Memory 101: what is bacopa?

Did you know that we can improve memory with bacopa (bacopa monniera) an herb that can help you remember more and worry less?                                  

Practitioners of the ancient Indian system of medicine called Ayurveda have prescribed the herb bacopa for more than 3,000 years as a primary nervous-system strengthener; however Americans have only recently discovered it. Ayurvedic doctors term it "brahmi" after Brahma, Hindu for creator of the universe.                                                                                                                           
How it works: Two chemicals in bacopa, bacosides A and B, improve transmission of impulses between nerve cells in the brain. These bacosides regenerate synapses, repair damaged neurons, and facilitate learning and memory of novel bits of information. Bacopa increases serotonin, a brain chemical known to promote relaxation. The herb's ability to boost brain function while reducing anxiety helps explain why it also treats ADHD.                                                                                                                                         
Evidence: Bacopa's effects on memory and anxiety have been widely tested in India, but research on bacopa for ADHD is somewhat limited. Few human trials on this herb have been conducted in the West. A 21-day rat study in Phytotherapy Research in 2000 compared the effects of bacopa and deprenyl, a drug used to boost mental function in Parkinson's patients. Bacopa increased activity in the memory-storing region of the animals' brains, while the drug did not. In an Australian double-blind study in Psychopharmacology last year, researchers gave 46 healthy adults either a 300 mg dose of bacopa or a placebo daily. After 12 weeks, learning and memory rates were 13 percent higher in the bacopa group than in the placebo group. Anxiety levels were 27 percent lower for the bacopa group than for the placebo group. An unpublished double-blind study conducted in India in 1998 examined bacopa's effects on 8- to 10-year-old children with ADHD. In this study, 19 children took 100 mg of the herb daily while 17 took a placebo. After 12 weeks, those who used the herb performed significantly better on learning tests than the placebo group.                                                                                                                                                                    
How to take it: Bacopa is available in pill and powder forms. It is so new to this country that only a few natural food stores carry it. Some websites that sell it include www.ayush.com, www.himalayausa.com, and nutraceutical.com.
Mix 1/4 to 1 teaspoon of the powder in 1 cup of water and drink it three times a day, recommends David A. Frederick, Ph.D., N.D., an Ayurvedic doctor and naturopath in Lancaster, Pa. Or take 60 mg of bacopa pills three times a day, says Elisa Lottor, Ph.D., N.D., a naturopath in Los Angeles. When bacopa is taken regularly, results can be noticed within two to four weeks.          
Caveats: While bacopa has no known side effects, it is advisable to consult your health care practitioner before giving it to a child or taking it when pregnant.                                                                                                                                                                           
Health claims: Among numerous benefits, proponents believe that bacopa improves memory, decreases anxiety, and lessens the symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD.)                                                                                    

Bottom line: Bacopa's long history of use and apparent safety make it an appealing herb to use to enhance memory and treat anxiety and ADHD. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm its benefits.

Bacopa Uses:
1. Memory
2. Learning Skills
3. Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
4. ADHD
5. Epilepsy                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Additional information on bacopa
• Get smart: Bacopa is a bright choice for better brainpower
• Memory enhancing effect of Bacopa confirmed in trial - Phytotherapy Review &...
• Boost your brain power: herbs to improve your memory and mental acuity - The...
• www.holistic-herbalist.com/bacopa.html      

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