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Bacopa, Brahmi
Brahmi (Ayurveda)
Pirammi Vazukkai (Siddha)
Brahmi (Unani)
Pirammi Vazukkai (Siddha)
Brahmi (Unani)
M. Blanco, Flora de Filipinas. (1875)
Botanical name:
Bacopa monnieri (syn. B. monniera, Herpestis monniera, Moniera cuneifolia)
Parts used:
Whole plant
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral/slightly Warm. Bitter.
Bacopa monnieri (syn. B. monniera, Herpestis monniera, Moniera cuneifolia)
Parts used:
Whole plant
Temperature & Taste:
Neutral/slightly Warm. Bitter.
Uses:
1. Settles Wind, Calms the Mind:
-Neurasthenia, Nervous Breakdown
-Anxiety, Anxiety neurosis
-Convulsions, Epilepsy, Hysteria
-Insanity, Mental Illness
-Addiction and Withdrawal
-also for Hypertension and Angina
-the extract was also found to be a potent analgesic
2. Benefits Brain
-enhances learning and memory (proven effect)
-Senile Dementia, Alzheimer's
-improves intellect (proven effect)
-beneficial for those doing lots of mental work or study
-Headache due to mental exhaustion
-also reputedly effective for Hydrocephalus
3. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Fever; Malarial Fever
-Hoarseness, Bronchitis
-Hepato-protective
-Snake Bite
4. Benefits Stomach:
-Indigestion (especially related to stress)
-recently used for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with success
5. Benefits the Uterus:
-Infertility
-threatened Miscarriage (Charaka)
6. Externally:
-Skin diseases
-Ulcers
Dose:
1. Fresh leaf or Juice are often preferred.
Of the Juice: 10–30 mls, twice daily (usually with Honey), before breakfast and bed to benefit the brain, enhance learning and memory.
Juice with Milk was prescribed as an anti-ageing tonic and to promote intellect. (Sushruta)
Powder of the Whole Plant: 3–5 grams
Root Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams
Comment:
1. The literal meaning of Brahmi is 'expand consciousness'.
2. The primary alkaloid Brahmine has similar stimulating effects to strychnine, but is far less toxic.
Substitute:
Centella asciatica is also known as Brahmi and is used as a substitute.
1. Fresh leaf or Juice are often preferred.
Of the Juice: 10–30 mls, twice daily (usually with Honey), before breakfast and bed to benefit the brain, enhance learning and memory.
Juice with Milk was prescribed as an anti-ageing tonic and to promote intellect. (Sushruta)
Powder of the Whole Plant: 3–5 grams
Root Powder: 500mg–1.5 grams
Comment:
1. The literal meaning of Brahmi is 'expand consciousness'.
2. The primary alkaloid Brahmine has similar stimulating effects to strychnine, but is far less toxic.
Substitute:
Centella asciatica is also known as Brahmi and is used as a substitute.
Main Combinations:
1. To enhance Mental function, Memory and Learning:
i. whole plant of Bacopa is heated in Ghee, strained, and a teaspoon taken every morning
ii. Bacopa with Calamus
iii. Bacopa with Centella
iv. Bacopa with Ginkgo leaf
v. Bacopa with Walnut
vi. Bacopa with Convolvulus Shankhapushpi
vii. Bacopa with Convolvulus Shankhapushpi, Euphorbia dracunculoides
viii. Bacopa with Withania and Calamus
ix. Bacopa, Centella, Oroxylum, Withania, Chebula, Indian Spikenard
x. Bacopa, Ginseng, Calamus
xi. Bacopa, Ginseng, Eleutherococcus
xii. Bacopa, Withania, Centella, Indian Spikenard, Almond, Triphala
xiii. Centella, Bacopa, Withania, Chebula, Indian Spikenard
xiv. Bacopa, Withania, Almond, Date, Black Pepper made into an Electuary with Honey (Unani)
2. To benefits Students and those doing lots of mental work:
i. Bacopa and Withania
ii. Bacopa with Centella, Convolvulus Shankhapushpi
iii. Bacopa with Calamus, Withania and Honey
iv. Bacopa with Balm, Rosemary, Calamus
3. Retarded or delayed development:
i. Bacopa, Withania, Calamus, Almond
ii. Bacopa, Ginseng, Walnut
4. Insanity, Psychosis:
i. Bacopa with Calamus
ii. Bacopa with Convolvulus Shankhapushpi
iii. Bacopa, Alstonia, Withania
iv. Bacopa with Withania, Calamus, Convolvulus Shankhapushpi
v. Bacopa with Rauwolfia
vi. Bacopa, Calamus, Costus, Convolvulus Shankhapushpi in aged Ghee (Charaka)
vii. Bacopa, Centella, Indian Spikenard, Mucuna, Calamus in Ghee (Charaka)
viii. equal parts of the fresh juice of Bacopa, Benincasa and Tenolepsis, mixed with Costus powder and Honey.
5. Epilepsy, Insanity, Infertility, Mental Retardation, Bacopa with Ginger, Long Pepper, Convolvulus Shankhpushpi, Turpeth, Embelia, Cassia Fistula (as in Brahmi Ghirta)
6. Alzheimer's Disease:
i. Bacopa with Ginkgo leaf, Rosemary
ii. Bacopa, Dioscorea bulbifera, Sea Buckthorn
7. Parkinson's Disease, Bacopa, Withania, Mucuna
8. Anxiety, Nervousness:
i. Bacopa, Valerian, St. Johns wort
ii. Bacopa, Centella, Chrysanthemum indicum (Ye Ju Hua), Convolvulus Shanhapushpi
9. Depression, Bacopa with St. Johns wort, Balm, Withania
10. Addiction or Withdrawal, Bacopa with California Poppy, Scullcap
11. Convulsions and Nervous Debility:
i. Bacopa, Calamus, Alpinia speciosa
ii. Bacopa, Mucuna, Centella, Indian Spikenard, Valerian, Tribulus
12. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Bacopa with Aegle (trials demonstrated improvement in 65% of patients)
13. Hoarseness, Bacopa, Adhatoda, Calamus, Chebula, Long Pepper with Honey
14. Heat-Toxin skin diseases:
i. Bacopa, Neem
ii. Bacopa, Violet, Fumitory
15. Cataract, Bacopa, Asparagus root, Boerhaavia
Major Formulas:
Brahmi Ghirta
Cautions:
High doses aggravate Pitta (Bile)
Drug Interaction:
May interact with anti-seizure, antipsychotic, and antidepressant medication
Main Preparations used:
High doses aggravate Pitta (Bile)
Drug Interaction:
May interact with anti-seizure, antipsychotic, and antidepressant medication
Main Preparations used: