Are you a stressed out student prepping for exams? Or maybe you’re a voracious learner who is always trying to acquire new knowledge. Either way, this review talks about a nootropic that might be perfect for you: Bacopa monnieri.
One of my favorite natural botanical nootropics, Bacopa monnieri can benefit anybody’s brainpower, not just the students and learners. But learning is the main point of interest here, since Bacopa has a legendary reputation and centuries-old association with knowledge retention that is actually validated by some modern research.
TL/DNR: Bacopa’s active nootropic bacosides help to protect the brain from free radicals and boost acetylcholine (and maybe GABA and serotonin, too)—brain chemicals tied to focused thinking, clear memory and a positive mood. Bacopa monnieri is popular for learning and memory, and seems to promote “quick thinking” cognitive performance under stress. It may have mood-balancing effects that help with clear and calm thinking, and is well suited for fighting age-related cognitive decline — making it one of the most versatile nootropics.
Let’s review Bacopa monnieri in more detail.
Page Contents
How Bacopa Monnieri is Supposed to Work
Bacopa monnieri is a creeping herb, also known as “water hyssop,” that grows in wetlands and marshes. Its leaves and seeds that have long been used in India for health benefits, especially in Ayurvedic practices. Within this wellness system, Bacopa is classified as one of the “Brahmi” herbs associated with cognitive enhancement and higher states of consciousness.
Bacopa monnieri has been widely studied, with several well-designed studies that seem to back its uses for mental performance.
As an adaptogen herb, it also has anti-stress activities that seem to increase its value for students and professionals.
Active Nootropic Ingredients: Bacosides A + B
The exact mechanisms of action of Bacopa monnieri have not yet been isolated. It has dozens of different compounds that exert activity, but the consensus seems to be its active nootropics are bacosides a and B: Triterpenes with antioxidant activity. Good supplements may be labeled as “standardized for bacosides”, or “standardized for bacosides A+ B.”
Let’s get to the good stuff. Bacopa monniera is one of my favorite plant-based nootropics. It is a true multitasker, with several possible brain-boosting bioactivities… but keep in mind these potential benefits are mostly supported by animal research. Let’s check a few out:
Brain-protective antioxidant activity
“Big deal,” you say. “There are plenty of antioxidants that can protect the brain.” This is true, and The Geek won’t argue with that. But Bacopa monnieri is special. Its active nootropic bacosides are antioxidant compounds that work on their own, but also appear to regenerate “super-antioxidant” enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Researchers have noted Bacopa seems to exert its antioxidant activity in the brain’s frontal cortex and striatum, but not in the hippocampus.
Boosting brain circulation
Bacopa monnieri has been studied for this brain benefit specifically, albeit in animal research only. One such study on rats found that Bacopa monnieri supplementation appeared to boost blood flow to the brain by 25%.
May help fight amyloid plaques in the brain
This would be an amazing benefit if it proved to translate to human brains. In a mouse study model, Bacopa monnieri has been suggested to reduce beta-amyloid levels in the brain, in cases where degeneration was already present. Researchers concluded that Bacopa monnieri may be a potential therapy in these cases of age-related decline.
Anti-stress support
Some research seems to backs Bacopa monnieri’s reputation as a stress-fighting adaptogen herb. One animal study in particular reported stress-modulating effects that led researchers to suggest Bacopa monnieri seems to prime and prepare the brain for better performance under stressful, adverse conditions.
Possible antidepressant effects
In one animal study, researchers noted that Bacopa monnieri is known for its antioxidant properties, anti-anxiety affects, and ability to enhance memory retention in cases of brain degeneration. These researchers tested a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract within a model of rat depression, and found that the herb had significant antidepressant activity that appeared to rival some synthetics (don’t tell Big Pharma that The Geek said that).
Combo Ayurvedic plant preparation with Brahmi: Learning and memory effects
One animal study administered an herbal Ayurvedic blend of Brahmi plants, including Bacopa, to mice. (Other herbs included Eugenia caryophyllus, Elettaria cardamomum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and black pepper extract.)
Researchers found the blend significantly improved memory performance and new learning in the younger specimens, while apparently reversing memory loss in older specimens.
- Though not a standalone Bacopa monnieri study, I find this one interesting due to the researchers’ enthusiasm for the blend. They attribute its nootropic effects to antioxidant, inflammation-modulating, neuroprotective, and brain chemical activities. For me, this supports Bacopa’s “multi-tasking nootropic” reputation.
This study also makes me intrigued about the other herbs that were administered in combination with Bacopa. To be honest I’ve never heard of any of them except for the black pepper, which is an awesome absorption-booster with fat-burning properties.
Bacopa Monnieri Benefits
Supplement makers claim that Bacopa monnieri helps with memory, mood, concentration and focus. Occasionally you might see a claim related to learning and knowledge retention, which seems to be the most evidence-based claims to make.
If you ask me, this natural cognitive enhancer is one of the most promising overall nootropics, in both the botanical and synthetic realms. When an herb has been used in traditional wellness practices for hundreds of years and has the backing of modern research for those same ancient uses, I pay very close attention.
Bacopa monnieri has brain-boosting bioactivities that are backed by abundant animal research and a few decent human studies. This is an all-around brain booster that helps in many ways, but may be most noticeable in mental performance related to academics and learning new skills and knowledge.
Let’s see what the researchers have to say.
Researchers have suggested Bacopa Monnieri might:
Promote cognitive function in cases of age-related decline
In this study, patients with a mean age of about 65 years who were in degenerative brain decline were given 300 mg of Bacopa monnieri as a branded standardized extract, 2X daily, for six months. Researchers reported that Mini Mental State Examination Scale (MMSES) conducted throughout the study revealed significant improvements with Bacopa monnieri supplementation across multiple measures of mental performance, including attention, language and verbal ability, and orientation of time place and person.
Slow the rate at which we forget new learning
In this well-designed study, Bacopa monnieri supplementation at 300 to 450 mg for six months daily was found to significantly improve the retention of new learning. Researchers made a point of saying that Bacopa monnieri didn’t seem to have any effect on the speed of learning, verbal memory, visual memory, or every day memory function. Regardless, Bacopa monnieri’s significant enhancements of knowledge retention stands out as an awesome potential nootropic benefit for students and learners
Accelerate mental processing speed; enhance learning and memory
In this study, healthy volunteers were given 300 mg of Bacopa monnieri or placebo every day for 12 weeks. Subjects were administered a range of mental performance tests during the study and at its conclusion. Researchers reported that the Bacopa monnieri supplements significantly enhanced multiple measures of mental performance, including memory consolidation, speed of learning and speed of mental processing. It also seemed to help with anxiety. Researchers summed this up by saying that Bacopa monnieri may improve higher order cognitive processes.
Did you know? Bacopa may be useful in thyroid health applications.
Bacopa’s potential may extend far beyond brain effects: One animal study (male mouse model) found that of 3 herbs tested, Bacopa monnieri was the only one found to stimulate the thyroid gland. In fact, researchers reported that Bacopa may increase T(4) concentration by 41%, and went on to suggest it may have potential as a therapy for hypothyroidism.
How to Take Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri dosages in human clinical research seem to range from 300 mg to 450 mg per serving, usually supplying it as pills or capsules, but sometimes as a liquid extract. The best studies seem to use standardized Bacopa monnieri extracts that supply an exact level of bacosides, usually between 25% – 45%.
In other reviews, I saw that one Reddit field report used a “super dosage” of 800 mg of Bacopa (also standardized to 45% bacosides, which is a LOT in an 800 mg serving), which the reporter claimed amplified its nootropic effects. I’m not on board with that though, and suggest you start with dosage of 300 mg. If you want to go bonkers with super-dosing, increase dosage gradually to assess how the intake effects you in increments, and be sure to use a high-quality standardized extract.
My Experiences with Bacopa Monnieri
By now it is probably pretty clear that I am a big fan of Bacopa monnieri. I take it every day as part of a nootropic stack.
Because there are a lot of nootropics in the stack I sacrifice a bit on the dosage; it’s in the 100 mg to 200 mg range. But it is standardized to a high 45% potency of bacosides, which helps compensate.
So why do I take it? I am no longer in the classroom, so I primarily take Bacopa monnieri as a “maintenance” nootropic.
But The Geek is a Student of Life. At times when I feel I need Bacopa’s unique benefits, I will double up on my stack, and sometimes I will even add a standalone Bacopa monnieri supplement as a booster. This is usually during times of intense work deadlines where I’m stressed out and need to stay sharp.
(Bonus: this natural nootrpic has no side effects to speak of for me, even when I double up. Then again, I always buy The Good Stuff: Premium quality, and standardized to high potency, oh YEAH.)
I find that Bacopa monnieri helps create a good mindset for times like these; my memorization seems to stick better and the overall feeling I get is like a mild “calm clarity”, but without any type of sedation or mellowing out (unlike L-Theanine, which mellows me out real nice).
I also find that for me, Bacopa monnieri helps create a mindset that is good for competition, like video gaming, tennis, Scrabble, whatever.
But hey, I’m a Geek.
And I like to win. That means even if I’m playing you at checkers, even if I am playing you at tic-tac-toe, I WILL try to memorize your strategies and patterns during that game, remember it for the next time we play, and strategize to counter those patterns throughout.
I think Bacopa monnieri is great for the dual short-term/long-term memory demands of competitive games: It helps you stay calm and strategize effectively when competition gets hot, and helps you learn from your victories and defeats post-game. As a nootropic, it is really well-suited to anybody who wants to get that little mental competitive edge.
Is Bacopa Monnieri a Good Nootropic?
I say HECK YES. Bacopa monnieri is a must-have nootropic for any brain boosting regimen. This is because it seems to work in so many different ways, affecting many different types of thinking, and apparently supporting long-range brain health just as it supports mental performance right now. These are the hallmarks of the best nootropics on the planet, making it easy to recommend Bacopa monnieri.
Overall Bacopa Monnieri Nootropic Power Rating
Brain Energy
Neurotransmitters
Cerebral Circulation
Brainwaves
Brain Regeneration
Neuroprotective
Best Nootropic Supplement with Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri is to nootropic brain health supplements what Tribulus terrestris is to testosterone boosters — that is to say: Bacopa is one of the most popular herbal ingredients in nootropic stacks (if not the most popular). Except unlike Trib, Bacopa actually works for what it’s intended, and in more ways than one. But you don’t want just any ol’ supplement that carries this stuff. You want the BEST nootropic supplement with this awesome herb. Here’s my favorite:
Mind Lab Pro
The older Mind Lab Pro formulas supplied one of the best Bacopa monnieri extracts around. And now the newest formulation supplies what might be the best Bacopa monnieri standardized extract found in a premade nootropic stack. The contents of this extract:
- Full spectrum extract at 24%
- 9 bio-active constituents
Most Bacopa extract supplements supply a limited spectrum extract of this herb’s bio-active parts. Mind Lab Pro delivers an enhanced standardized extract as well as ten other powerful, high quality nootropic ingredients, such as citicoline (as Cognizin®) which only further supports Bacopa monnieri’s cholinergic potential by supplying raw choline for acetylcholine synthesis.
Want some? Get the best deal on Mind Lab Pro here.
Leave a Reply