Bacopa monnieri

Excerpt

Bacopa monnieri (often called brahmi) is a botanical frequently used in Ayurvedic medicine. The main indications for using Bacopa in Ayurvedic medicine are memory improvement, insomnia, epilepsy, and as an anxiolytic. Many clinical studies have demonstrated improvements in verbal learning, delayed word recall, memory acquisition, and anxiety reduction with using Bacopa. It has been described as a calming cognitive enhancer. The triterpenoid saponins are believed to be responsible for most of the herb's pharmacological actions. Bacopa has a high therapeutic index and is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including increased stool frequency, nausea, and abdominal cramps. This activity reviews the indications, contraindications, activity, adverse events, and other key elements of the clinical use of the herb Bacopa monnieri in the care of patients with declining cognitive performance and anxiety.