| Bacopa Monnieri |
Neer Brahmi, a powerful herb often confused with other “Brahmi” types. Here’s a full profile:
🌿 Neer Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Common Name: Neer Brahmi, Water Hyssop
Sanskrit Name: Jalabrahmi, Brahmi
Botanical Name: Bacopa monnieri
Family: Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)
Habitat: Grows in wetlands, marshy areas, or along riverbanks
Type: Creeping herb, semi-aquatic
🌱 Plant Description
- Growth: Low-growing, spreading herb
- Leaves: Small, succulent, oblong, bright green
- Flowers: Small, pale blue to white, 5-petaled
- Taste: Bitter
- Preferred environment: Moist, swampy soil or shallow water
🔬 Key Active Compounds
- Bacosides A & B – primary neuroactive compounds
- Alkaloids
- Saponins
- Flavonoids
These contribute to its nootropic (brain-enhancing), anxiolytic, and antioxidant effects.
🧠 Health Benefits of Neer Brahmi
| System | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Nervous System | Enhances memory, learning, focus, and clarity |
| Mental Health | Reduces anxiety, stress, and symptoms of depression |
| Brain Protection | Acts as a neuroprotective against age-related degeneration |
| Sleep | Promotes deeper, more restful sleep |
| Skin | Used externally for eczema, ulcers, and inflammation |
| Digestion | Mildly improves appetite and digestion in small doses |
📚 Ayurvedic View
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Bitter, Sweet |
| Virya (Potency) | Cooling |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Sweet |
| Effect on Doshas | Balances Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (especially good for calming the mind) |
Neer Brahmi is categorized as a Medhya Rasayana – a rejuvenative herb for the mind and intellect.
🧪 How It’s Used
- Juice (Swarasa) – Fresh plant juice taken with honey or ghee
- Powder (Churna) – Often mixed with warm milk or honey
- Capsules/Tablets – Standardized extracts available
- External application – For skin conditions
- Oil – Infused oil for scalp massage (improves sleep and memory)
⚠️ Cautions
Should be used in moderation for people with hypothyroidism
May cause sluggish digestion or bloating in high doses
Not recommended for pregnant women without supervision