What Is Bacopa Good for, and Are There Side Effects?

Bacopa, species name Bacopa monnieri, is an herb commonly known as brahmi or water hyssop. It’s sometimes confused with another herb called gotu kola, species name Centella asiatica, which is also called brahmi. Image Source: Getty Images

Bacopa is an important herb in traditional Indian medicine. It’s safe to take and rarely causes severe side effects, though they are possible.

Bacopa, species name Bacopa monnieri, is an herb commonly known as brahmi or water hyssop. It’s sometimes confused with another herb called gotu kola, species name Centella asiatica, which is also called brahmi.

This plant is a creeping perennial with purple flowers and oblong leaves found in wetlands and rice fields. It’s native to Australia and India and is a popular herb for supplementing memory and brain health.

People have used bacopa for centuries to treat anxiety, epilepsy, and memory problems. Today, bacopa is commonly used with other herbs as a brain tonic to improve memory and attention. You can find bacopa as a single herb or in a multi-herb blend in different forms, from tinctures and teas to tablets and dried powder capsules.

There’s some early research on the health benefits of bacopa. While more research is necessary, the results are promising. 

Adaptogen

Adaptogens are herbal substances, either plants or mushrooms, that help your body cope with stress. Bacopa is an adaptogen herb and might help reverse the effects of stress.

In an animal study, experts gave mice either bacopa or panax root powder and exposed them to both sudden, short-term stress and ongoing stress. Those that received the bacopa displayed lower stress markers, including lower blood sugar levels and a reduction in ulcer scores.

Lowers inflammation

Bacopa contains active components called bacosides, which might help lower inflammation. Some lab dish studies show that bacopa extract blocks inflammatory chemicals called cytokines and enzymes, which are responsible for inflammation in the brain.

Animal studies also show that bacopa can lower inflammation in other ways. Researchers tested bacopa extract on rats with paw inflammation. The extract blocked chemicals called prostaglandins and lowered inflammation.

Lower blood pressure

Early research also suggests that bacopa can lower blood pressure. In a study done on animals, bacopa extract lowered blood pressure without affecting the heart rate. It also relaxed blood vessels and arteries. Experts believe it works by releasing nitric oxide and acting on the muscles that act on your blood vessels.

A small human study also found that bacopa might help lower blood pressure. Patients with high blood pressure took either a sugar pill placebo or a supplement of bacopa, ginkgo biloba herb, and green tea extract for 4 weeks.

Those who took the supplement had lower blood pressure, better blood pressure control, and better exercise tolerance and capacity. Researchers believe bacopa raises nitric oxide production, which leads to these effects. The supplement has several ingredients, though, so it’s hard to know if these actions come from bacopa.

Improves brain function

People have used bacopa to stimulate brain function and memory for centuries, and a few studies support these uses. In a clinical trial, medical students randomly received a standardized bacopa extract tablet and took it twice a day for 6 weeks.

They performed a series of mental function tests before and after the treatment period. Those who had the extract displayed a significant memory improvement compared to those who didn’t take it.

Other studies and reviews show that bacopa increases blood flow to the brain and improves mood, mental function, and overall brain function. People claim bacopa can help Parkinson’s or Alzheimer's disease, but there aren’t any studies to support this idea.

Might improve ADHD

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactive disorder. It’s a brain disorder that causes problems with attention, self-control, organization, and hyperactivity.

An older, small clinical study found that bacopa can improve symptoms of ADHD in children. The study gave 19 children bacopa extract twice per day for 12 weeks, followed by a sugar pill for 4 weeks. Compared to the sugar pill group, those who took bacopa had a significant improvement in memory and sentence repetition, and they performed better on paired associate learning tasks, which are a type of memory test.

Might help seizures

Seizures happen when your brain cells become over excited and fire abnormally. Your doctor diagnoses you with a seizure disorder called epilepsy when you have two or more seizures. It’s unclear what causes seizures in many cases, but you can take medications to control them.

Some herbs have anti-epilepsy effects, including bacopa. Some studies indicate that bacopa might lower how often you get seizures. Researchers don’t know exactly how bacopa works as a treatment for seizures, but they believe it could change certain brain chemical levels and block some enzymes. It might also lower inflammation.

Overall, it’s still too early to know if bacopa can reliably help treat seizures, though. Moreover, a seizure disorder is a serious health condition, so you should talk to your doctor first before you take supplements.

Bacopa is safe to take for up to 12 weeks, and severe side effects are rare. In these rare cases, bacopa may:

Upset digestion

The most common side effect of bacopa supplements is digestive problems. Bacopa can cause nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, and fatigue.

It might also slow your gut transit time: i.e., how long it takes for food and waste to move through your gut. This could cause serious problems if you have a blockage. Bacopa might also increase the levels of your digestive juices, which could worsen stomach or colon ulcers.

Slow your heart rate

In theory, bacopa might slow your heart rate. That could cause problems if you already have a slow heart rate, which is called bradycardia.

Worsen lung conditions

Bacopa might increase fluid production in your lungs. If you have asthma, emphysema, or other lung conditions, taking bacopa could worsen that condition.

Interact with drugs

There isn’t a lot of research on bacopa and drug interactions, but it might make the effect of blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, diabetes medications, and chemotherapy drugs stronger. It may also interact with some antidepressants and cause confusion, agitation, and blood pressure changes.

Bacopa is a popular herb with a long history in traditional medicine. It has great potential for brain health and might boost mood and memory, though more studies are necessary.

If you’re thinking about taking bacopa or any other supplement, talk to your doctor.