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Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) is a perennial, creeping, aquatic herb. Originally from the wetlands of India, and other southeastern Asian countries.
Bacopa, also known as water hyssop, is often referred to as “Brahmi”. Named after the supreme god Brahma.
The nootropic benefits of Bacopa Monnieri were first revealed in ancient Ayurvedic texts. In was recommended to devotees to help memorize long passages of text. And enhance cognition.
And Bacopa Monnieri is an adaptogen. It helps prevent the chemical and physical effects of stress. Instead of just suppressing them like many modern antidepressants.
Bacopa Monnieri helps:
- Neurotransmitters. Bacopa affects brain levels of acetylcholine which is important for memory and cognition.
- Cognition. Bacopa has antioxidant effects which enhances cognitive function. Bacopa extract helps prevent arterial plaque that can lead to heart attack, stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases.
- Anxiety and stress. Bacopa has a significant anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect. It appears to modulate brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This has an effect on mood regulation.
Overview
Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) is an aquatic herb originally found in the wetlands and marshy areas of Southeast Asia and India.
Bacopa, also known as water hyssop, is often referred to as “Brahmi”. Named after the supreme god Brahma.
Ancient Ayurvedic texts talked about Bacopa. It was recommended to devotees to help memorize long passages of text.
In the West, Bacopa Monnieri is often used to reduce anxiety, depression and stress. But it’s gaining popularity in the nootropic community as a powerful memory and cognition booster.
The active compound Bacoside A in Bacopa easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.
How does Bacopa Monnieri Work in the Brain?
Bacopa Monnieri boosts brain health and function in several ways. But two in particular stand out.
- Bacopa Monnieri boosts memory. Bacopa’s two active components are bacosides A and B. They improve the signaling of electrical impulses between neurons in your brain. Bacosides also help rebuild damaged neurons.
Bacopa Monnieri helps you learn and remember things more easily. In one study, researchers gave 54 volunteers in Portland, Oregon 300 mg of B. Monnieri per day for 12 weeks.
After the 12-week study, the people taking Bacopa had:
- Better word recall
- Better attention
- Better memory scores
- A greater ability to focus while learning
- Less anxiety and lower heart rates[i]
- Bacopa Monnieri reduces stress. Bacopa has traditionally been used in Ayurveda as a tonic for the nervous system. It helps to reduce anxiety.
Research at Banaras Hindu University in India showed Bacopa as effective for anxiety as the benzodiazepine drug lorazepam. One of the side effects of lorazepam is memory loss. Bacopa Monnieri on the other hand, reduced anxiety while boosting cognition.[ii]
How things go bad
Chronic stress and cortisol can damage your brain. Neuroscientists at the University of California, Berkeley, found that chronic stress triggers long-term change in brain structure and function.[iii]
Chronic stress damages neural networks. Certain proteins are over-expressed damaging neurons as a result.
Toxins invade cells, hijacking their normal, healthy function. And oxidative damage by free radicals harm brain cells if they’re not removed.
↓ Chronic stress reduces memory capacity
↓ Toxins kill brain cells from the inside
↓ Free radicals destroy neurons and synapses
Under conditions of chronic stress your brain loses the capacity to transmit signals between neurons efficiently. Memory, cognition, and decision-making all suffer as a result.
Bacopa Monnieri benefits
Bacopa Monnieri undoes damage to the brain caused by chronic stress. And helps keep it healthy. This is a little complicated, so stay with me here.
Your brain is protected by heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70), cytochrome enzymes EROD and PROD, and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
Hsp70 helps proteins in cells retain normal structure so they remain functional. EROD (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase) and PROD (7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase) are detox enzymes. They protect your brain by converting bad toxins into less harmful compounds. And SOD battles destructive free radicals called superoxides. And converts them into harmless organic compounds.
Bacopa Monnieri Keeps Your Brain Healthy Under Stress
When you are under stress, levels of Hsp70 increase in all regions of your brain. But research shows that animals pretreated with Bacopa for 7 days prevented most of this increase in Hsp70. Particularly in areas of the brain responsible for memory.
This means that producing less Hsp70 under stress, Bacopa makes your brain less susceptible to stress. Bacopa kept those regions of the brain in a non-stressed state. Even in the presence of stress.
Bacopa also has a preemptive action on EROD and PROD. Rats treated with Bacopa, but not under stress, saw an increase in these two enzymes. Suggesting that Bacopa helps stockpile these protective enzymes to help you better deal with stress.
And when it comes to SOD, researchers said, “Bacopa helps in coping with the combined hypoxic, hypothermic, and immobilization stress, which could lead to an onslaught of free radicals.” So Bacopa helps SOD activity and prepares cells to weather attacks by free radicals.[iv]
Translated, this all means Bacopa Monnieri helps your brain deal with stress. And helps boost memory.
How does Bacopa Monnieri feel?
The effects of Bacopa are not felt immediately. But seem to build over time. Some users report a pronounced anti-anxiety effect within 2 – 4 days of supplementing with Bacopa.
In one study done in Australia, results were measured at 5 and 12 weeks of taking Bacopa. The results showed improved speed of information processing, and an increase in learning and memory. Maximum reduction in anxiety was realized after 12 weeks of use.[v]
Some neurohackers say they feel the effects of Bacopa Monnieri sooner than 4 weeks. And the effects seem to keep working even after stopping supplementation. The effects are long-term.
Long term users say they consistently feel calmer, can think quicker and have better memory.
Bacopa Monnieri Clinical Research
Bacopa Monnieri as a Nootropic
This double-blind placebo-controlled investigation was done at Swinburne University in Australia. 107 healthy participants were given 300 mg of Bacopa Monnieri extract for 90 days.
After 90 days, the people who took B. Monnieri extract showed significant improvement in spatial memory, memory accuracy and their ability to process visual information.[vi]
Bacopa Monnieri for Stress Reduction
Bacopa is likely best known for reducing stress. Recent research at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia confirmed this in the lab.
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study 17 healthy volunteers were given 320 mg or 640 mg of Bacopa extract. The study reported significant mood improvement, and decreased levels of cortisol.
This study demonstrated Bacopa’s adaptogenic qualities. Bacopa Monnieri counteracted the effects of stress by regulating hormones involved in the stress response.[vii]
Bacopa Monnieri for Longevity
Long-term exposure to aluminum can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease by 60 percent.[viii] (So check your underarm deodorant label before you read the rest of this article).
Research shows that Bacopa Monnieri can protect you from toxins that are harmful to your brain. Including aluminum.
It prevents the buildup of toxins between and inside neurons. And prevents damage to the hippocampus. The area of your brain critical for learning, memory and cognitive power.
Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India laced rats’ drinking water with aluminum chloride. The same aluminum that’s toxic to your brain. Some of the rats in this study had the protective power of Bacopa Monnieri going for them.
Bacopa Monnieri protected the rat’s brains from oxidative damage from the aluminum. And it worked as well as the Alzheimer’s drug selegiline. Bacopa restored the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) to levels near normal. Indicating Bacopa Monnieri’s anti-aging potential.[ix]
Bacopa Monnieri Recommended Dosage
There is no ‘right’ dosage of Bacopa. Each person’s body is unique. In general, use the lowest dosage that works for you. And Bacopa works better if taken a few days in a row rather than just once.
Recommended dosage of Bacopa Monnieri containing 45% bacosides is 200 – 450 mg per day.
Recommended dosage of Bacopa Monnieri containing 20% bacosides is 750 mg per day.
Higher dosing should be divided equally with your first dose in the morning, and next dose early afternoon.
Bacopa is fat-soluble so should be taken with a healthy fat source like organic, cold-pressed virgin olive or coconut oil. Fat helps your body absorb the compounds in Bacopa that bring you benefit. And helps deliver it into your brain cells.
Bacopa Monnieri Side Effects
Side effects for Bacopa Monnieri are rare when taken as directed. But can include fatigue and upset stomach.
Types of Bacopa Monnieri to buy
The bioactive component of Bacopa Monnieri is Bacoside A. Which is a mixture of saponins with bacoside A3, bacopaside II, and jujubogenin isomer of bacopasaponin C.
Pay close attention to what you are buying because Bacopa Monnieri products that are labelled as “Brahmi” can be accidentally or intentionally adulterated with Gotu Kola which is also referred to as “Brahmi“. One study in 2023 tested 18 Bacopa products labeled as “Brahmi” purchased in India found 22% were adulterated with Gotu Kola and 44% contained zero Bacopa Monnieri.
I come across several studies showing adulterated Bacopa products around the world. But you can be sure the Bacopa Monnieri extract found in Mind Lab Pro® contains 11 brain enhancing nootropic compounds including pure Bacopa Monnieri extract with 24% bacosides and all the bioactive saponins and isomers listed above.
I recommend Mind Lab Pro® because it addresses all aspects of anxiety resistance, memory and cognitive enhancement, stabilizes mood, brain repair, and maintenance. And you can get a Certificate of Analysis done by a 3rd party testing facility showing what it says on the label is what you’ll get in two capsules of Mind Lab Pro®.
This premium nootropic stack is designed to affect neurotransmitters, cognitive energy, brain waves, neuroprotection, and regeneration. You can get it here: Click for Mind Lab Pro®.
Bacopa supplements are also available as a powder, capsules and tablets. Check the label for the concentration of Bacosides. A Bacopa extract with a higher Bacoside concentration requires a lower dose.
Nootropics Expert Recommendation
Bacopa Monnieri up to 450 mg per day
I recommend using Bacopa Monnieri as a nootropic supplement.
Your body does not make Bacopa Monnieri on its own. So you must take it as a supplement.
B. Monnieri is especially helpful for those suffering from anxiety and stress. Studies show it helps stop and reverse the devastating effects of stress on your brain, and body. This nootropic helps repair damage to neurons and synapses caused by chronic stress.
Bacopa is a powerful adaptogen. Which means it helps increase the effect of certain hormones when activity is low. And will block excess stimulation when activity is high.
Bacopa Monnieri is also helpful for those suffering from anxiety and panic disorders. A study published in Phytomedicine showed the calming effect of this herb was equal to the drug Ativan (lorazepam). Without the side effects.
The ancient Ayurvedic texts knew what we’re only now discovering. That Bacopa is a powerful memory enhancer. Recent studies in Australia and the USA show B. Monnieri helps improve word recall, memory scores, attention and learning.
You can buy individual Bacopa Monnieri supplements. Or you could try my favorite pre-formulated nootropic stack Mind Lab Pro® which includes the full spectrum saponins, bacosides, and isomers in its Bacopa Monnieri extract.
Mind Lab Pro contains a synergistic blend of 11 brain enhancing nootropics covering all aspects of cognition and brain health. See my full Mind Lab Pro 4.0 review for more.
Or go get it now: Click for Mind Lab Pro®
You can safely take up to 450 mg of Bacopa Monnieri extract (45% Bacosides) daily if needed. Half the dose first thing in the morning. And the other half early afternoon. And it’s fat-soluble. So to ensure absorption take it with a tablespoon of virgin coconut or MCT oil.
Join The Discussion - 273 comments
Jerry
July 18, 2020
Can bacopa be taken with Xanax? I want to get off Xanax and take something natural.
David Tomen
July 18, 2020
Jerry, I’m not aware of any contraindications. You can double check here if you like: https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/alprazolam,xanax-index.html
Dave
May 27, 2020
Hi David,
I have started to take Bacopa for anxiety, focus and brain health support. However, I have T3 and T4 thyroid hormones on the upper limit (not crossing the border).
As far as I saw, you’ve stated the following:
“Bacopa is a powerful adaptogen. Which means it helps increase the effect of certain hormones when activity is low. And will block excess stimulation when activity is high.”
Is it dangerous to take it when my T3 and T4 are at this state? Will it affect thyroid negative way and cause hyperthyroidism?
I am asking because after two days of using (1 capsule daily, each capsule contains 250mg extract of Brahmi, no other information is provided) I have a slight headache and a bit of a “jittery” feeling.
It might be only until I get used to it, but asking just in case.
Maximum dosage is two capsules per day as per provider.
David Tomen
May 28, 2020
Dave, my statement about it acting as an adaptogen means that is should keep your thyroid hormones in check. And the only Side Effects I was able to find were fatigue and upset stomach. That could be because Bacopa affects acetylcholine. It also affects serotonin.
Are you using any other drugs or nootropics? If it’s other prescriptions drugs you may want to do a search for the drug AND “Bacopa Monnieri” and see if anything turns up.
Dave
May 30, 2020
Hi David,
I am not using any prescription drugs currently. Only nootropics, which are an antioxidant formula (inositol, vitamin e, l-carnitine, l-arginine, selenium) and kava. Not sure whether these can cause any interactions with Bacopa.
David Tomen
June 1, 2020
Dave, there are no contraindication that I’m aware of.
Golan
April 30, 2020
Hi David,
I’ve read your article and some of the replayes here about Bacopa.
I’d like your attension for bacopa uniqe advantages. I’m victim of mTBI long years ago dou to car accident. so far as chronic mTBI with many formula’s treatment, HBOT sessions and many more. Bacopa changed my life! I feel calm increased memory span and some improvment in executive functuion.Currently no research on any TBI stage has done. I dont know why??. Even google don’t mantion it the search resault.interesting.
Now after about 6 weeks Bacopa treatment, 300mg dose, 50% bacosides (A+B) and i don’t know exactly how it do it and what change is also interesting:) It’s absolutly hope for any cognitive impaiment condition.
David Tomen
May 1, 2020
Golan, the bacosides in Bacopa have been shown to help rebuild damaged neurons, boost brain cell signaling, and other benefits explained in this review. I suggest you read it closely to better understand what it’s doing in your brain and how it provided the changes you are experiencing.
Bacopa also undoes brain damage which is explained in detail in this section of the above review: https://nootropicsexpert.com/bacopa-monnieri/#bacopa-monnieri-to-the-rescue.
Sivasankar
February 24, 2020
Hi David,
In the year 2013, When I was in the class room I felt like something melted in my head for a minute or half due to severe stress and anxiety. From then to now I am not able to remember things and pay attention/think. But I didn’t took any medicine until now. Just trying to cope this with constantly paying attention and reading therapy books. Just one week back I bought bacopa and tried 500mg which makes me calm, sleepy and attentive for 2 days. I am expecting that, will recover back with this medicine. These 8 years I felt many symptoms but not able to pay attention and memorize things are dragged me to hell.
Can you explain what might happened to me ?? and any recommendations other than bacopa to recover quickly, if any??
(Sorry for my english…)
Thank You very much for your reply… 🙂
David Tomen
February 24, 2020
Sivasankar, you said, “something melted in my head”. Do you mean physically? Because if so it sound like you may have experienced a stroke. Please let me know if that’s what happened.
If instead what’s happening is you are over-tasking your brain then this may help: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-studying/
Sivasankar
February 26, 2020
Yes, physically…
I got insane smell from my body/head.
David Tomen
February 27, 2020
This sounds like something that should be investigated by a neurosurgeon before you start trying too many different nootropics. It’s impossible to accurately make any recommendations without knowing what’s going on in your brain.
Mike Kaminski
January 29, 2020
Hello David can Bacopa (Synapsa) be taken before bed? I take too much acetylcholine supplements in the morning (Alcar, Alpha Gpc, Phosphatidylserine ), thanks.
David Tomen
January 29, 2020
Mike, it takes awhile for the full benefit of Bacopa to kick in. For some it’ll take 2 – 4 weeks of consistent daily dosing to get the full effect. So it will not help sleep nor interfere with it.
Mike Kaminski
January 29, 2020
I am taking it for two months. Isn’t it a acetylcholine esters inhibitor?
David Tomen
January 31, 2020
Mike, Bacopa is either an acetylcholinesterase inhibition and/or choline acetyltransferase activation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746283/. Either way that’s going to increase acetylcholine.
Mike Kaminski
January 31, 2020
David following your great channel in YouTube and reading your ebook I started taking NAC which made me focused and diminished my anxiety made me feel good like “normal”. After two hours I’ve taken bacopa…. After a hour I started expirencing brain fog and stress and the most weird effect was muscle twitches in my legs…. Can it be that Synapsa (Bacopa) messes with the brain too much? Maybe it’s not for me?
David Tomen
January 31, 2020
Mike, most do not respond to Bacopa that quickly. So a couple of things are possible. First, it could be you got a bad supplement with something else mixed in that was not declared on the label or it’s just not pure.
Second, Bacopa has some affect on heavy metals. I’m not sure if it’s a chelator or just a neuroprotectant. But if it’s a chelator and you have a build up of heavy metals, chelators sometimes work quickly and dump the metals into your blood stream. And your system can’t get rid of them fast enough.
Last thing is one study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16500707) showed Bacopa in rats worked like L-Deprenyl which is an MAOI. That’s the only study I’ve seen that talked about it working like MAOI’s
Check all the above including the quality of the supplement and then decide if it’s right for you.
Marcus Bloom
June 9, 2020
Hi David,
I am taking MLP 2 two capsules daily. Should I be taking more Bacopa to reach your recommendation.
David Tomen
June 12, 2020
Marcus, it depends. If you think you need it then add additional Bacopa. That’s what I do with NALT and L-Theanine.
Mike Kaminski
January 16, 2020
Hello, can Bacopa (Synapsa) be taken with Sensoril and Rhodiola?
David Tomen
January 17, 2020
Mike, yes they can be used in a stack. You’d need to work out the best dosages when combining them. But the mechanism of action for each is different enough that each would provide its unique benefits and not interfere with the rest of the stack.
Mike Kaminski
January 17, 2020
Thank you for the reply!
I am taking 125mg of Sensoril, 320mg of Synapsa and occasionally 250mg Rhodiola
Edward
January 9, 2020
Hi Mr. Tomen
Thank you for making this information available to us and saving us so much time for researching these substances by doing the research yourself!
My questions are:
1) I take clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant for OCD) at night and wellbutrin and concerta in the morning. Clomipramine makes me drowsy but the concerta fixes this effect in the morning. Is Bacopa safe for me to take with this combination of medications?
2) If it is indeed safe to take and I take it at night, will it keep me drowsy the next day if many hours have passed as I slept? If I take it and it does keep me drowsy, would caffeine fix this effect?
3) While someone already asked if the benefits are observed the next day when taken at night, and you did answer that benefits will be observed in a cumulative effect over weeks, will these benefits still be less than if it was taken in the morning? Or it makes no difference since it does its work gradually?
4) Last question is that the Bacopa that I am getting is from a US manufacturer called “Nootropics Depot” and they say that they have verified that their bacopa extract has 24% bacosides by HPLC/UPLC testing which is better than UV-vis. Have you heard of this manufacturer throughout your experience in this field? If yes, do you find them to be trustworthy and as being people who make quality products?
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions for Free! I honestly appreciate it so much because I don’t know who else I could ask! I placed the questions in point form so that it is easier for you to answer. You can simply number your answers in point form just like the questions, like this:
1) Answer to question 1
2) Answer to question 2…
etc…
Thanks again! Looking forward to hear your answers!
David Tomen
January 9, 2020
Edward, Clomipramine is a serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitor which in turn boosts both of those neurotransmitters.
Bacopa seems to have an effect on serotonin. So while there is no published contraindication that I’m aware of I’d use caution starting out. And see what happens at a low dose.
Bacopa like many herbs requires consistent, daily dosing to get its full benefit.
And Nootropics Deport is one of the more trustworthy vendors out there. As long as they have testing done for each batch of supplements including this one they should be OK. It’s also helpful to see if they have any reviews so you can get a feel for what others are saying about this company and specifically this product.
Rifat Al-chadirji
March 29, 2020
Hi David,
I remember posting about taking Bacopa with Clomipramine and I actually went ahead with it and Bacopa has been amazing! I ordered it from Nootropics Depot. I now went back to the website and saw the bacopa that they make along with Bacognize and Synapsa. Does it even matter which one I take? Would Synapsa or Bacognize be better than the one I got last time?
David Tomen
March 29, 2020
Rifat, not necessarily “better” but dosages are likely lower because I believe you’re talking about extracts which are much more concentrated. In this case I suggest following the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations to get the benefit you were achieving before.
alad
November 21, 2019
“…Alzheimer’s drug selegiline…”
– I think you meant to instead say :
“…Parkinson’s drug selegiline…”
David Tomen
November 21, 2019
Alad, I believe selegiline is used for both Alzheimer’s (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1189014/) and Parkinson’s.
Peter Broomfield
January 7, 2020
I am currently taking St John’s Wort for depression at 286mg x 2, 3 times a day. I want to take Bacopa, can they be taken together or should I change over. If so, should I gradually wean off the St. John’s wort then start on the Bacopa or start taking both and inversely increase/decrease dosages??
Many thanks
David Tomen
January 7, 2020
Peter, St. John’s wort is unique among the anxiolytic nootropics because it affects nearly every major neurotransmitter one way or another. Bacopa on the other had seems to only affect serotonin.
So there is no published contraindication on using these two together that I’m aware of. In this case I’d suggest caution. If you are going to try using both see how you feel after that first dose. But keep doses low on both just in case.