Ayurveda literally means “the art/knowledge of living/life.” It is a system which believes that all ailments have their root cause in the imbalance of the three biohumors of the body – vatta, kapha and pitta. Thus the Ayurvedic system is not based only on treatment regimes of various ailments but also aims at making a person live a healthy, disease-free life.
Brahmi (also known as Centenella asiatica, Herpestis monniera or Hydrocotyl asiatica) has been used since time immemorial and has been revered in the ancient Ayurvedic texts of India. It is a nervine tonic which helps in brain development, improves memory and concentration. It also improves the quality of both the male and female reproductive cells ensuring a good progeny. It delays the signs of ageing (due to its anti-oxidative effects), is a cardiac tonic and it also improves the quality of the voice.
Bitter and astringent in taste, Bacopa is a small, creeping herb with a lot of succulent branches. The leaves are oblong and fleshy. Flowers are purple in colour and solitary.In India and the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil, shallow water and marshes. Flowers appear in summer and the entire plant can be used medicinally, although leaves are widely used.
Effects on the Brain
Brahmi contains steroidal saponin Bacoside A and Bacoside B. Alkaloids like brahmine, herpestine etc. have also been isolated. Saponins d-mannitol and hersaponin, acid A, and monnierin, and other active constituents including betulic acid, stigmastarol, beta-sitosterol, as well as numerous bacosides and bacopasaponins have also been isolated from Indian Brahmi. Many of these substances have been shown to modulate the cholinergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, thus improving memory span, mental quotient, concentration ability and stress threshold.
It also has anti-anxiety effects due to the reduction in a substance called tribulin which is raised in some types of anxieties. It also ameliorates some attention fluctuation and behavioural problems. Brahmi is a natural sedative and a tranquilizing agent and thus is beneficial in insomnia (sleeping disorders).
The bacosides in Brahmi aid in repair of damaged neurons by enhancing kinase activity, neuronal synthesis, and restoration of synaptic activity, and ultimately nerve impulse transmission. Brahmi has also been shown to have an anti-Alzheimer and anti-Parkinsonian activity. It has proved effective in treating ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) in hyperactive children and age-related mental disorders in elderly people.
Brahmi’s Multi-dynamic Effects
A lot of research on the claimed effects of Brahmi has validated them as scientifically correct. These include the effects of Brahmi as an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drug. Brahmi was also proved to be helpful in asthma and bronchitis and gastrointestinal disorders. It is also a strong anti-oxidant and has been proved to prevent DNA damage (induced by ultraviolet light) and cell damage (induced by hydrogen peroxide). It is a blood purifier, anti-pyretic, carminative, anti-ulcerogenic, diuretic, mildly antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.
In India, the plant is used in all sorts of skin problems, like eczema, psoriasis, abscesses and ulcerations. It is also believed to stimulate hair and nail growth. In the true sense of the term it is a Wonder Plant and its effects have gradually been proved scientifically. More and more research institutes are conducting research on the astounding effects of Brahmi and have realized the worth of the Ayurvedic System, in general. Brahmi is ready as ever to take on the myriad health problems of the world.
