Bacopa
Scientific names: Bacopa monnieri, Bacopa monniera, Herpestis monniera, Moniera cuneifolia
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Alternate names: Andri, Brahmi, Herb of Grace, Herpestis Herb, Hysope d'Eau, Indian Pennywort, Jalanimba, Jal-Brahmi, Jalnaveri, Nira-Brahmi, Sambrani Chettu, Thyme-Leaved Gratiola, Water Hyssop
Actions: Antiepileptic, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Gastrointestinal, Immunological, Muscular, Neurological, Thyroid
Background
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) is a plant that has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is sometimes called Brahmi.
Bacopa might increase certain brain chemicals that are involved in thinking, learning, and memory. It might also protect brain cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer disease.
Bacopa is commonly used for Alzheimer disease, memory and thinking skills, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Do not confuse bacopa with gotu kola. Both plants are sometimes called Brahmi.
Bacopa might increase certain brain chemicals that are involved in thinking, learning, and memory. It might also protect brain cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer disease.
Bacopa is commonly used for Alzheimer disease, memory and thinking skills, anxiety, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
Do not confuse bacopa with gotu kola. Both plants are sometimes called Brahmi.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Bacopa is possibly safe when used in doses up to 600 mg daily for up to 12 weeks. Common side effects include stomach cramps, nausea, and dry mouth.
Children: Bacopa is possibly safe when taken by mouth by children 6-14 years old for up to 6 months.
Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Bacopa might slow down the heart rate. This could be a problem in people who already have a slow heart rate or other heart disease. If you have a heart condition, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Bacopa might make GI tract blockage worse. If you have a GI tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Ulcers: Bacopa might make stomach ulcers worse. If you have stomach ulcers, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Lung conditions: Bacopa might make asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worse. If you have asthma or COPD, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Thyroid disorders: Bacopa might increase levels of thyroid hormone. Bacopa should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
Urinary tract blockage: Bacopa might make blockage of the urinary tract worse. If you have a urinary tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bacopa is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: Bacopa is possibly safe when taken by mouth by children 6-14 years old for up to 6 months.
Slow heart rate (bradycardia): Bacopa might slow down the heart rate. This could be a problem in people who already have a slow heart rate or other heart disease. If you have a heart condition, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Gastrointestinal tract blockage: Bacopa might make GI tract blockage worse. If you have a GI tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Ulcers: Bacopa might make stomach ulcers worse. If you have stomach ulcers, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Lung conditions: Bacopa might make asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worse. If you have asthma or COPD, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Thyroid disorders: Bacopa might increase levels of thyroid hormone. Bacopa should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications.
Urinary tract blockage: Bacopa might make blockage of the urinary tract worse. If you have a urinary tract blockage, check with your healthcare provider before using bacopa.
Effectiveness
Natural Medicines rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS). Taking bacopa by mouth doesn't seem to help people with IBS. But it's only been studied together with other ingredients. It's not clear if taking bacopa on its own helps.
Dosing & administration
Bacopa has most often been used by adults in doses of 300-600 mg by mouth daily for 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Cevimeline (Evoxac)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa might change how quickly the body breaks down cevimeline. This could change the effects and side effects of cevimeline.
Drying medications (Anticholinergic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine plays a big part in many important body functions. Some medications, called anticholinergic drugs, block the effects of acetylcholine in the body. Taking bacopa might decrease the effects of anticholinergic drugs.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Bacopa might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Thyroid hormone
Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.
The body naturally produces thyroid hormones. Bacopa might increase how much thyroid hormone is produced. Taking bacopa with thyroid hormone might cause too much thyroid hormone in the body, and increase its effects and side effects.
Various medications used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions (Cholinergic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bacopa can increase a chemical in the body called acetylcholine. Some medications that are used for glaucoma, Alzheimer disease, and other conditions, also increase acetylcholine levels. Taking bacopa with these medications might increase the chance of side effects.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per tablet:
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) ext. 225 mg equiv. bacoside A 101.25 mg
- Ginkgo biloba ext. 60 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext. 100 mg
- Phosphatidylserine enriched soy powder (Lecithin) 100 mg equiv. phosphatidylserine 20 mg
- Levomefolate glucosamine (Activated folate) 90.17 µg equiv. levomefolic acid 50 µg
- Mecobalamin (Vitamin B12) 100 µg
Per tablet:
Per capsule:
Per sachet (Cafe Mocha):
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) powder 100 mg
- Medium chain triglycerides (goMCT®️) 1.5 g
- Cordyceps militaris
- Pleurotus eryngii
- Lentinula edodes
- Trametes versicolor
- Grifola frondosa
- Coffea arabica 2.9 g
- Huberzia serrata 25 µg
- Acacia sp. (gum)
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Theobroma cacao 15 mg
- Natural flavours
- Theobroma cacao powder 480 mg
- Alpinia galanga powder 150 mg
- Coffea arabica powder 100 mg
- Acacia sp. (fibre)
Per 15 g (Wild Strawberry):
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) powder 50 mg
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 1.5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium lactis 1.5 billion CFU
- Pea protein isolate 9.3 g
- Marine algae 500 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 250 mg
- Sunflower lecithin 200 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 100 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 100 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 100 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 100 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 40 mg
- Ribes nigrum powder 200 mg
- Vitis vinifera powder 200 mg
- Malpighia glabra powder 100 mg
- Lycium chinese powder 100 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 100 mg
- Taraxacum officinale powder 30 mg
- Apple pectin 200 mg
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium) 100 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 70 mg
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain) 30 mg
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid 20 mg
- Beta glucan 8 mg
- Dunaliella salina 8 mg
- Lutein 2 mg
- Zeaxanthin (Carotenoids) 400 µg
- Potassium phosphate
- Magnesium
- Calcium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Zinc gluconate
- d-alpha-Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
- Thaumatin
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Manganese gluconate
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine (Selenium)
- Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3)
- Fucus vesiculosus powder 98 mg
- Stevia rebaubiana powder
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Copper
- Calendula officinalis powder
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala powder 100 mg
- Carica papaya 50 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 100 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 1 g
- Malus (fibre) powder (Apple) 949 mg
- Natural strawberry flavour
Per 15 g:
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) ext.
- Cocoa powder
- Theobroma cacao (seed) powder
- Pouteria lucuma (fruit) powder
- Melissa officinalis ext.
- Ginkgo biloba ext.
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext.
- Lepidium meyenii (root) powder
- L-glutamine
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Magnesium citrate
- Coconut milk powder
- Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
- Natural chocolate flavour
- Ceratonia siliqua (pod) powder (Carob)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Stevia rebaubiana (Steviol glycosides)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Xylitol
Per 10 g:
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) ext.
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)
- Syzygium aromaticum
- Elettaria cardamomum
- Zingiber officinale ext.
- Curcuma longa ext.
- Cinnamomum spp.
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos)
- Piper nigrum ext.
- Ginkgo biloba ext.
- Pimpinella anisum
- Eleutherococcus senticosus
- Coconut milk powder
- Honey
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Stevia rebaubiana (Steviol glycosides)
Per capsule:
Per 6 g:
- Bacopa monnieri (Bacopa) ext. 225 mg equiv. bacoside A 101 mg
- L-tyrosine 1 g
- Magnesium citrate 1.23 g equiv. magnesium 200 mg
- Acetyl levocarnitine hydrochloride (Acetyl-L-carnitine) 1.18 g equiv. acetyl levocarnitine 1 g
- Crocus sativus ext. 15 mg
- Calcium folinate (Activated folate) 347.2 µg equiv. folinic acid 250 µg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 25 mg equiv. zinc 5 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 7.8 mg equiv. pyridoxine 5 mg
- Co-methylcobalamin (Vitamin B12) 500 µg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 17.5 mg
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This monograph was last reviewed on 23/10/2022 19:40:02 and last updated on 22/09/2020 20:48:37. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
