other point to keep in mind while consuming Brahmi is that it is not recommended for pregnant women. This is so as there is no study or evidence telling us that it is safe to use during pregnancy. Moreover, if you are taking any prior medications, make sure to consult your doctor before consuming Brahmi, as it tends to interact with certain kinds of medicines.

Origin India