How Is Bacopa Used in Herbalism?

Discover what bacopa is used for in herbalism practice. Learn why it's so beneficial to our body.

Balance doshas

In traditional Ayurveda, the body has three doshas, representing various physical and mental aspects. The best way to balance your body — and its doshas — is with a healthy diet, exercise and adequate sleep. However, when one dosha becomes too dominant, it can lead to unpleasant symptoms and sometimes illnesses. Ayurveda practitioners classify bacopa as a cooling herb with the ability to soothe the pitta (fire) dosha when it becomes too heated.

Enrich the brain

Along with dosha realignment, bacopa boasts nootropic properties. Substances with nootropic molecules are sometimes called brain food since many feel they enhance brain function. In healthy individuals, this brain enrichment can help increase the ability to retain knowledge or learn new concepts. You may want to consider bacopa if you're a student or wish to advance your career through training and development.

Reduce stress

Bacopa is considered an adaptogenic herb, which means it can help your body deal with anxiety by balancing chemical and hormonal levels. To improve health over the long term, you need to discover the root cause of your stress. However, bacopa may be able to help you with temporary worries and offer support while you tackle larger issues.

Sometimes making choices can cause stress, especially life-altering types of decisions. Since bacopa is linked to improved brain activities, you may find the herb helps you think through and resolve problems quicker. With less worry, you may experience better sleep and improved well-being.

Reinforce cognitive functioning

While bacopa's properties may be beneficial to the neurological systems of healthy individuals, it can also provide symptomatic support to people with cognitive impairment due to brain disorders like dementia or trauma. As bacopa influences and supports enhanced nerve transmissions, it makes it easier and quicker for the damaged brain to function.

Enhance focus

Due to bacopa's association with brain function and improved mental performance, the herb may help increase the focusing ability of children or adults with ADHD. Ask your herbalist or pediatrician about using bacopa to supplement dietary modifications or traditional therapies.

Boost antioxidants

Molecules found in bacopa have many of the same traits and responses as antioxidants. Antioxidants are powerful substances in our bodies that help prevent cell changes by neutralizing free radicals. Since many diseases and conditions begin at the cellular level, these tiny but effective "cleaners" can help keep us healthy.

Improve meditation

You may wish to use bacopa to enhance your meditation practice. Another common name for the herb is Brahmi — a name it shares with another herb — which can refer to the universal or cosmic consciousness. Since bacopa is thought to increase mental focus, it makes sense that the herb helps you reach a calmer, more centered state.

Elevate massages

Bacopa, used in conjunction with massage oil or lotion, can provide several health benefits.

• Use bacopa on overheated, tired muscles to help balance the body's energy.

• Rub into the scalp to help tension leave the body, creating a feeling of relaxation and calmness.

• Massage painful joints to help relieve tenderness associated with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Support asthma treatment

Since asthma is associated with inflammation in the airways, bacopa's anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce some discomforts of the condition. While you should continue to follow your standard asthma action plan, discuss with your doctor the possibility of supplementing with bacopa to see if it helps reduce the frequency or severity of attacks.

Encourage digestive movement

Bacopa's natural bitterness may stimulate bile production and digestive enzymes within the intestines. This may, in turn, increase the automatic contractions in the GI tract, which may help reduce or alleviate constipation. Regular bile flow is also associated with a healthy liver.

Promote skin health

As a cooling herb in Ayurveda's plant classification system, bacopa is thought to rejuvenate cells within the body. Therefore, it's deeply connected to skin, hair and nail health. Try massaging bacopa into your scalp, cuticles or acne-prone skin. In addition, the herb's powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help limit psoriasis and eczema outbreaks.

If you're interested in using bacopa for any of the above conditions, make sure you share your symptoms and any unique circumstances with your doctor. They can help you by suggesting dosages to prevent toxicity and discussing possible adverse reactions due to other medications or supplements you're taking.

Contraindications to bacopa:

• The most common side effects concern the herb's GI-stimulating capabilities: diarrhea, nausea and other types of intestinal upset.

• It's possible that bacopa may react with your body in ways to make certain conditions worsen instead of improving, especially regarding the thyroid gland, GI and urinary tract and lungs.

• If you're allergic to other plants in the figwort family, of which bacopa is a member, you should discuss this first with your doctor before using bacopa.